02-25-26 issue

Bigfork fifth grader named 2026 spelling bee champion

By Summer Goddard Valley Journal

CHARLO — Lake County’s best spellers battled it out last week for the title of spelling bee champion and the opportunity to compete at the state level next month.

Eighteen students from St. Ignatius, Arlee, Charlo, Salmon Prairie, Bigfork and Valley View schools participated in the annual spelling bee held at the Charlo gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Words such as silhouette, chassis, mosque, squalor, colossus, cheddar and magnanimous tripped up most competitors in the first couple rounds.

Heidi Huber, a fifth grader from Bigfork, was ultimately victorious when she spelled the word “husk” right in the 7th round. Seventh grader Aubree Blevins and eighth grader Addison Hogue, both from Charlo, took second and third places respectively during a spell off in the eighth round.

As the first place winner Huber will compete at the state spelling bee in Bozeman on Saturday, March 21. Blevins were serve as alternate in the event Huber is unable to attend.

Top: Heidi Huber from Bigfork spells the word "husk" correctly to win this year's annual spelling bee. Right: first, second and third place spelling bee winners Huber, Aubree Blevins and Addison Hogue pose for a photo after the competiton.

Finley Warden files for House District 13 to represent Lake County

News from Finley for Montana

POLSON — On Feb. 17, 2026, the first day of the candidate filing period for the 2026 elections, Finley Warden of Polson filed to run for House District 13 of the Montana State Legislature. House District 13 is located within Lake County, encompassing Polson and surrounding rural communities.

Warden filed as a Republican, with a platform focused on lowering property taxes, fiscal responsibility, public safety and parental rights in education.

“I am a sixth-generation Montanan and a Christian conservative running to represent Lake County in the Montana House of Repre-

briefs

Spring debris burning opens March 1

Spring debris burning season will open Sunday, March 1. Burning is a great way to clear dead vegetation and clean up. Before you light your piles or grass this spring, take the necessary precautions to ensure your burn does not become the next wildfire. Careless debris burning is one of the main causes of wildfire on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

It is open burning season from March 1-April 30 on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

sentatives,” said Warden. “My grandparents came to Polson in 1964, and I understand the values that make our community strong: hard work, faith, freedom and family. The people of Lake County deserve strong, principled leadership in Helena, and I look forward to representing my community.”

Warden has spent the past four years working in Republican politics across Western Montana, helping elect conservative candidates, assisting citizens and advancing policies that strengthen Montana families.

“Lake County residents are rightly upset when they learn that the last Montana Legislature didn’t fix property taxes and increased

state spending by more than 13%,” Warden said. “Property taxes remain too high in Lake County. From working families to seniors on fixed incomes, people are being taxed out of their homes. In the Legislature, I will fight for real property tax reform. Montanans should be able to afford to live in the place where they grew up, raise a family and retire with dignity. I look forward to meeting people across Lake County, hearing their perspectives and engaging in meaningful conversations throughout this campaign.”

More information about Warden’s platform and contact information can be found at finleyformontana. com.

To burn from May 1 to June 30 you will need a burn permit. You can apply for a burn permit starting April 30 at the Division of Fire website, www. cskt.org/division-of-fire/ Burn early in the day and check weather for afternoon or next day wind conditions. Have proper personnel, equipment and water supply with you and always make sure the area is cold to the touch before leaving. Checking the following day is also important as stumps or roots may be holding heat that could re-ignite. If a fire does get out of control call 911 immediately. Remember you are responsible for all suppression, property costs if your fire escapes

your control.

If you have any questions about debris burning call the Division of Fire at 676-2550.

Rep. Reksten to speak at Feb. 28 Lake County Pachyderm meeting

News from the Lake County Pachyderms

We will be holding our 2nd Pachyderm meeting of February on Feb. 28 at 12 noon at the Polson Rural Fire Station located at 25 Regatta Rd in Polson.

The speaker for this meeting will be Montana HD 13 Representative Linda Reksten

who is running again this year. Below is a little bit of information about Representative Reksten.

Linda Reksten is an American politician from Montana. She is a Republican member of the Montana House of Representatives. In 2024 she was elected to the 13th district which covers the Polson area. Previously she was elected to the 12th district in 2020 and 2022.

Reksten first ran for election in 2020, defeating Gerry Browning. She took the seat of Greg Hertz who had reached his term limit. In 2022 she faced challenger Sterling Laudon, an attorney in Polson. She won with 62%

of the vote.

Due to redistricting following the US census Reksten ran for District 13 in the 2024 elections. The Democratic candidate, Shirley Azzopardi, also spent her career as an educator. Reksten won 61% of the vote, securing her third term in the House of Representatives. She was appointed chair to the House Education Committee.

Reksten worked for more than 30 years in education prior to her election. She was a teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools. She also was a college professor at Point Loma Nazarene University. Reksten has published two books with Corwin Press.

Land, Craftsmanship, Montana Living

This Week’s Weather Forecast

The Valley Journal newspaper (PE 23-190) is published weekly by Valley Journal LLC. Periodicals postage paid at Ronan, MT.

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County and the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Deadline for display advertising is 2 p.m. Thursday. Deadline for news submissions, calendar items, classifieds and legal advertising is noon Friday, for the following week’s newspaper.

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For general inquiries: call 406-676-8989, email summer@valleyjournal.net, or send mail correspondence to P.O. Box 326, Ronan, MT 59864. Copyright 2026, the Valley Journal. All rights reserved. Reproduction, reuse or transmittal in any form or by any means is prohibited without written permission of the Valley Journal.

SKC student selected as 2026 DREAM Scholar by Achieving the Dream

News from Salish Kootenai College

PABLO — Salish Kootenai College is proud to announce that Sarah Cochran, a student in the Tribal Governance Program, has been selected as a 2026 DREAM Scholar by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization dedicated to advancing community colleges as engines of opportunity, belonging, and economic mobility.

Cochran is one of just eight students selected through a highly competitive application process to participate in the DREAM Scholars program this year. The 2026 DREAM Scholars represent community colleges across the Achieving the Dream Network, including institutions across the United States — including Tribal Colleges and Universities and Gateway to College programs — and in South Africa.

As a DREAM Scholar, Cochran will take part in an immersive leadership and learning experience at DREAM 2026, Achieving the Dream’s annual convening, to be held in March in Portland, Oregon. During the conference, the DREAM Scholars will engage with community college leaders from across the country and beyond, participate in leadership development opportunities, and attend sessions focused on student success and its role in economic mobility and community prosperity.

Cochran’s story is rooted in loss but focuses on healing and her commitment to her Indigenous community. After struggling with losses and mental health, she redirected her trauma and used it to pursue

her education and career goals.

At Salish Kootenai College (SKC), she found belonging, stability, and a clearer sense of purpose. Now majoring in Tribal governance and administration, she serves as student senate president and the SKC Graduate Honoring Powwow ambassador. These roles helped her build confidence, advocate for students, and reconnect deeply with her culture.

Cochran hopes to pursue a master’s degree in public administration and eventually work in tribal law and justice, focusing on safety, sovereignty, and trauma-informed advocacy to amplify the voices of Indigenous peoples. Her goals align with ATD’s mission by centering access, community impact, and the power of representation. She brings courage, humility, and a clear vision for improving life in tribal com-

munities — using education not only to heal herself but to push for long-overdue justice for her people.

“I strive to speak up for Tribal communities and promote a vibrant, healthy, and functioning life for Indigenous peoples,” she said.

Each DREAM Scholar will also deliver an individual presentation at the conference, sharing their personal journey and offering insight into how their college supports student learning, completion, and opportunity. In addition, each 2026 DREAM Scholar receives a financial scholarship to support their educational or personal journey, along with access to leadership development, mentoring, and professional networks.

“Cochran is majoring in Tribal Governance. Her goals align with ATD’s mission by

center student voice, they strengthen not just individual lives but the vitality of entire communities.”

About Salish Kootenai College

Salish Kootenai College is a tribal college located in Pablo, Montana, dedicated to providing high-quality education and promoting cultural preservation through innovative programs. It offers a diverse learning environment with over 70 degrees and certificates—including bachelor’s and master’s degrees—blending indigenous knowledge with modern STEM, business, and health curricula.

About the DREAM Scholars Program

centering access, community impact, and the power of representation. She brings her courage, humility, and a clear vision for improving life in tribal communities - using education not only to heal herself but to push for long overdue justice for her people.”

According to Achieving the Dream President and CEO Dr. Karen A. Stout, student-centered impact is central to ATD’s broader mission. “At Achieving the Dream, we see students as co-designers of the systems change we seek to catalyze in our work. The DREAM Scholars program brings this ATD value to life. Through their stories, the 2026 DREAM Scholars bring clarity, courage, and conviction to the conversations shaping the future of higher education. These scholars remind us that when community colleges

The DREAM Student Scholars program is an experiential learning opportunity for community college students designed to strengthen leadership, critical thinking, and professional networks. The program integrates authentic student perspectives into Achieving the Dream’s annual DREAM conference and is supported through private gifts from ATD Network members, employees, coaches, board members, and partners.

About Achieving the Dream

Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges nationwide. Through expert coaching, evidence-based practices, and a powerful peer network, ATD supports colleges in building capacity and implementing strategies that help students succeed academically, personally, and economically. ATD’s vision is for every college to be a catalyst for equitable and economically vibrant communities. Learn more at www.achievingthedream.org.

FLIC 2026 award winners announced

By Joyce Lobeck for the Valley Journal

Once again enthusiastic audiences enjoyed a wide array of films brought to the screen, often getting to meet the filmmakers, during the 2026 Flathead Lake International Cinemafest.

Looking ahead, FLIC 2027 is scheduled for Feb. 12-14, 2027.

This year’s eventful weekend of back-to-back films wrapped up Feb. 15 at the Showboat Stadium 6 in Polson. This year’s film entries -- including narrative shorts and features, documentaries and animated films –hailed from 21 countries.

of filmmakers and independent film enthusiasts,”

King said. “This year, five of our out-of-state filmmakers were FLIC alumni, who make a point of returning to one of their favorite festivals. That says a lot about how welcoming and hospitable this community and region are.”

annual children’s screening, which featured the animated family film, “The Bad Guys 2.” That afternoon, the Showboat Stadium 6 hosted another social mixer featuring Kim Smart Catering’s delicious variety of hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

Among them were 13 Montana-made entries.

About two-dozen filmmakers traveled from across the United States

to attend this year’s festival. The regional FLIC audience was characteristically supportive of these guests and their wide array of films, said FLIC Director David W. King.

“Over its 14-year run, FLIC has gained an ever-expanding family

Along with the wide range of films, the festival also included a variety of fun events. The festival kicked off with an afternoon reception Friday, Feb. 13 in the Showboat Stadium 6 lobby. The next morning, the Polson Rotary Club provided breakfast burritos to those attending FLIC’s

A Sunday morning filmmaker social mixer at the Good Coffee Roasting Company was a delicious way to begin FLIC’s final day on Feb. 15. Several filmmakers have shared with event organizers that FLIC’s emphasis on creating opportunities for them to interact with one another

FLIC awards

from page 6

makes this film festival special and invaluable, sometimes resulting in lifelong friendships and collaborations, King said.

Following a full slate of screenings, awards in numerous categories were presented on Sunday, Feb. 15. Many of the attending filmmakers were present to receive their awards, which added to the fun and celebration, King said. A dessert reception followed.

FLIC 2026 Awards included:

BEST ANIMATION: Mu

BEST MONTANA FILM: The Bullfighter

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Alexa Borden & Connor Cook, The Solution

BEST CINEMATOGRA-

PHY: Ben Kurstin, The Solution

BEST ACTRESS: Karina Testa, Mothers

BEST SUPPORTING AC-

TRESS: Rebecca Lee, Eugene O’Neill’s The First Man

BEST ACTOR: Vincent

Andriano, Eugene O’Neill’s The First Man

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Faran Tahir, Paper Flowers

IMPACT AWARD: Desiree Alexander

BEST DOCUMENTARY

SHORT: SoCal Snowy Owl

BEST DOCUMENTARY

FEATURE: Ullberg: Wind in the Sails

BEST DIRECTOR: Mahesh Pailoor, Paper Flowers

AUDIENCE AWARD: Farmacy of Light

BEST PICTURE SHORT: Kidd

BEST PICTURE FEATURE: Paper Flowers

Glacier Park announces 2026 summer operations Pilot program

News from the National Park Service

WEST GLACIER – Glacier National Park has announced it will pilot a ticketed shuttle system to Logan Pass in summer 2026, including early morning express routes.

Beginning July 1, weather permitting, private vehicle parking at Logan Pass will be limited to three hours. Vehicle reservations will not be required anywhere in the park in 2026.

“With the new trial measures, we aim to improve the public’s ability to visit Lo-

HEART HEALTH MONTH

I

C

A

SCREENINGS INCLUDE:

COMPLETE METABOLIC PANEL

HEMOGLOBIN A1C TEST

LIPID PANEL BLOOD PRESSURE

Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm 12 Hour Fast Required

gan Pass for short durations and allow the shuttle system to perform more reliably for a more specific purpose,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent, Dave Roemer. “This initiative reflects our continued learning and listening as we refine park transportation and access to better serve the public and safeguard the integrity of the park’s resources.”

Logan Pass Parking

Beginning July 1, private vehicle parking at Logan Pass will be limited to a maximum of three hours. The time limit is intended to increase parking turnover

and provide more visitors the opportunity to experience the area.

Three hours allows time to hike to Hidden Lake Overlook, visit the Logan Pass Visitor Center or attend an interpretive program.

Visitors planning longer hikes that begin at Logan Pass, including the Highline Trail to Granite Park Chalet or to the Loop Trailhead, must obtain a shuttle ticket. Overnight parking will not be permitted at Logan Pass except for permitted

backcountry users and registered guests of Granite Park Chalet.

Going-to-the-Sun Road Park Shuttles

In 2026, the park shuttle system will provide express service to Logan Pass for visitors planning extended alpine hikes and activities.

Shuttles to Logan Pass will not stop at Avalanche or board passengers without shuttle tickets.

Shuttle tickets will be released during two booking windows:

• A portion of tickets will be available 60 days in advance beginning May 2, 2026, at 8 a.m. MDT on a rolling basis.

• Remaining tickets will be released at 7 p.m. MDT for next-day entry beginning June 30.

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis through Recreation.gov or the Recreation.gov call center at 877-444-6777. Tickets are not sold inside the park. A Recreation.gov account is required. The only cost is a $1 processing fee per ticket.

All passengers age 2 and older must have a ticket. Tickets are nontransferable.

Cell service is unreliable in the park. Visitors should print or save a digital copy of their ticket before arrival. Tickets will be validated before boarding, and a photo ID may be requested.

Additional information will be available at nps.gov/ glac and Recreation.gov.

Shuttle Routes and Schedules

Shuttle service will provide access to Logan Pass from both the west and east sides of Go-

ing-to-the-Sun

Road.

West side express routes will depart from Apgar Transit Center and Lake McDonald Lodge, with stops at the Loop in the afternoon and Logan Pass. Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars will not be accessible by park shuttle in 2026.

East side express routes will depart from St. Mary Visitor Center and Rising Sun. Riders may transfer between routes at Logan Pass.

Updated route details, boarding times and stop locations will be posted later in the season.

Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and North Fork Vehicle Reservations

Vehicle reservations will not be required in Many Glacier, Two Medicine or the North Fork in 2026.

Vehicles may be temporarily diverted when areas reach capacity. Visitors with lodging, camping, boat tour, horseback ride, guided hike or backcountry reservations will be permitted entry during temporary restrictions but may experience delays.

Going-to-the-Sun Road opening

Snow removal operations begin in early April and typically continue until Logan Pass opens between mid-June and early July. Snowstorms and avalanches often continue through May, and the park cannot predict an opening date.

Road crews work across approximately 40 avalanche paths, and progress depends on snow and avalanche conditions.

The shuttle system begins July 1, 2026. The park cannot predict when Logan Pass trails will open. Popular routes, including the Highline Trail, may remain closed due to hazardous snow conditions.

SKC to host MT ASPIRE TRIO Conference

PABLO — Salish Kootenai College (SKC) will host the MT ASPIRE TRIO Conference Feb. 22–24 at the Red Lion in Polson, welcoming approximately 35 professionals from TRIO programs across Montana, along with representatives from the Council of Opportunity in Education (COE).

MT ASPIRE is Montana’s professional organization for TRIO educators and staff. The group brings

together individuals who are dedicated to supporting student success, sharing best practices, strengthening leadership, and advocating for expanded educational opportunity across the state.

TRIO is a federally funded set of college access and student support programs designed to help low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities overcome barriers to higher education. Through academic advising, mentoring, financial literacy education, tu-

toring, and career guidance, TRIO programs empower students to enroll in college, persist in their studies, and graduate with confidence.

The annual MT ASPIRE conference provides an opportunity for collaboration, professional development, and renewed commitment to student success. Hosting the conference in Polson highlights SKC’s ongoing dedication to creating pathways for students and strengthening educational opportunities in Montana communities.

Join FVCC’s continuing education for ‘Motivational Mondays’

KALISPELL — Flathead

Valley Community College’s Continuing Education Center is offering one-hour midday sessions to explore valuable topics that support both personal and professional growth. Bring your lunch and join us in the Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Each session is $35 and registration is required.

March 2: Communicating Across Generations

Navigate different communication styles, preferences and expectations shaped by each group’s unique formative experiences, societal trends and technology.

Instructor: Lisa Jones McClellan

March 23: Building Resiliency

Learn skills to cope with stress, manage change and

bounce back from challenges in an increasingly dynamic workplace.

Instructor: Sam Herbert

March 30: Atomic Habits

Discover a proven system to transform your life by making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible.

Instructor: Kathy Dunnehoff

April 6: Mayday! Discouraged at Work?

What to do when you’re feeling undermined, isolated and sabotaged at work. Instructor: Phil Quigley

April 20: Navigating Change

Explore the process of guiding or adapting to significant transitions, disruptions or transformations within an organization or your personal life.

Instructor: Sam Herbert

May 4: Conflict Resolution

Learn strategies for navigating disagreements respectfully and finding mutually

beneficial solutions to maintain a positive work environment.

Instructor: Cindy Carpenter

May 11: American Heroism From Medal of Honor winners on the battlefield to everyday heroes on the home front, uncover “True North” behaviors of courageous leaders that create cultures of excellence and accountability.

Instructor: Phil Quigley Register online at: https:// campusce.fvcc.edu/fvcc/ Course/Course.aspx?c=233 and explore all current non-credit class offerings from FVCC’s Continuing Education Center at fvcc. edu/continuinged.

Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) focuses on student success and meeting the needs of our communities. Our world-class faculty and staff provide an outstanding learning environment for students of all ages.

First Lady Gianforte celebrates strengthening early childhood literacy

New study shows impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program

News from the office of Governor Gianforte

HELENA — First Lady Susan Gianforte recently celebrated a new report showing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library significantly strengthens early literacy skills for children. The non-profit program boosts early childhood literacy by providing free high-quality, age-appropriate books to Montana children up to age five.

“This new study reveals what we already know: reading unlocks a brighter future for our youngest minds and leads to lasting impacts on their success and development,” First Lady Gianforte said. “In Montana, we are proud to have expanded our program to reach over 29,500 children to ensure they have access to books during the most

seniors

St. Ignatius

By Theresa Yares for the Valley Journal

ST. IGNATIUS — As we get older, our energy needs decline. Focus on nutrient-dense foods to combat decreased calorie needs with higher nutrient requirements: protein to maintain muscle mass, calcium and vitamin D for bones, and fiber for digestion, and eat varied fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. At the same time, stay well hydrated and reduce added sugars and salt.

Activities:

Tending to mending: Feb. 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring in clothing that needs mending/ repair. Cost is by donation.

Bingo: March 14 at 2 p.m.

Menu:

Friday, Feb. 27: hamburger gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, bread, mandarin oranges, huckleberry cheesecake

Tuesday, March 3: potato/ ham soup, egg salad sandwiches, mandarin oranges, carrot cake

Wednesday, March 4: pork chops, stuffing, potatoes, corn, rolls, strawberry short-

cake

critical years of brain development.”

Advancing her initiatives as Montana’s first lady, Susan Gianforte in

Friday, March 5: spaghetti, corn, French bread, frozen mixed fruit, red velvet cookies Milk is available at all meals.

Everyone is welcome at our meals (young and old). Come enjoy a delicious meal and good conversation. If you would like a takeout meal, call 406-745-4462 by 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays and by 2 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Mealtimes are at noon on Tuesdays and Fridays and at 5:30 p.m. on the

June 2023 launched the statewide expansion of the Imagination Library of Montana in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Prior to launching the initiative, the program was only available in some Montana counties and approximately 8,500 Montana children were enrolled. Today, Imagination Library of Montana has 58 local program partners in all 56 counties serving nearly 29,500 of the state’s eligible children. Over 783,000 books have been mailed in Montana since the program’s statewide expansion.

According to new research conducted by Dr. Claire Galea of United Way Australia, data analyzed from more than 86,000 caregivers

first and third Wednesdays of each month. Menus for the month are available in the entryway of the center.

Our St. Ignatius Senior Center is available to rent. If interested, call 406-745-4462 or stop by.

If you have questions about obtaining Elder Commodities, call or stop by for information and an application.

Gentle Yoga is on held on Wednesdays from 1 to 2:15 p.m. If you are interested, call Bonnie Kiser at 406253-0177. Her rate is five sessions for $65.

reveals that after just 10 books, children in the program were at least four times more likely to demonstrate stronger emerging literacy skills, such as vocabulary and phonological awareness, compared to children not in the program. It also revealed children were 11 times more likely to be interested in books and 15 times more likely to join in during shared reading compared to children not in the program.

Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the international program mails more than 3 million books each month directly to children’s homes in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.

Marriages & Divorces

Lake County marriages, divorces for January 2026

Marriages

Tylar McQuade Espinosa and Kennedy Ellis Rosek

Landers Clarence Smith and Tylee Anne Stewart

Timothy Murphy Sellars and Brooklyn Olivean Kenelty

Dmitriy Shaw and Shelbi Lee Schrock

Michael Lee Roth and Mary Katherine Roth

Divorces

Brett Byard and Denise M. Byard (Behrns restored)

Sam. M. Helmer and Casey Helmer (Larson restored)

First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

valley views

Sports injuries

Ihaven’t played many sports in my life. If you don’t count cheerleading, I’ve been a member of exactly (stop here for a moment while I do the count) zero sports teams.

I never tried to score goals, outrun the other team, hit home runs, throw a three-pointer, catch a good pass or set up a great offensive maneuver. I never even experienced a sports injury.

the walls to bank shots – creating fun, albeit challenging, angles and trajectories.

Slices of Life

Jill Pertler Syndicated columnist

I prefer it to pickleball for one main reason. Where I live, pickleball is played outdoors – often in heated and sunny conditions. Wallyball is played indoors, where there is air conditioning.

injury, or to see anyone suffer from a sports injury. It can be life-changing. Luckily for me, my injury wasn’t that.

My injury was to a finger. (Not that finger!)

Fingers are often in injured during Wallyball. They get jammed when you hit the ball at the wrong angle.

(Did I mention Wallyball is about angles?)

the fact that I’ve been a cheerleader. You know what they say about cheerleaders.

No, not that.

I was a sports fan and I cheered on many teams, but I didn’t compete in the scoreboard sense.

Until recently. Until I discovered something new. Something called Wallyball.

For those pickleball players not in the know, Wallyball is a close cousin to volleyball, except it is played on a racquetball court. Players use

As I grow older, I find I have an affinity for air conditioning. I’ve played on this team sport for three years. I’ve met some really great friends. I’ve found it to be a super supportive environment. Plus we’re all exercising and working up a sweat (despite the air conditioning). It’s a win-win situation.

Or at least it was. Until the injury.

No one wants a sports

Macman fishing report

U nfortunately, I don’t have much to tell you.

Brown’s Lake has 10 inches on it.

Upper Thompson has 6 inch-

My injury did not involve a jammed finger, but it did involve bruising.

My finger turned black and blue. At first I wasn’t sure how it happened.

The ball used in Wallyball is soft. I hadn’t hit it in any way that caused pain.

I was perplexed, but then someone made a good play and I clapped for them and it hit me.

(Not the ball, the answer.)

Earlier, I alluded to

es on it but remember no ice, at this time, is safe ice.

Ice conditions will get better if the cold that is predicted does show up.

What I was thinking was “You can take the leader out of the cheerleader, but you can’t take the cheer out of the leader,” or something like that. You get my gist. Cheerleaders aren’t famous for their worksmithartistry.

Anyway, I try to encourage other players. I use my voice (as cheerleaders are wont to do) but I also get physical. (Nod to Olivia Newton-John here) and that most often involves clapping.

They don’t allow pom pons at Wallyball so I work with what I have. My hands.

I clap after a good play. I clap after a bad play. I clap after every play. I clap a lot. Apparent-

Lake Mary Ronan has good ice and the sloughs in the Flathead River.

Next weekend there is a fishing tournament at McGregor

ly I may even clap too much (if there can be such a thing).

My sports injury wasn’t because of any of my great sets or gets or volleys or powerful serves. It was the clapping.

The pressure from the repetitive and prolonged clapping caused trauma to the small blood vessels in my finger.

I’ve heard of people suffering from The Clap, but this is a whole new take on that angle.

Who would’ve guessed?

I thought I’d never experienced the hazards and body strains of real sports, but I guess I was wrong. Turns out cheering is more dangerous than most people might think.

Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow

Lake - a combo of open water and ice. Entry fees go into prize money.

see page 11

LETTER POLICY

Letters to the editor are welcome. The content is the opinion of the letter writer and not the newspaper. The decision to publish letters is made by the editor. Letters must be 350 words or less. A writer will only be published twice per month. Letters may be edited for content or length, or may not be published if considered libelous, in poor taste, spiteful, self-promotional or of limited interest to the general readership. Space limitations also dictate when or if letters are published.

Letters must be signed by the author and name, address and phone number must be included – phone number is for verification purposes only. Letters from organizations must include the name of at least one author. Please limit “thank you” letters to four people/organizations or less. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday to publish the following week.

Opinions expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the newspaper.

Kids like me are proving democracy isn’t just for adults

On Veterans’ Day, middle schoolers from 39 states competed to be crowned the next champion of the National Civics Bee.

I was fortunate enough to emerge as the champion of 2024’s inaugural edition of the Bee. As I walked off the stage then, it hit me that I, an eighth grader from Alaska, had just shown the country that young people can and should shape our democracy.

My journey into civics started with something deeply personal. I was born with a congenital condition that requires costly dental procedures. Too often, insur -

ance companies refuse to cover them.

Valley Views

Instead of just accepting that reality, my family and I began working to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act in Congress. I told my story to lawmakers, explained why the bill mattered and asked them to act. Now, the bill has bipartisan sponsors in the House and Senate.

Civics isn’t just about textbooks or history tests. And it’s not something we have to wait until we’re adults to do.

The National Civics Bee brought together students from across the country to test our be -

lief in our own power to make a difference.

The chance to win a $100,000 scholarship called the Bill Daniels National Civics Award was certainly a draw, too.

During the competition, I loved seeing young people care about how our government truly works.

Sometimes, my classmates ask, “Why should we learn civics if we can’t even vote yet?” My answer is simple. Civics is the toolkit for shaping our communities and our country.

Anyone can learn the basics: how a bill becomes law, or what local municipal bodies or school boards have the power to do in their

communities. Anyone can speak up by writing to their lawmakers or sharing their ideas with elected officials. Anyone can get involved by helping at polling places on Election Day or volunteering in their community. Anyone can inspire others to become civically active and help friends, family and other community members understand why self-government matters.

Civics is the tool that lets us build the future we want.

The National Civics Bee was launched by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Daniels Fund to change that.

Adults have an important role to play. They can make civics a real priority in classrooms, support programs like the Civics Bee, and listen when young people speak up.

For me, the Civics Bee is just the beginning. I’ll keep working to pass the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act and

Too many students never get a front-row seat to our democracy in action. Civics education often gets squeezed, buried between test prep and other subjects.

encouraging my peers to step into civic life now, not later.

Democracy isn’t a spectator sport. Young people don’t have to wait until adulthood to bring about change. We can start right now. And our country will be stronger for it.

Emily Brubaker is a ninth grader from Anchorage, Alaska, and the 2024 National Civics Bee champion. Applications for the 2026 National Civics Bee are open until February 3. For more information, visit NationalCivicsBee.org. This piece first ran in Newsweek.

For open water fishing: 2 areas in Yellow Bay - get out at 200 feet or over.

Avoid where the gill netting is going on, mainly Rocky Point. Good Fishing, The Macman Macman from page 1

Destruction by taxes

Property tax is the most immoral tax of all. It works to confiscate everything you’ve built when you’re most vulnerable; when you’re past your best earning years and well into retirement. While many may get reductions in our new tax code, we should not have any form of taxation tha at spells doom for segments of our citizenry.

Legislative Notes

Property tax demands payment despite the development of the abyss created from sudden property a value increases

unaccompanied by any such increase in income. It is a tax on an unrealized gain. Other taxes demand from what you can pay—what you spend while purchasing or a percentage of your income. Property tax levies a huge bill regardless of what is in your bank account. You will lose what you thought you owned if you can’t pay. That’s a confiscatory seizure of your property, and it falls hardest on those whose little piece of heaven unexpectedly became coveted by others.

It is not difficult to see why some consider Montana’s new overly-complicated property taxation as an attack on the people of the lakes.

I had hoped we would leave Helena with a genuine property tax decrease across the board, but instead we got the great shift. A majority of my constituents are going to get a tax reduction, but others now face ruinous burdens that will drive them from their homes. This “cake was baked” before most of us set foot in Helena. Behind the scenes manipulations and what seems an engi-

neered bypassing of the floor rules to dodge sending SB 542 back to appropriations after second reading locked in the final product. The bill was sent directly to third reading despite bearing no fiscal note.

I’ve called for a special session to address those for whom this property tax bill is ruinous. We should allow those who got reductions to keep them, and then freeze the rest at pre-tax bill levels with the difference coming out of the hide of the State government. Unfortunately special sessions are rarities no matter what the reason.

We need to work in 2027 to explore all fair taxation options, and we need a transparent process with no behind the scenes deals. We need to fix the giant hole we are blasting in the people who are bearing the full weight of this tax shift. Let’s ditch the language of envy and the attacks on ‘those rich people’ or people who have two homes—the majority of which are actually residents of Montana—and devise a tax system that is fair to all our citizens. A just and fair system is certainly not what we have now.

Montanans deserve straight talk, not dark-money bushwhackers

I ardently defend free speech as the cornerstone of democracy. Montanans should always be able to speak their minds freely, criticize leaders, and hold us accountable without fear.But free speech is not a license for anonymous attacks or faceless smears.

When accusations fly in elections, the person being attacked has every right to face their actual accuser and respond directly. And voters have every right to know who’s paying for the attack. Bottom line: who is really speaking?

Because if you can follow the money, you can see the real motive — not the emotional issue they’re waving in front of you, but the private interest they’re protecting.

Dark money destroys that basic fairness. It lets the accuser hide behind fake names, front groups, or “grassroots” labels while the cash stays dark — no face, no name, no accountability. Just a bushwhack from the shadows.

to the “Killer Clown.” It was designed to look like terrified mothers fighting to protect their children.

Legislative Notes

That’s not free speech. That’s paid-for sabotage with no consequences.

Here’s a real Montana example:

A group calling itself

“Mothers Against Child Predators” sent hitpiece mailers aimed at specific Republican legislators they wanted to purge — smearing them as soft on predators and even comparing them

When daylight finally hit it, there were no mothers — just two guys and a treasurer. When the money was traced, it led to Kochlinked, out-of-state dark money pushing rightto-work and corporate tax breaks — the same Koch network that is active today. “Protect kids” was just the costume. The real goal was purging legislators who wouldn’t play ball — and they successfully purged a few good folks. That’s dark money: purchase a political hit job — dress it up as a moral crusade, then

keep the real funders and their agenda in the shadows.

The Disclose Act (2015) helped, but hacks keep finding workarounds.

Right now, significant dark money is hitting Montana in two ways:

• Undisclosed “education” campaigns — no attribution, no clear sponsor, money stays dark.

• Americans for Prosperity (AFP) — a Virginia/DC Beltway group tied to the Koch network.

At the GOP Winter Kickoff in Great Falls, AFP Montana Deputy Director Henry Kriegel said their “hard-hitting” ads “honor our donors’ intent.” When asked who the donors are? He admitted he didn’t

know.

Let that sink in. AFP is here to “honor our donors’ intent” — donors they won’t name and apparently can’t even identify. I wonder how many of those donors are even Montana residents. Either way, somebody is spending big to steer Montana elections from behind a curtain — exerting influence without accountability.

AFP’s scorecard reveals a telling piece of their agenda. They dock lawmakers for supporting HB 231, the property tax relief bill that cut taxes for 375,000+ Montana homeowners.

AFP’s original scorecard wording attacked HB 231 because it “benefited Montana residents as opposed to non-residents.” They changed the wording after that bias got exposed — but not before copies were saved that show exactly what they meant. Political followers know why Senate District 9 is under heavy fire. Since I arrived in Helena, I’ve put constituents first — over urban party bosses, dark money, and out-of-state interests. I’ve led in that effort.

To dark-money operators — and the ideological hardliners who do their bidding — taking out the informal leader of Republicans focused on solutions over D.C. slogans would be a trophy. Not just to silence me, but to intimidate the rest: kiss

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the party bosses’ ring, or you’re next. Normally, running for a Montana Senate seat costs under $50,000. But over the last eight months, campaign managers estimate $300,000 has been spent against me — with the four most intense months still to go. And I still haven’t seen the face of an actual ad funder, so we’re left to guess what the donors’ real interest is in spending this much money. Montanans deserve better. We deserve to know who’s behind the ads, mailers, and robocalls hitting our feeds. We deserve to judge the message and the messenger. Transparency isn’t censorship — it’s the only way to protect real debate and real democracy.

In a representative republic, constituents always come first — not faceless donors.

Let’s make some sense of Montana’s budget

You no doubt have heard claims that Montana’s budget grew by great amounts and then have also heard that the budget grew by a really tiny percentageI’m going to try and put a little context to these claims.

Legislative Notes births

First of all, you have heard that the budget grew by 17%. Yes, that is true. What’s also true about that number is that it reflects General Fund dollars; these are dollars that the state receives in revenue (taxes) from you, the taxpayer. These dollars are what we generally focus on, because they don’t come with strings attached or to be used only for specific purposes, like the two other most common types of funds (Federal funds and State Special revenue). This large growth is in House Bill 2 (HB2), which is the Budget Bill for the State of Montana for

two years. This 17% growth factor from the last two-year period to this new budget cycle is important, because this is the money that legislators have the most control over. So, with the help of the Nasty Nine (RINO Senators) and the Dirty Dozen (RINO House Members), the Democrats voted to spend your hard-earned tax dollars at an extreme increase. Now, to address this idea that there was only very tiny growth, less than 1%. Well, context here means everything. These numbers were chosen very carefully, it includes

all the funds that run through the State of Montana government, every dollar of Federal funding, regardless of if we, as legislators, vote on it or not. So….this number is very large, so to get any change in it will take a proportionate increase. This number is very misleading for another reason as well.  Do you have any idea how many millions of dollars the Feds pushed into Montana in the last 4 years, since COVID? Well, with that money finally drying up, but we still managed to increase the total spend of all dollars through State government. This was the plan from Day 1 of the 2025 Legislative Session,

when 9 RINO Republicans, voted with all the Democrats to upset the apple cart. How do I know this was the plan? Well, the most important change that they made on Day 1, was to add 4 additional members, to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee. This addition, gave the Democrats and RINO’s total control of that committee. And with that, they got their huge growth in State Government. So, the truth is the Cake was Baked from the beginning. And yes, there was a 17% increase for General Fund dollars in the State Budget. Let’s vote them out in the upcoming June Primary.

Lauryn Hall

RONAN — Lauryn Marli Hall was born on Feb. 16, 2026, at the St. Luke Community Healthcare New Beginning Birth Center in Ronan. She measured 5 lbs. 8 oz. and 19 inches long. Parents are Jacob and Kelli Hall of Hot Springs. Paternal grandparents are Brian Hall of Hot Springs and Kathi Gibbons of Ronan. Maternal grandparents are Don and Linda Wood of Moses Lake, Washington. Lauryn joins her sibling, Laci.

Rare fossil at Museum of the Rockies records Tyrannosaurus attack

An edmontosaurus skull in the museum’s collection was the subject of a new scientific paper published Feb. 17.

From MSU News Service

A fossil on display at Montana State University’s Museum of the Rockies reveals how dinosaurs in the Tyrannosaurus genus may have subdued prey, and the specimen is the focus of a new collaborative research publication between scientists at MSU and the University of Alberta in Canada.

The giant carnivorous dinosaur Tyrannosaurus roamed the region that is now Montana at the end of the Age of Dinosaurs, about 66 million years ago. It lived alongside other large dinosaurs, including plant-eaters like Triceratops and the duckbilled Edmontosaurus.

In 2005, a nearly complete Edmontosaurus skull was found in the Hell Creek Formation of eastern Montana on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The skull is now housed in the paleontology collection at Museum of the Rockies, and it contains a telling detail: lodged inside its face is the tooth of a tyrannosaur. Now on display in

the museum’s Hall of Horns and Teeth, the skull became the focus of a collaboration between University of Alberta doctoral student Taia Wyenberg-Henzler and Museum of the Rockies’ Curator of Paleontology John Scannella. The results of their research were published today in the Scientific Journal PeerJ.

“Although bite marks on bones are relatively common, finding an embedded tooth is extremely rare,” said Wyenberg-Henzler. “The great thing about an embedded tooth, particularly in a skull, is it gives you the identity of not only who was bitten but also who did the biting. This allowed us to paint a pic-

ture of what happened to this Edmontosaurus, kind of like Cretaceous crime scene investigators.”

Comparing the embedded tooth to all the carnivorous inhabitants in the Hell Creek Formation revealed that it most closely matched with the teeth of Tyrannosaurus.

CT scans of the skull, performed at Advanced Medical Imaging at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, helped provide greater detail.

“A fossil like this is extra exciting because it captures a behavior: a tyrannosaur biting into this duckbill’s face,” said Scannella. “The skull shows no signs of healing around the tyrannosaur tooth, so it may have already been dead when

it was bitten, or it may be dead because it was bitten.”

“Looking at the way the tooth is embedded in the nose of the Edmontosaurus suggests that it met its attacker face-to-face, something that usually happens to an animal that was killed by a predator,” said Wyenberg-Henzler. “The amount of force necessary for a tooth to have become broken off in bone also points to the use of deadly force. For me, this paints a terrifying picture of the last moments of this Edmontosaurus.”

The feeding habits of Tyrannosaurus, one of the largest meat-eating animals to ever walk the Earth, have been the subject of study and debate

Applications open for Montana Tech’s free Metallurgical and Materials Engineering summer program for high school students

for decades. The tooth inside this Edmontosaurus skull provides a further glimpse into Tyrannosaurus behavior, Scannella said.

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Montana State art historians connect acclaimed sculptor Edmonia Lewis to Bozeman

Melissa Ragain and Regina Gee’s research is part of the largest exhibition to date on sculptor Edmonia Lewis and her 19th century artwork, which will also be shown locally this year.

By Frankie Beer, MSU News Service

BOZEMAN — Many mysteries surround the personal life of acclaimed sculptor Edmonia Lewis. But her actions tell a story — one that Montana State University art historians are piecing together with researchers around the world.

Their findings are included in the catalog for the largest exhibition to date on Lewis and her 19th century artwork, which opened on Feb. 14 at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. Lewis, likely born in 1844 in New York, was the first Black and Indigenous artist to earn international recognitionfor her neoclassical sculptures. She was a descendant of the Mississauga of the Credit nation residing in present-day Ontario, and she died in London in 1907 at about the age of 63.   Edmonia’s history and original artwork will also be displayed in a Muse-

um of the Rockies exhibition titled “Chisel and Razor: Art, Entrepreneurship and the Lewis Family,” which opens Oct. 12 and highlights Edmonia’s familial connection to Bozeman.

“When we first heard of the Peabody show, I think we were a little daunted for a moment,” said Regina Gee, professor of art history in the College of Arts and Architecture who studies Roman art. “It connected us to a network of scholars interested in similar research questions, but then we began to realize

1859 with financial help from Samuel, and left before completing her degree.

we have something to say that other exhibits don›t have.”

What most other researchers don’t have is Samuel Lewis. Samuel, Edmonia’s older brother, is often a footnote in discussions about the sculptor, but he had a significant impact on her life, and therefore American art history.

Melissa Ragain, professor of American and modern art, spent time studying Samuelin MSU’s museum, library and city archives, in addition to connecting with local historians and

Eileen Tenney, an owner of Samuel’s house on South Bozeman Avenue. Ragain’s expertise was recently featured in a New York Times article exploring the resurgence of scholarship on Edmonia.

Samuel settled in Bozeman in 1868 shortly after the Civil War and became a cornerstone of the community with his barbershop and his magic performances for youth, which raised money for local churches, charities and civic projects, Ragain said. His flair for performance art, which he studied in Paris in the

1860s, gave both him and his family a public voice at a time when Black residents had limits placed on their social mobility.

As he was pursuing popular art in Bozeman, his sister embraced the “fine art” of marble sculpture in Rome. Her move abroad in 1865 was inspired partly by Samuel’s stories of Europe, where he found a thriving arts scene and a place to escape the prejudices of America, Ragain said.

Edmonia had faced several instances of racism at Oberlin College in Ohio, which she attended in

“They supported each other,” Ragain said. “Her celebrity helped him to start his businesses in Montana. His money helps support her schooling and then in her later years supported her when market interest in neoclassical sculpture waned. There is no Edmonia without Samuel; no Samuel without Edmonia.”  Without much money to her name, Edmonia founded a popular studio in Rome alongside other female American artists. There, she created her magnum opus,The Death of Cleopatra, a 3-ton marble piece depicting queen Cleopatra slumped on her throne after death. Gee is studying how 19th century collections of ancient art in Rome may have inspired the piece, and she hopes to visit the Vatican and Capitoline museums in the future to learn more.

The sculpture lived many lives after its creation. Edmonia first shipped it to Philadelphia for an exhibition, using funds left to her by Lizzie Williams, a formerly enslaved settler who became a restauranteur and hotelier in Bozeman. In later years, it became a grave marker for a racehorse and decoration in aChicago saloon before

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finally landing in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., in 1994 after its rediscovery in a suburban shopping mall.

Gee and Ragain enlisted Montana Tech mechanical engineering students to help recreate the sculpture using 3D printing technology and detailed scans provided by the Smithsonian. The resulting replica will be displayed in the Museum of the Rockies from Oct. 12, 2026, to Sept. 12, 2027, along with other original artworks and documents from the Lewis siblings that have never been shown before in Montana.

“A central conceit of the show is our imagining what it would be like for Edmonia to visit her brother, as though she was bringing these pieces back home where they belong,” said Ragain, who will also co-host an academic symposium with Gee that is inspired by Edmonia on Oct. 23-24 at MSU.

Until recently, Edmonia was thought to have last appeared in archival records in the 1880s, and not much is known about her later years. Researchers, like those at MSU, are scouring letters written by others about Edmonia to learn more, Ragain said. Preliminary research from Quest Dovky, a graduate of MSU’s art history program, helped identify where Edmonia traveled and the locations of her existing artwork, providing insight into her network of fellow artists and American abolitionists.

Dovky, who grew up in a military family and lived in Belgrade, joined the study as an undergraduate research assistant in 2022. He did so with support from theMcNair Scholars Program, which provides research opportunities for exemplary first-generation, low-income and historically underrepresented students. He is now preparing to graduate from MSU in May with a master’s in history, which he was inspired to pursue after presenting his Edmonia research in California and receiving praise for his storytelling ability.

“The magic of doing history is being able to tell the story that you’re seeing, that’s being spoken to you by the archives,” said Dovky, who post-graduation will continue working as a curatorial assistant for Tinworks Art in Bozeman on a June exhibition featuring the Lewis siblings. The exhibition is curated by Ragain, MSU professors and contemporary artists.

Mumford & Sons to perform June 4 in MSU stadium

From the MSU News Service

BOZEMAN — The British folk-rock band Mumford & Sons will bring their Prizefighter Tour to Montana State University’s Bobcat Stadium on Thursday, June 4. Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27.

The Bozeman show includes special guest Sierra Ferrell.

Mumford & Sons, formed in London in 2007, consists of Marcus Mumford (lead vocals, guitar, drums), Ben Lovett (keyboards, vocals) and Ted Dwane (bass, vocals). The band rose to international prominence with their 2009 debut album, “Sigh No More,” which featured hits like “Little Lion Man” and “The Cave.” Their earnest lyricism, driving acoustic instrumentation and anthemic crescendos helped spark a global revival of folk-inspired rock in the late 2000s.

The band’s 2012 follow-up album, “Babel,” debuted at No. 1 in both the U.K. and the U.S. and won a Gram -

my Award for album of the year. Over time, Mumford & Sons expanded their sound beyond traditional folk, incorporating electric instruments and arena-rock influences on later releases. Known

free metallurgical program

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from the campus).

This week-long residential program is for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in exploring careers in science or

for their passionate live performances and sweeping, introspective songs, the band has remained a defining force in contemporary British rock.

There is a six-ticket limit per household.

engineering. The program features hands-on learning in addition to field trips, visits to local industrial operations, and presentations by subject matter experts. Informative lectures about the activities and field trips will also be featured to delve into the science behind what students will be working on.

Ticket information is available at www.montana.edu/brickbreeden/ ticketing.html.

For more information, visit www.montana.edu/ brickbreeden/events/ mumford_and_sons/ index.html.

To apply, click here and fill out the application form by March 31, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact metcamp@mtech.edu. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you at the program.

Robert Sager

RONAN — Robert LaVerne Sager was born on Aug. 5,1950, to Hubert and Grace Sager in Walsenburg, Colorado. The family moved to Ronan, in 1956. Robert married his wife, Linda Black, in 1974. They were married for 52 years when Robert passed away on Feb. 11, 2026.

Robert and Linda moved to Republic, Washington, in 1974, where they lived for 32 years. Robert worked at the San Poil Lumber Company/Vaagen Brothers Lumber Company as a Lumber Grader until its closure. In 2006 Robert and Linda moved back to Ronan.

Montana ranks in top states with highest purchasing power

News from the office of Governor Gianforte

HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced Montana ranks in the top three states in the nation with the largest increases in purchasing power for consumers from 2020 to 2024.

“With affordability top of mind for all Americans, Montanans continue to be better equipped to handle still-high inflation with their paychecks going further in our strong economy,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Thanks to our steady job and wage growth and historic tax cuts, more Montanans can keep more of what they earn to create a prosperous future. In 2027, we must continue to cut taxes to return money back to hardworking taxpayers.”

state with the real percent change up 2.3% since 2020.

In September 2024, Gov. Gianforte announced the findings of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Labor Day report showing Montana as one of only one of two states in the nation where wage growth has outpaced inflation since 2020 and as eighth in the nation for fastest employment growth since 2020.

Basketball

Polson girls BROWNING — The Polson Lady Pirates basketball team fell to the Browning Lady Indians, 58-46, in a Feb. 21 away game. Rylee Taylor-Jefferson led the Lady Pirates with 16 points in the loss.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Butch Sager. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his brother, Roland Sager; his sister, Ronna (Sager) Walchuk; and his children, Richard (Lana) Sager, Sherrie (Troy) Holland, and Hope (Brian) Dreyer; his grandchildren, Erin, Brandon (Samantha), Christopher (Laran), Patrick (Charity), Chelsee (Jacob), Vannessa, Jesse (Andressen), Desirea (Garrett), Odeal (Andy), Esther, J.L., and Meikah; and his 26 great-grandchildren, as well as and numerous nephews, nieces, and in-laws.

There will be a Celebration of Life held at a later date.

According to an analysis by MyPerfectResume, the only states where workers saw real gains in buying power after accounting for inflation and local costs included Idaho, Florida, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, South Carolina, Wyoming, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Maine.

The survey revealed that between 2020 and 2024, the average American worker’s pay rose from about $64,000 to $75,600, an 18% nominal increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In Montana, the average wage grew from approximately $48,400 to $60,000, a 23.9% nominal increase, over the same time period.

Utilizing BLS wage data and considering inflation and cost-of-living adjustments, Montana ranks as the third highest

To promote career, college, military, and entrepreneurship pathways for Montanans to strengthen the state workforce, the governor and DLI last August launched the 406 JOBS initiative. The framework is designed to support the more than 100,000 working age Montanans that are not employed and not seeking work to connect or reconnect with meaningful work.

Through the Homestead Reduced Rate, 80% of homeowners will see a property tax cut this year, with about 10% seeing property taxes remain flat. The average savings for homeowners who saw a tax cut was more than $500, not including the up to $400 property tax rebate available to eligible homeowners.

Montanans have until March 1 to check their status and claim the lower rate at: homestead. mt.gov.

car,

Ronan girls LIBBY — The Ronan Maidens defeated the Libby Lady Loggers on the hardcourt, 55-28, on Feb. 21. Neveah Perez led the Maidens in the win with 14 points followed by teammate Neffertiti Stewart who scored 11.

calendar

Wednesday, Feb. 25

Free meditation class offered

POLSON — Join the Mission Mountain Zen Center on Wednesdays for online instruction, practice and discussion via Zoom and in-person. The classes will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. We will cultivate and deepen our centering skills and meditation practice during the class. For more information and a Zoom link to the class call Zenku at 847-721-0665 or email at: Jerry.Smyers@ gmail.com. Go to: www. missionmountainzen. org for more information.

Thursday, Feb. 26

Toddler Time held at library

POLSON — The Polson Library will hold Toddler Time a program with engaging activities for 2–3-year-olds on Thursdays at 10 a.m. They read active stories, dance, sing and shake it all about.

Story Time held twice weekly

POLSON — The Polson Library holds Story Time on Thursday at 2 p.m. and again on Saturdays at 10 a.m. This kindergarten readiness program is for 3–5-yearolds including stories, songs and crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Tuesday, March 3

Memory Café held

POLSON — A Dementia Care Partner Program, Memory Café, is held on the first Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m.-noon at the North Lake County Public Library. Learn more and register by calling Danika at 406-409-8149.

Wednesday, March 4

Learn to meditate

POLSON — Mission Mountain Zen is offering free online meditation classes.  Please join the Mission Mountain Zen Center on Wednes-

day, February 11, and on subsequent Wednesdays, for an online or in person meditation class led by Zen Teacher, Zenku Jerry Smyers, including meditation instruction, practice and discussion via Zoom and in-person.   The classes will be each Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. We will cultivate and deepen our centering skills and meditation practice during the class. Join us and take advantage of this opportunity. For more information and a Zoom link to the class call Zenku at 847721-0665 or email Jerry. Smyers@gmail.com.  Go to: www.missionmountainzen.org for more information.

Thursday, March 5

Toddler Time held at library

POLSON — The Polson Library will hold Toddler Time a program with engaging activities for 2–3-year-olds on Thursdays at 10 a.m. They read active stories, dance, sing and shake it all about.

Story Time held twice weekly

POLSON — The Polson Library holds Story Time on Thursday at 2 p.m.. and again on Saturdays at 10 a.m. This kindergarten readiness program is for 3–5-year-

Room is the site for Board Game Day on the second Friday of each month at 4 p.m. Our games are never boring – just board!

Learn music recording, engineering

ARLEE — The Arlee Community Development Corporation is sponsoring a series of classes on music recording and engineering, taught by musician and music educator Andre Floyd. Arlee High School students are invited to sign up for this fun, hands-on experience in learning how to make professional-sounding music recordings. The classes will meet twice a month on Fridays, 9 to 11 a.m. from March 6 through May 15. To sign up, call Andre at 406-8908559.

Saturday, March 7

olds including stories, songs and crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Friday, March 6

Little ones enjoy Mother Goose

POLSON — The Polson Library will hold Mother Goose on Fridays at 10 a.m. This program is an interactive program for 0–24-month-old children to enjoy fun rhyming books, finger plays, nursery rhymes and songs.

Board games played

POLSON — The Polson Library Community

MV Neurodegenerative Support Group to meet

RONAN —The Mission Valley Neurodegenerative Disease Support Group will hold their next meeting on Wednesday, March 7, at 1 p.m. in Cottonwood Conference Room at St Luke Community Health Care, 107 6th Ave. SW. The special guest speaker will be Professor Sarah Cercel, Ph.D. from University of Montana. She will speak on “What is new with Parkinsons Disease.” The meeting is open to the public. This will be a very informative meeting. Bring a friend. Contact Monte at 406-253-3484.

Calendar

Tuesday,

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March 17

‘Go Green or Go Home’ theme of St. Patrick’s Day parade

RONAN — The 35th annual Ronan St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held Tuesday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in Ronan. The theme for this year’s parade is “Go Green or Go Home.” Entries line up behind the hospital at 4:45 p.m. Prizes will be given at the Irish headquarters after the parade - The Pheasant Lounge.

Story Time held twice weekly

POLSON — The Polson Library holds Story Time on Thursday at 10 a.m. and again on Saturdays at 10 a.m. This kindergarten readiness program is for 3–5-year-

olds including stories, songs and crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, March 18

Network at the Job Fair

POLSON — The 2026 Lake County Spring Job Fair will take place on Wednesday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Red Lion Inn & Suites, Ballroom, 209 Ridgewater Drive. This event is open to th4 public and there is no fee for job seekers. Employer registration is required to participate. Booth registration is $40. Space is limited so register early. To register, complete the online form at: https:/bit.ly/4qDpG5y.

Friday, March 27

Board games played

POLSON — The Polson Library Community Room is the site for Board Game Day on the second Friday of each month at 4 p.m. Our games are never boring –just board!

Little ones enjoy Mother Goose

POLSON — The Polson Library will hold Mother Goose on Fridays at 10 a.m. This program is an interactive program for 0–24-month-old children to enjoy fun rhyming books, finger plays, nursery rhymes and songs.

Friday, April 24

Register for the Buttercup Run

ARLEE — The annual Jocko Valley Buttercup Run will be held on Friday, April 24, with the 10K beginning at 10 a.m., the 5K beginning at 10:30 a.m. and the 1-mile at 10:30 a.m. Register by March 1 to be guaranteed your shirt size. The cost to participate is $50 for a family of 3 or more, $20 for 18 years and up, $10 for 6 years to 17 years, and children 5 years and under are free. Food trucks will be available to purchase breakfast, lunch and coffee. For more information visit: www. facebook.com/ButtercupRun or email: samantha. morigeau@cskthealth. org. All proceeds benefit Friends of Arlee Schools funds.

public meetings

The Polson City Commission meets every first and third Monday of the month (Wednesday, if the Monday falls on a holiday) at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 106 1st Street East. Meetings are open to the public.

St. Ignatius City Council meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 12 First Ave. 406- 745-3791

Ronan City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., 207 Main Street SW, Ste A. 406-676-4231

Lake County Commissioners , 106 Fourth Ave. E, room 211, (Lake County Courthouse) 406-883-7278, Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Lake County Conservation District , 64352 US HWY 93, Ronan, meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and agendas may be found at LakeCountyConservationDistrict.org.

250,000 IMPRESSIONS

The Ronan School District No. 30 Board of Trustees have regularly scheduled board meetings once a month. They meet the second Monday of every month in the K. William Harvey Elementary Multi-Purpose Room. Regular meetings begin at 7 p.m.

The Polson School District No. 23 Board of Trustees have regularly scheduled board meetings once a month. Meetings are held the second Monday of each month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the District Office, 111 4th Ave. E, 406-883-6345.

The Charlo School District 7J B Board of Trustees have regularly scheduled meetings on the third Thursday of every month. Meetings are held in the school library, 404 1st Ave. W, and begin at 7 p.m. The phone number is 406-6442206.

The Arlee School District No. 8 Board of Trustees hold regularly scheduled meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are held in the Arlee High School Library, 72220 Fyant Street, and begin at 6:30 p.m. The phone number is 406-726-3216.

Valley View Elementary is located at 42448 Valley View Road. The phone number is 406-8832208.

St. Ignatius School District No. 28 Board of Trustees meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the library, 76 Third Avenue. The phone number is 406-745-3811.

PUZZLES

classifieds

Announcements

Auctions

Whispering Pines Mini Storage Public Sale, March 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m. 35417 Clairmont Rd. Pablo, MT. Sell to highest bidder for CASH OR CERTIFIED CHECK ONLY. Contents of Units #62, #73 #76 and #95.

Subject to redemption prior to sale time. Call 406-675-8620.

JOHNCO STORAGE: Public sale March 4th, 2026 at 1:00 pm at 808 7th Street East, Polson. Sell to highest bidder for CASH OR CHECK ONLY, contents of unit 24, 89, 117, 10, 198, 255, 193, 213 and 216. Units are subject to redemption prior to sale time. 406-883-5405.

Special Notices

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Get a break on your taxes! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today at 1-855901-2620 today!

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1-855-601-2865

Employment

Help wanted AIDE (FIRE/FUELS) 1 OR MORE CONTRACT POSITIONS - FORESTRYDIVISION OF FIRE

Applicant must possess a high school diploma (or equivalent).

Three (3) months of general work experience, which can be any work experience. i.e. mowing lawns, bucking hay, etc. to serve on a fuels, engine or monitoring crew. One (1) season of firefighting experience required to serve on the Helitack crew. Training required for the NWCG FFT2 and FAL3 position is not required for initial hire, but must be obtained within the established probation period. Successful applicant is subject to annual medical examination and work capacity test for arduous positions. Successful applicant must pass both to meet the standards of the Technician position. Ability to perform duties under stressful and adverse operating conditions, such as long work hours, heavy workloads, emergency situations, adverse working and environmental conditions.

Must possess the ability to verbally communicate sufficiently to work as a member of a team. Applicant must submit a completed Tribal application and relevant academic transcripts and training certificates to the Tribal Personnel Department, 406.675.2700 ext. 1040 or visit the cskt.org/personnel website for the application. Salary $15.39 per hour including benefits. Closing date will be Monday, March 9, 2026 @ 5:30 p.m. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

Extension Agent – Agriculture, Natural Resources and

Horticulture in Richland County, Sidney, MT. Full time. Exciting job with lots of autonomy! Will develop, implement and evaluate Extension programming in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Horticulture. Complete information and to apply: www.montana. edu/extension/careers. Equal Opportunity Employer, Veterans/Disabled

PHARMACIST

TRIBAL HEALTH

DEPARTMENT

Various Locations

The successful applicant must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Pharmacy. A valid driver’s license. Must pass a background and suitability check according to Public Law 101-630; the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. All applicants must submit a Tribal application, a copy of academic transcripts, certifications, proof of state licensure, copy of valid driver’s license, if claiming Tribal preference, proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of the DD214 must be submitted. FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN DISQUALI- FICATION DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS. This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy, and subject to random testing. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test, and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. Salary is negotiable DOE, plus benefits - May be employed under contract. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700 Ext. 1040 or personnel@cskt.org. Tribal applications are also available online at cskt.org/personnel. The closing date will be Monday, March 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. (MST) CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

RESTORATION PROJECT MANAGER - (2 POSITIONS AVAILABLE) - DIVISION OF ENGINEERING & WATER RESOURCES (DEWR) NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT

DEWR COMPLEX –RONAN, MT

The Restoration Project Manager is a professional, full-time position responsible for the development, oversight, and execution of ecological restoration and mitigation projects administered by the Natural Resources Department’s (NRD) Division of Engineering and Water Resources (DEWR) on the Flathead Reservation. This position manages all phases of restoration project delivery, including planning, design, permitting, construction, and post-implementation monitoring. The Restoration Project Manager ensures that all projects are delivered in compliance with the Montana Water Rights Protection Act and applicable Tribal, Federal, and State environmental laws, cultural protection standards, and CSKT policies. This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Restoration Ecology, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or related field. Required to have a minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in ecological restoration, environmental project management, or construction oversight. Experience working with Tribal governments and regulatory agencies is strongly preferred. Must have in-depth knowledge of ecological restoration principles and practices, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, soil science, and native plant communities. Possession of a valid state driver’s license, and must have liability or full coverage insurance on personal vehicle (if used to travel off-site in performance of duties). Also, must successfully complete a certified defensive driving course approved by the department, and wear Tribal Government identification and safety apparel while conduct-

ing field activities. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS. All applicants are required to submit a Tribal Employment Application (Resumes may be submitted but may not replace or supplement the official Tribal Employment Application), copies of relevant academic transcripts and/or certificates, copy of valid state driver’s license, if applicable, please submit proof of enrollment from a Federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming Veteran’s preference, a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This position is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by CSKT must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. Salary range is $30.44 to $34.99 per hour, including Benefits: Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement, Long-term Disability, and PTO & Paid Holidays. To apply, contact Personnel at 406/675-2700 Ext. 1040. FOR MORE INFO: Contact Tabitha Espinoza – Environmental Restoration Program Manager at 406/675-2700 Ext. 7238. Tribal Employment Applications are also available online at cskt.org/personnel. This position will close on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 5:30 pm.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

IIM ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN

IIM DEPARTMENT

TRIBAL COMPLEX-PABLO

The successful applicant must possess a high school diploma or have a GED equivalent. One year of accounting courses above the high school level or equivalent combination of training and experience. Two years of office experience. Must be able to pass a background check. All applicants must submit a completed Tribal employment

application, copy of relevant academic transcripts and training certificates, copy of current valid driver’s license, proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of your DD214. This position is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. A favorable determination resulting from a completed background investigation is required for your placement in this position. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE ABOVE INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS.

Salary is $18.84 to $21.66 per hour, including benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700 Ext. 1040. Tribal applications are also available on-line at cskt.org/personnel.

Closing date will be Monday, March 2, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

WIC PROGRAM MANAGER TRIBAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Rotating Mission, Ronan, Arlee

The successful applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science from an accredited college or university with a valid and unrestricted license in the state of Montana. OR a bachelor’s degree in nursing, health promotion, health education, health and human development, community health, early child development, exercise science, family and consumer sciences, or home economics, AND successful completion of an anatomy/physiology series of coursework completed within the last ten (10) years unless applicant has been working in the Health Field, WITH six (6) or more college credit hours in food and nutrition appropriate

Help wanted

cont’d from pg. 21

to the WIC population completed within the last ten (10) years unless applicant has been working in the Nutrition Field (examples include basic nutrition, nutrition in life cycle, community nutrition, and nutrition and disease) - may also be completed within 1 year of hire. Certified Lactation Counselor within 1 year of hire. All applicants must submit a Tribal application, a copy of academic transcript/ degree, certifications, copy of valid driver’s license, if claiming Tribal preference, proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of the DD214 must be submitted.

FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS. This position is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy and subject to random drug testing. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. Salary $26.79 - $30.79 per hour plus benefits, may be employed under contract. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700 Ext. 1040 or personnel@cskt.org. Tribal applications are also available online at cskt.org/personnel The closing date will be Monday, March 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. (MST) CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

CUSTODIAN (3 POSITIONS AVAILABLE)

FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENTPABLO, MT This position is an integral part of the Facilities & Maintenance Department and consists of work to provide technical and skilled custodial, grounds, and mainte-

nance functions in and around CSKT Facilities’ offices, buildings, and surrounding areas. This position is responsible for maintaining a clean, sanitary and safe environment throughout assigned Tribal Facilities. The successful applicant must possess a valid driver’s license with no alcohol related convictions for the last three (3) years. Must be able to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License if requested. One (1) to two (2) years’ experience in cleaning chemicals and their proper uses, with ability to obtain professional/commercial experience through three (3) months of training. One (1) to two (2) years’ experience in the operation of specialized equipment. Knowledge in effective cleaning and sanitizing techniques. Knowledge in basic carpentry, plumbing, and electrical. Skilled in the mixing of cleaning chemicals. Skilled in the handling of hazardous waste. FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS. All applicants are required to submit a Tribal Employment Application (Resumes may be submitted but may not replace or supplement the official Tribal Employment Application), copy of relevant transcripts and/or certificates, copy of valid driver’s license, if applicable, please submit proof of enrollment from a Federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes, must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a six (6) month probationary period. Salary is $13.44 to $15.45 per hour (Including Benefits: Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement, Long-term Disability, and PTO & Paid Holidays). To apply, contact Tribal Personnel at (406)6752700 Ext. 1040. Tribal Em-

ployment Applications are also available online at cskt.org/personnel. Closing date will be Monday, March 2, 2026 at 5:30pm. CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

ASSISTANT DISPATCHER FORESTRY –

DIVISION OF FIRE

The successful applicant must have a high school diploma (or equivalent). 90 days of training and experience as a wildland firefighter. 90 days of training and/or experience in prescribed fire. 90 days of training and/or experience dispatch recording and/or support dispatching. Current qualification as a Trainee or Qualified, Expanded Dispatch Recorder (EDRC) with training to include ICS-100 and IS-700. Must become qualified as an Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher (EDSD) within 36 months of hire date. Training to include NWCG EDSD required training requirements (ICS-200). Successful applicant is subject to maintaining a valid red card qualification as an Expanded dispatcher (EDRC). A valid State of Montana driver’s license is required for vehicle operation. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Tribes Drug Free Workplace Program and is subject to pre-hire and random drug and

alcohol testing requirements. Applicant must submit a completed Tribal application and relevant academic transcripts and training certificates to the Tribal Personnel Department, 406.675.2700 ext. 1040 or visit the cskt.org/personnel website for the application. Salary $29.28 per hour, plus benefits. Closing date will be Monday, March 9, 2026 @ 5:30 p.m. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

SQUAD LEADER (FIRE/FUELS) - ENGB FORESTRY – DIVISION OF FIRE

The successful applicant must have a high school diploma (or equivalent). Required qualification-S-211 “Portable Pumps and Water Use”. Required qualification-S-290 “Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior”. Required qualification-Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5). Required Qualification-Faller 3 (FAL3). Required Qualification-Engine Boss (ENGB). Must possess a valid state driver’s license at the time of hire and possess throughout employment. BIA

requirement of employee adherence to all responsibilities under the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Motor Vehicle Operator Policy. Must continuously meet the requirements for an Interagency Qualifications Carding System (IQCS) rating Engine Boss (ENGB), Faller 3 (FAL3), AND Incident Commander Type 5 (ICT5). Obtain Prescribed Burn Boss Type 3 (RXB3) qualification within two (2) years of hire. Obtain and continuously meet the requirements for an Interagency Qualifications Carding System (IQCS) Faller 2 (FAL2) qualification within two (2) years of hire. Must continuously meet the Interagency Wildland Firefighter Medical Standards for arduous duty wildland firefighting. Must attain and maintain the prerequisite physical stamina and strength needed to perform rigorous duties and must pass the Work Capacity Test at the arduous level annually. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Tribal Drug and Alcohol Policy and is subject to pre-hire and random drug testing requirements. Applicant must submit a completed Tribal application and relevant academic transcripts and training certificates to the Tribal Personnel Department, 406.675.2700 ext. 1040 or visit the cskt.org/personnel website for the application.

PUZZLE ANSWERS

(From puzzles on page 20.)

Word Search Answers:

Salary $21.54 per hour, plus benefits. Closing date will be Thursday, March 9, 2026 @ 5:30 p.m. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER. FORESTRY TECHNICIAN (FIRE/FUELS) (1 OR MORE CONTRACT POSITIONS) - FORESTRY –DIVISION OF FIRE Applicant must possess a high school diploma (or equivalent). At a minimum for Technician, two (2) seasons in fire/fuels related work. FFT2 qualified. Faller 3 (FAL3) qualified. Successful applicant is subject to annual medical examination and work capacity test for arduous positions. Successful applicant must pass both to meet the standards of the Technician position. Ability to successfully complete NWCG developmental training to include but not limited to S-131, S-290 and L-280. Ability to perform duties under stressful and adverse operating conditions, such as long work hours, heavy workloads, emergency situations, adverse

see page 23

Legals

cont’d from pg. 22

working conditions and environmental conditions. Ability to communicate effectively and follow oral/written instructions. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees within a diverse workforce. Applicant must submit a completed Tribal application and relevant academic transcripts and training certificates to the Tribal Personnel Department, 406.675.2700 ext. 1040 or visit the cskt.org/personnel website for the application. Salary $17.27 hour including benefits. Closing date will be Monday, March 9, 2026 @ 5:30 p.m. This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

notices

or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD Toll-free at 1-800669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

Legals

Legals

Pablo Water and Sewer District is currently accepting bids on hay lease ground. This will be a multi-year lease on 100 acres. Please call Luke Taylor at 406-675-4242 for more details. Bids are due by March 1, 2026.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act and the Montana Human Rights Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, marital status, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents

Bids can be dropped off at the office located at 36520 Carbine Rd Pablo.

February 18 and 25, 2026 MNAXLP

Chuck Wall

TURNAGE & WALL, PLLP

Attorneys at Law

312 First St. East Polson, MT 59860

Telephone: 406-883-5367

Fax: 406-883-5328

ChuckWall@TurnageWallLaw.com

Attorney for Petitioner

IN THE TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, LAKE COUNTY, MONTANA

IN THE MATTER OF THE NAME CHANGE OF SANDRA LEE NOBLE, Petitioner.

Cause No.: DV-2025-303 Department No. 2

NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Petition has been filed by SANDRA LEE NOBLE, born October 18, 1966, in the Twentieth Judicial District Court, Lake County, Montana, seeking to change her name to SAUNDRA LEE NOBLE

Said Petition has been set for hearing in the above-entitled Court, located at 106 4th Avenue East, Polson, Montana for Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

Any objections thereto may be filed

by anyone who can show to the Court good reason against such change of name.

DATED this 3rd day of February, 2026.

TURNAGE & WALL, PLLP

/s/ Chuck Wall

Chuck Wall

Attorney for Petitioner

Feb. 11, 18, 25 and Mar. 4, 2026 MNAXLP

Chuck Wall

TURNAGE & WALL, PLLP

Attorneys at Law

312 First St. East Polson, MT 59860

Telephone: 406-883-5367

ChuckWall@TurnageWallLaw.com

MONTANA TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, LAKE COUNTY

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: CAROLYN MARGERET SHEUMAKER, Deceased.

Cause No.: DP-24-2026-1 Department 2 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the undersigned has been appointed as PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE of the above-entitled estate, and that the address of the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE is set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent having

Service Directory

claims against the decedent’s estate must present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice, or be forever barred as creditors of the decedent.

A written statement of the claim indicating its basis, the name and address of the claimant, and the amount claimed, may be filed with the Clerk of the 20th Judicial District Court, at Polson, Lake County, Montana, or mailed, Return Receipt Requested, to the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, c/o

TURNAGE & WALL, PLLP, Attorneys for the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, at 312 First St. East, Polson, MT 59860.

/s/ Gregory Sheumaker GREGORY SHEUMAKER

PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Estate of CAROLYN MARGERET SHEUMAKER, Deceased.

Feb. 11, 18 and 25. 2026 MNAXLP