BILLINGS’ MOST READ MAGAZINE SELECTED
BEST MAGAZINE 2012 MONTANA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION
escape! BACKYARD RETREATS • WEEKEND GETAWAYS • BOUNDLESS SUMMER FUN
NOW BOARDING:
BEHIND-THE-SCENES AT BILLINGS LOGAN INTERNATIONAL
THE GUY’S GUIDE TO THE BEST GEAR
HOW SAFE ARE YOU? CRIME FIGHTERS TELL IT LIKE IT IS
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 1
2 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 3
4 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
FEATURES
july 2013
special report CRIME in the magic city
54
HOW SAFE ARE YOU? If it seems as though the
number of crimes reported in the local news has been increasing, that’s because it has.
by jASON BURKE
escape!
63
LIFESAVing jobs
MEET 7 AMAZING PEOPLE WHO DEDICATE THEIR careers to keeping the community safe
AS TOLD TO bRITTANY CREMER/BRENDA MAAS/ALLYN HULTENG
67
Now Boarding:
A behind-the-scenes look at billings logan international
by ALLYN HULTENG
58
72
dEFENSE: THE BEST OFFENSE what tools you need to keep
FIRE FROM THE SKY
DOES LIGHTENING ONLY STRIKE ONCE?
by CHRIS RUBICH
your family safe
81
by jASON BURKE
OUR GUY’S GUIDE TO THE SUMMER’S BEST GEAR AND GADGETS FOR THE MAN WHO wants to have IT ALL
BY NICK MANN
87
BUG OFF
TIPS ON HAVING AN INSECt-FREE SUMMER
by DONNA HEALY
91
Backyard Retreats BILLINGS’ MOST READ MAGAZINE SELECTED
BEST MAGAZINE 2012 MONTANA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION SUMMER ESCAPES • BILLINGS LOGAN INTERNATIONAL • GUY’S GUIDE TO THE BEST GEAR • HOW SAFE ARE YOU?
escape!
PERCEPTION, INTUITION AND THE REALM IN-BETWEEN DO DREAMS REALLY COME TRUE?
by BRITTANY CREMER
Weekend Getaways Boundless Summer Fun
BACKYARD RETREATS • WEEKEND GETAWAYS • BOUNDLESS SUMMER FUN
NOW BOARDING:
JULY 2013
BEHIND-THE-SCENES AT BILLINGS LOGAN INTERNATIONAL
THE GUY’S GUIDE TO THE BEST GEAR
HOW SAFE ARE YOU? CRIME FIGHTERS TELL IT LIKE IT IS
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 5
DEPARTMENTS
july 2013
RIVER TO RIMS
IN EVERY ISSUE
11 tHE LIST
8
EDITOR’S LETTER by ALLYn Hulteng
FUN, FACINATING fINDS
12 PERSON OF INTEREST 14 GIVING BACK
9
dan austin
cONTRIBUTORS
absarokee-beartooth wilderness foundation
94 96
16 ARTIST LOFT 18 ELEMENTS
98
20 MEDIA ROOM
SEEN AT THE SCENE
coila evans
pack the car and hit the road
DATEBOOK LAST WORD
bOOKS, MOVIES, MUSIC & WEB REVIEWS
SIGNATURE SECTION
FINE LIVING
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
22 GREAT ESTATES I
41
GREAT ESTATES II
44
A tale of two houses
27 Scra p meta l s c ul p t u re From Salvage Designs, page 11
6 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Why Magic City?
the ultimate motor home
LEGENDS
Mighty praire flower: laura petter
PHOTO JOURNAL
A day in the life: 24 hours of fun in the magic city
35
epicure
billings’ best sandwiches
TRAVELOGUE
39
libations
50
colorful concoctions
BEYOND BILLINGS
black hills: undiscovered treasures
In the early 1880s, immigrants and adventurers came in droves to seek their livelihood on the verdant land along the Yellowstone River. The hastily constructed tents and log cabins made it appear as if Billings materialized overnight – thus earning the name “The Magic City.” Today, as the largest city in Montana, Billings proudly retains its ‘Magic City’ moniker. As for Magic City magazine, we promise to continue our mission to uncover all that is unique and wonderful and changing in this great community ... and we guarantee a few surprises along the way.
july 2013 I VOLUME 11 I ISSUE 4
Michael GulledgE Publisher 657-1225 e dit oria l
Allyn Hulteng Editor-in-chief 657-1434 Bob Tamb0 Creative Director 657-1474 Brittany Cremer Senior Editor 657-1390 Brenda Maas Assistant Editor 657-1490 Evelyn Noennig assistant Editor 657-1226 pho togr a phy
Larry Mayer, James Woodcock, Casey Page, Bob Zellar, Paul Ruhter
experience what does
look like?
FOR SERvICE AND ExPERIENCE, CONTACT OUR HOME LOAN ExPERTS TODAY
A dv e r tising
Dave Worstell Sales & Marketing Director 657-1352 Ryan Brosseau Classified & Online Manager 657-1344 Shelli Rae Scott SALES MANAGER 657-1390 LINSAY DUTY ADVERTISING COORDINATOR 657-1254 MO LUCAS Production/Traffic Artist 657-1286 C ontact us: Mail: 401 N. Broadway Billings, MT 59101 editor@magiccitymagazine.com F ind us onl ine at www.magiccitymagazine.com F ind us at va rious r ac k l ocations t hroughout Bil l ings: Billings area Albertsons I Billings Airport I Billings Clinic Billings Gazette Communications Billings Hardware I Copper Colander Curves for Women I Evergreen IGA I Gainan’s I Good Earth Market Granite Fitness I Kmart I McDonald’s (select locations)neecee’s I Pita Pit Real Deals I Reese and Ray’s IGA (Laurel) I Sidney Airport Stella’s St. Vincent’s Healthcare I The Y I Valley Federal Credit Union (Downtown location) Western Security Banks (Downtown location) I Williston Airport Yellowstone County Museum I Plus many other locations Subscriptions are available at the annual subscription rate of $29 (5 Issues). Single copy rate $4.95. Mail subscription requests and changes to address above, ATTN: Circulation
front row
back row
NATALIE PIGG
TERESA GILREATH
CINDY REISS, Manager
LISA JORDAN
Loan Originator ID 298633 Lockwood Branch 2850 Old Hardin Rd. 237-1805 Loan Originator ID 901291 Billings Downtown 401 N 31st St. • 255-5148
TIFFANY MCNEFF
Loan Originator ID 707795 Billings Downtown 401 N 31st St. • 255-5185
ROBYN BARTA
Loan Originator ID 609679 Billings Downtown 401 N 31st St. • 255-5176
Loan Originator ID 707960 Billings Heights 730 Main St. 255-5833 Loan Originator ID 708013 Billings West 2501 Central Ave. 255-6109
JACQUELYN WAGNER Loan Originator ID 707868 Billings Downtown 401 N 31st St. 255-5177
competitive rates • online applications construction-perm loans • rD loans conventional • FHa • va First-time Homebuyer programs
Magic City Magazine is published five times a year by Billings Gazette Communications Copyright© 2013 Magic City Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written consent is prohibited.
firstinterstate.com MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 7
EDITOR LETTER
A LLY N HUL T E N G
Ode to the open road The first rays of light from the morning sun were barely peeking over Sacrifice Cliff as my sister and I merged onto I-94. It was the middle of August, and the forecast called for another hot, dry day. The ancient Subaru station wagon provided reliable, albeit bare-bones transportation. No stereo. No cruise control. No air conditioning. We would be driving in the heat of the day with all four windows rolled down and vents wide open. The early start was meant to lessen our time in the sweatbox – but truthfully, we didn’t care. We were on an adventure. The two of us were traveling to the Twin Cities. Sally was visiting her boyfriend, and I would be exploring the metropolis with a friend I had met abroad. Chatting excitedly, we watched as the rising sun cast a glorious kaleidoscope of color across the heavens. Blood red, brilliant orange and shocking pink hues burst brightly, then slowly faded to reveal a crystalline blue sky. It would have been worth getting up just to watch daybreak, we agreed. Our first stop was in Miles City. At the service station we topped off our tank and picked up a pair of McMuffins, which we washed down with diet Coke. It was still early; traffic was light as we got back on the interstate. “Terry’s next,” Sally said referring to the well-warn map. “Do you know how the town got its name?” I sighed. My sister was the ultimate Montana history bibliophile; I liked science fiction. “No clue,” I replied. “Named after Major General Alfred Howe Terry. He was involved in a campaign against Native Americans along with Custer,” she said, giving me the short course on the Battle of the Little Big Horn. We talked about what it must have been like living on the frontier when Montana was a territory. It wasn’t hard to imagine. Outside, miles of empty prairie stretched in every direction. Blazing hot summers, frigid winters and endless hours of hard, manual labor. No wonder the pioneers in vintage photographs stared back with pinched, unsmiling faces. The Subaru suddenly felt a little more luxurious. When we crossed the North Dakota border we were on home
8 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
turf. Our childhood had been spent in a tiny hamlet within a stone’s throw of Canada – and we were familiar with every nook and cranny of the Dakota plains. What the state lacks in geologic relief it makes up for in thick grasslands, rich farmland and a naturally occurring series of lakes and ponds that dot the rolling landscape. It’s all part of the Central Flyway, an ancient bird migration route that extends from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. At Dickinson, the windows came down and sunflower seeds came out. Two freshly-opened cans of diet soda helped tame the saltiness. In a curious way, the wind sweeping into the car made us feel as though we were part of the scenery, not just observers inside a protected bubble. We breathed in the smell of wet earth and freshly cut straw. The warm, moist air created condensation on the soda cans – something unheard of in the dry West. By the time we reached Fargo, the humidity caused our normally wavy hair to spin into lose damp curls and our skin to glisten. Ten hours into the trip we still had ample stores of conversation and laughter. Two hours later we reached our destination.
Life is a journey…
Many years have passed since Sally and I made the long trek to Minneapolis. (She ended up marrying her boyfriend; I’ve long since lost track of my friend.) While neither of us remembers much of what we did in the cities, we both recall in great detail every leg of that long drive. For us, I-94 had been a rite of passage – personal, memorable, an enduring link to sisterhood.
Make your own rules
Road trips are like that – or at least they used to be before the advent of so much technology. The next time you hit the open road , do yourself a favor. Tuck away the smart phones, the iPAD, the DVD player, roll down your windows and get ready – because your adventure is about to begin.
Allyn Hulteng editor@magiccitymagazine.com
c ontri b u tors
Nick Mann grew up in Billings and began traveling the country at a young age with his family. He has lived in Boise, ID and Glasgow, Scotland, where he earned a Masters Degree in Strategic Marketing from the University of Glasgow. He is passionate about travel and the benefits tourism can bring to a community. Nick is currently the Marketing Manager at Visit Southeast Montana and enjoys writing about the places he has traveled to in his spare time.
IntroducIng Polywood.
outdoor furniture made from recycled milk jugs that lasts forever.
Chris Rubich, a Billings native, has more than 35 years of experience as a reporter, photographer and editor for newspapers in Montana and Wyoming, including 29 years with The Billings Gazette. A graduate of the University of Montana, she enjoys sharing plants from her garden with others, volunteer activities and walking her rescue dogs.
Jason Burke
writes for the discoverer in all of us. As a Professional Engineer, management consultant and freelance writer, work keeps him on the move, meeting interesting people everywhere he goes. Originally from San Diego and recently returned from Australia, his background includes degrees from UC Berkeley and Montana Tech, a private pilot certificate, and sharing the wonders of engineering, aviation and technology. In Montana for 10 years, he lives in Billings with his wife, Christy, and their three children.
Julie Green’s
life-long passion has always been writing and eventually, it became her profession. During her career, she has done technical, legal, business and creative writing (some all at the same time!) A native of Cowley, Wyoming, Julie is a part of the copy/ concept/creative team Billings-based Kinetic Marketing & Creative. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Dave and their two children.
Karen Kinser
While loving the wizardry of words, Karen also loves travel because of that present-moment sense, which travel conveys so well, that each day is a gift to unwrap. Other passions include hiking, gardening, photographing and entering recipe contests. Both she and her husband are fascinated with factory tours, literary landmarks, and seeking restaurants mentioned in novels ‑‑just to see if they exist.
Suzanne Waring
finished her career as an English instructor and administrator with the Montana University System in Great Falls and has found that she enjoys writing about Montana people and their communities.
downtown 502 n 30th St
Donna Healy,
a freelance writer, started her career in journalism on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and worked as a feature writer for The Billings Gazette for more than 30 years. In June, she won a first place prize in the Society of Professional Journalists Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism Competition. She loves exercise classes at the Billings YMCA, getting up before dawn and cutting flowers from the garden to rescue them from the weeds. Last year, she joined the staff of RiverStone Health as a part-time communication projects specialist.
west Store 1211 24th St w Heights garden center 810 Bench Blvd
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 9
Today You’ll be treated like a person, not a patient. With primary care clinics in and around Billings, we get to know your whole family and work with your schedule; not the other way around.
You’ll appreciate: • Comprehensive medical care for the whole family • Same-day access • In-house labs and x-ray capabilities
To receive compassionate care from any of our board certified physicians in your neighborhood, call one of our St. Vincent Physician Network Billings locations today:
North Shiloh
Broadwater
West Grand Family Medicine
2223 Mission Way (406)237-8989
2019 Broadwater Avenue (406)237-5200
2750 Grand Avenue (406)237-5353
Heights Family Practice
Laurel
32 Wicks Lane (406)237-8300
1035 1st Avenue (406)628-6311
svh-mt.org 10 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
THE LIST
THE LIST
PERSON OF INTEREST
GIVING BACK
ARTIST LOFT
MEDIA ROOM
ELEMENTS
FUN, FASCINATING FINDS WE THINK ARE GREAT
Bug off!
Bag It—Not!
Forgot the can of nasty bug spray? No problem, if you are wearing this shirt by Columbia. The insect blocker repels mosquitos, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges (AKA: no-see-ums) and lasts through 70 washes. Add in Omni-Shade sun protection and the Omni-Wick advanced evaporation system and you’re set for outdoor adventure.
Here’s a recipe for ageless fun. Get the Triumph Sports USA Bag Toss and set up a heated tournament in your own backyard—little to no skill required. The boards lock together and have a convenient handle for easy transport to the campsite.
Available at Target $60
Available at Base Camp $85
Light up the night With this fire cube, it’s hip to be square. Made of concrete, this fire pit is 52-inches with a 48-inch burner and fueled by either gas or propane. Pick a custom color to match your outdoor oasis.
Bi Concrete $2,200
Cute as Can Bee Have sun, have flower. This unique garden piece, created by local artist Jane Hart, had a former life as a Caterpillar® equipment hood and pressure gauge. Now, its beauty is in the eye of many “beholders.”
Salvage Designs $75
Lip-smackin’ delicious Pick your poison. Grilling season is in full swing, and you can’t go wrong with any of these salts, rubs and sauces. From SpicZ Galz, Montana Mex, Henry’s Sauce & Condiment Company, K&L Product and Western Trails Foods, every product is made in Montana. Any questions?
Available at Good Earth Market All under $10 each
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 11
PERSON OF INTEREST
By Brenda Maas I PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASEY PAGE
Adventure Advocate It all started with a trip to the Grand Tetons “Billings is coming of age but we can achieve so much more. We have to continue the evolution by overcoming stereotypes and improving our infrastructure while protecting the outdoors that we love. --Dan Austin, owner Austin-Lehman Adventures
Dan Austin did not set out to be the owner of a world-renowned travel and adventure company. In fact, this four-time winner of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Tour Operator award first joined the working class as a carpenter and then owner of a construction company. Skills, he claims, he still uses today. “I’ve always been passionate about exploring the outdoors,” he said. “So this company, Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA), was a natural fit for me.” Dan sees trip-planning the same way that he viewed construction projects—the logistics are very similar. “Researching, analyzing and long-distance trouble-shooting are my strong points,” he said. Austin grew up in California, moved to Alaska and frequently visited Montana—travel and adventure were no strangers. But being a recreational outdoor adventurist and owning/operating a successful outdoor adventure company requires two vastly different skill sets. “It all started with Backcountry Tours and my first trip to the Grand Tetons. I’m a type-A guy, and I never thought I would actually like travel with a tour group,”
12 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Austin said. “But I was blown away that first day—I didn’t have to do a thing except enjoy my experience. They did it all for me and I thought, ‘I could really get used to this.’” When an opportunity to co-own Backcountry came up, Austin and his wife, Carol, a Billings native, jumped in. Although Bozeman, and access to Yellowstone National Park, is key, they still elected to make Billings home.
There’s no place like home
Billings is more than where the Austin family resides when they aren’t globe-trotting. Dan is active in his community, serving where his heart lies—in travel and outdoor adventure—on the executive board of the South-
east Montana Tourism Board and the State of Montana Governor’s Advisory Council on Tourism. Closer to home still, he sits on a committee for the City of Billings to help make his hometown a more “bicycle friendly” community. “Billings is coming of age,” he said. “But we can achieve so much more.” He points to Swords Park and upcoming trail and park improvements as examples. “We have to continue the evolution by overcoming stereotypes and improving our infrastructure while protecting the outdoors that we love,” Dan added. For ALA, it doesn’t matter where we are located, he said. A lot of our competitors are on the coasts, but an operation like this would be cost-prohibitive in California. “We had friends and family here, it is a good place to raise a family—our kids were 2 and 4 at the time—and the cost of living made more sense here,” he said. That was nearly 20 years ago. ALA has grown to include 97 tours on six continents from North America to Australia to Antarctica. The family, multi-sport tours of Yellowstone National Park and bicycle tours in Europe remain popular mainstays.
World traveler with a view
When asked which is his personal favorite trip, Dan comes back with, “The one I was just on.” True to the eye-opening experiences that ALA hopes to share with their guests, Dan never ceases to learn from his own global excursions. And, he strongly believes in sustainable business practices, most especially travel. To that end, Namibia holds a special place in his heart. “Namibians are good people, good souls,” he says. “They work hard and take nothing for granted. Namibia is the least densely populated country, per capita, and 43 percent of the country’s land is set aside and protected. The wildlife and scenery are incredible, plus they responsibly promote sustainable travel.” Despite traveling approximately 12 weeks each year, Austin gets a dreamy look in his eye when he talks his proximity to the Yellowstone River, affirming there’s no place like home. “Montana and Yellowstone will always be special to me.”
creating tomorrow’s
ANTIQUES Wheels of Change Imagine collecting an entire ship container full of donated bikes and sending them off to a remote part of Africa. Then think about turning that huge container into a selfsustaining bike shop.
2923 2nd Ave. N. Billings, MT 59101
406-245-3788 kennedysstainedglass.com
Dan Austin and his son Andy didn’t just dream it—they did it. Starting with 125 ALA bikes, they collected an additional 200 in the Billings area and then shipped the donated
Beautifyy yyour Floors
bikes along with tools to Ngoma, Namibia. On-site they then trained a group of locals to operate and
Solid Wood Installation over RADIANT FLOOR HEAT
manage the bike-contain-
Hardwood Floor Installation
er-turned-shop. Known as
Refinish and Restore
a Bicycle Empowerment
Swedish No-Wax Finishes
Center (BEC), this program exemplifies how one simple
Quality Material from the Finest Mills
bike can change a life. For more information on Wheels of Change, see www.wocinternational.org. Photo by James Woodcock
Free Estimates! 10056 SSouth th FFrontage t Rd Rd. Billings, MT 59101 (406) 656-3613 softtouchdesigns.net
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 13
GIVING BACK
By Brenda Maas I PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASEY PAGE
nURTURING NATURE Spade? Check. Shovel? Check. Work boots and sunscreen? Check.
By 10 a.m. one fine Saturday morning in early June, nearly 50 volunteers were already hard at work with shovels, spades and loping shears. Subject: a decades-old, likely-used-by-deer-andhumans alike, informal path from Red Lodge to the area just below the Red Lodge Mountain Palisades. By the end of the day, the same site yielded tired but well-fed and satisfied volunteers along a now-complete hiking trail named The Palisades Trail. It is likely a few nagging blisters persisted, too. Formed just two years ago, the Absarokee-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation (ABWF) supports stewardship of the “A-B Wilderness” and strives to foster support of all wild lands. Within that realm, ABWF member volunteers work closely with organizations like the Beartooth Recreational Trail Association to complete projects similar to The Palisades Trail. According to ABWF executive director David Kallenbach, Foundation projects take one of four forms: trail building and maintenance; noxious weed eradication; scientific monitoring; and education. “We try to keep a balance of projects that all people can take part in,” says Kallenbach. But the common denominator, he emphasizes, is each member’s love of the wilderness. Working hand-in-hand with organizations like the Department
14 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
of Natural Resources and Conservation, U.S. Forest Service and Montana Conservation Corps, the ABWF aims to fill in where other organizations need support. In Montana, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Wilderness Foundation in Idaho are sister organizations. “We provide the boots on the ground for smaller projects,” says Lynda Moss, ABWF Board President, “This is a way for people to understand and appreciate the wilderness and the importance of these public lands.” Without the ABWF and the support of volunteers, some trails may wait years to be built, others may fall behind in maintenance and trailheads may be choked with noxious weeds, ike Oxeye daily, houndstongue and leafy spurge that volunteers are dedicated to working into submission. Clockwise from top left: David Kallenbach of the ABWF member volunteers Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation. Volunteers, are the real worker bees and including Peggy Monaghan, front, clear trail along the may do something as simple as Palisades trail near Red Lodge. Volunteers Bob Johnson, left, and Jim White put in a trail marker along the distribute water or lunch to the Palisades trail near Red Lodge. laborers, chip away at a hard rock bump on the trail or spend an entire week working from a base camp on a more in-depth monitoring project. This type of “citizen scientist” project is a popular venue, notes Kallenbach. He also points out that many volunteers work more than just one project—and share their enjoyment of both work and wilderness. It’s proof that work and recreation are not mutually exclusive. For more information or to volunteer, see www.abwilderness.org
Waiting Room.
RiverStone Health has been providing home care services for over thirty years and is the only accredited home care agency in our community. Our team of professionals give you the care you need, from the comfort of your home. 123 South 27th Street • Billings, MT 59101 • 406.651.6500 • www.riverstonehealth.org MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 15
ARTIST LOFT
By Allyson Gierke I PHOTOGRAPHY BY Larry Mayer
Coila Evans A stroke of whimsy
I’m lucky in the sense that my biggest obstacles regarding subjects, color and light, are that I must choose between the manifestly transcendent and the merely wonderful.” Above: Coila in her studio. Below: Colors used in her last painting. Opposite page clockwise from left: “Tree Huggers,” “Daxi,” and “Petey.”
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Born and raised in Dallas, TX, artist Coila Evans took for granted the many fine art museums the city had to offer; visiting art shows and exhibits was almost a weekly event. The Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Gallery and many more that dot the downtown Dallas Arts District became her natural habitat while growing up. As Coila moved to other places, it dawned on her that not all cities and towns have such worthy art museums, and that not everyone visits them as often as she. For Coila, visiting museums was as natural as going to a mall or a grocery store. This exposure to great art sparked a passion for painting and sculpture in the young woman, who began exploring her own artistic talents. Some people are naturally evanescent, and Coila is one of them. Plucky and endowed with a great sense of humor, she treads gently through her little patch on earth. Coila’s interest in the natural beauty of the surrounding
landscape and animals are a constant pull on her conscience and creativity. *** Living and working in Roundup, Mont. with her husband Troy Evans – also an artist – Coila paints landscapes and animal images inspired by the rural backdrop. She frequently explores the countryside, taking photographs that she later uses as inspiration for her art. Applying loose, layered strokes and bold color, Coila’s paintings follow an impressionistic style infused with an
Kevin Red Star
air of realism. “When people look at my art closely, they will see detail, light, texture, depth and emotion,” she said.
People of the Raven
Catherine Louisa Gallery
C L G
Billings Montana 406-670-7746
www.catherinelouisagallery.com
Painted pets
Coila’s works have grown to include a series of pet portraits commissioned by clients. “My cousin, Ursula, commissioned two pet portraits for gifts,” she says. “That experience was the impetus for a new branch of art.” After Coila got a Golden Lab puppy of her own, she began chronicling his growth and antics through photos, later painting portraits from the photos. Today, Coila finds herself in high Coila’s work can demand by families be seen at www. who yearn for that special portrait of facebook.com/ their beloved pet. coilaevansartist,
View evans’ Work
and at www. blockhorsedesigns@hotmail. com. She can be reached at 406697-2758.
Spirited subjects
Evans said that it’s rare for her to meet an animal she doesn’t love, and she revels in the incredible joy that
people experience when they see a portrait of their pet. “When I meet with clients who want me to paint their pet, they tell me stories about how the animal came into their lives, the special traits they have and their misadventures. This helps me get a feeling for the unique personality of the animal,” she says. Coila studies each pet thoroughly before taking brush to canvas. She uses photos from clients to re-create their life as part of the family. “I can see whether an animal is a happy one, or sad, or curious or lazy. There is a real pleasure in capturing the animal’s core spirit, if you will,” says Evans.
Sharing her passion
When she isn’t painting or studying her subjects, Coila volunteers as an art teacher at the local elementary school in Roundup teaching perspective, depth of the field and color theory. She is also committed to furthering others’ education through M.A.P. (Montana Artrepreneural Program), which supports the arts and helps artists with business and business plans.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 17
ELEMENTS
BY BRENDA MAAS
Pack the Car and Hit the Road But don’t leave home without these
Hit the road, Jack!
Driving the new 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport SUV, the only thing others will see is your dust. With a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a ground clearance of nearly nine inches, no trail is too rugged. Top off the package with a five-speed, automatic transmission, V-6 engine, hill descent control and optional hardtop— the world is now yours to conquer.
Available at Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge Starting at $26,775 MSRP (Model shown has premium wheels and tires)
Safety first!
Even when it comes to Fido, safety is simple if you have the EzyDog Chest Plate Harness—a doggie seat belt and harness all-in-one. It distributes the load across the dog’s chest, instead of around your pooch’s neck. Available in a variety of colors and sizes from XS-XL with easy-to-adjust straps, there’s no fear that your canine will slip through. Plus, simply clip on the coordinating leash and head out for a hike. Now there’s no excuse. Buckle-up, Buttercup!
Available at Lovable Pets Harness $23-26, depending on size Car Restraint $10 (Buttercup not included)
An oldie but a goodie
Chances are that your travels will take you past at least one of the more than 200 roadside markers across Montana. This gem of a book, Montana’s Historical Highway Markers, is now in its fourth edition and provides insight into the history and lore of each location. Some things truly do get better with time.
Available at Hastings $9
18 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Strong as an ox …well, as a Red Oxx, that is. Made right here in Billings, Mont., this is one bag that lives up to its name. You can “stuff ‘er full” and then stuff a bit extra into the 18-inch long, 10-inch wide and 10-inch high duffle-style travel bag. You won’t wonder why Outside magazine added the PR5 Safari Beano’s bag to its 2004 list of Best Outdoor Products. It’s 10 years later.
Available at redoxx.com $185
Forgot the power cord? No problem! Back up your back up—two at one time—with this Enercell® 6000mAh portable power bank. Charge this little puppy at home and you will have up to 15 extra hours on your electronic device after the battery dies. Compatible with most phones.
Available at RadioShack (on Grand Avenue) $80
2814 2nd Ave N 259-3624 MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 19
MEDIA ROOM
BY BRITTANY CREMER Book
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking Web-Ed:
Postagram Available on iTunes
by Malcolm Gladwell When you meet someone for the first time or read the first few sentences of a book, your mind takes about two seconds to jump to a series of conclusions. Well, “Blink” is a book about those two seconds. We might say it’s intuition, a gut feeling or keen business sense— “Blink” calls it “thin-slicing,” the ability to quickly filter out the factors that matter from an overwhelming number of variables. Understand how, and why, our mind makes these split decisions.
DVD/TV
“Whispers in a Small Town: The Killing at Poplar River” Viewable at http://www.nbcnews.com/video/dateline/47764954 or on YouTube.
Say cheese! Postagram has put a new-age spin on a time-worn tradition— sending postcards. The snail mail version is wonderful to receive, but often times, clunky to send. Postagram allows you to look at your Instagrams while on the go and quickly send them from your iPhone. It is personalized photographic postcarding at its finest. All you need is a recipient’s name, address and a credit card (these are remembered after they’ve been entered once). Along with the Instagram photo, cards can include a personalized 140-character message. After that, with a few clicks in the app, your card is off. No stamp. No hassles. The recipient should receive it within two to five business days (or slightly longer for overseas cards). And the coolest part is that the cards are made in such a way so that the square Instagram picture can easily pop-out and act as a stand-alone picture. Your friends—and their fridge—will be happy.
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Whether you believe in Barry Beach’s guilt or innocence, this Dateline special is worth a second look. Beach and his attorney allege that evidence tampering, prosecutorial misconduct and a coerced confession should be enough to warrant a new trial for the 1979 death of Kimberly Nees. Whispers in the close-knit town of Poplar allege that “a group of girls,” not Barry Beach, was behind Nees’ murder—but the Montana State Supreme Court recently refused to grant Beach a new trial. Watch and draw your own conclusions.
Music
Of Monsters and Men
My Head is an Animal Of Monsters and Men is an amiable group of talented Icelandic day dreamers who craft folkie pop songs. They won a battle of the bands contest in Iceland in 2010, and a whirlwind of success later has brought them to our radio waves. Quirky tracks like “Little Talks” and “King and Lionheart” reveal the group’s signature sound and off-the-cuff musicality.
A SPACE Unlike Any Other...
“Our great room is just what we needed, we love it!”
-Ceci Bentler, Billings, Mont.
…CREATED BY A COMPANY UNLIKE ANY OTHER
Freyenhagen Construction creates spaces unlike any other because, in fact, we are a company unlike any other. We understand we are building more than walls or floors or cabinets—we are building exceptional relationships with our clients. We work with only the finest craftsmen, ensuring our unmatched standards for design and construction are evident in every project. We also pay attention to every detail so you are satisfied from the moment a project begins to many years after we walk out your door. You see, at Freyenhagen, we measure success by ensuring our work and our client relationships withstand—and outlast—the test of time. DESIGN-BUILD • KITCHEN REMODELS • GREAT ROOM ADDITIONS • COMPLETE HOME RENOVATIONS • BASEMENT REDESIGN • CUSTOM INTERIOR & EXTERIORS
REDESIGN & REMODELING
Reimagine. Remodel. Relax.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 21
FINE LIVING
GREAT ESTATES
A tale of two houses BY JULIE GREEN I PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES WOODCOCK
Like many 1940-era houses, the quaint bungalow was built with a focus on simplicity and function. Over time, the hardwood floors, built-in cupboards and arched doorways had been carefully preserved, architectural details adding the charm so many homebuyers look for in historic homes. But for one family, the neatly-kept cottage was the beginning of creating an escape in the middle of the Magic City. When the owners began their home search in 2010, their goal was to find a home on which they could put their own stamp. They also wanted to find a property large enough to accommodate a guest suite that could house a retired family friend who was looking to downsize. Situated on a large lot and with plenty of potential, this house had exactly what they were looking for. “A lot of work had been done by the previous homeowner,” the owner said. “She’d updated the kitchen and redone the main floor bathroom. She was just getting started on the basement when we saw it, and we said ‘stop—we’ll take it from here’.” The couple worked with Frank Nienaber of Studio 4 Architects to increase the home’s living space and make it more functional for their needs while maintaining many of its historic features. The design,
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which would be staged in phases, included creating the needed guest space, finishing the bottom level of the main house and building a beautiful backyard oasis. It would also build on the home’s classic elements and incorporate their vision of a Tuscan-inspired retreat. Inside, few changes were made to the main floor. Walls were painted in classic neutrals with crisp white accents. Gleaming hardwoods provide the perfect foundation for the family’s furnishings, an eclectic mix of new and vintage pieces. The basement was fully finished to include a comfortable bedroom and full bath that house the owners’ teenage son when he is on break from school. With the soft carpets underfoot dampening sound, the downstairs television room is perfect for movie nights. A well-planned laundry room and large closets fitted with organization systems were
By Julie Green I photography by james woodcock
Counterclockwise from top left: The street view showcases exquisite stone work with a Mediterranean-inspired tiled roof and arched windows. Dining Room: A view of the dining room taken from the living room shows the iconic arches found throughout the home. “When we begin phase three of our remodel we won’t just keep the arches,” the homeowners said, “we’ll actually be expanding some of them.” Also visible in this photo are some of the build-in nooks, drawers and cabinets common in houses of this era. Kitchen: With granite counters, custom tile backsplash and glass front cabinets, the existing galley kitchen is small, but efficiently designed. Although future changes will expand the home’s kitchen, the owners plan on reusing the cabinetry and countertops as part of the remodel. Office: To make the home function well, the owners converted one of the main floor bedrooms into a home office. The distinctive wood and leather chair is just one of the many unique furniture pieces the owners have collected. Living Room: The living room is a place where friends and family can comfortably gather, thanks to a large sectional, oversized leather ottoman and other—somewhat unexpected—seating pieces. “My sister and I learned a lot of decorating tips from our mother,” one of the owners recalled. “We look for pieces that are interesting, but functional. And I do look for a good bargains.”
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 23
FINE LIVING
GREAT ESTATES
also created to provide ample storage in an otherwise tight space. “With good design, you can make the most of a small space,” said the owner. “We paid attention to the details to make sure it worked.” When construction for the second smaller mother-in-law suite began on the exterior, the main home’s sloping front lawn was removed, allowing the creation of a spacious and welcoming covered front porch with wide front steps and eye-catching planters. A circular driveway was then added. “I’m sure our neighbors wondered what we were doing,” the owner laughed. “The previous owner had just added brand new concrete steps, and here we were tearing them out. Not to mention the piles of dirt everywhere.” Although original plans called for replacing the windows flanking the front door, they opted to retain the windows at the front of the house and add classic shutters. A new front door was also added, its dark wood and bubble glass panels echoing elements found throughout the home while providing a striking contrast to the cream-colored stucco. With nearly 1,000 square feet of living space and private
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garage, the exterior of the guest house mirrors the main house both in color and style. “Our goal,” one of the owners said, “was to make it look as though [the guest house] had been there all along.” The attention to detail carries through to the backyard, which has been transformed into a summer oasis complete with a hot tub, pool and fire pit perfect for outdoor entertaining. Finished last summer, it has already proven to be a very popular gathering spot for friends and family. So what does this property hold in the future? The owners have already been planning the latest phase of their renovation, which will include a gourmet kitchen, outdoor cooking space, great room and beautiful master suite. “We’ve made a few changes to the original plan and are getting ready to talk to contractors,” they said. “But we’re taking a few months off just to enjoy everything that we’ve already finished.”
Counterclockwise from top left: Backyard: The owners created a backyard oasis complete with pool, firepit and thatched covered patio for dining. Guest House: Although the exterior of the guest house is Tuscan-inspired, the interior is full of mid-century modern touches. With a west-facing wall of windows, it is also flooded with light. Family friend Tiff Davidson-Blades of Davidson Designs helped with the window coverings. Living Room/Kitchen/Bar View: An open floorplan allows guests to move between the living room and kitchen. Deep mahogany cabinets with stainless steel hardware achieve the modern look the owners were hoping for, especially with the unique stainless steel barstools, which slide in under the raised glass bar. The backs of the stools had to be ground down from their original height to prevent the bar from being scratched or broken. Bedroom: A study in tans and grays, the guest house bedroom provides a welcome and comfortable escape at the end of the day. An avid art fan, the family friend who lives in the space enjoys displaying some of his favorite pieces throughout the space. Bathroom Wall: “When [our friend], who loves modern design, said he wanted to put in this glass block wall, we weren’t sure about it,” the owners said. “But it turned out beautifully.” Supported by metal pillars, the free-standing vanity is topped with a smooth cement counter found in Cody, Wyo. The en suite bath in the guest house incorporates a spacious walk-in shower with both a traditional rainwater head and a steam head. The textured tile has a metallic finish, allowing it to reflect the natural light.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 25
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BRICK : STONE : BLOCK STUCCO : DRYVIT Dan Weis 406-860-3471 1045 Wilona Drive Billings MT 59105 danjweisl@bresnan.net 26 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
NEWELL CONStRuCtION
Permanent Exteriors
BILLINGS 2900 Central Avenue Billings, Montana (406) 656-5148
Your brand of bank... big enough to help, small enough to care.
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628-4221, 628-4642, or 322-1155 PO Box 548, 603 W. Railroad St, Laurel, MT 59044
FINE LIVING
GREAT ESTATES
THE ULTIMATE MOTOR HOME Dennis Kaercher’s first car was a 1957 Chevrolet. He doesn’t still have that original ride, but he never lost the love he had for American heavy metal. So much so, that when local rules prevented him from expanding the garage attached to his Heights home, he decided to find a solution. He put the more than 3,000-square-foot residence on the market and began looking for a lot that would allow him to build a comfortable home, along with a big enough garage to continue his hobby of collecting and restoring classic cars. He found it in a pocket of the city with the right zoning to allow both. Then he set out to create something special. “People are always surprised when they come here for the first time,” Kaercher says. “It’s completely different inside than they expect after they see the outside.” The industrial steel building houses 1,800 feet of living space, which was designed and built by Kaercher, his family and friends. The floor plan is open, with the kitchen, dining and living room flowing seamlessly together.
BY JULIE GREEN I PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES WOODCOCK
At top: Classic cars and “petroliana” are found inside and outside the distinctive home. At bottom: Dennis poses with the diner’s butler mascot in front of several of his vehicles, including a black limited edition 2005 HHR.
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FINE LIVING
GREAT ESTATES
To add interest and dimension to the space, Dennis installed sheetrock panels on the walls, painting them the same light tan. For contrast, doors and trim were painted a deeper hue. He also used varying vertical elevations, arching the ceiling to more than 20 feet high in some areas. Steel beams became the framework for the fireplace and flatscreen television, while recessed areas provide the perfect spot for photos and artwork. The kitchen is both beautiful and functional, a dream come true for any cook and an ideal place for entertaining. Smooth black marble counters add a sleek and modern touch while maple cabinetry adds a more traditional feel. Brushed metal hardware and fixtures mirror the stainless steel appliances.
With doors leading out to the pool and patio, the family room and kitchen are frequently filled with family. An avid sports fan, Dennis installed a second television in the kitchen so that he could watch more than one game at a time. Leather couches, bar stools and the dining room chairs provide ample seating even for large gatherings. Summertime means sunshine and pool time for Dennis, Bonnie and their friends. The covered patio boasts a custom black-and-white cement floor, mirroring those found in the garage diner and on the parking strip in front of the residence. The water feature next to the in-ground pool was one of the most recent features Kaercher added to his home. “When I heard there was a building going in next door, I hurried and dug out the spot and brought in the rock,â€? he says. The champagne bottle and glass are a reminder of the first anniversary he celebrated with his fiancĂŠe, Bonnie.
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FINE LIVING
GREAT ESTATES
In the remaining living quarters, Dennis built a spacious master suite as well as a guest bedroom and bath. Each room was designed to make the most of the space while being comfortable and welcoming. It is the 5000-square-foot garage where Kaercher’s personality—and passion—shine, however. Step inside and you are instantly transported into a 1950s diner, complete with black and white tile floors, black vinyl booths, neon signs and juke boxes. Walls are covered with “petroliana,” from car photos to full-sized garage signs. And a few steps beyond is what can only be described as a car lover’s dream. From the glistening white ’57 Cadi in the corner to the powerful ’67 Chevy SS, there is gleaming chrome, glowing flames and sparkling paint everywhere you look. This is a place where old cars get a new life, with most of the work being done by Kaercher himself.
Kaercher’s design plans included making his home as energy efficient as possible. Double insulating the walls ensures the living space remains cool in the summer and warm in the winter. “Sometimes it’s snowing outside, and I’ll come in here, close the door and turn on the fireplace,” he says. “It stays so comfortable I don’t have to even turn on the heat in the rest of the house.” No retro diner would be complete without formica tables and a table-top juke box. Collecting pieces like these over the years has been an enjoyable pastime for Dennis, who works in the industrial equipment business. Craftsman stools belly up to the bar in the hot rod garage. “Sometimes I’m the bartender,” Dennis says, “but most people know they’re welcome to go back there and help themselves.” Right: Always working on the battery of this late 1960’s muscle car, this mechanic has caught more than one person by surprise. Flip a switch and this automated mannequin’s jaw begins to flap wildly.
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A surface that allows the design and look you have always wanted. Top: Wilsonart Solid Surface Designer White • Base: Wilsonart 7964K-12 Skyline Walnut
visit the following retail showrooms
406.245.6770 | fabricatorssupply.net Wholesale To Trade /FabSupply
ProBuild 542 Main St | 406.252.9395
Kitchens Plus 1010 S 29th St W | 406.652.5772
Cabinet Works 2495 Enterprise Ave | 406.655.8955
Appliance & Cabinet Center 2950 King AveW, #2 | 406.656.9168 Quality Kitchens 1547 Main Street | 406.245.4144
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 31
FINE LIVING
GREAT ESTATES
“I do a lot of the work on them,” he says. “I can do pretty much anything but the paint.” The cars are surrounded by Dennis’ other collections, some of which he has been working on for years. Glass globes—some original and some reproductions—sit on bright gas pumps. Pop bottles, model cars and vehicle insignias are on display. And of course, there are the license plates. Some of the plates he picked up decades ago in junkyards. Others have been given to him by friends. And others have a more personal meaning. “This one was off the truck my son drove in high school,” he says, pointing to one behind the bar. “And this is from the car he drove in Arizona.” Many of the license plates have a story behind them. And for Kaercher, there are many great stories yet to come.
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The showpiece of the ensuite master bath is a walk-in shower with a rainwater showerhead. This room, like other rooms in the house, were created to be ADA compatible. “I designed it so that, if needed, I could take out one wall and a wheelchair could roll into the shower,” Dennis says. Left: Texaco memorbilia and pump cases highlight the home’s unique driveway. At bottom: Visages from the past and collectable signs perfectly complement the glistening beauties in Dennis’ showroom.
RotaRy inteRnational the RotaRy Foundation® ®
There’s something that all Rotary club members have in common: We take action. As community volunteers, we reach out to neighbors in need. We build, support, and organize. We save lives. We work locally and globally.
Around the world and around the corner, the 1.2 million men and women of Rotary • Get involved in their communities • Connect with other professionals • Share their time and experience with young people • Support global causes, such as eradicating polio • Use their skills to help others
Whether you’re a veteran volunteer or new to community service, we’re looking for people like you.
If it can be done in concrete, we can do it!
• Ready Mix • Precast Concrete Concrete • Driveway & • Stamped Concrete Sidewalk 5444 Chicago Rd Billings, MT 59105 406-373-5832
EvEry LockEt tELLs a story...
what’s yours?
Matthew Schafer, Jim Berve, Kristie Asay, Todd Vralsted, Steve Sorich, Robin Hanel
The Billings Rotary Club Meets Mondays at Noon - Crowne Plaza The Billings West Rotary Club Meets Wednesdays at Noon - Red Door For more information please contact 406-860-6181 • 406-671-3088 www.montanarotary.org
Service Above Self
Create your own personal locket and make it as unique as you
Call for more details
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 33
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1510 24th Street W • Billings, MT 59102 406.294.1717 • www.thejoyofkids.com
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FINE LIVING
E P I CU R E
Billings’ Best Sandwiches By Brittany Cremer
A sub, a sammie. Few entrees match the simple satisfaction of wholesome ingredients perfectly situated between two slabs of bread. Hearty, healthy and unassuming, sandwiches just don’t get the due they deserve. Time-tested with gourmet nuance, we searched the city for some of our favorites. Brown bag it or dine in
The Northern Monte Cristo, Bernie’s Diner
to enjoy one of these
Is it breakfast? Is it lunch? It’s both! A wonderful combination of toasted battered bread, ham, gruyere,
signature sandwiches.
powdered sugar and raspberry sauce, the Monte Cristo sandwich is sure to quell your sweet-and-savory tooth.
MAGIC CITYwasMAGAZINE I JULYfor2013 I 35 This former Northern Hotel menu item resurrected a reason.
FINE LIVING
E P I CU R E
Cuban Panini, Harper & Madison Fresh off the Panini press is one of Billings’ kickin’-est sandwiches…er… Paninis. A Panini IS a sandwich, right? Akin to its cousin the deli sandwich, Harper & Madison’s Cuban Panini is comfort food with a twist. Splendidly spiced pulled pork, pickles, provolone and chipotle aioli combine to create this piquant pouch of ooey goodness.
California Cobb Sandwich, Great Harvest Bread Company If the proof is in the pudding, then the greatness is in the grain—whole grain, that is. Great Harvest grinds their own grain and bakes each loaf fresh daily, including the whole wheat slices that make up their California Cobb Sandwich. Comprised of turkey, crisp bacon, avocado, bleu cheese spread, green leaf lettuce, tomato and red onion, who would have thought America’s favorite salad could have
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been improved upon?
Reuben,, Überbrew According to lore, Nebraska grocer Reuben Kulakofsky is credited with concocting the the combination of rye bread, corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut in 1925 to feed participants in a late-night poker game at the Blackstone Hotel in downtown Omaha. It’s a safe bet that Kulakofsky would approve of Überbrew’s mouthwatering version.
Eggsalad on Rye,, Sweetgrass Sandwich Co. We could eat this sandwich a dozen times over. Crafted in Billings’ oldest sandwich shop (they’ve been serving up sammies since 1976), owner Bob Shinn makes his egg salad mixture fresh each morning. He combines egg, dill weed, lemon juice, pepper, onion powder and salad dressing –not mayo—and tops with sprouts to create this nostalgic and highlyrequested sandwich. It comes with chips and a pickle, best-supporting actors to the eggcelent
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULYmain 2013event. I 37
You Have A Choice Just bring us your Doctors order
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38 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
• We are the onl y organization openonprofit rescue n to the public.
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FINE LIVING
LIBATIONS
COLORFUL CONCOCTIONS
By stella fong photography by james woodcock •
Stella Fong divides her time between Billings and Big Sky where she writes, cooks and teaches. Recently she received a Robert Parker Scholarship for continuing studies at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.
Clockwise from Top: Pomegranate Martini, Cucumber Ginger Cooler, Green Tea Cosmo.
At the end of the day, beat the high temperatures with refreshing cocktails made with the natural coolness of cucumbers, mangos, citrus and mint. Or, for a twist on summer heat, try an icy concoction that delivers a kick of ginger and cayenne. Each of these recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in cold pitchers, ready-toserve, with attractive garnishes. MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 39
Green Tea Cosmo Recipe courtesy Alan Sparboe, executive chef, The Granary 2 cups freshly-brewed and chilled green tea 3 tablespoons honey 1 ¼ cup vodka (1 ¼ cup sparkling water or white grape juice) ¾ cup Pearl Orange vodka (or ¾ cup orange juice) ½ cup lime juice ½ cup cranberry juice Slices of lime Put all ingredients in a glass pitcher and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Serve in tall martini glasses and garnish with lime slices. Makes 8 servings
Pomegranate Martini Recipe courtesy Suzy Roberts and Sammy Jo Dupea, Hilands Golf Club 1 ½ cups vodka 1 cup Cointreau (or 1 cup orange juice) 2 cups Pama Pomegranate Liqueur (2 cups pomegranate juice) ½ cup orange juice 8 long lemon twists Put all ingredients in a glass pitcher and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Serve in a martini glass garnished with lemon twists. Makes 8 servings
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40 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
HAIR DESIGN
Cucumber Ginger Cooler Recipe: Stella Fong Cucumbers bring ultimate coolness. For a sweeter taste, try substituting with honey dew melon or add ripe white peaches. 1 ½ cups vodka (or 1 ½ cups water or white grape juice or apple cider) 2 English cucumbers, 1 peeled and coarsely chopped, 1 left whole 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges 2 bottles (750 ml each) sparkling water ½ cup ginger simple syrup (bring 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water to a boil, dissolving sugar. Remove from heat and add 4-ounce piece of peeled ginger and seep for 30 minutes. Strain and refrigerate.) Put vodka and chopped cucumber in glass container. Refrigerate 1 hour. Strain, discard cucumber. Shave cucumber into thin strips with vegetable peeler, discard seeds.
Fill eight tumblers with ice. Add 3 cucumber strips and 3 tablespoons infused vodka to each glass. Squeeze, then drop, a lime into each. Top with sparkling water, stir in 1 tablespoon syrup. Makes 8 servings
Spicy Mango Carrot Cocktail Recipe courtesy of Stella Fong This drink is filled with antioxidants. Try garnishing with beet slices or purple carrots. Makes 8 servings 2 cups tequila (or 2 cups water) 1 cup Cointreau (or 1 cup orange juice) 1 cup mango and carrot juice ½ cup freshly-squeezed lime juice Lime wedges for garnish Cayenne pepper Put tequila, Cointreau, mango and carrot juice and lime juice in a glass pitcher and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Fill eight tumblers with ice. Pour juice mixture into each glass. Garnish with lime wedges and a dash of cayenne pepper. Makes 8 servings
Zesty Lemon Cocktail Recipe courtesy of Stella Fong Make this grown-up version of summer lemonade with Meyer lemons or pink grapefruit. 2 cups freshly-squeezed lemon juice 1/3 cup sugar 1 cup mint leaves 2 cups sparkling water ¼ cup ginger ale 4 cups ice 2 cups vodka (or 2 cups white grape juice or apple cider) Mint sprigs and lemon wedges for garnish In a blender add lemon juice, sugar, mint, mineral water, ginger ale and ice. Blend until thick. Pour vodka into eight chilled tumblers then top with lemon mixture. Garnish with mint sprigs and lemon wedges. Note: If you want to remain clear-minded and fresh, the spirits in these recipes can be substituted with juice or water – with or without bubbles. Makes 8 servings
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
LEGENDS
mighty prairie flower
Laura Petter : Mennonite missionary to the northern cheyenne
Amy Petter stepped over to the kitchen window when she heard loud voices outside. “It was dusk,” she later recounted, “but I could still make out my mother who was encouraging an obviously drunk man to go home. As she talked, his hand lashed out, and he struck her on the face. She seemed stunned as she stood there with her hand on the place where he had hit her. Regaining her composure, my mother turned and came into the lighted kitchen.
B y Suzanne W aring Inset: Photo of Laura Petter in her 20s. Background photo: The Ashland Mission House that was destroyed by fire after Laura moved away.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 41
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
LEGENDS
“The man followed her, violently knocking out a window pane in the door with his fist as he charged into the room. He pulled a gun from his pocket and aimed it at my mother. Several children were in the kitchen, including my brothers. It happened so quickly that no one had time to react. The click of the trigger seemed to explode into the room, but the gun did not go off. The man, who had been in our home many times, stuck the gun into his back pocket, turned, and went up the stairs. The first thought that went through everyone’s mind was that he was looking for bullets. Actually, what he was seeking wasn’t nearly that dramatic. He was looking for a place to sleep off his drunk. Later, my mother walked into the bedroom and tugged the handgun from the man’s back pocket.” The man snored through the night in the Petter home. Untroubled, the family slept soundly as well. The next day when he was sober, they sat with him at the dining room table and told him what had happened the previous evening. He cried at the thought of killing Laura. This and other frightening incidents strengthened Laura’s resolve to counsel against alcohol at every opportunity. Some responded by becoming introspective while other Indian men called her the “white bitch.”
A life less ordinary
On the day that Laura Petter married, she couldn’t have anticipated what life had in store for her. She had been born a protected child into a Wayne, Michigan home in 1899. Attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago as a young adult, she met Valdo Petter who wanted to become a missionary. In 1923, they were married, and she went with him when he became a Mennonite Missionary to the Northern Cheyenne Indians on the eastern side of the reservation near Ashland, Montana. The Ashland mission worked in conjunction with the one located in Lame Deer and was overseen by Valdo’s father and step-mother. Laughing while they worked, the young couple reveled in their marriage even though the good times were interceded with periods of worry. After returning home from the battlefields in France after World War I, Valdo was told that he had the lifelong-curse of pernicious anemia, causing bouts of extreme fatigue and fever. During what Valdo and Laura must have thought was another routine illness, he did not bounce back. He died of pneumonia on May 6, 1935. They had 12 years together.
Until his death, Laura and Voldo worked as a team to provide a Christian experience for the Northern Cheyenne Indians. Now Valdo was gone, and Laura was left with three small children: Danny was 7; Amy, 5; and David Valdo, barely 1. Laura didn’t have a job because Valdo had been the designated missionary. She needed to become the breadwinner. At 36, Laura was determined to stay where she could continue missionary work. Those were depression years, and other opportunities for her to support the family were limited. She most likely felt that she couldn’t do better than providing her children with the healthy environment of the mission. They had a place to live, and they could raise their own food while she continued the work that she loved. In retrospect, this was the perfect solution for this particular widow, but would the church missionary board approve of a lone woman overseeing a mission? Laura was strong and unwavering for the first of many times to come. She simply would not take “no” for an answer. In her determined way, she went on to fulfill a needed role in this rural community with both the native and ranching families for the next 29 years.
Faithful frontier
Regardless of her steadfast belief that her purpose in life was to serve the Northern Cheyenne Indian population, would she have stayed if she had known the disappointments awaiting her? Several attempted to kill her; the ranching community gossiped about her at times; and she found disparity between her resolute principles and those of her step mother-in-law, Bertha Petter. The first problem arose rather quickly. The huge dining room table that seated at least 12 people always played an important role in the lives of the Petter family and of the mission. When it was mealtime, anyone visiting was invited to join them. A Native preacher from Lame Deer often came to the mission to preach for Laura on Sunday. After services, Laura invited him to the noon meal. When Bertha Petter learned that Laura had invited the Native preacher to sit down to eat with the family, she reproached Laura, “This is not proper. If you have to feed him, set a plate out on the porch for him,” she said. Laura was quietly outraged. “Then don’t send him to preach,” she told Bertha. Laura was always fierce about the rights of the Native people and
Left: Danny, Amy and Valdo in front of the family farmhouse. Right: Laura and Valdo before they were married.
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about the courtesies of respect one paid to them—or to anyone. Years later when her mother-in-law no longer had any control, Laura invited the Native preacher back to hold services at the little church and to eat at their table. Laura would often meet with the Indian women to sew. They made blankets from material sent to Laura by the mission board. During the meetings, she would learn about problems the Indian families were having, and she set out to help them. Often she was seen at their homes when someone was ill, and the front bedroom at the mission house took on a hospital atmosphere for those who needed more expert care. One long winter, the reservation children needed something to do, so Laura pushed back the pews in the church and painted a shuffleboard pattern on the floor. The children loved the pastime, but some conservative church members thought it was desecrating God’s house. She saw that the children were busy playing a healthy game in a warm building and was just stubborn enough to leave the pattern on the floor for years.
convince Laura that no one would know if she went to Billings overnight with him. “But God would know,” she responded. Later she would need the neighboring ranching men when she again showed her strength by making another unheard of decision as a single parent to adopt two Native American girls—Amelia Two Bulls and Darlena Little Whiteman—whom she had raised from the time they were babies. These ranchers stepped up to testify in court as to Laura’s character and the benefits these girls had in Laura’s home. It was a life of much laughter, a life of sheer will to go on often when cash was non-existent, and a life of always reaching out to help others. Even though she resisted, Laura was forced by church policy to retire in 1964. She moved down the road to a small house to live the next 10 years with her memories, such as the summers when they slept out on the wraparound porch. Early in the morning a Native man walked past on his way to work. Invariably, he called out, “Time to get up and meet the day, Mrs. Petter.” During her lifetime, Laura earned a special place in the hearts of the Native Americans who lived nearby on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, and she touched the lives of her children and the families who lived on area ranches. This strong woman with steadfast principles left an indelible mark on the prairie.
Laura was always fierce about
the rights of the Native people and about the courtesies of respect one paid to them —or to anyone.
Gentle fortitude
After Valdo’s death, several ranching men who recognized Laura as a vibrant young woman came calling. One time a rancher stopped by to
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 43
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
PH O T O J O U R N A L
A DAY IN THE LIFE MONTANA A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR
Amid the long, dark days of winter, there is a glimmer of hope—summer will return. In Billings, we revel in that day. June 21 marked the Summer Solstice. Here are a few snapshots that celebrate how we use every moment of the 15 hours, 43 minutes and 26 seconds of daylight—and then a few moments more.
photography by casey page I Bob zellar I Paul Ruhter
5:51 a.m.
Shortly after sunrise, Hannah Cole runs along Chief Black Otter Trail in Swords Park. The trail, which is popular with walkers, runners and bikers, offers a panoramic view of Billings. (Page)
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8:14 a.m. Skip Mitzman prices items for sale at his garage sale on Highwood Drive. Going “garage sale-ing� is a popular summer activity. (Page)
9:15 a.m.
Walter Bomar walks with his great grandsons Manny, age 4, and Danny Lopez, age 1 and 1/2, on the 3100 block of 9th Ave. (Zellar)
10:22 a.m.
Sarah Repasky, left, and Leslie Dinsmore, Americorps workers with Montana State Parks, show a box elder tree to Carter Howell, 7, center, Addy Chase, 6, top, and Kylie Petty, 7, left, during an Earth Stewardship Summer Series class at Pictograph Caves State Park. (Page)
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 45
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
PH O T O J O U R N A L
11:06 a.m.
Natasha Potratz works on a chalk version of Thomas Hart Benton’s “July Hay” on the sidewalk at Third Avenue North and North Broadway during Chalk on the Walk. {Page}
12:09 p.m.
Community historian Kevin Kooistra of the Western Heritage Center (WHC), right, leads an historic walking tour starting at the WHC on Montana Avenue as Derek Olson, left of Waco, Texas, and his brother, Scott Olson, of San Fransisco, Calf., listen. (Page)
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12:30 p.m. Two skateboarders make it under the crossing bars before a train passes on North 29th Street.
1:30 p.m.
Tristan Wandler, age 4, cools off at Terry Park. Temperatures reached 73 degrees. (Zellar)
2:18 p.m.
An adult guides a canoe as a group paddles on Lake Josephine in Riverfront Park—one of the most popular parks in Billings. The Yellowstone River, Norm’s Island and the Audubon Conservation Center border Riverfront. (Page)
5 p.m.
Mary Knapp, right, visits with Lavonne Rice-Gordon and Paul Gordon during Art in the Garden at Valley Health Care Center. {Page}
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 47
MONTANA PERSPECTIVES
PH O T O J O U R N A L
5:29 p.m.
Joseph Waters and his daughter Kiara, 8, feed the geese at Riverfront Park. (Page)
6:43 p.m.
Family and friends gather for the wedding of David Hickman and Crystal Rondequz in a Baha’i ceremony at Riverfront Park. The couple specifically chose the Summer Solstice as their wedding date. (Page)
9:02 p.m.
A light rain falls just before sunset as Kaitlyn Verdon, 3, talks with Dawn Olivo as they wait for the movie to start. Area families gathered at “Movies in the Park” in Veterans Park. Hotel Transylvania was shown despite the sprinkles. (Page)
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9:10 p.m.
Billings Mustangs Manager Pat Kelly watches from third base during a play against the Great Falls Voyagers at Dehler Park. The Mustangs lost, 0-6, in their second game of the season. (Ruhter)
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9:29 p.m.
Dancers work the floor during “Cold Hard Cash,” a Johnny Cash tribute show, at the Railyard on Montana Avenue. (Page)
800-727-3552 pellaMT.com MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 49
TRAVELOGUE
B E Y O N D B I LL I N G S
Black Hills
By Nick Mann • photos courtesy of black hills tourism bureau and nick mann 50 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
s
UNDISCOVERED TREASURES
Nestled just southeast of Montana lies one of the West’s greatest destinations for history, recreation and Western culture. South Dakota’s Black Hills offer all of this and more. It’s easy, once you have visited the hallowed tourist trap of Mount Rushmore a few times, to dismiss the idea of future trips to the area, thinking you have ‘been there, done that.’ Don’t be fooled. There is much more to this region than a few sculpted mountains. Here are some pointers on places to explore. You will discover little-known gems just minutes from the famous mountain. For the Rock Hound: The Mammoth Site Gold isn’t the only valuable mineral lying beneath the surface of the Black Hills. At the Mammoth Site, near the town of Hot Springs, you can visit one of the most important Ice Age dig sites in the world. The Mammoth Site Museum was built directly over what was once a large, Ice Age mud pit. Mammoths, prehistoric giant bears, wolves and other creatures fell into the pit. Unable to escape, their fossils remain intact. Today, visitors can view these petrified bones exactly as they appeared in the ground. So far, more than 59 Mammoth skeletons have been found, with more being discovered every year. A tour guide leads you through the dig area while giving an engaging presentation on animals of the Ice Age and how the preservation occurred. The Mammoth Site Museum is great for kids and adults alike, and tours end in a not-to-be-missed gift shop.
For the Spelunker: Wind Cave National Park Mount Rushmore is certainly the most famous National Park in South Dakota, but few people realize that there are actually three other National Parks within an easy drive of Rapid City. One of these is hidden beneath the trees and granite spires of the Black Hills and is one of the largest cave systems in the world. Wind Cave National Park features awe-inspiring views that you can experience firsthand during a guided tour, which begins at the Park’s visitor center. There are several tour options to choose from, but the best is the Natural Entrance tour, which begins near the small natural entrance where the cave’s internal pressure creates enough wind to blow visitors’ hats off their heads.
For the Fitness Junkie: Mickelson Trail For those who aren’t afraid of a little exercise, the Mickelson Trail is one of the most spectacular ways to experience the Black Hills. The Mickelson Trail is a Rails-to-Trails project that converted 109 miles of abandoned railroad track into a multi-use pedestrian trail. If you decide to tackle the trail, the best place to start is in the historic town of Deadwood. The trail begins here, heading south through weathered ghost towns, forested mountain passes and sagebrush prairies. Best of all, the trail never slopes more than about a 4 percent grade, so it’s accessible to riders of all skill levels.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 51
For the Sightseer: Needles Highway
A must for motorcycle enthusiasts, the Needles Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the Black Hills area. The highway twists and turns as it weaves through Ponderosa Pine forests and granite spires. Be sure to stop for a photo-opp at the Needles Eye tunnel before venturing through the narrow passageway. The highway lies within Custer State Park and was named for the incredible granite towers that hallmark the trek, known as the Needles.
For the History Buff: Deadwood
After you’ve spent a day dutifully taking in the area’s many monuments and natural wonders, you’ve earned a night of fun and relaxation. Look no further than historic Deadwood. This rough-and-tumble town made a name for itself as a haven for outlaws, gunslingers and gamblers in the 1870s. Today, the outlaws and brothels have been replaced with tourist and souvenir shops, but the history (and the gambling) is still alive and well on Deadwood’s Main Street. Don’t miss Mount Moriah Cemetery, where you can visit the grave and monument of Wild Bill Hickok, who was shot and killed at a Deadwood poker table holding the now famous Dead Man’s Hand of aces and eights. Buried next to him is Calamity Jane, who spent a good part of her time in Deadwood when she wasn’t busy stealing horses in the Billings area. A self-guided walking tour points out other notable figures buried in the cemetery.
Mason & HaMlin
If you have the time, here are a few more Black Hills adventures: Full Throttle Saloon: World’s Largest Biker Bar: Located outside Sturgis, this bar’s name says it all. Deadwood Shootout: Watch Old West actors re-enact some of Deadwood’s most famous shootouts. Performances occur daily in the summer. Midnight Star: Experience Old West opulence at the Midnight Star Restaurant and Casino in Deadwood. Actor Kevin Costner, who owns the place, has many of his movie props and costumes on display in the upstairs restaurant.
Iron Mountain Road: A scenic road leading from Keystone to Mount Rushmore. The road was designed with several tunnels, each perfectly framing the four presidents of the famous mountain. Rapid City Presidential Walk: Every past president in U.S. history is hanging out in downtown Rapid City. Take the Historic District Walking Tour and find them all. Black Hills Maze: Need a break from the kids? Let them loose in the largest maze in the Midwest.
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52 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Facial Plastics
What’s a gal to do? Trust Your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon With all the information and media attention currently devoted to facial plastic surgery and cosmetic enhancements, you may be wondering who to trust with your face. The best choice is a well-qualified physician. Dr. Wolpoe and his staff at Billings Clinic Facial Plastic Surgery provide each patient with a confidential personal experience in a private, state-of-the-art clinical setting, backed by expertise and the latest advancements in technology, techniques, and products. As a Johns Hopkins trained double-board certified physician in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology), Dr. Wolpoe possesses extensive knowledge of anatomy, functionality, and expertise in facial surgery. Dr. Wolpoe provides significant expertise in non-surgical procedures like Botox® injections and dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm®, Radiesse®, and Sculptra®, as well as surgical procedures such as facelifts, laser liposuction, brow and eyelid surgery, chin implants, and functional and cosmetic nose surgery.
For more information or to make an appointment for a consultation, call Michelle Webb at (406) 657-4653. www.billingsclinic.com/facialplastics
Dr. Matthew Wolpoe is double board certified in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and in Ear, Nose, and Throat (Otolaryngology).
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 53
special report CRIME in the magic city
how safe ots man o h s y t u p e Sheriff’s d Walmart d n E t s e ngs W near Billi
Woman sent enced for forgery, cre dit card the ft urglaries b ’ d e c r o -f on of rise in ‘n n r a w e ic Pol
recent Headlines from The Billings Gazette
54 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
are you? If it seems as though the number of crimes reported in the local news has been increasing, that’s because it has. Over the past several years big city problems have found their way into Montana, to our centers of commerce as well as small towns. Though Montanans often take pride in a culture somewhat contrary to the rest of the nation, we have unfortunately tended to buck the wrong trends when it comes to crime.
BY JASON BURKE I PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASEY PAGE MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 55
Nationally, the FBI has consistently reported declines in both personal and property crimes for the past two decades. Offenses such as murder, rape, assault and robbery have dropped nearly 50 percent since 1992. Property crimes like burglary and theft have shown similar declines of nearly 40 percent. ...in 2001 the police department responded to 142 assaults
In contrast however, the City of Billings has experienced gradually increasing rates of violent crimes – almost doubling over a decade. To illustrate, in 2001 the police department responded to 142 assaults compared to 259 assaults in 2012, and robbery complaints increased from 40 in 2001 to 87 in 2012. Property crime has also risen at similar rates: trespassing, burglary and motor vehicle theft are all generating more calls to police than 10 years ago. While an increase in crime is always a matter of concern, Billings Police Chief Rich St. John reminds residents that “Billings is still a very safe community.” Still, if crime rates are going up, shouldn’t citizens be alarmed?
eventual findings of prosecutors, courts or juries. As population increases, one naturally expects the numbers of crimes and complaints to rise accordingly. Therefore, many law enforcement agencies also report crimes-per-100,000 inhabitants. Using these numbers, the national crime picture looks much better now than a decade ago. As of 2011, the average rate of violent crime had fallen from about 500 to just under 390 offences per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, Billings’ violent crime rate – counting murder, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery – has risen from about 240 to 400 in the same time. Though the Magic City used to be safer than the national average, we have come to meet the rest of the country somewhere in the middle.
Reading the risk
Crime rates always ebb and flow with the times, and it is easy to draw inaccurate conclusions without considering differences between communities. Crime is a complex outcome of economic conditions, population stability and density, family structure and cultural attitudes. Especially in a smaller city like Billings with low numbers of complaints, slight changes register as large percentage differences from year to year. In particular, Chief St. John notes that “we don’t have random acts of violence and gang problems” found in other cities. Offenders and victims “often know each other, and there is some prior relationship” contributing to crimes such as assaults and robberies. Unfortunately, he says, “news stories often don’t highlight these connections,” leading citizens to perceive
compared to 259 assaults in 2012, and robbery complaints increased from 40 in 2001 to 87 in 2012.
To better ascertain what is taking place, it’s important to start with a basic understanding of crime statistics, rates and definitions. Crime statistics are gathered and reported by the Billings Police Department (BPD), the Montana Board of Crime Control and the FBI. For example, the BPD annual report tabulates data from criminal complaints over the past several years, representing the number of calls the department receives from citizens and for which it determines a crime has actually occurred. This number, which represents the department’s overall workload, is then provided to the FBI’s national crime database. Since these statistics are for law enforcement rather than the justice system as a whole, they exclude the actual numbers of arrests or
Left to right: Ambulance and police respond to a drive-by shooting on Broadwater and 6th Ave N. Photo by Larry Mayer. Police officers search for evidence after a shooting on N. 27th St. Photo by Paul Ruhter. Opposite page: Residents and police search in an alley near North Park after a shooting. Photo by Larry Mayer.
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more random crime than there really is. Nevertheless, the increase is real, an ironic and unfortunate consequence of our good economy. With more opportunities in the Bakken oil fields, there are “more people with a lot of time and money,” says St. John. The adjacent interstate, a transient population and a resurgence of meth contribute to more theft, prostitution and drug offences, which in turn increase the likelihood of assaults and robberies. More criminals are also discovering that Billings’ relaxed population tends to keep home and car doors open or unlocked – easy targets for obtaining quick cash. For these and other reasons, citizens often opt to take protection of family and property into their own hands.
Number of Complaints
Top 15 Crimes by Volume of Complaints, 2012
Are you worried about putting funds in the stock market?
4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
Have you recently retired or are you near retirement?
Do you have an IRA or 401K? Complaints represent calls or other communication to the police department; do not include arrests, convictions, or other judgments.
Violent Crime Rates per 100,000 Inhabitants 600
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Crime Rate
500 400 300 200 100
Billings National
0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Violent crimes include rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and murder Sources: FBI Uniform Crime Report, 2012 and City of Billings Police Department Annual Report 2012
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 57
special report CRIME in the magic city
“Lock your doors, be aware of your surroundings and express confidence. (losing) Property is rarely worth the risk.”
— Rich St. John Billings Police Chief
BY JASON BURKE
58 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Despite the relatively low likelihood that most Billings residents will ever experience a violent crime firsthand, everyone maintains the right to defend themselves as they see fit. Billings Police Chief Rich St. John recognizes that many will choose the most lethal option: firearms. There is no easy answer, and no one solution will fit every individual situation. All the same, before living in daily fear or arming yourself against a threat, it pays to assess just how high your risk really is and obtain proper training in your personal defense devices. What can the average citizen do to reduce the risk of being a victim of random violence? St. John offers clear advice: “Lock your doors, be aware of your surroundings, express confidence” and be ready to part with your property if it is stolen in your presence. “Property is rarely worth the risk” to yourself or your family when confronting a thief. Many take proactive steps to lessen the likelihood of becoming a victim, including choosing to own and carry firearms or personal chemical weapons like mace or pepper spray. Some study martial arts or take defense courses to physically protect themselves, displaying the very confidence that St. John recommends. Dave and Eve Allen, husband and wife owners of the Martial Arts Academy of Billings, experience this every day with their students. Providing Taekwondo and Judo classes to men, women and children, the Allens have unique insight into their customers’ motivations. While some enroll solely to learn discipline, focus and concentration, many – including children – specifically want learn how to react to dangerous situations, from street crime to school bullying. “Walking or jogging alone or while using a cell phone, parking in unlit areas and accepting rides from strangers” all increase our risk, and are discussed in their martial arts and “stranger danger” courses. “Your brain is the best weapon you have,” Dave said. The Allens therefore teach not just physical defense, but
the mental awareness required for prompt action. Dave emphasizes that defense includes knowing when to avoid a physical altercation. Women especially, due to various cultural influences, may be more likely to suffer through situations that men would not normally tolerate. Students are taught to give verbal warnings, put up their hands and firmly but non-threateningly command an assailant to back down. He stresses that his students learn to use their skills only when in real danger. “A main point is to keep from escalating the situation by giving the aggressor a way to retreat,” he notes. He also distinguishes between awareness and fear of our surroundings. “We cannot live in fear as potential victims…thinking of awful things that might happen to us,” Allen said. Personal defense training also requires time and money – more than some are willing or able to commit. Other popular alternatives are chemical deterrents such as pepper spray or mace (a form of tear gas), electric tasers or similar non-lethal devices. Chief St. John cautions against depending too much on their effectiveness however. “These devices are designed to facilitate an escape” by inflicting some degree of pain, “but many attackers can power through that, and the victim risks merely making the assailant mad.” He sums up by saying that “you don’t know who you are dealing with. They could be on drugs, have a history of violence or other criminal past.” The key, he says, is “to be a good witness, providing clear information to the police that can lead to a suspect.”
Inset, opposite page: Billings Police Chief Rich St. John. Photo by Casey Page. Above: Eve and Dave Allen, husband and wife owners of the Martial Arts Academy of Billings, demonstrate a hold at their studio. Photo by Bob Zellar.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 59
Residential Security Tips 1. All entrances, includ ing service doors and gates, should have quality locks – preferably dead bolts. 2. Don’t leave keys hidden outside the home. Leave an extra key with a trusted neighbor or friend. 3. Keep doors locked even when you or family members are home. 4. Have window locks installed on all windows. Use them. 5. Have locks installed on your fuse boxes and external power sources. 6. If you have burglar or intrusion alarms, check and use them. 7. A family dog can be a deterrent to criminals. But remember, even the best watch-dog can be controlled by food or poison. 8. Do not install separate doors or entrances. They also can admit small intruders. 9. Know your neighbors. Develop a rapport with them and offer to keep an eye on each other’s homes, especially during trips. 10. If you observe any unusual activity, report it immediately to law enforcement. 11. Educate family members in the proper way to answer the telephone at home. 12. Vary daily routines; avoid predictable patterns. 13. Know where all family members are at all times. Source: www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rpt19773
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From Left: Home security systems can offer peace of mind. A device such as a taser gun can offer non-lethal protection, but many attackers can power through that, and the victim risks merely making the assailant mad.
Property lines
The home as castle…or fortress
If personal protection comes down to awareness Some homeowners have opted to go for the ultimate of your surroundings, protection of your home and in security by installing a safe room. This is literally a property can be summed up by one word: deterrence. protective space inside the home providing the occupants Though it’s quite possible to install discreet security with solid doors and walls, survival supplies, a phone and systems in your home or business, much of their electricity to wait out an attack. The room can be built as effectiveness comes from a mix of visibility and part of new construction or retrofitted into an existing unpredictability. The goal is to make burglars house, often by adding reinforced materials to a bedroom aware of a viable system, but unsure exactly what its or closet. Though simple in concept, proper construction capabilities may be. Dirk Bowen, president of Kenco is a must, and is suggested only for licensed contractors or Security in Billings, installs and monitors a variety experienced builders. of such security and protection devices, and notes Like any other defense tool however, a safe room that “signs in the yard and decals on the windows” requires proper training and the need for secrecy to be are a small but important part of the whole system’s effective. Practice drills for quick reaction time, as well value. New technology as not showing off the room to enables owners to observe outsiders, are important aspects their home remotely via a often overlooked by eager owners. webcam and even adjust Also like the others, a safe room the thermostat via cell is usually intended to give the phone – added benefits occupant time for the police or layered into the system’s other help to arrive, not to serve as basic security function. a place of negotiation or long-term Kenco’s automated refuge. It is also generally only systems are backed appropriate for situations with with 24-hour personal high risk of abduction – especially monitoring. for ransom – or for the victim of “Our systems validate a bona fide stalking. Though they Dirk Bowen, President of Kenco Security of Billings. Photo by the incident, reducing false Larry Mayer have been popular with high-level alarms and the associated corporate executives and their costs charged by the municipality,” says Bowen. families for many years, only recently have they become Though Bowen hasn’t experienced significant more prevalent in Montana. ups or downs in the area, he notes that people Regardless of one’s individual preferences for aren’t as careful as they could be. protection, the overall theme should be one of appropriate “People still don’t lock their doors. A lot of response to the actual risk. While we can’t know every our customers have already been victims or individual’s intentions, we can make use of the statistics know someone who has,” Bowen notes. Also, available to estimate the likely risk at any given time. This criminals change their tactics to take advantage may reflect the area in which you live, the people you of a particular situation. “We’re hearing of know, how much you and your neighbors trust each other coordinated robberies where a resident will and how you personally present yourself to those around be in front of their home, and one party will you. By minimizing the apparent value of your person or distract them while a partner comes in through property to a potential attacker, raising their uncertainty of the back,” he says. Even with a security system, your own strength or weapons, and not putting yourself in it can’t protect you without being properly dangerous situations, you help reduce your overall risk to managed. “Keep your garage doors closed, a more manageable level. Billings remains a safe, vibrant secure and lock all other entry doors, and guard community, and every citizen’s self confidence reinforces the property with a fence,” Bowen suggests. our collective ability to prevent additional crime.
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LIFESAVING
J
BS
Hopefully, you never need these people. But if you ever do, you wil be grateful they are here. Meet 7 amazing lifesavers who dedicate their careers to selflessly helping others.
As told to Brittany cremer I Brenda Maas I ALLYN HULTENG
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 63
Brenna Boese
Irv Leach
Rose Park Pool
Bureau of Land Management
As told to Brittany Cremer Photo by Larry Mayer
As told to Brenda Maas Photo by Larry Mayer
Lifeguard and Guard Start Instructor
Wildland Fire Fighter and Type I Incident Commander-In-Training
More than 30 years ago
A true Pisces
Safety first
Swimming is in my blood, and strangely enough, I actually AM a Pieces. I was in the water at 3 months old and swimming competitively by 7. I’m currently a junior in college at the University of Northern Colorado but come back during the summer to lifeguard.
In six years of lifeguarding, I’ve only had to jump in the water once. Fortunately, it wasn’t a life-threatening situation. My biggest tip to pool-goers is to take swimming lessons, be cautious on the pool deck, follow all posted rules and of course, put on sunscreen.
I started fighting wildland fires—the politically-correct term for wild fires— when I was in college. It was a great summer job; as it turned into longer summers it got into my blood. I didn’t really pick this job. It’s more like it picked me.
At the ready
Fear is a motivator
No reality TV here
When I’m at my post at the pool, I am constantly scanning—first a sweep over the top of the water, then as my eyes track back, I look underneath—10 seconds each way. At any given moment, you have to be ready to jump in. We’re trained to assess and deploy in a split second.
Sure, there are days when I’m scared at my job. But that fear keeps you on your toes, it makes you sharp. The fear keeps you from becoming complacent.
Serious certification Lifeguards go through recertification every two years, and it’s pretty intensive. We go through 10 hours of class, which includes training in backboarding and CPR. During our water test we’re required to jump into 50-degree water and retrieve a brick from the bottom of the pool, tread water for 15 minutes and swim 300 meters.
Junior lifeguarding One of my greatest joys is passing on my love and knowledge of the water to kids during swimming lessons or the Guard Start program—which is a junior lifeguarding program that teaches life guarding and lifesaving skills. It’s so rewarding to teach a skill then see it translate into the pool.
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Big water My training and skills extend beyond the boundaries of the pool. A few years ago, my little sister was playing at the lake, bobbing up and down in the water. My dad and I were looking on and at one point, she didn’t come up for air. She had inadvertently split her cheek on something and spent about 10 seconds under the water. That was the longest 10 seconds of my life. She eventually popped up, and my dad and I administered first aid, sealing the wound with a butterfly bandage.
Remember while recreating The summer is filled with fun activities that gravitate toward water. Even if you consider yourself a top-notch swimmer, always wear a life jacket, take caution if considering cliff jumping and never jump into murky water.
Fire fighters must be in top physical condition. Our days involve rigorous, regimented physical fitness and then gear checks and other training—I’m still learning something new every day. Approximately 80 percent of a fire fighter’s time is spent on preparation—the part that would bore a thrill-seeking TV audience—and only 20 percent fighting the fire. Yet it is that 80 percent that influences the outcome.
Long seasons I’ve spent anywhere from 15 days to 120 days on a fire during one summer. Last year I was out for 72 days during the fire season. This occupation is incredibly hard on family life.
There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team’ This job isn’t about me, it’s about us. Fire fighters are a team. No one does their job alone—community mentality is an integral part of this job. And, I’ve been part of some very close-knit ‘families’ over the years.
Not a ‘typical’ lifesaver I’m not sure that we are ‘lifesavers.’ Perhaps those who fight wild fires are more likely ‘lifestyle-savers.’But a fire truck is a fire truck, and a fire fighter is a fire
fighter. We each have a specific mission, and it all boils down to the fact that we are more than willing to help with any given situation.
The good, the bad and the ugly Under the right conditions, fire can be beneficial to nature. The very grasses that could burn are the same grasses that many ranchers rely on for their stock’s summer food. Losing that source could be detrimental to a ranching family.
Urban wilderness We do deal with buildings, including homes, in wilderness areas, especially in this region of Montana. We are out there to keep fires at a minimum. We don’t want a wildland fire to be destructive to personal property. We work closely with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), local fire departments and the sheriff’s department to determine if we have to evacuate—it all depends on the conditions. Some structures we can save, some we cannot.
True heros We are a tight-knit group. Many of us in Montana know those affected by the recent tragedy in Arizona. All fire fighters assume a certain risk in their occupations, and wildland fire fighters are the real boots on the ground. We like fighting fires and helping people. We don’t mind sleeping in the dirt, eating bad food and not showering for days. This is what we do, and we love it.
Paul Stanford
Jenilee Knutson
Paramedic, EMT Training Officer and Volunteer, City of Laurel
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurse
American Medical Response
St. Vincent Healthcare
As told to Allyn Hulteng photo by james woodcock
As told to Brittany Cremer Photo by Paul Ruhter
Pediatric protector As a nurse in St. Vincent Healthcare’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), I’ve grown so attached to the work I do. For the past 3 ½ years, I’ve been able to live that dream—helping patients in the only pediatric intensive care unit in the region.
Tiny soldiers Kids are so resilient. I’m amazed every day at their strength and courage. Often times, it’s the parents who require extra soothing and comforting. But I enjoy that, too, to be a rock for someone who’s bestowing so much trust and faith in you.
Doc details
medical field is in my blood. I love kids and always knew I wanted to be a nurse; I can’t imagine doing anything else.
The tough stuff When a patient is in a critical condition yes—it’s the scariest thing ever. But that’s when the training and education comes in, because you’re more prepared than you think. It is the ultimate responsibility—that’s someone’s kid, someone’s everything. When a child doesn’t make it after we’ve tried everything in our power— that is my worst day.
Band of brothers and sisters
A nurse’s knowledge base is so extensive. The average person off the street might not realize that before we administer medication to a patient, we need to know exactly what it does, how it interacts with other drugs and what the appropriate dosage is. We aren’t just passing along meds.
There is so much critical thinking involved in administering intensive care. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without the strength and support of my colleagues. I feel fortunate to work with such a talented team of professionals. We laugh together, cry together— we’re like a family.
Good medicine
Professional prescription
Sometimes the best medicine is a hug, a smile or anything to brighten the day of one of my patients. It’s these little things that fill my heart and make what I do so rewarding.
Family philanthropy My grandfather was one of the founding members of the St. V’s Children’s Clinic, so working in the
Nursing is a passion, a calling. If it speaks to you, seek out people in the profession and ask them questions. If you fall in love with it like I did, surround yourself with it.
The calling I’ve always had the desire to help people. My first job was working as a lifeguard at a local waterpark. After graduating from college I became a volunteer EMT in Laurel. Eventually I enrolled in the paramedic program at City College in Billings. I graduated in 2005 and have worked as a paramedic since.
A comforting presence When I’m in the back of an ambulance with a patient, I understand that person is scared and unsure of what’s taking place. I try to ease their fears, communicating that they’re being taken care of and what will happen when we get to the hospital.
Emergency empath This job can be tough – very tough. Sometimes even when we get to someone quickly there is nothing we can do to save them. When that happens, we have to transition from taking care of the patient to taking care of their family members.
Preventable misfortune The hardest part of the job is when we deal with kids and trauma, especially when the trauma could have been prevented. Parents – make sure your kids wear helmets and other protective gear when they ride bikes, skateboards or four-wheelers. Also, always strap babies and youngsters properly into their car seats. The key word is ‘properly.’ Many times we go on a call and find that the child was placed in a car seat, but she wasn’t properly buckled in. That single
effort can make the difference between life and death.
Continually improving Advances in technology have made a huge difference in the field, helping us save lives. We can take an EKG in the field and transmit images to the ER. By the time we get the patient to the hospital, the doctors are in the cath lab standing by. It’s very rewarding when all the training, skills and technology pull together.
No certainties Early on I realized that we can do everything possible in the field to point to a good outcome, yet whether that patient lives or dies is not up to us. When it’s your time, it’s your time. I tell people not to waste a single day, because your life can be gone in an instant.
The guardians Everyone in this profession has seen some bad things. We have also been witness amazing moments. There’s a special camaraderie between emergency workers; we understand what our coworker is going through. If another crew had a bad call, we may go to the hospital and help clean their ambulance out. What we’re really doing is saying ‘we’re looking after you. For anyone interested in becoming a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician, the Laurel Volunteer Ambulance Office offers training classes two times a year. For more information, call Jan Faught, ambulance director, at 628-1611.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 65
John Redman Blood and Platelet Donor United Blood Services
As told to Brenda Maas Photo by Paul Ruhter
Call to action In 1999, I was listening to the radio and there had been a bad wreck. I had two grandchildren, ages 2 and 5, at the time and there were three little boys out there who needed blood. I knew nothing about it, but donating was the one thing I could do to help.
Conquering fears
Mexico who was battling cancer—my blood was “tagged” and it went to her. I never met her. Then, suddenly, they stopped tagging it. I was really scared and asked, “What happened to her?” I was told she was in remission. Man, did that feel good!
Paying it forward
I’m absolutely terrified of needles— really. I hate them. Every time I go in to donate, I turn my head and cringe when they poke me. But, once the needle is in, everything is fine.
I’ve been blessed and my family has been blessed. Not one of us has ever needed blood, but who knows? I am married, have four kids and 13 grandkids; one day it might be me, or worse…someone I love.
A+ donor
The reward is in the deed
I have A+ blood, so lots of people can use my type of blood. About 10 years ago I started donating platelets instead of whole blood. This process takes a bit longer, about two hours, but it’s worth it because it helps people with cancer and burn patients. I have donated 21 gallons of blood, or more than 171 times, to date.
I learned a long time ago to not judge someone based on how they look. We don’t know what their story is. Maybe donors are lifesavers, who knows? But I do know that it makes me feel fulfilled when I do something good for someone else—you don’t always have to get paid. Just a thank you is good enough payment. And, I get lots of hugs.
Giving a bit more
To learn more about donating blood, contact United Blood Services at 248-9168 or www.unitedbloodservices.org.
When I donated whole blood, I could give every 56 days, up to five or six times each year. Now that I donate platelets I can donate every seven days, up to 24 times each year. I can help even more people by donating platelets.
Two of a kind A few years ago it turned out that I was an exact match to a woman in New
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Sam Lind & Dawn Hurd
9-1-1- Dispatcher Operators
As told to Allyn Hulteng I photography by Casey Page
The net
Dawn: As 9-1-1 dispatchers, our job is to understand the situation as quickly as possible and to coordinate assistance between the police, fire and medical responders. If the call involves a medical emergency, we’re trained to ask questions and give instructions based on an established emergency medical protocol until help arrives.
Crisis communication
Dawn: For the person experiencing an emergency, it can feel as though time is standing still. Sometimes the caller becomes irritated with our questions, wondering why we aren’t calling the police. What they don’t realize is that we’ve already dispatched law enforcement. The reason we’re asking for details is to provide a description to the police. Many times suspects are caught before an officer arrives on the scene based on that description.
It’s not easy
Sam: This is a very stressful job; the burnout rate is high. You have to be able to handle very difficult situations. People are often angry or in crisis, and they take it out on you. At the end of your shift, you have to be able to go home and let it go.
Circling together
Dawn: Teamwork and communication are essential. We may get a call from a young child saying ‘dad hit mommy.’ He’s scared, and doesn’t know his address. While the first dispatcher tries to get information, such as the mom or dad’s name, another jumps in
to ‘ping’ the cell phone, which gives us the longitude and latitude of that location. Still another communicates with law enforcement and other responders.
Safe zone
Sam: Everyone here is friends. If we have a big incident and need to talk about it, our coworkers are there, ready to listen – they get it, and that’s important.
Caring colleagues
Dawn: As 9-1-1 dispatchers, we provide a network of support to the community, but we also provide a support network for each other. Four years ago my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Every single person I work with said, ‘if you need anything, let me know.’ These people really meant it. When I asked – and it was hard to ask – they dropped everything to help. It’s humbling, and I’m grateful. We are a family.
No hesitation
Dawn: Sometimes people are hesitant to call us thinking it’s bothersome. If you’re scared or if you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, please call us first. That’s why we’re here.
Job well done
Dawn: To a certain extent, we talk to people on their worst day. I’ve had calls that have hit me hard, made me shake, cry and want to leave the room. But I’ve also had calls where I know I was able to help someone. When my shift is over I can say, ‘I helped a lot of people today and I did a good job.’ I genuinely love that.
NOWBOARDING You checked your bags, passed through security and grabbed a cup of Joe before settling in at the gate, listening for your flight to be called. After a short wait, a perky voice announces the plane is ready to board. Joining other passengers, you make your way down the jet bridge and onto the aircraft where you take your seat and buckle in for the short hop to Denver. Control tower photo by Larry Mayer
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 67
Outside through the small window you see the ground crew loading luggage into the belly of the plane. There are a few strange noises – some odd bumping sounds and then a mechanical whine and “click,” signaling that the cargo bay door has been shut and locked. Inside the cabin, the doors are closed and secured and the purser begins making safety announcements over the intercom. Moments later, the plane rises gracefully off the runway and climbs to a comfortable cruising altitude where you sit back, relax and enjoy. *** As a mode of transportation, flying has become commonplace. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), last year more than 732 million passengers flew commercially in the U.S. alone. What’s more, a sophisticated network of domestic and international airline routes enables a person to board a plane in Billings and land anywhere in the world within 24 hours – a remarkable feat that would have been a flight of fancy mere decades earlier. Though air travel feels routine, what many people never see is the complex array of safety nets, communications and facility services that must all sync and without which that short hop to Denver – or anywhere else for that matter – would simply not be possible.
Billings Logan International Airport manager Tom Binford, right, and building manager Mark Evangeline run a mid-sized airport that never goes to sleep.
On the ground
To most the airport is just a portal to the plane. But Tom Binford knows better. Each year more than 400,000 people board planes in Billings, with a similar number arriving. As the Director of Aviation and Transit for Billings Logan International Airport, Binford oversees the entire operation, which includes 56 full-time employees and 300,000 square feet of buildings spread out over 2,300 acres. “We’re basically a big landlord responsible for maintaining this facility 24/7/365,” Binford said. Owned by the City of Billings, the airport uses no general fund tax money. Costs associated with running the airport operations are paid through tenants, which include individual airlines, car rental agencies, the gift shop, restaurant and coffee shop. The job may seem straightforward, but the scale and complexity makes the task extraordinary. Terrance Dominique, general manager Mark Evangeline is the man responsible for buildfor United Airlines in Billings. ing maintenance. Originally constructed in 1928, the airport has undergone three major expansions – the most recent in 1992. “The terminal is so big it has its own environment inside,” Evangeline said. To efficiently manage such a large facility, a state-of-the-art computerized environmental control system was deployed to maximize efficiencies. Lighting is also opti-
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mized through the use of occupancy sensors, turning on when rooms are occupied and off when they are not. Power is essential to airport operations. The Billings plant has two separate power feeds plus three enormous backup generators that provide redundancy. “The airlines love the backup system,” Binford said. Jet bridges which connect the terminal to the aircraft are also maintained by airport operations. Depending on the season, the bridge is pre-heated or cooled before the jet arrives. In winter, the jet connects to a heat supply on the bridge overnight to prevent water and fluids on board from freezing. “Our relationship with the airlines is very important,” Binford said. “We want to keep our rates reasonable and consistent, and find ways to serve the airlines so they want to come to our market.”
At the gate
You may never meet Terrance Dominique, but you can bet he knows if you are on one of his flights. Dominique is the general manager for United Airlines in Billings. A 40-year veteran with the company, he transferred to Billings in January 2013. “I’m originally from Kauai, so this was a big change. But I love Montana and Billings is a great market to be in,” he said. Dominique is responsible for all ground operations involving United Airline flights. Those operations fall into one of two categories. Above-the-wing operations refer to the customer experience including the ticketing, baggage check and claim and seating assignments. Below-the-wing operations include ground equipment, fueling, baggage loading and load planning. From Billings, United Airlines offers five to six trips a day to Denver and one non-stop flight daily to Chicago in the summer. Dominique and his staff of 30 provide ground service for every one of those flights. “We focus on three very important things,” he said. “Safety, security and customer service – in that order.” Before an airplane pushes back from the gate, Dominique, a certified flight dispatcher, and the captain are in close communication. The plane is fueled, systems are checked and the crew carefully follows the Central Load Plan (CLP) which dictates where the load is to be staged in the belly of the aircraft. Weight and balance are critical to safety. Since altitude and temperature affect where the center of gravity is in a plane, load planning is essential.
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1] Joe Mead from United Airlines works the desk as travelers check in for a mid-day flight at Billings Logan International Airport (BIL). 2] Travelers pick up their luggage at BIL. 3] Three large backup generators have the capacity to power the Billings Logan International Airport in case of a power failure. 4] Freight handlers load Alpine Air freighters with UPS cargo at Billings Logan International Airport. 5] Billings Logan International Airport police chief Brian Neidhardt watches over a bank of video monitors in the police station of the airport. 6] Baggage handlers unload a Skywest regional flight at BIL. 7] A Skywest regional flight taxis into parking at Billings Logan International Airport.
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 69
Billings Logan International Factoids • All airport employees have encoded ID cards that only allow access to pre-programmed points.
• Video cameras throughout the terminal are monitored by airport police, and all activity is recorded 24/7. • The airport has 56 full-time employees. Including the tenants, approximately 850 people work at the airport. • The airport operations building houses aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles as well as snow removal and airfield service vehicles. Two firemen are on duty 24/7, and Billings firefighters are on call 24/7. • The city passed bonds to build a $5.75M Quick Turn-Around car rental facility. The debt will be retired from charges assessed on each car rental transaction. • Zulu time – or coordinated universal time – is the standard time used in aviation worldwide. • English is the standard language used in aviation worldwide.
• The FAA mandates that air traffic controllers retire at age 56.
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“There are two people who say whether a plane can or cannot go – the pilot and the dispatcher. If one of us says ‘no,’ the plane does not go,” Dominique said. On the rare occasion when there is a delay, Dominique works to find the root cause, remedy the situation and put measures in place to avoid the problem in the future. As he said, no one remembers if a flight leaves early, but everyone remembers if an airliner is late. Being a station manager means Dominique is on call 24/7. “If anything happens – a medical emergency necessitating an unscheduled landing, lighting storms, diversions – I need to know.” In Billings, summer often means thunderstorms. For this reason, Dominique has a lightning strike alert system on his blackberry. If lightning strikes within three to five miles of the airport, he immediately closes ground operations; no one is allowed to work below the wing until he receives an ‘all clear.’ After safety and security, customer service is a top priority. In fact, the focus on service was so important that United Airlines named 2013 The Year of the Customer. “Respect and dignity are ingrained in our culture. And if a customer does have a complaint, I want to personally know about it. I will say, ‘please give me the opportunity to serve you,’” he said.
In the air
From the moment an airplane is pushed back from the departure gate until it pulls up to the arrival gate, someone is watching. Make that several someones. A network of air traffic controllers around the globe check, log and track every minute of every flight. Paul Godfrey, Acting Air Traffic Manager, oversees air traffic controllers at Billings Logan International. Housed in the tall tower near the terminal, it would be easy to assume that all the controllers work on the top
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2
3 1] Air traffic approach controllers Shawn Garland, right, and Doug Beck work in the Billings Logan Airport radar room. The approach controllers pass the aircraft on to controllers working high up in the tower who will have visual contact with the airplanes. 2] Air traffic controller David Nelson works in the airport’s tower communicating with aircraft landing and taking off from the airport runways. 3] Paul Godfrey is acting Air Traffic Manager at BIL.
floor where they have a bird’s eye view from the glass-encased workspace. But that assumption would be wrong. Located in the base of the tower, the radar control room looks like something out of a Star Trek movie. Multiple radar screens and computer panels illuminate the otherwise darkened space. Intently monitoring their screens, the controllers are communicating and vectoring aircraft on departures and arrivals to Billings. “Every flight is monitored by a series of controllers depending upon where the airplane is – on the ground and in the air,” explains Godfrey.
Honoring Community To honor WWII Veterans, United Airlines agreed to provide all ground services for the 2013
A regional jet lands as one of the Rocky Mountain College flight school aircraft taxis for departure at Billings Logan International Airport.
At the top of the tower, both ground and tower control have visual contact with the aircraft on the tarmac. Ground control oversees an airplane pushing back from the gate and taxiing to a “hold” line on the runway. There, tower control makes sure the runway is safe and there is room in the air before clearing the airplane to take off. The tower controller will literally watch the plane for approximately five miles before passing the plane to radar control. Radar controllers are responsible for communicating with the pilot and vectoring the aircraft until the plane is 40 miles out and reaches an altitude of 15,000 feet, at which time the plane is passed to a center. “If a flight is heading to Denver, the aircraft will pass to Denver Center, then Denver approach (radar), Denver tower and then Denver ground,” Godfrey said. And flight controllers aren’t the only people watching. Each airline has an operations center where experts are in communication with pilots and track every flight.
Honor Flights from
Recently, United Airlines opened a new state-of-the-art Network Operations Center in Chicago. From the center, flight operators can to talk to pilots anywhere in the world. They also run real-time applications on missioncritical systems including flight information, flight planning, weight and balance, flight following, aircraft routing, crew management, maintenance control, disruption management, ground-to-air communications and weather. The network serves as a sophisticated, technologically advanced nerve center designed to deliver the best airline performance and customer experience. As an industry, the airlines are competitive, Dominique noted, “but we’re also an airline family.” In Billings, Dominique meets monthly with other managers to talk over issues and the business in general. “We work well with other carriers, which ultimately means better service for all our customers. And when you treat folks properly, you win every time.”
Montana to Washington, D.C. “Honor Flight organizers asked the airlines for help, no one else stepped forward,” said Terrance Dominique, general manager for United Airlines in Billings. “United is proud to provide this service.”
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Lightning’s Toll Lightning caused 28 deaths in the United States last year, according to Tom Frieders, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Billings. While no lightningcaused deaths were recorded in the state in 2012, Montana has had four fatal strikes since 2006. Frieders says those include: * June 11, 2011, when Gary Devries was killed while riding a horse as he herded cattle near Bridger. * July 4, 2009, when Blake Harmon, of Billings, was hit during an Independence Day celebration at Castle Rock Park while seeking shelter during a storm. * May 18, 2007, when Theodore Austin was hit on a boat on a reservoir near Helena. * July 23, 2006, when Billings resident Sally Noe was struck while running on a trail atop the Rimrocks.
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Fire from the Sky BY CHRIS RUBICH
Riky Carlson remembers working with a crew to seal cracks in Interstate 94 near Forsyth in the spring of 2001. But details of the minutes just before and after he and co-worker Richard Romero were blasted by lightning were erased in the haze of a concussion. “The first thing that I remember was looking at my Carlson has since moved to Shepherd, where he and feet … and I was hoping that all my other guys were OK,” Amanda are raising nine kids–three biological children, recalls Carlson, who was a 24-year-old Billings resident an adopted child and five foster children. He’s moved on at the time. from asphalt work to the concrete business. Emergency workers were caring for the two men and a His experience “makes a good story” among friends, third crew member whose feet were scalded as if they had but also provides a cautionary tale. been “in a tub of hot water,” Carlson said. “Most of the time I start hopping in the truck or get Romero and Carlson had borne the brunt of the jolt as into the house when I see a storm,” he says. lightning struck the truck that they were working behind, “I’m not an ultra-scaredy cat … but I am cautious traveled down the metal asphalt-dispensing wand held enough not to stand out in the yard and watch the by Romero, raced through Carlson’s body and into the lightning around me.” ground. *** The strike “just brought us Carlson escaped serious longoff the ground and slammed term damage, but lightning directly us down,” Carlson recalls being kills about 37 people a year in the told. United States plus about a dozen The third injured crew more from lightning-caused fires. member had been about 20 or Another 300 may be hurt, suffering 30 yards away and was burned mysterious illnesses that can last a by the heat of the asphalt lifetime. where the lightning entered the And, Dr. Peter Light, a Billings ground near his feet. He was Clinic emergency-room physician treated at a Billings hospital says, “Many lightning exposures and released that day. probably are not reported.” Carlson and Romero Part of the reason may be that a The Carlson family at Arrow Island Park near Shepherd: received emergency care, then Michael, Jeffrey, Ricky, Jordan, and Amanda. strike often causes a transient loss Photo by Paul Ruhter. were held overnight at Rosebud of consciousness, so the victim may Health Care Center in Forsyth. not even be sure that lightning hit, explains Dr. James Carlson’s doctor warned him that victims often suffer Bentler, medical director of St. Vincent Healthcare’s “something”– one or more effects of lightning strikes– emergency department. in the days after being hit. But what that “something” Lightning can damage every organ system in the might be could vary–from nerve and tissue damage to body, from lungs to kidneys. But most deaths come from personality changes. respiratory and cardiac arrest. Carlson didn’t have to wait long to learn what his Bentler says it’s myth that a victim will carry a charge “something” was. after being struck and should not be touched. Instead, The father of a young son, Michael, and husband to quick action can save lives. Amanda had returned to work the day after being injured. The strike’s electrical jolt can cause the heart to Everything seemed fine. stop. It may restart on its own. If not, cardiopulmonary Then Carlson was hit with “the worst pain that you resuscitation (CPR) should be started immediately and is can imagine times 100” in the middle of his brain. For the often successful, both doctors say. next few months, the agony would come and go quickly The current also can travel to the brain stem and once or twice a day. knock out a victim’s respiratory drive, Bentler says. “It would drop me to my knees,” he recalls. “It was the Light says doing chest compressions can restart a worst pain that I ever went through.” victim’s heart, but it may take longer to restart breathing. Over time, the pains vanished on their own, and storms So, continue to perform rescue breathing until the victim seemed less eerie. can breathe on his or her own.
Play it safe Safeguard yourself and your family when a storm strikes with these tips from the National Weather Service; Dr. Peter Light, of Billings Clinic; and Dr. James Bentler, from St. Vincent Healthcare:
Do
• Get out of the pool and away from streams and other forms of water. • Avoid being the tallest object in an open area. Seek safety by lying in a ditch or gully. • Engage in high-country outdoor activities during the morning and be off the heights and trails by early evening, when storms occur more often. • Check the forecast before outdoor activities. • Stay away from doors and windows. • Stay in the sheltered site for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder or lightning.
Don’t
• Take shelter under a tree or other tall object.
• Use a shower and do avoid contact with other plumbing. • Touch items plugged into electrical outlets. • Use a corded phone. It is safe to use a mobile phone.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 73
Be ready to resume resuscitation efforts if the heart or breathing stops again as the body tries to deal with the shock of the strike. Cardiac rhythm problems may continue to plague victims, even causing death several days after a strike. But the problem usually diminishes over time, Bentler says. When lightning strikes, “sometimes people describe a profound flash, a loud noise,” Light says. The strike may rupture ear drums. Lightning can cause temporary blindness, double vision or development of cataracts. Burns are often associated with lightning strikes, but seldom are as deep as those from electrical accidents because the current travels through the body quickly in a lightning strike. A lightning victim may have only superficial burn marks unless his clothing burns or he was wearing a big belt buckle or other metal object that gets superheated from the charge, the doctors say. The lightning may ‘flash over” the skin, which provides the path of least resistance, Bentler says. Sweat on the body vaporizing may cause steam burns, or burns and tissue damage can show up later.
The doctors say neuropsychological symptoms are possible, with some patients experiencing anxiety, sleep problems, memory loss, depression, irritability and even post-traumatic stress disorder behavior. Light recalls a sheepherder who was alone in the mountains with his dogs when struck during a big storm with hard rain. The man was hit and went to the ground. He was unable to walk afterward and estimated that he crawled a half-mile toward his sheep camp before his legs could support his weight. When the herder finally got to the hospital, he was treated for burns to the back of his thigh. A victim’s injuries often depend on the type of strike sustained. Lightning may strike a person directly, or the charge can reach someone near or holding an object that gets hit. The current may also travel through the ground. In recent years, a storm produced a long bolt of lightning that injured nine people on walkways around Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful Geyser. In 2005, 11 people were hurt by another lightning strike at the famous geyser.
While most lightning strikes occur in spring and summer, “it can happen any day at any time of the day,” says Tom Frieders, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Billings. Some thunderstorms produce “thousands and thousands of strikes,” he says. “Any time you’re hearing thunder, you know lightning is there,” according to Frieders. Don’t worry about figuring out how far away the storm is – just seek shelter, he says. In Montana and Wyoming, particularly dangerous spots can be open areas or mountain heights, where people are higher than other objects or are near tall objects. Frieders encourages hikers and other recreationists to plan their outings for early in the day, when lightning is less-common, and to check weather reports before hitting the trails or streams. A tingling sensation or hair standing on end may signal that a strike is imminent, so seek shelter as soon as you seen an approaching storm, he warns. “The main thing is prevention,” says Bentler, who notes, “It’s real amazing, the power of Mother Nature.”
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 75
ten fantastic ideas for weekend getaways I by karen kinser
It’s summer! But you don’t need two whole weeks to savor the season because you live in Billings, the ultimate center of a day-tripper’s universe. We’ve done the research for you so that you can revive yourself and renew your spirit with a road trip in as little as a day. So kick back, relax and expand your horizons with one of these fantastic mini-getaways.
big timber
82 miles west
Cool Factor: You may only know Big Timber as a fly-by stop along I-90 as you’re headed somewhere else, but it’s got days’ worth of activities in a small area – and has Hollywood street cred with such stunning scenery that parts of The Horse Whisperer and the PBS series Frontier House were filmed here. You can golf in the shadows of majestic mountains, submerge yourself in the area’s history at the Crazy Mountain Museum, hoof it to the Natural Bridge, learn all about prairie dogs in nearby Greycliff (the kids are gonna love this stop) or wear out the camera battery on the Crazy Mountains Backcountry Drive. Be sure to notice: The area is surrounded on three sides by the AbsarokaBeartooth and Crazy Mountains. What you might not know: At one time, the Big Timber area shipped more than five million pounds of wool a year and had the largest wool market in the country. 76 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
pompeys pillar national monument
30 miles east
Cool Factor:
Towering 200 feet above the Yellowstone River, William Clark carved his signature on July 25, 1806. This is the only remaining physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Even though 200 years have passed, you can still view this signature. At the Interpretive Center, relive history as you learn about the expedition. Then take the winding trail – past a replica of Captain Clark’s canoes – to the boardwalk that will lead you to the top of the Pillar and to Clark’s signature. If you’re there the last weekend in July, participate in Clark Days for some living history demonstrations and a re-enactment of Clark’s canoe voyage.
Be sure to notice:
How the concrete walkway on the way to the boardwalk meanders through the grass and trees. Its path represents the Yellowstone River.
What you might not know:
Clark named the location for Sacagawea’s infant son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, upon whom he had bestowed the nickname of Pomp.
columbus 42 miles southwest
bearcreek pig races 65 miles south
Cool Factor: Pigs in jerseys run along an oval track, creating hog-wild fun for everyone. Plan a fun date night (Thursday through Sunday evenings) and come out to see if pigs really do fly. Pig out at dinner with a selection of burgers, Montana steaks, and shrimp—and don’t even think about asking for bacon on that burger. Place your bet and if you can pick the “wiener.”
Be sure to notice:
Each race starts with the playing of the “Call to the Post”—a little nod to horse racing and the Ken-
tucky Derby.
What you might not know: In 1992, the Montana Board of Horse Racing outlawed pig racing, but the Montana Legislature stepped in and OK’d the races, as long as proceeds went to charity. To date, more than $99,000 has been giving to scholarships.
Cool Factor: Columbus—cool? You think we’re kidding, right? But it’s just a short hop from home that’ll give you a variety of memorable experiences. Bring your fishing pole (and license) to lounge along the Yellowstone as you pull in some big ones (Firemen’s Point, Itch-Kep-ke and Swinging Bridge are great access points) or bring along your clubs and enjoy nine holes at the Stillwater course. Feed your hunger for history at the Museum of the Beartooths and channel your inner outlaw with a visit to the New Atlas Bar. Be sure to notice: The 60 animal mounts perched on the wall and small room right inside the Atlas Bar, which was reserved for women because in days of old, they weren’t permitted in the bar. What you might not know: The original name of Columbus was Sheep Dip.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 77
To Do List
Laundr y Buy Diapers Call Vet Clean Windows
ME TIME
chico hot springs
little bighorn battlefield national monument
135 miles west
Cool Factor: A crucial piece of American history sits, practically, in your own backyard. Visit this battlefield, which memorializes the June 25-26, 1876 battle that took place between the U.S. Cavalry and the Lakota, Arapaho and Cheyenne Indians. Grave markers signify where the fallen were found, including General George A. Custer, 267 soldiers and about 100 Indians. Many visitors report feelings of eeriness, spookiness, and a sense of spirits while walking through the fields. A re-enactment of this famous battle is held every year in June on nearby private property.
Cool Factor:
The Earth has heated up water for your soaking pleasure. And the springs are located in Paradise Valley! And sure, you’ve probably been here before, but haven’t you been saying—for years—that you should plan another getaway to Chico? Just the two of you. Well, you have our permission.’Nuff said.
Be sure to notice: Most of the vegetables on your dinner plate were harvested on the property.
What you might not know: You can go and spend just the day soaking at the hot springs then follow up with dinner, drinks and dancing at the onsite bar and lodge.
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63 miles east
Be sure to notice:
The movie at the Visitors’ Center before heading out into the battlefield. It will enhance your understanding of what took place.
What you might not know: Two weeks prior to the battle, Sitting Bull had a vision of soldiers and horses falling upside down into an Indian village and interpreted this as a prediction of victory at this battle.
mystic lake hike and dinner
62 miles southwest
Cool Factor: This stunning lake is actually a reservoir, dammed to provide electricity for PPL Montana. You’ll enjoy a seven-mile, round-trip hike that follows the West Rosebud trail, over a wooden footbridge, through a variety of terrain, climbing 1,200 feet, with the last section steeper and landscaped with switchbacks and rock fields. At the lake, there’s a sandy beach, shade trees and opportunities to picnic, fish and swim. If you’re feeling full of energy, you can follow the Phantom Creek Trail to Slough Lake, or stay on the West Rosebud trail to Island and Slough Lakes. But start early, as these trails add an extra five or more miles. You might want to avoid a trip to Froze to Death Mountain. Just sayin’. On the way home, reward yourself for your exceptional adventure by enjoying dinner at the Grizzly Bar and Grill in Roscoe.
Be sure to notice:
How the architecture of the power plant reflects the era in which it was built (1924).
What you might not know: Granite Peak—the highest in the state at 12,799 feet—is accessed from this trail, with part of the trail affectionately called “The Switchbacks from Hell.”
cody, wyoming
105 miles south
Cool Factor: You can step back to the turn of the century and relive a little of our history by staying (and eating) at the same place—the famed Irma Hotel—that was frequented by the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody, Calamity Jane, Frederic Remington and Annie Oakley. On top of that, Cody boasts the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which, according to the New York Times is “among the nation’s most remarkable museums.” Consisting of five museums and research libraries, you could spend the whole day here. But save a little time to get grounded at the Dug-Up Gun Museum, enjoy Buffalo Bill wings at the Irma, relish the hot-damn vistas from the Buffalo Bill Dam or to get spooked on a lantern-lit ghost tour of downtown Cody. For a real blast, don’t miss the Cody Gunfighters re-enact a little gun-slinging history. Be sure to notice:
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The world famous cherry wood bar and tin ceilings at the Irma.
What you might not know:
Noted abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock was born in Cody.
bighorn canyon recreation area
95 miles south
Cool Factor: This reservoir, which spans the Montana and Wyoming border, is also known as the Grandest Canyon in the Northern Rockies. The area is full of diverse forests, upland prairies, deep canyons and high desert. Yellowtail Dam, built in 1966, formed Bighorn Lake, which is more than 70 miles in length. Towering spires and red cliff walls, some as high as 1,000 feet, loom above the lake, where you can swim, fish, view abundant wildlife and, of course, go boating. Or, take an auto tour in the South District, where you can view wild horses, enjoy spectacular vistas at Devil Canyon overlook and visit historic ranches. If you prefer the land route and want to hike or bike, choose from 13 trails covering 27 miles.
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Be sure to notice: Peregrine falcons catching thermals (and Bighorn sheep, if you’re lucky). What you might not know: the Canyon and hear a triple echo.
North of the Lovell entrance, there’s a spot where you can shout across
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 79
downtown livingston 120 miles west
40 miles south
Cool Factor: Perhaps it’s the spectacular scenery of the surrounding area, but Livingston has long been a magnet for artists, writers, actors and filmmakers. Both The Horse Whisperer and A River Runs Through It were filmed in the Livingston area. And it’s a great place to spend a day gallery-hopping. Be sure to notice:
chief plenty coups state park
The 14 galleries located within a three-block radius.
What you might not know: The historic Murray Hotel’s 2nd Street Bistro, which uses produce from its own urban farm to create delectable treats like their jalapeno pineapple margarita, was recently featured on Anthony Bourdain’s show, No Reservations.
Cool Factor: Here’s a man whose wisdom is much-needed in modern times. Chief Plenty Coups did, after all, bridge the gap between two cultures (wouldn’t that skill be helpful in Congress today?) and changed from a man of war to one of peace, with the Crow tribe making him a chief at the tender age of 28. At this National Historic Landmark, you’ll learn that Plenty Coups relinquished his nomadic lifestyle to become one of the first Crow to own a farm and open a general store. You can visit his log home and sacred spring, walk along Pryor Creek and learn more about this remarkable man at the Visitor Center.
Be sure to notice: That the Visitor Center is built in the style of a traditional lodge (and the juxtaposition of old and new with the Chief’s sweat lodge in front of his two-story log home). What you might not know:
The land was deeded to the Chief by the
Dawes Allotment Act.
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80 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
For Sal e
A Stillwater River Weekend Getaway
So you think you’re the guy who has everything he needs to be the master of his hobby? Think again. We’ve put together a list of the newest, coolest gadgets for a variety of avocations. Perform to impress with these top-of-the-line products... But hurry before your friends get them first.
Our guy ’s guide to the
summer’s best gear and gadgetry BY NICK MANN
Category:
Speed Hounds Item: Josh Stagg’s Racing School
Why you need it: Because you can’t call yourself a racing enthusiast until you’ve actually gotten behind the wheel of a real Sprint Car and tested your mettle against the open track. The school provides the car and all the gear you’ll need. All you have to bring is your swagger.
Where to find it:
Stagg’s Motorworks at Billings Motorsports Park Price:
$500
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 81
Category: Golf Guru Item: Skycaddie SGXw handheld GPS
Category: The Great White Hunter Item: Swarovski EL Rangefinder Binoculars
Why you need it: Because if satellites in orbit aren’t a part of your
Why you need it: Because they’re the best, hands down. When
golf game, you’re behind the times. Get a range finder, course map, scorecard and many other features in one handheld device.
you spot that trophy elk, you don’t want to take chances with a lesser rangefinder. Speak with a sporting goods specialist to learn more about what makes these binocs so extraordinary.
Where to find it: Mitchell Golf Price: $400
Where to find it: Cabela’s Price: $2,950
Category: Fishing Tech Item: Boron IIIx Winston Fly Rod Why you need it: Because it is one of the world’s best fly rods, and it also happens to be made in Montana. This rod will provide you with many successful fishing trips, and countless fish stories.
Where to find it: Cabela’s Price: $795
Category: Wave Rider Item: Centurion Wakesurf Boat Why you need it: Wakesurfing, or surfing behind a boat on the wake without a rope, is the new cool thing in watersports. Get decked out and take your friends down to Bighorn Canyon to show off your killer tricks.
Where to find it:
Montana Honda & Marine Price: Varies, but if you want the best
82 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Billings has to offer, $90,000
Category: Vertical Junkie Item: La Sportiva
Solutions Shoes
Why you need it: Because everything from the gripping material on the sole to the shape of the toe is designed to make climbing easier and more natural. Also be sure to pick up the Super Sand Land route guide for bouldering and climbing around Billings.
NOW OPEN!
Where to find it: SteepWorld Price: $150
Category: Happening Hiker Item: Black Diamond Ultra
Distance Z-Pole Trekking Poles
Why you need it: Because they’re collapsable, they’re adjustable and they have been proven to take a significant amount of weight off your back and hips when you hike. Your friends may laugh when you pull them out at the trailhead, but they’ll stop when their muscles start aching halfway up the mountain.
Where to find it: Base Camp Price: $130
Wide variety of trees & shrubs!
Call for your estimate today!
Landscape Architect on Staff
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MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 83
Category: Trap Shoot Titan Item: Champion EasyBird Auto-Feed Trap Why you need it:
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84 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Focus less on throwing your clay pigeons and more on shooting them. This portable, battery-powered, foot-pedal-activated trap will launch up to 50 clay pigeons at a variety of angles without having to be reloaded.
Where to find it:
Scheels All Sports Price: $659
Category: Serious about Cycling Item: Thule Pack ‘n Pedal Storage Kit Why you need it: Because the only thing standing between you and those longer bike rides is the ability to carry your stuff with you. This system will make it easy to use your bike to go grocery shopping, carry everything you need riding to the office or even give you the storage you need to finally take advantage of the ‘bicycle only’ week at Yellowstone National Park... You know you’ve always wanted to do that. Now there’s no excuse. Where to find it: Spoke Shop Price: $100 for the rack system, $80 to $120 for additional bags.
Category: Happy Camper Item: Eagles Nest Outfitters
Reactor Hammock with Accessories
 Why you need it: Because let’s be honest, sleeping on the ground is a drag. Access your inner pirate and cozy up in a hammock for the night while your friends try to get comfortable with rocks and sticks in their backs. Did we mention it has a sleeve for your sleeping pad and an available rain fly?
Where to find it: Base Camp Price: $95 Category: Road Warriors item: Harley Boom Audio Bagger Kit Why you need it: So you can trick out your Harley with great-sounding and custom-fitting audio. Access your inner rebel... turn it up a little louder.
Where to find it:
Beartooth Harley-Davidson/Buell Price: $750
School Sign UpS
At BMP Speedway www.sprintcarbillings.com Spots still available August 5th thru 8th call Josh 406-690-5600
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 85
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245-6893 • 800-227-3181 1101 North 27th Street Billings, Montana 59101 www.rehderhearing.com 86 I JULY 2013 I MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE
Back Row: Tasha Keller, Jacki Husicka, Doctor of Audiology Tracy R. Hayden, Brandy Dillon, H.I.S. Front Row: Doctor of Audiology Crystal B. Dvorak, Jane Gilstrap, Nina Rehder, Doctor of Audiology Douglas E. Rehder
Bugs may never rule the planet, but they outnumber us and often outmaneuver our best defenses. Millions of insects—along with countless parasites, germs and microbes that we loosely brand as bugs– may find refuge in a single acre of land. Most of us take note of only a few of them—the ones that bite us, scare us or sicken us. While many of the creepiest creatures in Montana’s great outdoors are harmless, or even beneficial, consider this a primer on the nastiest ones – from blood-sucking mosquitoes that zero in on us like drones, to the microscopic parasites that hit us without warning. We’ve separated out some fact from fiction and hope we’ve left you with a few defensive strategies short of calling in a SWAT team.
Bug off! By Donna Healy
Myth: Brown recluse spiders are the culprit when Montanans get bit by spiders.
Fact: Though the brown recluse often takes the blame for spider bites, the brown recluse doesn’t live in Montana. It may hitch rides with shipments of lumber or other goods, but it’s not a native. For years, the hobo spider, also known as the aggressive house spider, was thought to be the real culprit of bites that cause necrotic wounds, or the death of tissue in a localized area. Now, some recent research suggests the horrible-looking necrotic wounds may be caused by flesh eating bacteria, says Cam Lay, state entomologist with the Montana Department of Agriculture. “Spiders just generally get blamed,” said Toby Day, a horticulture specialist at Montana State University in Bozeman. “People freak out about eight legs.” Myth: Check your hair for ticks because they fall from trees.
Fact: Ticks dangle in tall grass waiting to latch
on to people or pets. They crawl up. So, if one is in your hair it’s because the creepy creature crawled up there.
Myth: All ticks carry Lyme disease. Fact: While there are several types of ticks, only
deer ticks, sometimes called blacklegged ticks, carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. More than 97 percent of all Lyme disease cases occur in the northeastern and north-central parts of the country. Cases of Lyme disease have been reported from nearly every state, but those reports list the individual’s county of residence, not where the individual was infected. In Montana, there
have not been any confirmed cases of Lyme disease in which the individual was infected in Montana.
Myth: The best way to remove a tick is to paint it with nail polish. Fact: Smothering a tick with nail polish, or
burning it off your skin are both outdated remedies because they can prolong exposure to the bacteria and, gross as this sounds, it can cause the ticks to regurgitate bacteria into the bite wound. Instead, grasp the tick with a tweezers as close to your skin as possible. Pull upward, without twisting. Then clean your skin and your hands. If a little bit of the tick’s head stays in, that’s OK, because the bacteria live in the tick’s gut. The head will scab over and fall off like a splinter.
Above: Brown Recluse spider. At right: a full tick.
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 87
Myth: Backpackers are the only ones at risk of giardia Fact: Though people frequently assume the di-
arrheal disease plagues campers and backpackers, anyone can get it. Those more likely to become infected include: Infants and children in child care and their caregivers, people in close contact with people who are sick, people who drink untreated or improperly treated water, swimmers who swallow water, international travelers and internationally adopted children.
Bumble bee
Myth:
Myth: The more bug spray you use, the more effective the spray becomes.
Fact: It depends on the individual. Most
Fact: Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application does not give you better or more longlasting protection. Follow label instructions for whatever product you use, and reapply if you start getting mosquito bites.
The severity of bee stings intensifies with each sting.
become less sensitive, some become hypersensitive.
Bed Bugs
Mosquitoes
Wasps
Ticks
Black Widow Spiders
The Bugs The Danger
The Danger
The First Aid
Steer clear of this tiny spider with the distinctive red hourglass on the underside of its black body.
Found in woodpiles, sheds, basements and crawl spaces. Normally non-aggressive, but the spider’s venom contains a neurotoxin. The severity of the spider’s bite varies.
The best defense, says Cam Lay, Montana’s state entomologist: “Don’t stick your hand somewhere you can’t see.” Wear long-sleeves, hat, gloves and boots when handling firewood or stored boxes.
If bitten, wash with soap, apply ice, elevate and immobilize extremity. If possible, try to capture the spider to identify. Seek medical attention.
Alerted to a meal, these tiny blood suckers stretch their legs toward human or animal hosts to crawl on board. Found in dense brush and woods. Active from spring until the freeze.
In Montana, some ticks carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever and Tularemia, commonly known as “rabbit fever.” Montana ticks have NOT been shown to transmit Lyme disease.
Wearing light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot. Tuck shirts into pants, pants into socks. Once indoors, check clothing and body for ticks. Use a repellent with DEET. Permethrin-treated clothing also helps.
If a tick latches on, use tweezers to grasp its body. Pull gently, but firmly, upward. Do not jerk or twist the tick. Apply antiseptic to the wound and wash hands thoroughly.
In the late summer, wasps are the scourge of picnickers. Their nests can also cause trepidation if they are under the eaves of houses, inside attics or walls, between or in rock walls.
In their desperate, late summer search for food, wasps zone in on sugary drinks and meats at picnics and other outdoor activities. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times. Unless their nests are in troublesome spots, they’re best left alone until the colonies die off naturally in cold weather.
Minimize attracting wasps by avoiding sodas and other sugary drinks. Wait to serve food until ready to eat. Promptly remove leftovers. Discard garbage in cans with lids. Commercial products are available to spray nests.
Wash with soap. Apply ice. Seek emergency care, if there’s a history of severe allergic reaction or symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea, or fast heartbeat.
A wet spring tends to bring out hordes of these annoying pests, but there’s no real way to predict how bad a summer it will be for West Nile virus, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes.
While some mosquitoes carry West Nile virus, eight out of 10 people never know they have the virus and have no reason to worry about it, says Jim Murphy, the state’s Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Bureau chief. Less than one percent develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis and meningitis.
Fight the bite by remembering the Four D’s: Drain, DEET, Dusk/Dawn and Dress. DRAIN standing water; apply repellant containing DEET; avoid lingering outdoors during the peak times of DUSK and dawn; and DRESS in long-sleeves and pants if possible.
While West Nile virus is fairly rare in Montana, there are no medications to treat it or vaccines to prevent it. In 2007, the last big year for West Nile virus, more than 200 cases were reported in Montana. Cases are typically in the eastern part of the state.
These vampires of the night feed Bed bugs don’t spread disease, but they can spoil solely on the blood of people while your sleep and ruin friendships. While the bugs can they sleep, and on animals. They can travel more than 100 feet a night, they tend to live live for several months without a blood within 8 feet of their next meal, according to experts meal. with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bed bugs are masters at hiding. By day, they lurk in mattress seams or other cracks and crevices. They can also hitch rides in the seams of suitcases. Their presence is not an indication of cleanliness. If you have an infestation, contact an experienced pest control company. They are commonly treated by spraying insecticide.
Signs include tell-tale bite marks on the face, neck, hands or other body parts that appear several days after the bites. Avoid scratching bites. Apply antiseptic creams and take an antihistamine.
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Ringworm
Swimmer’s itch Hantavirus
Giardia
The Parasites the danger
the defense
The First aid
Giardia can be found in drinking water or in swimming pools, hot tubs, streams and other bodies of water that are contaminated by feces from infected humans or animals.
When you swim, don’t swallow the water. All swimmers share responsibility for keeping germs out of the water. Shower before swimming. Take children on frequent bathroom breaks.
Symptoms normally begin 1 to 3 weeks after becoming infected. Seek treatment, since medications can decrease the duration of your diarrhea.
The virus can progress to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which can be fatal. Since 1993, when the virus was first recognized, there have been 37 reported cases in Montana. The tenth death from the virus was reported this spring.
Minimize contact with rodents and their droppings. Seal gaps. Set traps. Clean up rodent-infested areas. To avoid breathing in the virus, never vacuum or sweep rodent droppings or nests.
Early symptoms are flu-like. If you have been around rodents, seek treatment immediately. Later symptoms include extreme shortness of breath as lungs fill with fluid.
This itchy rash is caused by certain microscopic parasites that infect some birds and mammals. The parasite burrows into the skin causing an allergic reaction and rash.
Symptoms may include tingling, burning or itchy skin, within minutes or days after swimming. Itching may last more than a week but will gradually go away.
Do not swim in areas where swimmer’s itch is a known problem. Towel dry or shower immediately after leaving the water. Larvae are more likely in shallow water, by the shore, which tends to make children more vulnerable.
Use corticosteroid cream. Apply cool compresses, bathe in Epsom salts or baking soda; soak in colloidal oatmeal baths, apply a paste of baking soda and water to the rash, or use an anti-itch lotion.
This parasite is not a worm, despite its name. It’s a common skin infection from a type of fungus called tinea.
Ringworm spreads easily from one person to another, from infected pets, or from contaminated items such as combs or dirty clothes. Causes itchy, red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze. May affect hair and nails.
Keep skin and feet clean and dry. Shampoo regularly, especially after haircuts. Do not share personal care items. Wear sandals or shoes around gyms, locker rooms and pools. Avoid touching pets with bald spots.
Apply over-the-counter antifungal powders, lotions or creams. Wash sheets and pajamas daily while you’re infected. Healthcare providers may prescribe stronger medication in severe or repeat cases. Infected pets should also be treated.
Pronounced (gee-ARE-dee-uh), this microscopic parasite causes prolonged diarrhea. A tough outer shell allows this germ to survive 45 minutes even in chlorinated pools.
Infected deer mice or other rodents carry this virus in their urine, droppings and saliva. Humans inhale the virus.
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Perception, Intuition and the Realm in-between By Brittany Cremer
My husband rarely remembers his dreams. And when he does, they’re garden-variety snoozers like “I dreamt I was at work, went to a meeting, ate a ham sandwich, then woke up.” The end. I dream in Technicolor. My dreams brim with oddities and eccentrics that baffle the mind and curl the toes. I’ve been told, more than once, that I need to start writing them down because it seems my dream- weaving is stranger than fiction. Freud would have a field day with me. To illustrate, I’ll share one of my favorite dreams I had while in college: I was casually strolling through the mall when I looked into the GAP and saw my dog, Copper (a red dachshund), wearing a teal velveteen jump suit, headset and name tag. He was cheerfully greeting customers that entered the store. Thinking nothing of the absurdity of my dog wearing active wear and peddling threads to middle-aged women, I walked up to him and asked how he was doing. He replied (and with a German accent, no less) that he was fine, but that he had concerns about our other dog. Oscar. He said “You guys think he’s so sweet, but he’s mean, he’s really mean.” Snap. I woke up.
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Nonsensical dreams like this provide much entertainment, but little intrinsic value. I only mention it because in the past, I’ve had dreams that were more sinister than silly—dreams that foretold the future, helped me solve a problem or revealed a secret. When I was 11 years old, I had (strangely enough) another pooch-related dream. In this dream, I was in my fifth-grade classroom when my Dad came in to tell me our beloved cocker spaniel, Barclay, had been run over and was dead. I woke up crying, but kept the depressing dream to myself. Two days later, Barclay was run over and killed.
De-fragging the day
The mystics call it intuition. The scientists call it sensory perception. Those of us in-between often refer to it as a “gut feeling,” a “hunch” or a “sixth sense.” “Unbeknownst to the conscious mind, the subconscious is on guard 24-7 doing amazing things,” said Barbara Vail, professor of psychology at Rocky Mountain College. “While we sleep, our dreams can often apply meaning to those seemingly inconsequential bits of information we’re absorbing throughout the day.” This is a process the scientific world often refers to as “chunking,” similar to what computers do when we set them to defragment. As we accumulate Barbara Vail by Paul Ruther knowledge—whether it’s about the music you like or how to play Parcheesi—we begin to recognize patterns. The brain unconsciously organizes these patterns into blocks of information. Over time, it chunks and links additional patterns, then stores these clusters of knowledge into the long-term memory. When you see a tiny detail of a familiar design, you instantly recognize the larger composition—and the end result often reveals itself as a flash of intuition. Poof! Almost like magic, isn’t it? Not quite. Scientists point to this phenomenon when asked about how intuitions or “gut feelings” appear, seemingly out of nowhere. “The subconscious mind is constantly chewing on information,” Vail said. “The question shouldn’t be where it’s coming from; it should be why aren’t we listening to it?” Tapping into this resource is easier for some than others. Vail noted that studies of brain lateralization and left-or right-handedness revealed some curious findings. The two halves of our brain handle and process very different bits of information. The left hemisphere, which handles much of our logical, linear and detail-oriented data,
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translates into right-handedness. The right hemisphere of the brain processes abstract thought, feelings and intuition, presenting itself as left-handedness. Brain lateralization has been generalized to describe individuals as “right-brainers” or “left brainers,” when really, both halves work in concert to create, feel and experience the world, Vail said. Interestingly enough, however, Vail noted that the demographic exhibiting the most acute intuitive ability were left-handed women.
Free your mind
There is no tangible science associated with Stacey Schumer’s gift or skill set. As an intuitist at Barjon’s Books in Billings, Schumer is a student of the soul. “In struggling through this hard life, people need validation in knowing there’s more out there,” she said, “and that’s what I do.” Schumer agrees with Vail in that most of us have untapped intuition. “Our mind, free will, subconscious and spirit are in constant flux,” she said. “We need to set aside the false satisfactions in our lives and let our spirit and subconscious drive.” Some might call Schumer’s methodologies unconventional, but that doesn’t bother her. “Sure, I’ve encountered my fair share of skeptics—clients coming in needing specifics, needing proof,” she said. “And you almost have to knock their socks off, reStacey Schumer by Casey Page vealing something that no one on this earth could have known.” But her clients have to be receptive and open to the reading, too, otherwise it won’t work, Schumer added. “When I encounter someone closed-off, I actually see a wall, as if it’s blocking signals,” she said. Like her mother and grandmother, Schumer is an empath and able to pick up on the feelings and “vibrations” of those she encounters. Every person and reading is different, but she says her gift allows her to see, hear and feel flashes from her clients’ lives. “Sometimes spirits from their past come forward and communicate,” she said. “When that happens, it still surprises me.” Clients often ask Schumer how to better cultivate their sixth sense. “I tell them to embrace it, to say their premonitions and intuitions out loud,” she said. “Write them down. And above all, have faith that if you have it and use it, your angels and spirits will guide you.” Schumer doesn’t discount the work and theories offered by Vail and other scientists. “People like that have a gift in their own right,” she said.
“They help people in different ways.”
To infinity, and beyond
Regardless of the conduit or method, the scientist and the intuitist agree that we need to start listening to that little voice that creeps in, telling us to zig instead of zag—to call that person we haven’t seen in 16 years but just had a dream about; to take that job across the country that just feels right; to act on that next hunch. After having the awful premonition about my dog, Barclay, I act on every ominous dream I have—usually it’s just a call or simple text to my loved one, telling him or her to “be extra careful that day.” My husband has been on the receiving end of a few of these…not because I’m trying to kill him off in my dreams, but likely because he has a dangerous job and is the one I worry about the most. I tell him “I had a bad dream about you last night, and I have to release it to the universe.” The simple act of saying it out loud makes me feel better. That’s what the little voice inside my heart tells me to do. The little voice inside my head tells me I’m crazy. My husband tells me he loves me.
Intuitions Throughout History Whether they came from a gut-feeling, nonverbal communication cues or a lightning bolt from above, these figures throughout history have exhibited various intuitions that shaped their lives.
44 B.C.E. Calpurnia, wife of Julius Caesar, foresees her husband’s assassination and begs him not to go to the Senate. Caesar doesn’t listen. Several stab wounds and a few famous last words later, he is dead.
1829 Frederick Kekule discovers the structure of benzene via intuition. Kekule saw the answer in a dream of a snake coiled and biting its tail. In an intuitive flash, he realized that the molecular structure was characterized by a ring of carbon atoms. This discovery opened the way to modern theories of organic chemistry.
killed, as were two of his brothers, a nephew and a brother-in-law.
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1912 When the Titanic made her first— and last— voyage, many passengers had a sense of foreboding. J. P. Morgan, one of the richest men in the world, cancelled his passage at the last minute because of a hunch.
1940 Winston Churchill is dining at 10 Downing Street when a German bomb hits nearby. He orders his staff to leave the kitchen. Moments later another bomb falls, obliterating—you guessed it—the kitchen.
MARION
invited to join Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre for an evening out. Grant’s wife, Julia, urges him not to go. Grant heeds his wife’s advice. It soon emerges that he, too, may have been an assassination target that night.
1961 Ray Kroc becomes the stuff of business legend when he ignores his lawyers’ advice and follows a “hunch,” borrowing $2.7 million to buy out the modest fast-food franchise he helped build. Now more than 47 million people a day sit down—or drive up—for one of his McMeals.
1876 Libbie Custer, wife of famed
1965 Paul McCartney hears a tune in a
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general and frontiersman, George Armstrong Custer, has a premonition that her husband is killed in battle. On June 26 and 27, the U.S. Seventh Cavalry, including Custer’s battalion, suffers a severe defeat. Five of the Seventh Cavalry’s companies were annihilated; Custer was
dream—”the most magic thing!”—but it’s so unlike anything he’s written, he worries he’s recalling someone else’s song. McCartney plays it for anyone who will listen, but no one can identify it. So the Beatles record the track and title it “Yesterday.”
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406-259-6786 MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 93
SEEN SCENE AT THE
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Rimrock Opera Aﾃ重a Gala ZooMontana 1] Brent and Lisa Reich and Todd Vralstad 2] Mary Waggoner and Dorothy Hilzenberger 3] Doug Nagel and Madyson Fuerstein 4] Dr. Ben and Mary Lou Marchello 5] Mary Ann Majerus, Carol Hanser and Darrah Plank
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Strawberry Festival 6] Jason Thomas 7] Shayala Reichenbach and Amy Harcharik 8] The Passes family: from left Ashlee, Mia, Brody, Drake, Kaitlyn, Ben and Brandon 9] Cyleigh Kelly, Jerry Valentine Sr. and Cassandra Kelly
Eagle Mount Family Fun Festival
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10] Amanda and Philip Aggeman-Budu, Makaiya and Emberlyn 11] Dan and Penny Jordahl 12] Back, from left: Selena Scott, Hailey Heil, Haley Barth; Front: Evani Castro
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Women’s Run 13] L-R, Kari Zarbock, Heather Petty, Penny Burd, Susan Carlson and Tabitha Brass 14] Officers Brandon Wooley and Cory Kambak 15] L-R Sarah Wise, Michelle Pittack, Ali Krause and Cheryle Pittack
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Mayfair 16] Mike and Susan Gulledge 17] L-R Samantha and Neil Campbell and Martha, Dylan and John Zauher 18] Allison Reichert and Amanda Clark 19] Tim Mascarena and his daughter, Sophia
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The Great American Clean Up
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20] Peggie Gaghen, Jon Thompson and Helen Johnson 21] Jesse and Janet Martin Family 22] Sylvia Peterson, Mary K Hart and Rosalie Dedmore
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Alive After Five at the Depot 23] L-R back: Zach Schreier, Keith Johnson, Diane Johnson, Eden Sowards, Dustin Sowards, Greg Moore, Tom Moore L-R front Kasia Harvey, RJ Griffith 24] Ron Stutterheim and Sherri Schuman 25] L-R Trenton Semmens, Mariah Huseth, Aaron Huseth and Bryce Waddell 26] L-R Ann Mary Oylear, Don Oylear, “Livin Large” Larry, Charee and Greg Tillotson
Photos courtesy of Kevin Kooistra, Billings Catholic Schools, Alex Faught and Kit Tambo
MAGIC CITY MAGAZINE I JULY 2013 I 95
August 24 Billings Clinic Classic: “Classic Sparkle” Alberta Bair Theater and street front billingsclinic.com/classic Grammy winner, singer-songwriter Jordin Sparks will headline the Billings Clinic Classic signature evening event on Saturday, August 24. Prior to her performance, patrons can enjoy sumptuous hors d’oeuvres paired with specially selected wines during a street party under the stars. After the show, attendees return to the street to dance to the music of the Midlife Chryslers and Bucky Beaver Ground Grippers. The theme for this year’s event is “Classic Sparkle,” and organizers plan a dazzling backdrop of lights, glitz and glamour to set the stage for a spectacular evening. Several other events are also planned. The women’s golf tournament will take place on Friday, August 16 at the Laurel Golf Club. On Thursday, August 22 the Classic Golf Tournament will be played at The Powder Horn in Sheridan, Wyo. Two additional tournaments will take place on Friday, August 23 at Laurel Golf Club and Briarwood Golf Course & Country Club. This is the 30th year for the Billings Clinic Classic, a fundraising event organized by the Billings Clinic Foundation. Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward surgical services, which include new operating rooms and expansion for technology and innovation. For tickets or more information, please contact the Billings Clinic Foundation at 6574670 or log on to foundation@billingsclinic.org.
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St. John’s Summer Concert Ellen Moak, then Midlife Chryslers Campus of St. John’s Lutheran Ministries
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AUGUST August 1 St. John’s Summer Concert John Floridis, then Phoebe Hunt Campus of St. John’s Lutheran Ministries
Artwalk Downtown Billings artwalkbillings.com
August 3 Red, White and Brews NOVA Center for Performing Arts novabillings.org
August 8-11 Magic City Blues Festival Steve Miller Band and more Downtown Billings magiccityblues.com
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August 22-25 Bye Bye Birdie NOVA Center for Performing Arts novabillings.org
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The sun sets over the Yellowstone River near south bridge in Billings. Photo by Bob Zellar
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