03-15-23 issue

Legislators provide update during transmittal break

By Summer Goddard Valley Journal

RONAN — Funding of Public Law 280, protecting the interests of a community at odds with a corporation, and the purpose of a law that erodes parental rights were concerns Lake County citizens brought to their legislators during a March 6 meeting.

The legislative update, hosted by Northwest Counties Farm Bureau in conjunction with the Lake County Commissioners and the Lake County Democrat and Republican Central committees was attended by approximately 60 people at the Ronan Community Center.

Senator Greg Hertz of Polson, Senate District 6, spoke first. “My forte is tax issues,” he said. “I’m also spending a lot of time on judiciary and tort reform this session along with a few housing bills and some healthcare related bills.”

Of the state’s $2.5 billion budget surplus, he said $1 million will go

back to taxpayers through one income and two property tax rebates. He anticipates the income tax rebate, up to $1,250 for a single individual and $2,500 for married family, will roll out late

spring / early summer.

The property tax rebates on a taxpayer’s personal residence will be available via application this fall and next fall.

A bill called “debt free in ’23” allocates $150 mil-

lion to pay down some of the state’s debt – which he said will save an estimated $25 million a year in ongoing interest –money which can then be used elsewhere.

Another bill introduced

will lower the top tax rate from 6.5% to 5.9%, and increase the earned income credit threefold for low income working families. HB212, which

SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL

An attendee of the March 6 legislative update asks, other than the two illegal voters in Phillips County, what information prompted the new bills regarding Montana’s election security. Both Sen. Salomon and Rep. Reksten commented that significant public concern around the issue spurred legislative actions. see page 2

from page 1

raises the threshold for paying business equipment tax from $300,000 to $1 million “will really help small businesses across the state, farmers and ranchers,” he said. Hertz has also proposed a bill to tax corporations differently. Multi-state corporations, such as Amazon, he said, would be required to pay more income taxes in the state of Montana while other in-state-only businesses would be incentivized to expand through lower income taxes.

Lastly, Hertz said a bill to create a safer roads and bridges fund will help Montana better capture matching federal funds that are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Representative Linda Reksten, House District 12, shared with meeting goers her work on education and election security.

Reksten, who serves as vice chair of the education committee, said the state’s test scores are quite low with students testing at 44% proficient

Victim of fatal vehicle crash near Ronan identified

in reading and for math about 34% proficient.

“This is not just a response from Covid,” she said, “These scores have slid ever since 2013. So the education interim committee worked very, very hard to figure out how could we address these issues and set in motion an improvement cycle.”

There are many bills, she added, that have been introduced to tackle the issue of student achievement. An open enrollment bill will allow students to move from one district to another if their needs aren’t being met. She noted that this particular bill hasn’t been popular with school superintendents.

Reksten said another education bill provides for targeted intervention for children as young as 4 years old in order to get them reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Two charter school bills that passed in the house would offer public school students new education opportunities, she added. A charter school’s focus she explained can range from agriculture to medi-

cal careers where students are allowed to earn credits for technical training and apprenticeships.

Regarding election security, Reksten said her committee looked at absentee ballot procedures (revised laws regarding voters on the inactive list), codified that illegal aliens cannot vote in Montana and created a bill to allow county election officials access to Department of Motor Vehicle records. She added that a law prohibiting ranked voting (ranking choices by number) was also passed.

Reksten said she’s also a part of a local government committee that is working on zoning issues. “I’ve been working with Ed Meece, and also I’ve been working with Bill and Steve and Gayle (county commissioners) on some of these bills to make sure these bills aren’t going to hurt our county but help our county,” she said. “So they have been giving me a lot of input on those.”

Halfway through the session, Reksten said the house has been through about 800 bills. “We’re

only halfway through and some of these bills that we’ve turned over to the senate may not go the full distance,” she noted.

Next, Senator Dan Salomon, Senate District 47, talked about the finance and education committees he serves on. Regarding education funding, a bill accounting for inflationary increase was passed so that Montana schools will know what they’re getting for funding next year. “That’s always a good thing to get done early,” Salomon said. He added that a new certification process for college graduates who decide they want to be-

come a teacher is underway. The company that’s created the step-by-step, proficiency-based system, he continued, has certified some 15,000 teachers.

“These people are already in their communities,” he said, noting that this alleviates housing issues that schools face when bringing in teachers from outside their area. “Here’s the deal. Of those 15,000 people, after 3 years, 97% of those people are still teaching in that school … That is a stunning statistic and we’re trying to see if we can get some more

see page 5

RONAN — On March 6, 2023, at around 7 a.m., Lake County 911 took the report of a single vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 93, north of Ronan, near the intersection of Spring Creek Rd. Responding officers identified that the crash had taken place the previous night and it was not discovered until reported to 911. The single occupant of the vehicle died at the scene and is identified as 21-year-old, Jonah Jones, of Ronan. Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the crash and Jones was transported to the Montana State Medical Examiner for autopsy. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office sends condolences to the family of Mr. Jones.

“This is not just a response from Covid. These (school test) scores have slid ever since 2013. So the education interim committee worked very, very hard to figure out how could we address these issues and set in motion an imporvement cycle.”

- Rep. Linda Reksten (R), House District 12

News from Lake County Sheriff Don Bell

SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL

Senator Dan Salomon, SD 47, speaks to constituents at a March 6 legislative update.

This Week’s Weather Forecast

With more than 35 years of

Housing puzzle ............ 6 Environmental policy ... 8 Courts .......................... 9 Valley Views .............. 10 Scholarships .............. 17 Obituaries .................. 22 Calendar ................... 24 Classifieds ................. 25 SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL

peek-a-moon

contact

Kathi Beeks

Boone Goddard

Advertising Sales, Owner (406) 249-1728

boone@valleyjournal.net

Summer Goddard

Publisher, Owner (406) 249-1793 summer@valleyjournal.net

Office Manager, Copy Editor (406) 676-8989

vjmail@valleyjournal.net news@valleyjournal.net

Taylor Davison Editor (406) 676-8989

vjeditor@valleyjournal.net

Jerry Beeks

Advertising Sales (406) 207-4641

jbeeks@ronan.net

2023

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

Business hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Distribution is by mail subscription ($59 per year in Lake County, MT; $74 per year elsewhere in U.S.) and by newsstand sales. Postmaster: send address changes to Valley Journal, P.O. Box 326, Ronan, MT. 59864.

Your homegrown newspaper serves residents of Lake

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

News, letters to the editor and calendar submissions may be sent by email to: vjeditor@valleyjournal.net. Classified and legal advertisements requests should be emailed to: vjmail@valleyjournal.net.

All print subscriptions include full access to online news,

archives. Sign up online at: www.valleyjournal.net/ subscribe

Porter Counts Reporter / Photographer (213) 608-2821 sports@valleyjournal.net

teachers in Montana by doing that.”

A healthcare trust for schools that would allow schools the opportunity to have a better healthcare product for a lower cost is also in the works.

Expanding Montana’s Digital Academy – a way for high school kids to earn credits and take classes they have no other way of getting because they aren’t offered within their school – is also something “we’re working on,” Salomon noted.

At this point the meeting was opened to questions from the audience.

The first question asked was what kind of information is being taken from the DMV for voting purposes.

“Basically, any information you provide the DMV would be shared with the Secretary of State’s office as a cross reference,” Rep. Reksten answered.

The next question centered on the state’s large budget surplus.

Arlee resident Mary Stranahan noted that she doesn’t think the state has ever had a $2.5 billion budget surplus before. Where is the long-term thinking, she asked, on statewide issues with affordable housing, childcare, rural health, rural hospitals and nursing homes.

“There’s all kinds of ways to spend that money,” Sen. Salmon said. “Everyone has an idea of what is the most important thing … I feel, and this is my personal

feeling, that this is a golden opportunity for us to deal with some issues that we need to deal with.”

Getting consensus on what to do with the surplus is going to be “the entertaining part of the second half of the session,” he added.

Wes Irwin, of Arlee, asked if legislators could intervene with the DEQ or in any other capacity in regards to a new open cut gravel operation that’s opening in town. In addition to impacting air quality, Irwin noted the potential for disruption to the river, water and that the noise pollution and light pollution from 24-7 operation will “completely transform the Jocko Valley.”

“We can’t put the profits of a single contracting company ahead of an entire community” he said.

Sen. Salomon said he’d talk to Rep. Steve Gunderson of Libby, whose HB599 (now law) hamstrings the Department of Environmental Quality’s ability to protect Montanans from noise or visual blight or surface and groundwater impacts from open cut gravel operations. The fact that the bill, passed in a previous

session, is now law makes the issue more difficult to tackle Salomon noted.

When a community member suggested Rep. Reksten take a second look at rank-choice voting, Sen. Hertz said that to enact it would require changing Montana’s constitution.

When asked what a charter school is, Reksten explained that it’s a school created within a school district that typically has a specific focus.

One audience member asked Sen. Hertz about that status of a bill that addresses funding of Public Law 280.

Sen. Hertz replied that the bill has passed out of the Senate and moved to the House. Bringing the county, state and tribe together to keep PL280 going in Lake County is the purpose of the bill he added. “That’s the process. Still a work in process. We’re still going forward,” he said. “We’re very hopeful that we can all sit down and come to an agreement.” As funding for PL280 absorbs about 40% of property taxes collected in Lake County annually, “the county needs some help with that,” he said.

When asked about ju-

without parent permission … That’s too much government and it’s a waste of our time. What’s the purpose of that bill when we already have laws that cover parental rights in all medical areas?”

“The purpose of the bill is to protect our children,” Sen. Hertz said. “It’s unfortunate that we have to go there and do that.”

suicides and some things like that. And those issues need to be addressed. Nobody’s completely right, nobody’s completely wrong. It’s one of those areas that’s just tough.”

The update concluded shortly after with Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron thanking everyone for attending and for their civility.

dicial review, Sen. Hertz responded that he and Sen. Fitzpatrick have done quite a bit of work on judiciary issues. One bill introduced moves Montana’s one harm standard to Federal standards for putting a stay on a bill. Another bill addresses restraining orders that put injunctions on bills that can last weeks, months or years. The bill would require a temporary stay on a bill be revisited after 10 days, as is done in federal courts.

“Right now we’ve got some bills that are tied up in the courts that have been sitting there for five, six, seven years. The judge just isn’t acting,” Hertz said.

Another bill will open up the process of judicial complaints to be more public. Holding judges accountable to state ethics laws and limiting campaign contributions made by lawyers to judges are also being addressed.

The need for SB99, which prohibits gender affirming care for minors, was questioned by meeting attendee Shirley Azzopardi.

“I don’t know the purpose of that bill,” Azzopardi said. “Minors right now cannot get any health care

He said legislators heard emotional testimony from both people seeking gender affirming care as well as from those who regretted decisions they’d made.

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you wait until you’re at least 18 or older to make these decisions,” Hertz said.

Azzopardi maintained that the bill takes away parental rights.

Sen. Salomon said, “It’s a tough, tough issue,” adding that he voted against the bill. “I had more issues with some of the mental health things for these children. We’re talking about some

“These meetings are important,” Barron said. “You go outside of Montana and I don’t think you’d see this many Democrats and Republicans sitting together without some kind of fist fight or something … We don’t agree on a lot of stuff in this state but we have the courtesy to sit down and talk about it and listen to everybody else and I appreciate that more than you know.”

The 68th session of the legislature resumed March 9 and wraps up Friday, May 5.

“

I don’t know the purpose of that bill (SB99). Minors right now cannot get any health care without parent permission ... That’s too much government and it’s a waste of our time. What’s the purpose of that bill when we already have laws that cover parental rights in all medical areas?”

- Shirley Azzopardi

Montana’s housing puzzle at the legislative halftime

Lawmakers have advanced several bills aimed at making at least a dent in the challenges facing renters and aspiring homebuyers. Here’s where things stand as of early March.

by Eric Dietrich Montana Free Press

HELENA — There’s broad bipartisan agreement in the Montana Capitol that rising housing costs, driven by the state’s finite supply of homes and rapid in-migration from other states, rank among the most pressing issues facing Montana residents.

According to real estate website Zillow, the typical home price in Montana was $430,000 in January, a slight dip from last summer, but an increase of nearly double in five years. Anecdotal evidence indicates that rents are also a major pain point for many residents, particularly in tight markets around Bozeman, Missoula and the Flathead Valley.

A poll commissioned by University of Montana researchers last year found that three-quarters of residents considered the state’s lack of affordable housing an “extremely” or “very” serious issue. Gov. Greg Gianforte, who commissioned a task force to examine the issue last year,

has called housing “probably the No. 1 issue faced by working Montanans.”

As this year’s session of the Montana Legislature passes its transmittal break midpoint, lawmakers have advanced several bills aimed at making at least a dent in the challenges facing renters and aspiring homebuyers, with many of those measures moving forward with bipartisan support. Here’s a look at where things stand as of early March.

Zoning Reforms

Market-oriented housing advocates have proposed several purported zoning reform bills this year, arguing that making it easier to build new homes by reining in local government zoning powers would

ease the housing crunch by increasing supply. That logic, endorsed by the governor’s housing task force, reasons that more homes and apartments on the market will in the long run make it harder for sellers and landlords to maintain high prices.

Local government leaders have pushed back on most of those proposals, arguing that heavy-handed zoning statute rewrites would prevent local building officials from making sure new developments avoid problems with stormwater runoff, sewer capacity and parking.

Proposed housing-focused zoning bills include the following:

— House Bill 337, which would have required cities to allow construction on home lots as small as

2,500 square feet. It was sponsored by Rep. Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, and voted down 10-2 by the House Local Government Committee Feb. 23.

— House Bill 553, which would have required local governments to treat manufactured housing like site-built structures and make it easier to build accessory dwelling units. It was sponsored by Rep. Alice Buckley, D-Bozeman, and voted down 9-7 by the House Local Government Committee Feb. 23.

— Senate Bill 245, which would require larger cities to allow apartment-style or mixed-use residential construction in districts zoned for commercial use. Sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, it passed the Montana Senate 40-10

versions of the minimum lot size, accessory dwelling unit and manufactured housing provisions. It passed the Senate on a 3317 vote March 2.

Feb. 24.

— Senate Bill 323, which would require larger cities to allow duplex, triplex and fourplex-style housing anywhere single-family homes are allowed. Sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Trebas, R-Great Falls, it passed the Senate 47-3 March 2.

— Senate Bill 379, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, initially dealt with rural minimum lot sizes. However, lawmakers amended the measure midstream to include provisions from other housing bills focused on urban housing, including the House-side measures voted down by the House Local Government Committee. In its current form, the bill includes slightly watered-down

The Montana League of Cities and Towns, which has opposed many of the housing-focused zoning bills, has also forwarded a comprehensive land-planning overhaul bill, Senate Bill 382. In its current form, it would rework the planning statutes that apply to larger municipalities in the state’s most populous counties, requiring them to predict future population growth and to proactively develop land-use plans that allocate space to build housing to accommodate that growth. It would also shift public participation processes to encourage public comment before developers propose specific projects and require cities to choose from a menu of pro-housing zoning reforms.

SB 382, sponsored by Sen. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, passed the Senate on a 44-6 vote March 2. Like the other surviving zoning measures, it now heads to the Montana House.

Housing Subsidies

Low-income-housing advocates have also pushed for legislation that would make more state money available for efforts to build price-controlled housing

see page 7

ENVATO ELEMENTS PHOTO

Montana’s housing

from page 6

intended to serve low-income residents who would otherwise struggle to keep a roof over their heads.

— House Bill 546 would expand an existing state program that uses money from the Montana Coal Trust to provide low-interest loans for affordable housing projects. Sponsored by Rep. Dave Fern, D-Whitefish, it passed an initial House floor vote 91-9 and is currently under review by the House Appropriations Committee.

— An as-yet-unintroduced bill, draft LC 2310, would create a state tax credit to complement the existing federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. When introduced, the bill will be sponsored by Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Great Falls. Because both measures in-

volve the state budget, they have flexibility to skirt the March 3 transmittal deadline, when non-budget bills were required to have passed at least one legislative chamber.

Renter Protections

Bills that aim to expand legal protections for renters and mobile home park residents, who typically rent the lots their homes sit on, have seen mixed results at the Legislature this year.

— A bill that would have required application fee refunds for unsuccessful rental applicants, House Bill 233, was voted down by the House Judiciary Committee in January. HB 233 was sponsored by Rep. Kelly Kortum, D-Bozeman.

— A similar bill, Senate Bill 320, passed the Senate on a 34-16 vote Feb. 27 and now proceeds to the House. It is spon-

sored by Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula.

— House Bill 428 and House Bill 429, Republican-sponsored measures to enhance protections for mobile home park tenants, were voted down by the House Judiciary Committee. HB 428, which among other provisions would have required a two-year term for lot rental renewals, failed on a 6-13 party-line vote. HB 429, which would have required park owners to give tenants 60 days’ notice before a sale to make it easier to organize counter-offers to take the parks into co-op ownership, failed narrowly on a 9-10 vote. The bills, sponsored by Rep. Mike Yakawich, R-Billings, and Rep. George Nikolakakos, R-Great Falls, were both strenuously opposed by landlords.

— House Bill 785 would guarantee renters who aren’t on month-to-month leases 60 days’ notice from a landlord who plans

to change their lease terms or decline to offer them a new lease. Sponsored by Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, it passed the House March 3 on a 60-37 vote.

Short-term rentals

Lawmakers have also considered legislation to address concerns that the proliferation of Airbnb-style short-term rentals has eaten into the housing stock available for rent by permanent residents in many Montana communities — or, conversely, limit how local governments can address those concerns themselves.

— House Bill 430 would let local governments add a 0.25% surcharge on top of existing state lodging taxes to raise money to fund programs that pay landlords to rent their properties to workers on a long-term basis. The bill, modeled on an existing program in Big Sky, is sponsored by Rep.

Concept to Consumer

A seminar designed exclusively for new food businesses and value-added production enterprises to equip them with the necessary tools to take their fledgling business concept all the way to the consumer with the highest chance of success. Virtual attendance is available.

Thursday, March 23rd

9am - 2pm

407 Main St. SW, Ronan, MT

Registration & More Information:

https://missionwestcdp.org/concept-to-consumer/

Jane Gillette, R-Bozeman. As a budget bill, HB 430 is subject to the later transmittal deadline. It was heard by the House Taxation Committee Feb. 17 and remains pending.

— Senate Bill 467 would have barred cities and counties from banning short-term rentals or regulating their numbers.

Sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Trebas, R-Great Falls, the bill failed a Senate vote 18-32 March 2.

— Senate Bill 268 would put limitations on local governments’ ability to regulate short-term rentals by explicitly defining short-term rental as a residential use of property and forbidding local bans on property owners renting out their primary residences on a short-term basis. Sponsored by Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, the bill passed the Senate on a 31-19 vote March 2.

US HIGHWAY 93 RONAN-NORTH ROADWORK BEGINS CAUSING MINOR TRAVEL DELAYS

The project starts at the Round Butte Road and US Highway 93 (US 93) intersection in Ronan and extends north for approximately 1.5 miles.

Construction will be completed in three phases, beginning with the widening of the west half of the road to include two southbound lanes, gravel placement, and drainage work. In phase two, this work will be repeated on the northbound lanes.

Traffic will continue to travel on the current highway during phase one and move to the two new southbound lanes in phase two when drivers will be traveling on a gravel surface. Traffic control will be in place, speeds reduced, and a motorcycle advisory will be in effect.

The final phase will involve paving, road marking installation, and finishing work. The project is expected to be completed this year; however, this schedule is subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen factors.

STAY IN THE KNOW

Signupforweeklyconstructionupdates:

EMAIL UPDATES: Sloane@bigskypublicrelations.com

TEXT UPDATE*: Text US93RONAN to 41411

PROJECT HOTLINE: 406-207-4484 during business hours

VISIT: https://bit.ly/Ronan-North

*Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Texting alerts are not managed by MDT and may have different privacy and security policies. For more information visit https://smstc.us/t41411/.

Alternative accessible formats of this document will be provided on request. Persons who need an alternative format should contact the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Transportation, 2701 Prospect Avenue, PO Box 201001, Helena, MT 59620. Telephone 406-444-5416 or Montana Relay Service at 711.

How environmental policy proposals are faring at Legislature’s halfway mark

Lawmakers have been tangling with laws and rules governing wolves, exempt wells, grizzlies, water quality, electric vehicles, conservation easements, coal mining and more.

by Amanda Eggert Montana Free Press

MONTANA — As the 2023 Legislature enters its second half, Montana Free Press is assessing how bills falling under the environmental umbrella — broadly defined — fared during the first 45 days of the session. Here we zero in on proposals to strike, add or amend laws and rules regulating coal mining, solar energy, exempt wells, water quality, net metering, grizzlies, wolves and more.

NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER

Lawmakers are tangling with water quantity and water quality regulations as they look for ways to encourage residential development and weigh industry proposals to facilitate natural resource extraction against environmental protections. The former has been a focus of Gov. Greg Gianforte’s housing task force, which is co-chaired by Montana Department of Environmental Quality Director Chris Dorrington and Montana Chamber of Commerce President Todd O’Hair. The latter is part of a perennial legislative balancing act.

— House Bill 642, a Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, measure seeking to change the Montana code dealing with exempt wells was amended to include a $150 filing fee, thereby kicking it into

another category of bills subject to a later transmittal deadline.

HB 642 changes formulas regarding “combined appropriations,” which establishes a set of criteria new wells have to meet in order to stay within a legislatively established permitting loophole. HB 642 is supported by developers and real estate industry representatives seeking to increase housing supply and opposed by agricultural interests and senior water rights holders, who are concerned that expanding groundwater withdrawals will reduce water available to other users, particularly in rapidly growing parts of the state. The DNRC, which oversees water rights, also opposes the bill. It’s awaiting executive action in the House Natural Resources Committee.

— Senate Bill 240, which would exempt subdivisions with fewer than 14 lots and located at least two miles from “high-quality waters” from Montana Environmental Policy Act review, was transmitted to the House and is awaiting a hearing there. It was

drafted at the request of DEQ, which argues that the bill will allow the agency to devote its resources to larger, more complicated environmental projects.

— House Bill 576, a proposal by Rep. Rhonda Knudsen, R-Culbertson, that would change water quality rules related to coal mining, passed out of the House largely on party lines. It would direct the DEQ to classify coal mining activities impacting ephemeral and intermittent streams as a “nonsignificant activity” subject to less stringent environmental review. It garnered support from mining companies and NorthWestern Energy. Environmental groups and ranchers seeing geological and water impacts from mining oppose it.

— House Bill 473, a proposal by Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Libby, seeking to change the state’s water quality rule for selenium in Lake Koocanusa, a waterway that’s affected by coal mining in Canada, was amended in committee. It now specifies that the state will pursue a rule change only if the U.S. Environ-

conversations about predator hunting and trapping.

Rep. Paul Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, proposed three measures building on wolf-trapping and black bear-hunting bills he successfully introduced in 2021. This session, lawmakers balked at codifying hunting regulations in statute (as opposed to allowing the governor-appointed Fish and Wildlife Commission to set them). Democratic and Republican lawmakers said such measures could encourage the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to keep grizzlies on the endangered species list out of concern that Fielder’s proposals would result in unintentional grizzly deaths.

mental Protection Agency decides to toss out the standard for waterborne selenium pollution it adopted two years ago. HB 473 passed out of the House.

One bill draft that got plenty of ink in local and national outlets early in the session is still just a draft. As of March 9, a Gunderson proposal titled “revise Montana constitutional language regarding clean and healthful environment” is still on hold. A referendum proposal that would require the approval of both twothirds of lawmakers and a majority of voters to go into effect, it’s subject to an April 3 transmittal deadline.

WILDLIFE

Predator management is emerging as a prominent theme in the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee and Senate Fish and Game Committee again this session. The prospect of the federal government removing endangered species protections from Yellowstone-area and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem grizzly bears has been a focal point of lawmakers’

— House Bill 627, House Bill 628 and House Bill 630 narrowly passed out of committee before being rejected by House lawmakers. They would have directed the commission to allow wolf trappers to use neck snares and established a wolf trapping season and black bear hound hunting season in state law.

— A couple of wolf advocate-backed measures stalled in committee. House Bill 779, which sought to restore the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s ability to take wolf management units adjacent to national parks off limits to hunters and trappers, was tabled by the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee during the transmittal week crush, as was House Bill 765, which sponsor Rep. Susan Stewart Peregoy, D-Crow Agency, described as an attempt to eliminate what she calls a “bounty” on wolves authorized by the 2021 Legislature.

Two measures seeking to whet the federal governments’ appetite see page 11

ELIZA WILEY / MTFP

Missoula

man pleads not guilty to vehicular homicide

Man under influence of marijuana is alleged to have caused fatal wreck last fall

POLSON — A Missoula man is accused of being under the influence of marijuana when he allegedly caused a fatal accident just north of Polson last fall. Andrew

Patrick Mackey,

28, en -

tered a plea of not guilty in Polson District Court on March 6 to vehicular homicide while under the influence. According to court records, on Oct. 22, 2022, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Aidan Schaffer responded to a report of a head-on crash just north of Polson on U.S. Highway 93. At the scene, Trooper Schaffer observed a red Subaru on the shoulder of the northbound lane and a

white Chevy Silverado in the middle of the northbound lane. The driver of the Subaru was deceased. A witness at the scene told Trooper Schaffer that they were following the Subaru when they saw the Chevy driving southbound in the northbound lane. Mackey was identified as the driver of the Chevy. He told the trooper that he didn’t remember what happened. He stated

that he was returning to Missoula from a job site on Jette Hill. A blood draw revealed Mackey had 14 nanograms of THC, the intoxicating component of marijuana, in his system. That is more than double the legal limit at which point a driver is considered legally impaired in Montana.

Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set the case for trial Aug. 21. Mackey remains at liberty.

Anaconda man pleads guilty to vehicle, firearm theft

POLSON — An Anaconda man admitted to stealing a car that had several firearms in it.

Randy Joel Heppler, 33, entered a plea of guilty in Polson District Court on March 6 to felony theft. He also pleaded guilty to an unrelated drug possession charge. According to court records, On Dec. 5, 2022, a man reported his 1992 Chevy missing from his residence in

Arlee. Several firearms were reported to have been in the Chevy when it disappeared. The Chevy was located the following day in Missoula, minus the firearms. The Chevy was reported as stolen again on Dec. 8, 2022. Law enforcement officers located the Chevy later that day traveling along U.S. Highway 93 and conducted a traffic stop. Heppler was identified as the driver.

In exchange for his guilty plea, a second theft charge is to be dismissed at sentencing. Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher set a sentencing date of April

27. Heppler remains in the Lake County Jail with bail totaling $75,000.

Randy Heppler

valley views Minority Leaders to Montanans: talk to legislators about priorities

The2023 Legislature has made it to the session’s halfway point. For those who spend their time at the Capitol, it means marathon days, intense rhetoric, and heightened tempers.

We went into this session laser-focused on an agenda that supports Montana families, like cutting property taxes for Montana working families, investing in housing Montanans can afford, ensuring parents can find and afford childcare, strengthening health care to keep nursing homes open, and ensuring that people can see a doctor when they need to.

Legislative Notes

their constituents elected them to solve. They spent the first half of this legislative session blowing through $1 billion in irresponsible tax handouts to the wealthy and wasting time attacking women, the LGBTQ+ community, doctors, nurses, teachers, and librarians. They are even going after Montana business owners.

we know that bills are getting through that will harm Montanans.

Unfortunately, Montana Republicans have lost sight of the problems

letters

We’ve worked hard to stop bills ranging from hurtful and mean-spirited to outrageously fiscally irresponsible. We’ve had some success, like making progress on Medicaid reimbursement rates, which will help ensure that nursing homes stay open and health care is accessible to rural Montana. But

Heal thoughts, heal nation

Editor,

Our nation’s Republican Party is presently dangerously divided. This threatens our democracy. The evidence is clearly evident. Our world is presently undergoing tremendous stresses. We are dealing with viral pandemics,

We hear from Montanans who are frustrated with what is happening in Helena. Often these individuals are from outside our districts. People in every county struggle to put food on the table, find childcare, and afford a home in the community they love. They call and ask why we are wasting time going after people just trying to live free from politicians restricting their constitutional rights.

We wish we could answer that question for you. But we can tell you that we are doing everything possible to get this train back on track. As the budget process continues, Montana Democrats will continue to push for a fair budget that works for Montana

families, workers, and businesses. We know that the Republicans’ plan fails to meet the scale of the crises facing Montana, and also has no vision for the future. It is essential that we save more of the historic budget surplus as a safeguard against the economic uncertainties on the horizon.

We encourage everyone to reach out to their legislators and talk to them about their priorities. Ask them what they are doing to ensure housing policies will build homes people can actually afford – not just mansions for those at the top. Ask them what they have done to provide real relief for renters. Ask them about the massive tax cut that went to the wealthiest. Ask them why they keep voting against ensuring families have

childcare, so businesses have workers to stay open. Ask them if they will support funding to community health care providers. Ask them why they are attacking the basic rights of our friends and neighbors. We have 45 days left in this session. It isn’t much time, but we promise you that we will keep working for you whether you live in our districts or not and whether you voted for us or not. We want you to have the life you deserve, including being able to afford to live in your community, having a safe place for your kids while you work at a job that pays you a good salary, and being able to live your life as you choose without politicians in Helena dictating your personal decisions.

LETTER POLICY

Letters to the editor are welcome. The content is the opinion of the letter writer and not the newspaper. The decision to publish letters is made by the editor.

Letters must be 350 words or less. A writer will only be published twice per month.

Letters may be edited for content or length, or may not be published if considered libelous, in poor taste, spiteful, self-promotional or of limited interest to the general readership. Space limitations also dictate when or if letters are published.

the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the ramping up of fear and anger. Add to this the advancements in “weapons of mass destruction.” Our world is in peril. What our world needs from each of us is a “great healing.” This healing is a “healing of the mind.” We each have a “thought system.” This system is based

upon how we think. And how we think is based upon the individual choices we make in dealing with what we are presented with in our daily lives.

God’s gift of the mind is the key. The mind, unlike the brain, transcends the body. Our minds determine our attitudes and behavior. We make mind- choices.

We can choose a thought system based on negative anger and attack or a thought system based on positive healing actions. There are many teachings available to each of us involving expressing God’s Love. Let’s study and activate them.

Bob McClellan Missoula

Letters must be signed by the author and name, address and phone number must be included –phone number is for verification purposes only. Letters from organizations must include the name of at least one author.

Please limit “thank you” letters to four people/organizations or less. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday to publish the following week. Opinions expressed in this section are not necessarily those of the newspaper.

Rep. Kim Abbott (D-Helena) is the Minori-

ty Leader in the Montana House of Representatives. Sen. Pat Flowers (D-Belgrade) is the Minority Leader in the Montana Senate.

Rep. Kim Abbott (D-Helena), House Minority Leader Sen. Pat Flowers (D-Belgrade), Senate Minority Leader

environmental policy

from page 8

to delist grizzly bears are well on their way, having passed out of the Senate with comfortable margins.

—  Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, introduced Senate Bill 85 at the request of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It directs the state to “manage grizzly bear populations at levels to maintain their delisted status” by managing mortalities and relocations. Lawmakers amended the bill to specify that proactive grizzly management should include “nonlethal and preventative measures” in addition to trapping and lethal measures. It’s awaiting a hearing before the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee.

— Senate Bill 295 has a pile of sponsors eager for state management of grizzlies, but its lead sponsor is Rocky Mountain Front rancher Bruce Gillespie, R-Ethridge, who’s seeking to revise a bill he successfully introduced last session. Among other provisions, SB 295 directs ranchers concerned about a grizzly bear “threatening”

livestock to contact FWP’s director, who will decide on an appropriate course of action. It passed out of the House with just one Democrat, Sen. Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, in support.

LAND MANAGEMENT

Proposals dealing with wildlife habitat and public land access have garnered considerable interest this session from a wide variety of stakeholders, ranging from sporting groups and agricultural groups to timber companies. Recent debates over permanent conservation easements and prescriptive — sometimes called historic — easements have illuminated an interesting divide in the Republican Party between those who, like Land Board member and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, are leery of the state adding any more land acquisitions to its portfolio, and those who have little appetite to tinker with landowners’ ability to put permanent development restrictions on their property or fuss with the state’s stream access law.

—  Senate Bill 357, a measure sponsored by Sen.

Steve Hinebauch, R-Wibaux, seeking to restrict the state’s ability to secure permanent conservation easements was voted down by the Senate Fish and Game Committee Feb. 28. SB 357 was met by opposition from a diverse, powerful group of individuals and interest groups disinclined to restrict a tool frequently used by FWP to secure wildlife habitat and public access.

— Senate Bill 497, which sought to change state laws regarding prescriptive easements — unrecorded easements often used by recreationists to access waterways and parcels of public land bordered by private land — had a swift rise and an equally swift decline. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, was heard and voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 28, and failed a second reading vote in the Senate 14-36 the following day.

—  Senate Bill 58, which would increase the payment cap for landowners participating in block management to $50,000, passed out of the Senate 47-3. It’s an

FWP-proposed and Gianforte-backed bill that proponents describe as an important element of state land managers’ efforts to keep the state’s premier hunter access program competitive in the face of rival programs on the private market.

Three proposals seeking to reallocate some or all of the state’s recreational marijuana tax revenue from wildlife habitat and public land programs to other funding pots are still alive. Since they’re appropriations bills, they’re subject to a later legislative transmittal deadline of April 3. Opponents of the measures have argued that lawmakers shouldn’t tamper with the tax revenues, since a tax allocation framework was included in the 2020 ballot

initiative legalizing recreational marijuana in Montana. Proponents counter that lawmakers are trying to funnel funding generated by lucrative marijuana sales toward the state’s most pressing needs.

— House Bill 669 would move marijuana tax revenues out of programs dedicated to wildlife habitat, state parks, trails and recreational facilities and put them into the state’s General Fund instead. It’s still awaiting an up or down vote in the House Appropriations Committee, as is House Bill 462, which would funnel much of the current habitat-and parks-dedicated funding into addiction recovery, corrections and law enforcement programs.

— Senate Bill 442

would allocate marijuana tax revenues toward county and city road construction and maintenance in a new funding bucket called the “county road habitat access account.” Sponsor Mike Lang, R-Malta, has said the fund could improve access to block management lands used by non-outfitted hunters pursuing game animals on private land. It passed out of the Senate Taxation Committee Feb. 28 and is awaiting a vote before the full Senate.

ENERGY

The big energy-related topics of the session thus far deal with incentives and disincentives tied to the development and delivery of fossil fuels and renewable energies. A proposal

see page 12

environmental policy

from page 11

to make several changes to net metering, which allows residential solar customers to put excess electricity onto the grid and pull from a utility’s power lines during times of high demand, garnered considerable interest in the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee, which has been described by Committee Chair Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, as a “slow burn” committee. It conducted many of its bill hearings in the two weeks leading up to the transmittal deadline. A couple of proposals involving the Montana Public Service Commission, the elected body that regulates monopoly utility companies, also garnered considerable interest.

— House Bill 170, a “repealer” measure seeking to strike the Legislature’s state energy policy, passed out of the House on party lines with GOP lawmakers in favor and Democrats opposed. Proponents of HB 170 argue that the 30-year-old energy policy lawmakers first adopted when Marc Racicot was governor is a toothless piece of code lacking regulatory weight, and that Gov. Gianforte should have an opportunity to start fresh with his own vision for Montana’s energy future. Opponents counter that it’s ill-advised for the Legislature to willingly surrender its own energy vision.

— House Bill 241,

which would prevent a local government from requiring that new buildings be constructed with solar panels or solar panel-ready or electric vehicle-ready wiring, passed the House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate. It’s sponsored by Rep. Joshua Kassmier, R-Fort Benton.

— Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby, sponsored a similar “powers denied” measure, Senate Bill 208, which would prevent local governments from prohibiting or impeding the connection or reconnection of natural gas or propane lines. It passed the House on March 2, largely on party lines with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.

— Small also sponsored Senate Bill 228, which would prevent local governments from prohibiting the use of any petroleum-based fuels such as natural gas or methane. Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, was the lone Republican to join Democrats in voting no on SB 228. It passed out of the Senate 33-17.

— An effort to make the Public Service Commission, the state’s utility regulating board, an appointed rather than elected body stalled in committee. House Bill 755 sought to establish job qualifications that would render candidates eligible for the appointment and create a bipartisan nominating advisory committee to forward commissioner recommendations to the governor. It

was tabled by the House Legislative Administration Committee on Feb. 28.

— Another bill related to the PSC, Senate Bill 109, passed out of the Senate on a 30-20 vote late last week. Bill sponsor Sen. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, introduced an amendment to his measure last week that would use state House districts as a model to redraw PSC district boundaries. Regier said his amendment divvies the state’s population proportionally. Opponents countered that Regier’s boundaries unfairly favor Republican PSC candidates and split several of the state’s largest cities.

— House Bill 643, a Kassmier measure proposing a handful of changes to net metering, was voted down in the House Energy Committee during the transmittal week crush. It would have raised the net metering cap, which renewable advocates have long called for. It would also have created a new rate class for solar customers and directed the PSC to study solar’s cost to utilities, both of which opponents described as efforts to disincentivize residential solar adoption.

— House Bill 454, sponsored by Rep. Gary Parry, R-Colstrip, would have substantially increased the taxes paid by large-scale renewable energy producers, generating revenues that would then be split between the coal severance tax trust

fund and a county renewable resource electrical production impacts account. It was tabled in the House Taxation Committee, 20-1.

TRANSPORTATION

On the transportation front, “electric” is the word of the session. It’s looking likely that the Legislature will pass taxes to be levied on electric vehicle owners and users of public EV charging stations. The former is a (more moderately priced) revival of a bill that made it through the Legislature during the 2021 session only to be vetoed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, who took issue with Montana EV owners paying some of the “highest fees in the nation.” The latter represents a new effort to garner funding for highway construction and maintenance from out-of-state EV drivers. Both are sponsored by House Transportation Committee Chair, Rep. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis.

— House Bill 60 sets up a system to tax EV and plug-in hybrid owners when they remit annual vehicle registration fees to their county treasurer. The tax ranges from $130 to $1,100 depending on the vehicle’s weight. It’s been voted through the House and the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee.

— House Bill 55 establishes a structure for taxing public EV charging station users and requires new charging stations to include electricity meters. An attempt to estab-

lish an entirely new tax, HB 55 has been heavily amended in the legislative grinder. A new fiscal note has been requested, and the bill has passed out of the House Appropriations Committee, but hasn’t been kicked back to the House for a third reading vote yet.

Republican lawmakers also proposed bills to explicitly state where electric motor-assisted bikes can be ridden. Both of those measures — House Bill 261 and Senate Bill 342 — progressed through their second reading only to be voted down on third reading, the final step before continuing to the opposite legislative body. Although there are some notable differences between the two bills, both would have made low-powered e-bikes explicitly legal on all state-managed trails

where regular bicycles can be ridden.

WHAT’S AHEAD

Lawmakers, lobbyists and agency leads have referenced a handful of bills in the environmental and recreation-management realm that are still taking shape. They include proposals to put some of the state’s $2.5 billion surplus toward a legacy trust for private and public land conservation and habitat restoration projects; a legislative fix to address overcrowding on the Madison, one of the state’s most popular rivers; and a tweak or repeal of a 2021 bill that directed the DEQ to come up with an alternative to numeric nutrient water quality standards. We’ll be tracking those proposals if they come up for a hearing as well.

FWP gears up for watercraft inspection station season

Some stations to open early March

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks

HELENA — Several watercraft inspection stations begin operation in early March to check snowbird boat traffic returning from mussel-positive areas such as Lakes Mead, Havasu, Pleasant and Powell. Boat owners coming to Montana must have their vessel inspected for aquatic invasive species (AIS) at a Montana watercraft inspection station prior to launch.

The stations near Dillon, Ravalli and Anaconda will open March 11. FWP works closely with partners for station operation and co-tracts with  the Beaverhead Conservation District for operation of the Dillon station and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for operation of the Ravalli station. Inspections will also be available at the FWP Region 1 office in Kalispell in March to help accommodate requirements for Mac Days.

During 2022, crews conducted more than 119,000 inspections and intercepted 53 mussel-fouled boats. More

than 600 boats were found with aquatic weeds.

Late last year, zebra mussels were detected 70 miles from Montana in Pactola Reservoir near Rapid City, South Dakota. Watercraft inspection efforts are being adjusted to address the threat of zebra mussels moving into Montana from the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Watercraft inspection stations are Montana’s first line of defense to pre-

vent the movement of AIS which can have devastating impacts on Montana waterways.

Boat owners should ensure their watercraft, trailers and gear are clean, drained and dry before transporting and need to be aware of Montana’s inspection rules:

All watercraft coming into Montana from out of state must be inspected prior to launching.

All watercraft traveling west across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin must be inspected prior to launching.

Anyone transporting watercraft must stop at all open watercraft inspection stations they encounter.

And all boaters are reminded to always clean drain and dry their boat, live wells, anchors, boots and gear when leaving the water.

Call Joel Mohler or Izzi Clary for a tour. 406-883-8970

SKMM (a subsidiary of S&K Technologies, Inc.) is focused on providing quality support to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes by offering a full range of technical, construction, and administrative support services to execute projects of various size and complexity. We invite vendors to review our list of current opportunities and join our vendor database by filling out the form on our website: www.skmissionmanagement.com/vendor/

FILE PHOTOS

Lake County Waste Management announces changes

News from Stacey Kintigh, director for solid waste in Lake County LAKE COUNTY

— Lake County Waste Management will be going through some operational changes in the upcoming weeks. Over the last couple of years with increased population growth and a construction boom, Lake County’s waste management system is being overwhelmed and in many cases, taken advantage of. In the past these sites were opened seven days a week with no oversight or monitoring. Containers meant for household garbage for rural residents are now being filled with out of county waste, construction debris, special waste and even hazardous waste.

This activity has taken a large financial toll on Lake County’s Waste Management system. The county will be implementing changes to stop this activity and shore up our system from many different facets. Our residents have been bearing the cost of this activity and our goal is to make sure our sites are clean, monitored and here for our residents in the future.

After numerous community meeting with residents explaining, listening, and fielding questions it is in the county’s and the resident’s best interest that these sites be monitored with county staff. Each site will have set days and hours of operation. This schedule will take effect on April 2, 2023.

Charlo: Sun., Wed.,

Charlo School Board Trustee Positions

Charlo School District has three (3) openings for the position of trustee on the Charlo School Board. Interested parties must reside in the Charlo School District. All parties must be a registered voter in the school district. Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy for School Board Trustee are available at the Charlo School District Office located at 404 First Avenue West, Charlo, MT or call Sara at 644-2206 @ ext. 303 to request a petition to be mailed to you. Deadline for filing is March 23, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. with the District Clerk. The election will be held by mail ballot. Feb. 22, March 1, 8, 15, 2023

Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ravalli: Tues., Thurs., Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Swan: Tues., Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Proctor: Sun., Tues., Thurs., Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ferndale: Sun., Tues., Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Woods Bay: Mon., Wed., Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Landfill: Tues.-Sat., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Transfer Station: 7 days a week, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

The county’s priority will be to have sites open more days and more hours as we move forward. Sites that are close in proximity will be open on alternating days. The Transfer Station on Reservoir Rd will continue to be open seven days a week for household garbage and

Shiloh

She is a beautiful 6-month-old Hound/Beagle cross. She is a super sweet vocal girl who gets along with everything!

recycling. If you have stumps, brush, compost, or clean concrete, those items are also excepted at the transfer station with a fee attached. All demolition, construction, pallets, dimensional lumber and furniture needs to be taken to the landfill on Kerr Dam Rd.

If you have not received your household garbage tags or filled out the application for your tags, please contact our office at 406-883-7323 or visit the Lake County website for a PDF downloadable copy. This tag identifies you or your landlord as one that pays the $180 fee on your tax bill. This tag allows you to dump household garbage at any of our transfer sites without additional garbage fees. Tag deadline May 1.

Mission Valley Choral Society to offer two Palm Sunday weekend concerts

News from Valerie Lindstrom, Mission Valley Choral Society

MISSION VALLEY —

The Mission Valley Choral Society Palm Sunday weekend concerts are scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, April 1, at the Mission in St. Ignatius and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. A meal will be served in the church basement immediately following the Sunday concert.

Director Chris

Bumgarner, with accompanist Karla Gallatin, will lead the choir in 10 varied musical selections for “Ave Maria” to a medley from “Les Miserables.”

The 90-minute concerts are free and welcoming to all. Free-will offerings will be taken at each concert. Saturday’s donations help the choir with music expenses and donations from the Sunday concert will support Helping Hands of Mission Valley. For information, contact 406-261-3304 or 406-370-2076.

March 29th - 6:00 PM

Fun Night - April 19th

1st night of league play - April 26th

Ladies’ informational meeting

April 11th - 6:00 PM

Fun Night - May 9th

1st night of league play - May 16th

Local health care provider, Dr. Thorson, selected for Physician Leadership Program

MMA celebrates 10th anniversary of flagship healthcare excellence in leadership program News from the Montana Medical Association

HELENA — The Montana Medical Association today announced that 11 Montana health care providers have been selected as participants in the 2023 Healthcare Excellence in Leadership Program. The local health care leader selected for the 2023 program is Tyler J. Thorson, M.D., Family Medicine of St. Luke Community Healthcare in Ronan.

“This marks the tenth year of

the HELP program offering a top-notch faculty line-up and approach proven to enhance the leadership skills of health care professionals and grow their knowledge of health care policy in Montana,” said MMA Chief Executive Officer Jean Branscum. “The in-depth course holds an excellent track record of equipping participants with the tools and knowledge needed to be more effective in leadership roles within their practice and medical community.”

The Healthcare Excellence in Leadership Program was created in 2013 by Montana physicians to help industry health care professionals step into new and emerging leadership roles and engage in vital health

care policy discussions across the state. Participants in this top-shelf leadership program attend sessions across Montana to learn about the state’s critical health care issues and gain the leadership skills needed to create positive change in their practice, hospital, and surrounding communities. The 2023 program is scheduled to bring participants together at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for a first session from March 10-11. Last-minute applications are still being acceptedphysicians, physician assistants, advanced nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and dentists are invited to submit applications today or contact the MMA Executive Office at 406-4434000 for more information.

Tyler J. Thorson, M.D.

Medical Association at: mma@ mmaoffice.org or 406-4434000.

“The best part about St. Luke is that it is truly a community hospital. Decisions are made locally and benefit the community. St. Luke Community is one of the rare hospitals where the nurses know your name and if you need to talk to someone, you’re easily able to find a real person. It’s a great environment for everyone involved.”

- Dr. Zach Hovorka

Above normal February precipitation increases snowpack

BOZEMAN — After a large late January storm ended several weeks of dry weather, active weather has persisted. “There were not many days in February in which it wasn’t snowing somewhere in Montana,” said Eric Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Water Supply Specialist. In addition to consistent precipitation during the month, there were a couple large storms that added to the totals. The most significant storm occurred near the end of the month,

and similar to the late January storm, delivered several feet of snow to Montana. The largest storm totals accumulated in the Mission and Swan Mountain ranges, where over four inches of precipitation fell. Other mountain locations across Montana received about two to three inches of precipitation.

Overall, February precipitation was near to well above normal across most of Montana and northern Wyoming. The Smith-Judith-Musselshell region received over 150% of normal monthly precipitation, while basins in western Montana stretching from the Madison to the Kootenai River basin received about 90% to

110% of normal precipitation. All other basins were somewhere between that range, except for the Bitterroot which only received about 80% of normal February precipitation.

“As of March 1, most snowpack percentages have increased from last month. This was a timely rebound as many Montana river basins experienced a decrease in their snowpack percentage from Jan. 1 to Feb. 1,” said Larson. Currently the snowpack is above normal in all basins east of the Continental Divide, except the Saint Mary River basin

which is at about 90% of normal for March 1.

The Bighorn, Upper Yellowstone, Jefferson, and Sun-Teton-Marias River basins currently have a near normal snowpack.

The Madison, Gallatin, Tongue, and Powder River basins currently have a well above normal snowpack, at about 115%. The Smith-Judith-Musselshell River

basin snowpack is also well above normal at about 125%.

Some regions including the Madison, Gallatin, Little Belts, Big Belts, and Bighorn mountains have accumulated a two-tothree-inch surplus of snow water equivalent, which will be beneficial if active weather tapers off in the next couple

the next couple months, otherwise snowmelt provided water supply will likely be below normal this spring.

months. However, those regions are still three to six inches below their normal April peak snowpack levels and lack of snowfall during the next couple months could result in a below normal snowpack in the spring, when it matters most. “River basins to keep an eye on over the next couple months are the Kootenai, Lower Clark Fork, Bitterroot, and Saint Mary. The basin-wide snowpack deficit in these basins currently ranges from three to six inches of snow water equivalent,” said Larson. These basins will need above normal precipitation over

“With one to two months remaining in the typical snowpack accumulation season, the current snowpack provides insight into what spring snowmelt will bring, and March 1 water supply forecasts are now available statewide,” said Larson. Most of the forecasts are within 10% of normal, which aligns with current water year precipitation and the ensuing snowpack. Exceptions are parts of central Montana (Smith-Judith-Musselshell), southwest Montana (Gallatin and Madison), and northern Wyoming (Wind, Bighorn-Powder-Tongue), which due to abundant precipitation this water year are currently forecasted to have above normal streamflows. Alternatively, western Montana, along the Idaho border (Big Hole, Bitterroot, Lower Clark Fork), is forecasted to have below normal streamflows, which is the result of the below normal precipitation that region has experienced this water year. “Keep in mind, snowpack conditions could change over the next couple months and therefore some uncertainty exists in the March 1 forecasts,” said Larson.

News form Natural Resources Conservation Service

SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL

Several March snow storms have added to snowpack in the Mission Range.

“There were not many days in February in which it wasn’t snowing somewhere in Montana.”

- Eric Larson, USDA NRCS Water Supply Specialist

$125,000 in Youth Serve Montana scholarships awarded

Scholarship recognizes Montana high school seniors for volunteer service

attend a Montana Campus Compact member institution next fall.

HELENA — The Governor’s Office of Community Service (ServeMontana), Reach Higher Montana, and Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) are pleased to announce 100 Montana high school seniors have been awarded Youth Serve Montana Scholarships. This scholarship is offered in two awards, $1,000 for 50-99 hours of service and $1,500 for 100+ hours of service to

“Reach Higher Montana is always glad to work with our partners to increase scholarship resources for Montana students.” Said Kelly Cresswell, Executive Director of Reach Higher Montana. “We are grateful for the hundreds of service hours Montana students completed to improve their communities.”

The Youth Serve Montana Scholarship was created to promote volunteerism among high school students. Funds are available through support from Montana Campus Compact, a network of Montana campuses committed to community service; Reach Higher

Montana, a nonprofit dedicated to helping students pursue and fund post-secondary education; and the Governor’s Office of Community Service, the state agency tasked with expanding and promoting community service in Montana. The Governor’s Office of Community Service administers the scholarship funds.

“On behalf of Montana Campus Compact’s CEOs, we’re excited and heartened to welcome a new freshmen class to our institutions as they come in with demonstrated ethics of service by doing good work in their communities.” Said Josh Vanek, Director of Montana Campus Compact. Congratulations to these Montana student volunteers:

$1,500 Youth Serve Montana Scholarship Recipients serving 100 or more hours: Mollena Sydnor, Ronan High School; Canyon Sargent, St. Ignatius High School; Owen McElwee, Polson High School

$1,000 Youth Serve Montana Scholarship Recipients serving 50-99 hours: Scout Wenzel, Polson High School; Cora Stone, SeeleySwan High School; Danielle Sexton, Seeley Swan High School; Tru Good, Seeley-Swan High School; Jelaysia Forman-Webster, Polson High School; Tia Carpentier, Ronan High School; Isaac Cantlon, Ronan High School; Sidney Bauer, Charlo High School.

Library operating at temporary location

News from North Lake County Public Library District

POLSON — Remember the North Lake County Public Library has a new temporary location and is temporarily operating at 301 Sixteenth Ave. E (United Methodist Church). We will be open for our regular hours of service: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Church hours and services will continue as normal each Sunday. Due to our renovation project, we will accept one small box or bag per family, per week on Tuesdays. Thank you for your understanding as we move into our temporary location.

Proud Community Partner

News from Serve Montana

seniors

Polson

By Pete Mangels for the Valley Journal

POLSON — If you forgot to set your clocks ahead one hour you can go ahead and set them now, or wait six months and then it will be standard time again. If you need more things to gripe about you can always pick time changes in the USA. One thing we can’t change is the first day of each season. This first day of pring is sometimes on March 20. Spring 2023 will end on June 21, mostly. Sometimes it’s June 22. Blame it on the sun and the tilt of the earth. You could live in Australia where it is called the first day of fall. Yes, you can snow ski in July because its winter there. Sometimes here too. Yes, I have witnessed snow in Polson on July 4.

We have been approached by a Ping Pong enthusiast who would like to loan us a table for use at the center. If you have an interest in ping pong. please sign up at the Polson Senior Center.

We are seeking a full time cook for our kitchen. Apply at the center. Salary is based

on experience.

Free tax filing assistance is available on Mondays or Thursdays from now until April 13. Come in or call for an appointment and pick up a filing information packet.

The Ronan Senior Center is hosting pinochle games every Monday starting at 3:30 p.m. Games finish generally at 6 p.m. or so.

Activities:

Bowling Fun League: pay by the day - non-sanctioned, no-tap – Tuesdays at 1 p.m. - weekly

Bingo: regular bingo Fridays at 7 p.m. “Playing Card” bingo the first and third Wednesday of each month

Exercise: low impact

- M- W- F, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Pinochle: Thursdays at 12:15 – 3 p.m. new players welcome

Pool:  Open table from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.weekdays

Tai Ji Quan: exercise for balance: Tuesdays 10-11 a.m. and Wednesdays 1-2 p.m.

Veterans’ Rep: each month on first Friday (April 7) and

third Tuesday (March 21) from 10 a.m.-noon

Menu (subject to change): sit-down or take-out, call before 10 a.m. for delivery -

serving on site from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. for $5 per meal

— Thursday, March 16: chicken strips, tater tots, ranch dressing, green salad, cookies

— Friday, March 17: Pot O’ Gold corned beef and cabbage, potato, carrots, leprechaun bread, rainbow salad, lucky pistachio fluff

— Monday, March 20: cream of potato soup, peanut butter sandwich, pea and cheese salad, cookies

— Tuesday, March 21: pork loin, creamy herb pasta, peas and carrots, 6-bean salad, cookies

— Wednesday, March 22: homemade pizza, corn, green salad, chocolate cream bars

— Thursday, March 23: Polish dogs, onions and relish, Mac ‘n cheese, creamy peaches, Jell-O

— Friday, March 24: birthday dinner for lunch - roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry salad, etc.

We are located at 504 Third Ave. E, and are open from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. on weekdays. Call: 406-883-4735 or email us at: polsonseniorcenter@gmail. com.

Get a job – earn college credits – make a difference!

Full time positions receive the health insurance benefit 12 months a year. Check out the available jobs and detailed job vacancy announcements on the SKC website – www.skc.edu/employment

Custodian (Part time)

Salary Range: $13.21/hour Closing Date: Open Until Filled

SKC Extension Operations Manager (Part time - 12 months)

Salary Range: Bachelor’s degree - $20.17 - $23.56 per hour

Salary Range: Master’s degree - $20.73 - $24.12 per hour Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Journey to Wellness Community Outreach (Full time)

Salary Range: $16.54 - $17.40 DOEE per hour Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Early Learning Center (ELC) Lead Toddler Teacher (9.5 months)

Salary: $22.48 - $23.22/hour DOEE Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Clinical Instructor/Clinical Resource Reg. Nurse Part Time Nursing Dept. (9-month term)

Salary: $35 per hour 14 hours per week Closing Date: Open Until Filled

SKC Bookstore Director (12 months - Full time)

Salary : $40,789 - $45,483 DOEE Closing Date: Open Until Filled

SKC Early Learning Center Assistant (Full time - 10 months)

Salary Range: $15.17-$15.99/hr DOEE Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Director of Academic Success

Salary: $44,310 - $45,656 DOEE Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Upward Bound Instructor (12 months - Full Time with benefits)

Salary: $17.35 - $20.17/hr DOEE Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Climate Hub Program Director - Wildlife & Fisheries Department

Salary: $44,310 - $46,656 DOEE Closing Date: February 10, 2023, 4:00 PM

Health Promotion Practices - Department Chair (11-month position, July off)

Salary: $45,621 - $48,185 DOEE Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Vice President of Academic Affairs

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 DOEE Closing Date: April 7, 2023, 4:00 PM

General and Grants Accounting Assistant

Salary: $38,927 - $40,727 DOEE Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Assistant Director of Academic Success

Salary Range: $37,106 to $38,927 DOEE Closing Date: March 3, 2023, 4:00 PM

HVAC Maintenance Technician

Salary: $56,043-$63,083 DOEE per hour Closing Date: March 17, 2023, 4:00 PM

Bookstore Sales Clerk (12 months - Full time)

$13.53 - $14.16 DOEE per hour Closing Date: March 9, 2023, 4:00 PM

Career Services Coordinator

Salary: $18.28 - $20.02 DOEE per hour Closing Date: March 17, 2023, 4:00 PM

Clinical Instructor / Clinical Resource Registered Nurse Part-time Nursing Department (9-month term)

Salary: $35 per hour - 14 hours per week Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The Liberal Arts Department is actively seeking master’s degree qualified adjuncts to teach communications, research, humanities, and grant writing courses. Any person seeking adjunct employment can contact Teresa Sias at teresa_sias@skc.edu

To apply you must submit an SKC application, resume and applicable transcripts to Human Resources, P.O. Box 70, Pablo, MT 59855. Toll free 877.752.6553, ext. 4985 Direct Dial 406.275.4985/4977

PUZZLES

GIANT CROSSWORD

only.

Can you find all the listed words in the grid? Words may appear horizontally, vertically or diagonally, forwards or backwards.

South America

DOT-TO-DOT

Starting at 1, connect the dots in numerical order to complete the picture.

MIRROR IMAGE

Which of the four images below is the mirror image of the larger one to the right?

A B C D

SOLUTIONS

118. Llama, 119. Megastar, 120. Asleep, 121. Oasis, 122. Axel, 123. Spa, 124. Masses, 125. Inert. Down: 1. Slab, 2. Call, 3. Isle, 4. Osier, 5. Nonpareil, 6. Stasis, 7. Halley, 8. Abbas, 9. Flat tire,

polloi, 87. R.E.M., 88. Initials, 90. Bled, 95. Sands, 96. Traits, 98. Santee, 99. Troops, 104. Sales, 105. Milan, 106. Mama, 107. Amex, 108. Rage,

79. Trent, 81. Medicinal, 83. Ens, 84. Hoi

62. Rex, 63. Ohm, 66. Atom, 69. Lyons, 70. Aphid, 71. Brace, 72. Cores, 74. Tamale, 77. Unite, 78. Rotes,

43. Ulnae, 44. Stall, 46. Shelf, 47. GSA, 50. Maillot, 52. Lettuce, 53. Spry, 56. Notepaper, 60. Rue, 61. Chelated,

37. Cupel, 40. Fun, 42. Tonne,

30. Cods, 31. Indecent, 32. Dogged, 33. Steadiest, 35. Sassy, 36. Emote,

16. Honk, 17. Urge, 18. Best, 22. Stilt,

10. Tens, 11. Sty, 12. Ash, 13. Seat, 14. Sashes, 15. Chickadee,

obituaries

Leo Harteis

DIXON — Leo Harteis was born on Jan. 5, 1946, and died on Feb. 24, 2023, from illness. Born in Pennsylvania, he lived in Western Montana for years. He was a silver smith, stone mason, and an art instructor at Salish Kootenai College. He went to art school in Pennsylvania. Survived by siblings and family, he will be missed by many. A memorial is scheduled for March 17, at 2 p.m. at the Dixon Senior Citizens Center., 35 Third St. in Dixon.

Joan Hill-Graham

RONAN – Joan Lucille Hill-Graham, age 65, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, of ovarian cancer, at her residence, surrounded by her family. She was born to Lawrence Frederick and Lucille (Pierson) Hill in Spokane, Washington. She attended schools in Wilbur, Washington, and graduated from Wilbur High School in 1975. She attended college at Eastern Washington University and graduated with honors in 1979 with a major in history with a minor in special education. She taught in the Grand Coulee Schools from 1980-1981. She went on to receive Masters Degrees in Education Administration and Special Educa-

tion Administration from the University of Montana. She moved to Ronan in 1981 and taught special education for 17 years and an additional 18 years as the Special Education Director followed by four years as the Curriculum Director for Ronan School District 30. She married Scott Graham June 11, 1983, in Wilbur, Washington. She retired in 2020.

Joan was very influential in maximizing others’ potential. Her inspiration started with her children, and includes her nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-inlaw, para-professionals and friends. Joan’s inspiration was outcome based so she would check in with you about the steps you needed to do in order to reach whatever your goal was.

Joan loved the outdoors and moving to Montana was a great fit. She was an avid cyclist, both road and mountain. Joan loved floating on the rivers in western Montana. The North Fork of the Flathead River is one of her all-time favorite areas, making treks up there in summer and winter.

Joan also enjoyed history and travel and trips would be planned around historical sites. This exemplary woman, Joan Lucille Hill-Graham, has inspired many other exemplary human beings. We will miss you soulfully Joan. We love you!

Joan was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Scott, of Ronan; sons, Ian (Shiva) of Whitefish and

Andrew of Bozeman; brother, Jim (Teresa) Hill of Fountain Hills, Arizona; nephew, Eric (Janna) Hill of Scottsdale, Arizona; as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service for Joan will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at: www.shriderthompson.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Shrider – Thompson Funeral Home.

Marilyn Baltz

CHARLO — Marilyn Joan Baltz, 78, of Charlo passed away Monday, March 6, 2023, with her loving husband by her side. Marilyn was born on Aug. 6, 1944, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Charlie and Dorothy Dennis. Her family history was very important to her. Ancestry lines link her to England, Wales, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Eastern Europe, and Russia. She graduated from Ronan High school in 1962. She attended business school in Billings and once remarked how she got by on $5 a week. On Dec. 7, 1968, she married Arlo Baltz in Ronan. They had been married 54 years. They loved spending time in nature, camping with Arlo

out in the fishing boat while she listened to the radio and browsing her magazines. They would go hunting together and loved staying at the hunter’s cabin or in their camper.

Marilyn loved animals. She often named the animals like bears and deer that moved through the property. She loved those who did not have a voice.

Memories of her include her collection of bells, she would collect driftwood for display in her flower gardens and her love of forget-menot flowers. She would walk down the road to visit her mother/parents/relatives and would be pulled along by her kids, just in case we heard wild animal sounds nearby. Her sister, Norma and brother, Arlan preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband, Arlo of Charlo; three children, Barry Baltz, of Porter Texas, Karen Baltz Gibbs, of Newberg, Oregon, and Brenda Baltz, of Athens, New York; her brother, Jerry Dennis of Wichita, Kansas, and four grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that per Marilyn’s wishes, donations be made to Mission Valley Animal Shelter in Polson.

Memorial services will be held later for safer travel when the weather permits.

Memories and Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.shriderthompson. com.

Arrangements are under the care of Shrider-Thompson Funeral Home and Crematory.

One-stop substance

use

site offers information, more

News from Start Your Recovery

StartYourRecovery.org provides helpful information for people who are dealing with substance use issues — and their family members, friends, and co-workers, too. They know that there is no one-sizefits-all solution to the challenges faced by those who misuse alcohol, prescription or illegal drugs, or other substances, and they aim to break through the clutter to help people at any stage of recovery.

Their goal is to offer people who are dealing with substance use issues a single source of reputable, objective information about signs, symptoms, conditions, treatment options, and resources — presented in a user-friendly format and in language that’s easy to understand. They asked: “Why doesn’t someone offer access to these resources in one place?” Then they asked: “Why don’t we?”

To do it, they brought together leading clinicians and experts in substance use prevention treatment and recovery from nonprofit, academic, and government institutions — the Education Development Center, The Jed Foundation (JED), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Veterans Health Administration, Yale University School of Medicine, and more. Reingold — a leader in creating outreach campaigns that promote mental health awareness and help-seeking — works with these experts to assemble, validate, and present the best information available for people dealing with substance use issues.

Personal stories, resource and support information are available on their website:StartYourRecovery.org

Joan Hill-Graham

Marilyn Baltz

Wednesday, March 15

Free online meditation classes offered

ZOOM — Mission Mountain Zen is offering free online meditation classes. Please join the Mission Mountain Zen Center on Wednesday, March 15, and on subsequent Wednesdays, for an online meditation class led by Zen Teacher, Zenku, including meditation instruction, practice and discussion via Zoom. The classes will be each Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. We will cultivate and deepen our centering skills and meditation practice during the class. Please join us and take advantage of this opportunity. For more information and a Zoom link to the class call Zenku at 847-721-0665 or email him at: Jerry.Smyers@ gmail.com.

Thursday, March 16

Polson SPLASH held

POLSON — The Polson Chamber of Commerce will hold their monthly SPLASH Ameeting at the Mission Valley Christian Academy, 38907 U.S. Highway 35, from 5-7 p.m.

Friday, March 17

St. Patrick’s Day

Let the Shenanigans begin

RONAN — The annual Ronan St. Patrick’s is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 17. Call the Ronan Chamber of Com-

merce at 406-676-8300, for more information.

MCT rendition of ‘Red Riding Hood’ takes stage

ARLEE — Join the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s latest event at the Arlee High School gym at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 17. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for students and $15 for a family. Tickets are available at the door. Over the river and through the wood to grandmother’s house she goes. In this epic tale, Red Riding Hood and her pals are urged to stay true to their path. With help from her family and loyal young Locksmith, Red finds her grandma. Along the way the crew learns that, “Life is no picnic when you stray from the trail!”

Saturday, March 18

Join ‘Great Futures’ luncheon

POLSON — The Polson Boys & Girls Club, 110 17th Ave. W, invites you to meet the kids, see the club and discover what’s to come on Saturday, March 18, at noon. A free luncheon will be served at noon, with a “Great Futures” program presentation at 12:15 p.m. and tours and exhibits for viewing starting at 12:45 p.m. For more information, call 406883-0521.

Sunday, March 19

Mini retreat to be held

KALISPELL — Active Hope is a group experi-

mental learning program that supports us to cultivate physical, mental, and emotional resilience so that individually and collectively we have the capacity to address the climate crisis. This program will take place at Lone Pine State park, 300 Lone Pine Road from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and will be facilitated by Penelope Baquero. The cost is $65 and scholarships are available. To register contact Hannah Hernandez at 406-638-1149.

Wednesday, March 22

Flathead Irrigation District to meet

RONAN — The next Flathead Irrigation District meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 22, at 1 p.m. upstairs in the Mission West Community Development Partners building, 407 Main Street SW. An elevator is available. The February meeting was cancelled so the February/ March agenda will be discussed.

Free online meditation classes offered

ZOOM — Mission Mountain Zen is offering free online meditation classes. Please join the Mission Mountain Zen Center on Wednesday, March 22, and on subsequent Wednesdays, for an online meditation class led by Zen Teacher, Zenku, from 6-7:30 p.m.  For more information and a Zoom link to the class call Zenku at 847-721-0665 or email him at: Jerry.Smyers@ gmail.com.

see page 24

Thursday, March 23

‘Concept to Consumer’ seminar offered RONAN — “Concept to Consumer” is a seminar designed for new food businesses and value-added production enterprises to equip them with the necessary tools to take their fledgling business concept all the way to the consumer with the highest chance of success. Join us on Thursday, March 23, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Mission West Community Development Partners, 407 Main Street SW, or virtually. Go to: missionwestcdp. org/concept-to-consumer/ to register for on site or virtual attendance.

Friday, March 24

Ag Appreciation dinner to be held

RONAN — The annual Ag Appreciation dinner, to honor the local agricultural industry and the incredible humans in our community, takes place at the Lake County Fairgrounds on Friday, March 24. The event includes dinner, awards, and raffles. You don’t want to miss this night. Time TBD. Call 406-676-8300 for more information.

Pachyderms to meet

POLSON — The Lake County Republican Pachyderm meeting will take place at the Polson Rural Fire Dept., 25b Regatta Rd, on Friday, March 24, from noon- 1 p.m.

Craft circle gathers in St. Ignatius

ST. IGNATIUS — The Three Chiefs Cultural Center, 77579 U.S. Highway 93, is the site of a craft circle held on Fridays from 1-4 p.m. Bring your favorite craft and join in. There are often featured guest artists and crafts people. Watch their Facebook page: facebook. com/incashola

Wednesday, March 29

Free online meditation classes offered

ZOOM — Mission Mountain Zen is offering free online meditation classes. Please join the Mission Mountain Zen Center on Wednesday, March 29, and on subsequent Wednesdays,

for an online meditation class led by Zen Teacher, Zenku, from 6-7:30 p.m.  For more information and a Zoom link to the class call Zenku at 847-7210665 or email him at: Jerry.Smyers@gmail.com.

Friday, March 31

Free ‘Defining Domains of Wellness in Selfcare’ training to be held

PABLO — On Friday, March 31, from noon 3 p.m. at Salish Kootenai College, Teresa Nygaard will present “Defining Domains of Wellness in Selfcare.”What does it mean to feel well? There is no simple answer to this question because there are different aspects of feeling healthy or well for each individual. It’s not just about the absence of illness or

stress, it’s so much more based on one’s life. The facilitator and participants will look at the domains of health and wellness. Each participant will have the opportunity to create their own selfcare diagram and plan.

Credits are available. The training is free but registration is required. To register, send name, email, and contact number to helpinghandsfund1@ gmail.com. Registration confirmation will be sent within seven days.

Saturday, April 1

Two Palm Sunday weekend concerts planned

MISSION VALLEY

— The Mission Valley Choral Society Palm Sunday weekend concerts are scheduled for 1 p.m.,

to leave you smiling as you help beautiful our town.

Friday, April 21

Have fun at Cowboy Ball

POLSON — Friday, April 21, is the date for this very popular western themed event, the Cowboy Ball. It takes place at the Polson Fairgrounds facility, inside a very large heated tent. Don’t miss the fun; great prime rib buffet dinner, catered bar, live and silent auctions, along with great dancing music following the live auction. Donations for the live & silent auctions are welcome. Tickets from PFI board members. Call 406-883-1100, for more information.

Saturday, April 22

Saturday, April 1, at the Mission in St. Ignatius and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. A meal will be served in the church basement immediately following the Sunday concert. The 90-minute concerts are free and welcoming to all. Free-will offerings will be taken at each concert.

For information, contact 406-261-3304 or 406370-2076.

Wednesday, April 19

Help clean up

RONAN — Join community members as they partner with Ronan High School students and Ronan City Hall to clean up the town. From litter patrol to larger projects, this one-day event is sure

Free ‘Defining Domains of Wellness in Selfcare’ training held

PABLO — On Friday, March 31, from noon 3 p.m. at Salish Kootenai College, Teresa Nygaard will present “Defining Domains of Wellness in Selfcare.” What does it mean to feel well? There are different aspects of feeling healthy or well for each individual. It’s not just about the absence of illness or stress, it’s so much more based on one’s life. The facilitator and participants will look at the domains of health and wellness. Credits are available. The training is free but registration is required. Send name, email, and contact number to helpinghandsfund1@ gmail.com. Registration confirmation will be sent.

FILE PHOTO

2022 Ronan St. Patrick’s Day parade

St. Patrick’s Day parade is Friday in Ronan

classifieds

Announcements

Special Notices

FREE high speed internet for those that qualify. Government program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with one-time $20 copay. Free shipping & handling. Call Maxsip Telecom today! 1-866-585-6456

Wanted

WANTED TO BUY

Guns and/or ammunition, old or new.

Whole estates/collections or single pieces.

Fair prices paid. 207-4641

Employment

Help wanted AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANT SALISH KOOTENAI HOUSING AUTHORITY

The successful applicant must possess an AA degree in Human Services or two or more year’s experience in providing budgeting and/or literacy training. Two or more years working with the public and/or one year experience with homeownership classes. Be able to communicate and teach budgeting and financial skills. Knowledge of homeownership resources, mortgage procedures and legal procedures. Must have a valid Montana driver’s license without any alcohol related convictions in the past 3 years. Must be willing to travel out of the area for training as needed to obtain necessary certification to become a Neighborworks Center for Homeownership Education and Counseling Counselor, National American Indian Housing Council Homeownership Counselor, HUD certified

Homeownership counselor and other certificates that may be required for the position by the time frame outlined by the funding agency. Keep all certificates up to date and in compliance with Housing Authority funding sources and partners. All applicants must submit a Tribal application, copy of academic transcript and/ or training certificate, copy of current valid driver’s license, proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT and if claiming veteran’s preference, please submit a copy of the DD214. FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS. This position is not a (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by CSKT must pass pre-hire drug test. Salary range $15.66 to $18.00 per hour, plus benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700

Ext. #1029. Closing date will be Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER

RESTORATION TECHNICIAN

I - NATURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT

The successful applicant must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, with some training or continuing education in a Natural Resources field. A minimum of three (3) years of progressive work experience demonstrating one or more of natural resources management, field natural resources monitoring, restoration activities, or a closely related work background. OR a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree in a Natural Resources field and one year of job-related work experience. For both high school and BA/ BS job pathways above, demonstration, through school or work history, of aptitude to learn and work with computer software applications. Knowledge of field inventory and monitoring procedures. Knowl-

edge of plant communities and revegetation techniques. Knowledge of general civil construction practices. Proficiency with the safe utilization of hand and small power tools. Proficiency with common computer software applications including spreadsheets and word processors. Basic knowledge of importance of culturally sensitive and rare plants. Possession of a valid driver’s license with the ability to obtain a Montana driver’s license within six (6) months. Also, must wear Tribal Government identification and safety apparel when conducting field activities. All applicants are required to submit a Tribal application, completed supplemental questionnaire for background investigations, copy of relevant transcript and/or certificate, a copy of a valid driver’s license and proof of Tribal enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. Salary is $20.31 to $23.35 per hour plus benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at 406-675-2700 Ext. #1040. Tribal applications are also available online at csktribes.org. Closing date will be Thursday, March 16th, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

HIRING WEATHERIZATION POSITIONS, program manager $20 - $28 DOE and weatherization crew member at $18 - $22/hour, full benefits.

Full job description at Lewistown Job Service or https://www.hrdc6.org/jobs

REGISTRATION & SCHEDULING SPECIALIST (1 or more positions) (POLSON, ST. IGNATIUS) TRIBAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The successful applicant must have an Associate’s Degree in a medical related field or Medical Office Professional Certificate and 2 years’ experience in a medical clinic or secretarial work in health administrative office. Must possess a valid driver’s license. All applicants must submit a Tribal application, a copy of academic transcript, certifications, proof of state licensure, copy of valid driver’s license, if claiming Tribal preference, proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of the DD214 must be submitted. FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS. This position is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. Salary is $15.26$17.54 per hour, plus benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700 Ext. 1040 or personnel@cskt.org. Tribal applications are also available online at csktribes.org The closing date will be Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. (MST) CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE CHAR KOOSTA NEWS (MAY BE EMPLOYED UNDER CONTRACT)

The Char-Koosta News is seeking a motivated and energetic ad sales representative. The successful applicant must possess a high school diploma or GED required. One (1) year of sales experience or one year in a design field. A valid driver’s license and proof of valid insurance. Computer experience is required. All applicants are required to submit a Tribal application, copies of relevant transcripts and/or certificates and a copy of a valid

driver’s license. If you are claiming Veteran’s Preference, a copy of the DD214 must be submitted with the application to the Personnel Department.

To apply, contact Personnel at 406.675.2700 ext. 1040, or visit the csktribes.org website for the application. Salary range $14.35 to $16.49 per hour, plus benefits – may be employed under contract. Closing date will be Thursday, March 23, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m. This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

Seeking: RESTORATION SUPERVISOR, Bachelor’s degree, 6 months’ exp required: FIELDWORKS SOLUTIONS LLC, 64890 US HWY 93, Ronan MT 59864 Please send resume to info@fieldworkssolutions. com or call 402-220-6830.

HEALTHCARE RESOURCE ADVOCATE

(1 or more positions) (POLSON, ST. IGNATIUS) TRIBAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The successful applicant must have a Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Social Work, Medical or Business Administration or minimum of five (5) years’ increasingly responsible and relevant work

experience including 2 years’ experience working with the RPMS data system. Must possess a valid driver’s license. All applicants must submit a Tribal application, a copy of academic transcript, certifications, proof of state licensure, copy of valid driver’s license, if claiming Tribal preference, proof of enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of the DD214 must be submitted. FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION DURING THE SCREENING PROCESS. This position is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. Salary is $19.98$22.87 per hour, plus benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at (406) 675-2700 Ext. 1040 or personnel@cskt.org

Tribal applications are also available online at csktribes. org. The closing date will be Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. (MST) CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

Enviro-Tire is hiring for 1 CDL driver. This position is open immediately. No tire loading, drop and hook only. CDL Class A truck driver with

see page 26

doubles endorsement for Montana, Idaho and Washington day runs. Home every night. Work site is in Lonepine, Mt. Year-round, full-time position. Pay $25.00 per hour for experienced, qualified drivers. Mandatory DOT drug testing. Vacation & holiday pay. Office phone and fax (406) 755-7716. enviro-tire@ montanasky.com

DEWR ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE - NATURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT (MAY BE HIRED UNDER A CONTRACT)

The successful applicant must possess a four-year business degree with at least two years’ experience in Tribal government accounting and administration. In absence of degree, successful applicant must have at least six years of progressive responsible experience in all phases of Tribal government administration and accounting. Training and/or experience in Microsoft Excel, Access, and Word. A minimum of six years of experience is required. Formal training in accounting and computer program operation. On-the-job training is acceptable. Possession of, or eligibility for, a valid Montana motor vehicle operator’s license and be insurable under the Tribes’ insurance policy. Also must wear Tribal Government identification and safety apparel when conducting field activi-

ties. Required to successfully complete a certified defensive driving course approved by the Department. All applicants are required to submit a Tribal application, copy of relevant transcript and/or certificate, a copy of a valid driver’s license and proof of Tribal enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT and if claiming veteran’s preference a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. Salary is $18.12 to $20.83 per hour, plus benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at 406-675-2700 Ext. 1040. Tribal applications are also available online at csktribes.org. Closing date will be Thursday, March 23rd, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m. CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

HOMLESSNESS TASK FORCE COORDINATOR EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT PABLO, MT RE-ADVERTISE DUE TO LACK OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS

The Coordinator must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in administration, organizational development with strong knowledge of social work, mental health or other related field AND a minimum of five (5) years’ qualifying experience demonstrating strong program coordina-

is accepting applications for Trooper positions

tion experience; OR any demonstrated combination of experience and education totaling nine (9) years or more. Qualifying experience must be in an evidence-based social, mental health or other supportive services field and demonstrates an ability to motivate others; coordinate thoughts, ideas and implement planning of others and include working independently without day-to-day supervision and evidence of the ability to apply for grants including implementation and reporting. Coordinator must have experience working in a tribal community and demonstrate knowledge of the factors contributing to homelessness, and the social challenges associated with poverty, mental illness, addiction and other challenges in guiding individuals to independent and stable shelter. All applicants are required to submit a Tribal application, copies of relevant transcripts and/or certificates to the Personnel Department. Salary is $26.01 to $29.89 per hour

plus benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at 406.675.2700 ext.1040. Closing date: Thursday, March 16, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m. This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test.

CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

RIGHT-OF-WAY TECHNICIAN - NATURAL RESOURCE DEPARTMENT

The successful applicant must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, with training or education in surveying, realty or some other land and/ or natural resource-based related field. The position requires at least four (4) years of increasing responsible work experience in some land-related field; the experience should have included land location, land records research and map/aerial photograph interpretation. Must have a valid Montana state driver’s

license and proof of insurance. Thorough knowledge of land description and location techniques, land record filing systems used in the realty field, legal documents used in grants of rights-of-way and easements, legal documents used in land transfers, and federal land regulations.

Must wear Tribal Government identification and safety apparel when conducting field activities. All applicants are required to submit a Tribal application, copy of relevant transcript and/or certificate, a copy of a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance, proof of Tribal enrollment from a federally recognized Tribe if other than CSKT, and if claiming veteran’s preference, a copy of DD214 must be submitted. This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP) within the definition of the CSKT Drug Testing policy. The successful applicant, if not already employed by the

Tribes must pass a pre-hire drug test and serve a mandatory six (6) month probationary period. Salary range is $25.71 to $29.55 per hour, plus benefits. To apply, contact Personnel at 406-675-2700 Ext. 1040. Tribal applications are also available online at csktribes.org. Closing date will be Thursday, April 6th, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m. CSKT IS A TRIBAL MEMBER PREFERENCE EMPLOYER.

Real Estate For Rent

Multiple options to rent in the upstairs or downstairs of Mission Valley Physical Therapy. Call 883-6863 for more details.

see page 27

For details and to obtain application materials on the Patrol’s website https://dojmt.gov/highwaypatrol

Closing Date: 03-15-2023 AA/EEO Employer

“ Montana Farmers Union amplifies our voice. When we are one we can’t be very loud, but when we are many we can be very loud.” -

public notices

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

Public Notices

INVENTORY CLEARANCE SALE

Auto /Truck Starters and Alternators.

55% off retail. 305 units, all remanufactured and tested for earlier vehicles, prior to 2000. If you have an older car or truck, sooner or later you will need a starter or alternator. It’s their nature to fail at the worst possible time, and at this price you can afford to have a spare. They are also going to be harder to find as time goes on.

Call Jerry Beeks at 406-207-4641 to see if I have a starter or alternator to fit your vehicle, and I’ll give you a GREAT price!

John A. Mercer Turnage Mercer & Wall, PLLP Attorneys at Law 312 1st St E Polson, MT 59860 Telephone: 406-883-5367 jmercer@turnagemercerwall.com

MONTANA TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, LAKE COUNTY

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: REGINA E. LIES, Deceased.

Cause No.: DP-23-9

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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

A written statement of the claim indicating its basis, the name and address of the claimant, and the amount claimed, may be filed with the Clerk of the District Court, at Polson, Lake County, Montana, or mailed, Return Receipt Requested, to the Personal Representative, c/o TURNAGE MERCER & WALL, PLLP, Attorneys for the Personal Representative, at 312 1st St. E, Polson, MT 59860.

/s/ Mark J. Lies MARK J. LIES

Personal Representative

Estate of REGINA E. LIES, Deceased.

Mar. 8, 15 AND 22, 2023

MNAXLP

Vertical Bridge BTS II, LLC (Vertical Bridge) proposes to construct a 160’ monopine tower (165’ overall) along MT State HWY 35 in Polson, Lake County, MT (Job #57070). In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the 2005 Nationwide Programmatic Agreement, Vertical Bridge is hereby notifying the public of the proposed undertaking and soliciting comments on Historic Properties which may be affected by the proposed undertaking. If you

would like to provide specific information regarding potential effects that the proposed undertaking might have to properties that are listed on or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and located within 1/2 mile of the site, please submit the comments (with project number 57070) to: RAMAKER, Contractor for Vertical Bridge, 855 Community Dr, Sauk City, WI 53583 or via e-mail to history@ramaker.com within 30 days of this notice.

March 15, 2023

MNAXLP

Matthew H. O’Neill

Skyler C. Bagley

O’NEILL & BAGLEY LAW OFFICE, PLLP

402 First Street East, Suite 201 P.O. Box 699 Polson, MT 59860

Telephone: (406) 883-5444 Facsimile: (406) 883-1585 matt@polsonlaw.com skyler@polsonlaw.com

Attorneys for Personal Representative

MONTANA TWENTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, LAKE COUNTY

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF HARVEY GENE DERBY, Deceased.

CAUSE No. DP-22-95

Hon. MOLLY OWEN NOTICE TO CREDITORS

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

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

A written statement of the claim indicating its basis, the name and address of the claimant, and the amount claimed, may be filed with the Clerk of the 20th Judicial District Court, at 106 4th Ave. East, Polson, Montana 59860, or mailed, Return Receipt Requested, to the Personal Representative, c/o O’NEILL & BAGLEY LAW OFFICE, PLLP , Attorneys for the Personal Representative, at P.O. Box 699, Polson, MT 59860.

March 1, 8 and 15, 2023

Classified Ads Work

Deadline is Fridays at Noon $7 for the first 15 words, 25¢ for each additional word. $1 fee for bold $1 fee for box/border $2 fee for color box

/s/ Debra Melvin DEBRA MELVIN Personal Representative Estate of Harvey Gene Derby, Deceased.

CSKT Early Childhood Services Community Assessment Survey 2023

Please fill out the survey using the SurveyMonkey link or QR code to be entered to win drawings for the following items!

(Only some prizes shown) Drawing Held March 17th, 2023

• Family game kit

• Baby Pendleton blanket

• Pendleton basket (2 towels, king blanket)

• Yeti Cooler (wheeled)

• Family bike set (2-child 2-adult)

• Night stay at the Red Lion in Polson

• (2) $50.00 Walmart gift cards

• (2) $100.00 Walmart gift cards

• $500.00 Walmart Gift Card

• $100.00 AMC movie gift card

• (2) $150.00 Champs Sports gift cards

• (2) Day passes to Head over Heels

• (4) $50.00 Grocery gift cards

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8ZFBHSP

• Camping Kit (Tent, 4-Chairs, 4-sleeping bags, Q-air mattress)

• Fishing kit (2 adult poles, 2 kids poles, lures, tackle box)

• Car/Tool Kit (Gas can, jumper cables, tie downs, tool box)