Explore Big Sky - October 3 to 16, 2024 by Outlaw Partners

October 3 - October 16, 2024 Volume 15 // Issue 20

BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT STOPS ONE&ONLY FIRE

HOMECOMING WEEK FOR BIG SKY

POST OFFICE DELAYS, PERSPECTIVES

COMMUNITY WEEK PREVIEW

INCORPORATION STUDY TEAM ENGAGES PUBLIC

MONTANA LAWMAKERS VISIT BIG SKY

October 3 - October 16, 2024 Volume 15, Issue 20

Owned and published in Big Sky, Montana

PUBLISHER

Eric Ladd | eric@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL

VP MEDIA

Mira Brody | mira@theoutlawpartners.com

SENIOR EDITOR

Jack Reaney | jack@theoutlawpartners.com

STAFF WRITER

Jen Clancey | jen@theoutlawpartners.com

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

Leslie Kilgore | leslie@theoutlawpartners.com

DIGITAL MEDIA LEAD

Fischer Genau | fischer@theoutlawpartners.com

CREATIVE

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ME BROWN | maryelizabeth@theoutlawpartners.com

SALES AND OPERATIONS

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Josh Timon | josh@theoutlawpartners.com

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Megan Paulson | megan@theoutlawpartners.com

VP DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Hiller Higman | hiller@theoutlawpartners.com

DIRECTOR OF RELATIONSHIPS

Ersin Ozer | ersin@theoutlawpartners.com

MARKETING MANAGER

Tucker Harris | tucker@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTENT MARKETING LEAD

Taylor Owens | taylor@theoutlawpartners.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Sara Sipe | sara@theoutlawpartners.com

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD

Patrick Mahoney | patrick@theoutlawpartners.com

ACCOUNT COORDINATOR

Ellie Boeschenstein | ellie@theoutlawpartners.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Seth Barker, Daniel Bierschwale, Mario Carr, Chris Fiacco, Miko Fox, Aaron J. Hill, Emily Holthaus, Nicole Madden, Benjamin Alva Polley

OPENING SHOT

On Sept. 19, a snowcapped Lone Mountain appeared above the clouds after multiple days of constant rain— and snow above 8,000 feet. The snow lasted only a few days, as a stretch of warm sunny weather finished out September. PHOTO BY JACK

BRIEFS

The Big Sky Fire Department stepped up in a big way as a structure fire engulfed two rooms in the One&Only hotel on Sept. 26. The hotel’s entire west guest lodge suffered smoke and water damage, but thanks to a heroic containment by BSFD firefighters, the fire was extinguished in just over an hour. PHOTO BY SETH BARKER / BSFD

EDITORIAL POLICY

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

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

14 9 10 11 17 12

HOMECOMING WEEK FOR BIG SKY

As the Big Sky School District and its fall sports athletes prepared for the annual Homecoming Week, several Lone Peak High School students worked diligently to ensure it’s especially memorable for students, teachers and particularly the senior class graduating next spring. EBS spoke with the student council president about homecoming festivities.

COMMUNITY WEEK PREVIEW

Big Sky’s third annual Community Week begins on Oct. 7, with the goal of engaging and educating the entire community on important topics and opportunities. The week is hosted by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce and Big Sky Resort Area District, and EBS spoke with the main planners about can’t-miss events.

POST OFFICE DELAYS, PERSPECTIVES

It’s not easy managing Big Sky’s mail. Since the United States Postal Service took over in July—replacing Big Sky’s small-town, friendly contract operation—customers are waiting in long lines as USPS employees try to keep up, despite being understaffed. EBS spoke with postal leaders from the past and present to find hope for the future.

INCORPORATION STUDY TEAM ENGAGES PUBLIC

Consultants leading Big Sky’s local governance study promised an unbiased, community-supported study during a public meeting on Sept. 24. During the 35-minute presentation, leaders emphasized they will continue engaging with community members and stakeholders as they conduct a fact-finding study to inform the community about local governance options, including incorporation.

MONTANA LAWMAKERS VISIT BIG SKY

Eleven Montana legislators visited Big Sky in mid-September to learn about the area’s infrastructure and economic impact. Big Sky hosts hope the visit will help lawmakers understand the unique community, including the ways Big Sky deals with infrastructure challenges.

BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT STOPS ONE&ONLY FIRE

On Sept. 26, the Big Sky Fire Department was called to a fire at the One&Only hotel, which remains under construction at Moonlight Basin. The fire was located on the third floor of the hotel’s west guest lodge. It was fully extinguished at 7:51 p.m. and the cause is under investigation.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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

ADVERTISING DEADLINE

For the October 16th issue October 9th, 2024

CORRECTIONS

Please report errors to media@outlaw.partners.

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REANEY

NEWS IN BRIEF BRIEFS

SEARCH AND RESCUE COMPLETES TWO SUNDAY MISSIONS

Gallatin County volunteers respond to injured horseback rider along Porcupine Creek, climbers stranded on Mount Cowen

EBS STAFF

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue stayed busy this Sunday, Sept. 29, responding to two rescue missions in opposite areas.

At 3:43 p.m., GCSSAR was dispatched to an injured horseback rider on the Porcupine Creek Trail in Big Sky, according to a Gallatin County press release. Less than two hours later, a separate call came from two climbers stranded near the summit of Mount Cowen, located in neighboring Park County. The Park County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from Gallatin County.

The Mount Cowen mission would extend into Monday.

Big Sky Fire Department assists at Porcupine Creek

The injured horseback rider had been bucked from their horse and suffered a major hip injury, according to the release.

Search and rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Team and medics from the Big Sky Fire Department drove side-by-side vehicles to access the patient. They assessed, stabilized and transported the patient to the trailhead, where they transferred the patient into a waiting BSFD ambulance.

“A Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stepped in to drive the ambulance to Big Sky Medical Center which allowed additional BSFD personnel to provide focused care,” the release stated. “At BSMC, the patient was transferred to Life Flight Air Ambulance before ultimately being taken to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center in Bozeman.”

Sheriff Dan Springer thanked the partner public safety agencies for mobilizing quickly and collaborating to provide excellent care. Springer also thanked the bystanders who helped provide information and assistance on this call.

“In Big Sky, no single entity has every necessary resource for an emergency like this; but by quickly combining staff, volunteers, and bystanders, the first responders in Big Sky were able to make sure the injured party received the best medical care possible,” Springer stated in the release.

Mount Cowen climbers forced to bivouac in freezing temps overnight

Meanwhile, the Park County Sheriff’s Office was called to assist two climbers “stranded in technical terrain without the ability to ascend or descend near the summit of Mount Cowen,” according to a separate Gallatin County press release. Temperatures were expected to dip into the teens overnight at the climbers’ location.

PCSO tried working with the Montana National Guard and U.S. Air Force after nightfall prevented GCSO helicopter operations.

“Due to weather conditions, military assets were unable to complete the mission, and the climbers were forced to bivouac on the face overnight,” the release stated. “The next morning the Park County Sheriff’s Office again requested the GCSSAR Heli Team.”

The next morning, GCSSAR’s helicopter rescue team—in a contract with Central Copters—was able to respond to the scene, where they lowered a rescuer using a short-haul technique. The rescuer attached both climbers into rescue harnesses, and the helicopter short-hauled them to safety.

“Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind those seeking outdoor opportunities this time of year to be prepared for any weather conditions including low overnight temperatures. Having the ability to contact help with cellular phones or satellite communication devices greatly increases the speed and efficiency of rescue efforts,” the release stated.

MONTANA GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE PLANNED FOR OCT. 16

EBS STAFF

Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte’s and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse have agreed to participate in a televised debate at 2 p.m. on Oct. 16 hosted by NonStop Local with longtime Montana political reporter Mike Dennison and news reporter Bradley Warren, and moderated by Ben Wineman.

The debate will be re-broadcast Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. on MontanaPBS and Sunday, Oct. 20, at 9 a.m. on NonStop Local Affiliates (KTMF, KWYB, KFBB, KULR).

CLASSIFIED

PRIVATE COLLECTION WESTERN ART & HISTORIC POSTER SALE

October 4 & 5, and October 11 & 12 Noon to 5:00pm | Contact Greg at 406.529.0523

Framed posters: Jimi Hendrix (1971), Jerry Garcia Band, Janice Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company (x2), Rick Griffin works (1967), Montana’s Mission Mountain Wood Band (1973 and 1979 from Buck’s T4), rare archaic concert posters.

Original multi-media: historic Vietnam War (pro and anti), “Spirit of The Sixty’s” Celebrating Freedom of Speech and Assembly 5-piece exhibit.

Numerous Peter Max vibrant colored silk scarves (framed), Original carvings: whinnying horse, bears, and eagle. Moose antlers. Log burl bed with life-sized 6-point elk head headboard.

For address or private showing, contact Greg at 406.529.0523

CONTRACTOR WANTED: SUPPORT RESORT TAX COMPLIANCE

Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD) is seeking a contractor to assist with resort tax collection, business registration, and compliance efforts. We’re looking for a collaborative individual with strong customer service, organizational skills, time management, and knowledge of the Big Sky community.

Commitment: 10-25 hours per week

Compensation: $5,500 monthly for a one-year term (with potential for extension)

View full details at resorttax.org/bsrad-seeking-compliance-support. Interested candidates should submit resumes to kristin@resorttax.org.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

AN APPEAL TO MONTANA’S CANDIDATES AND VOTERS

Dear Editor,

If you saw your neighbor’s house on fire, you would call 911, right? And, if it were your house, you would want your neighbors to do the same, right?

If your neighbor was attacked and robbed, you would defend their right to self-defense, right? Similarly, if another country invaded ours, you would want other countries to help us.

Our common house—planet Earth—is under attack. We have an overheating climate, caused primarily by the pollution of our atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels.

In Montana, we all see the impacts of climate-driven wildfires, the warming and drying-up of rivers and streams, and the carbon-polluted air. We choke on the wildfire smoke in summer when we should be able to enjoy the outdoors without worries about health risks or having our tourism industry threatened. Our ranchers, probably the best stewards of land in the world, face droughts affecting their ability to graze their herds or gather hay for winter feeding.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

We can put out the fires, help our neighbors, defend our country, help other nations under attack and stabilize our climate. To do this, we need to elect people who are willing to work on finding bipartisan solutions to real problems, and

who will use the power of Congress to represent all of us, including enacting effective climate legislation. It’s common sense that we want our children and our grandkids to have clean, breathable air; our rivers and streams to flow at levels where the risk of running dry is minimized; our ranchers to be able to rely on traditional sources of hay for winter feeding versus being forced to ship cattle out or import hay; for our businesses to be protected, and our hardworking neighbors to have more cash in their pockets.

So, to those of you who are running for office, to help us decide how we vote:

1. What will be the first steps you take to protect the environment and work to stabilize our climate?

2. What steps will you take to support the growth of the clean-energy industry and create clean energy jobs?

3. How will you ensure all communities receive equitable access to clean air and water and an equitable response to climate disasters such as wildfires or severe storms?

4. If your campaign accepts contributions from fossilfuel corporations or executives, will you commit to open-minded access to your “back home” constituents who believe transitioning away from fossil fuels in a smart, thoughtful way is both important and doable?

Economists agree that a price on carbon is the most efficient and effective way to both reduce our carbon emissions and ensure we all can transition to a

clean-energy economy. Taking the revenue from that carbon pricing and returning it to all taxpayers equally will not grow the government. It will drive the change to stave off pollution and will enable the significant majority of the population to earn income from the energy transition.

Will you support a price on carbon and dividend cashback? Just ask Citizens’ Climate Lobby how to implement this!

It is well past the time for our elected representatives to step up to the plate and, at a minimum, start getting us some base hits on climate change. A home run is possible.

The fire alarm bells are ringing. Let’s do some smart things before the house is on fire.

Vote this November and when you vote, please keep the climate top of mind. United, we can stabilize our climate and preserve the last best place.

Jim Edwards Helena, Montana

Max Scheder-Bieschin Big Sky, Montana

Jim and Max volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a national nonpartisan organization with 3000 volunteers in Montana (cclusa.org).

LOCAL

SPIRITS RUN HIGH FOR HOMECOMING WEEK IN BIG SKY

LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT COUNCIL PREPARES FOR A WEEK OF TRADITIONS AND MEMORABLE EVENTS IN GRADES K-12

BY LESLIE KILGORE

BIG SKY—As the Big Sky School District and its fall sports athletes prepare for the annual Homecoming Week, several Lone Peak High School students are working diligently behind the scenes to ensure it’s especially memorable for students, teachers and particularly the senior class graduating next spring.

Student Council President Maddy Browne, a senior, has been working with the council’s officers since May to ensure everything is on track for this year’s events. The student council officers include: Vice President Finn McRae, a senior in charge of media within the school; Secretary Frieda Fabozzi, a senior who helps plan and take notes at the council’s weekly meetings; Treasurer Oliver McGuire, a junior who oversees dance ticket pricing and budget resets, and two student representatives each from the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes.

“Our May planning included picking dates for Homecoming Week and brainstorming themes and locations for the dance. We met on Zoom a couple of times during the summer as well,” Browne told EBS. “I reached out to about 10 potential locations during the summer for our dance, and we decided on the Cinnamon Lodge, which I am super excited about. We are in full swing of planning for next week.”

In late September, the student council also visited close to 50 Big Sky businesses to ask for participation in their community window decorating competition.

“It was refreshing to see our local businesses’ excitement about participating in our homecoming festivities,” Browne said.

During the week of Sept. 23, the council worked to inform the entire student body, Kindergarten through 12th grade, of the district’s spirit days, and to promote next week’s happenings to all Big Sky students and their families.

This year’s Lone Peak seniors are not only taking on leadership roles as captains of sports teams and clubs, but are also encouraging and leading the charge for school spirit among the entire student body.

“Homecoming this year for seniors is unique because it’s our last chance to leave our mark and memory of this special event that is bigger than our school; the whole town supports us,” Browne said. Browne added that the student council hopes to pass down the knowledge they’ve gained from past years about the inner workings of Big Sky’s homecoming week.

“We have been making committees to decorate the school and clean up around town before and after the parade and dance,” Browne said. “Thankfully,

not all planning and logistics are falling on us, thanks to our wonderful and extremely organized ‘Mom Team,’ including my mom, who is leading it.”

Kristen Browne works at the school district part-time as a kitchen assistant and is co-chairing the Homecoming Parent Committee with Hannah Farr.

“Homecoming has been such a collaborative effort, from the Homecoming Parent Committee, Big Sky’s PTO, and the LPHS Booster Club, as well as faculty, staff and the student council,” Kristen told EBS. “It is a week to celebrate our students, our sports, our school, as well as the Big Sky community.”

Kristen added that much planning went into the activities offered this year for all ages within the community, including the All-School Carnival, Walk to School day, the parade and pep rally,

sporting events for all of Lone Peak’s fall teams, and the Western-themed homecoming dance, which will finish off the week on Saturday, Oct. 5.

While there is still much for the student council to do in preparation for next week’s activities, the officers say this is the finish line, and they’re going to focus on enjoying homecoming.

“I’m looking forward to the parade because it is a great way to unite the community through school spirit,” Fabozzi said. “I love how it can involve everyone in the district.”

“I love the school spirit at all the sporting events during the week,” McRae said—a member of the soccer team, his Big Horns will take on Livingston’s Park High School at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, with the girls team to follow at 6 p.m. Football will host Deer Lodge High School the following night at 7 p.m., and the volleyball team will host Whitehall on Saturday, around 2:30 p.m. before the dance.

“I’m most looking forward to the dance, when everyone comes together in the high school,” Maddy Browne said.

While Homecoming Week is one of the biggest events of the school year, Browne said the student council has plenty more to do. After homecoming, the council plans a Veterans Day assembly to honor local veterans in the community and educate the school district about Veterans Day. The council also holds a blood drive in the winter, will continue several school spirit activities and will soon begin to search for a location for the prom.

“I have been so impressed with the student council this year,” Kristen Browne said. “They have taken on tasks and responsibilities to engage the community and their fellow students and have put in such an effort. I am really proud of our students.”

Community gathers in Len Hill Park for the 2023 pep rally. PHOTO BY MARIO CARR

Smiling faces at the 2023 homecoming parade. PHOTOS BY MARIO CARR

LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING

BIG HORN SPORTS

SCHEDULE

Thursday, Oct. 3

Soccer vs. Park High School (Livingston)

Boys at 4 p.m., girls at 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 4

Football vs. Powell County High School (Deer Lodge)

Kickoff at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 5

Volleyball vs. Whitehall High School

Junior Varsity at 1 p.m., Varsity 20 minutes after (approx. 2:30 p.m.)

BSRAD, CHAMBER PREPARE FOR COMMUNITY WEEK

FROM COFFEE TO COCKTAIL HOUR, EVENTS INCLUDE WORKOUTS, STATE OF THE COMMUNITY, VOLUNTEER GIGS AND A GATHERING AT LEN HILL PARK

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—Big Sky Community Week begins on Monday, Oct. 7, with a week full of events intended to connect, educate and involve the community.

Events include free workout classes at BASE, four ribbon cutting ceremonies, cocktail and coffee hours, after-school art classes for kids, community forums, and the bi-annual Madison-Gallatin Joint County Commission meeting. The full schedule is posted online by the week’s co-hosts, the Big Sky Resort Area District and Big Sky Chamber of Commerce.

“There’s something for everyone,” said BSRAD Deputy Director Jenny Christensen, née Muscat. “All ages, all backgrounds. It’s free and open to the public, we encourage everyone to bring a friend, bring a colleague, bring a family member.”

This will be Big Sky’s third Community Week. It began in 2021 as a one-night “CommUNITY Forum and Expo,” but expanded into a full week in 2022 and has since evolved to include fun and family-friendly activities to go along with heavier topics.

“We had heard some feedback about mixing in some kids things... [and] trying to do some fun things as well as the heavy topics of what’s going on around town,” said Liz McFadden, VP of Visit Big Sky, the chamber’s destination marketing arm.

It is an election year, and Vote Big Sky will take place on Monday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. at The Wilson Hotel, encouraging voters to learn more about the candidates and issues on their November ballot.

Ribbon cutting ceremonies for public infrastructure will be held Monday through Thursday: the Big Sky Fire Department’s new training facility on Monday, including a live fire demonstration and barbecue; the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District’s new Water Resource Recovery Facility on Tuesday; the completion of TIGER grant work and a pedestrian tunnel on Wednesday; and Big Sky’s new USPS post office on Thursday.

Friday will be dedicated to volunteerism—six volunteer opportunities are available throughout the day, plus a blood drive and the Big Sky Community Food Bank’s beloved fall food drive, the Great

Pumpkin Giveaway. Organizers will collect food donations at every event, with the goal of beating last year’s total: 100 pounds of food.

“We’re just trying to rally behind the food bank and donations, going into shoulder season,” Christensen said.

Christensen added excitement for the blood drive in partnership with Big Sky Medical Center, on Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “It’s just something new, and I think it’s a cool and different way for community members to get involved and give back.”

Event spotlights: State of the Community, Community Appreciation Celebration, free workouts

On Oct. 8, the State of the Community will assemble community leaders onstage to discuss community issues. During last year’s Community Week, the event packed the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center for five panels discussing community priorities.

Christensen said it depends on the person, but this is probably the can’t-miss event of 2024.

“It’s a quick-hit, high overview from 10 to 15 panelists. You will learn a little about a lot—it’s the best bang for your buck, I’d say,” she said.

McFadden is excited to see new organizations represented in State of the Community, including nonprofits Big Sky OUT and World Language Initiative.

“The Community Appreciation Celebration on Thursday is always fun,” McFadden added. “You can bring your family and it’s just a good time for the whole community, from kids to adults.”

Free ice cream and snacks will be served.

BASE will host a series of free daily workouts, including Pilates, full-body conditioning, restorative yoga, Zumba, yoga flow and kickboxing. All classes are free but require a BASE waiver, available from the schedule online.

The goal of Community Week is to involve people who aren’t always following along with community organizations and efforts, McFadden said.

“Just meeting new people and learning about things that they didn’t necessarily know are happening in Big Sky,” McFadden said.

Celebrating Ron Edwards’ ‘Biggest and Greatest Project’

On Tuesday from 12 to 2 p.m., the Big Sky County Water and Sewer District will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting for its new WRRF. A massive investment in local infrastructure, the plant also signifies a change in leadership.

Ron Edwards, longtime GM, has been calling it “the biggest and greatest project” of his entire career, and in the district’s history. Beyond the $50 million cost, it’s also the longest planning horizon the district has ever had, beginning in 2017 and reaching completion in December 2024.

“Got through it. Couldn’t do it without Resort Tax, it would be too expensive,” Edwards told EBS. Back in 2020, the community voted to enact the additional “1% for infrastructure” resort tax, which funded more than half of the WRRF construction.

Edwards added, “What they’re building will take care of Big Sky for a long time, I think...The quality of that plant, the size of it, it honestly is one of the best plants in the whole state right now.”

Workers will be stationed around the plant to assist with self-guided tours during the Community Week event.

“The plant is functional, it’s not complete yet, but the bigger portion that everybody has been waiting for is up and running,” said new GM Johnny O’Connor. O’Connor hopes the community will stop by during Community Week to learn about the district’s commitment to protecting surface water and public health in Big Sky, a community that fully reuses its treated water.

While there are other ribbon cutting events for Community Week, all of them important, the water and sewer district’s gathering will represent not only “the biggest and greatest project,” but also an appreciative farewell to a community leader.

Edwards will retire on Dec. 20, finishing a 29-year career leading Big Sky’s water and sewer district. He has long viewed the completion of the project as his cue to retire, and O’Connor said this grand opening will signify the final steps of the executive transition.

The 2023 State of the Community at WMPAC included local leaders in a series of short panel discussions. COURTESY OF BSRAD AND BIG SKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

STAYING POSTED ON USPS’ ARRIVAL TO BIG SKY

BY JEN CLANCEY

BIG SKY—At any given time, Lynda Barker could remember 200-300 names and their associated P.O. boxes while working at the Big Sky Post Office. She said she’s a bit rusty now, three months since the independent, contract-operated post office closed for good in July.

Barker worked for the contract post office in Meadow Village for nearly three years and helped in its transition to the newly opened United States Postal Service Big Sky Post Office just a few steps away. The new facility triples the size of its predecessor, spanning 7,500 square feet and containing 4,000 P.O. boxes for customers—up from 1,661 coveted boxes.

On July 15, the USPS Big Sky Post Office officially opened doors to the public. The new post office, with the usual challenges that come with a major transition, will manage Big Sky’s outgrowing of a decades-old break-even business model.

Barker remembers her experience as the most fun she’s ever had at a job after a career in social work. She stuck around in her mailroom role, along with the rest of her team, beyond the previous February 2023 USPS contract extension to accommodate the federal provider’s progress in opening. When the post office finally closed in July, Barker looked back fondly at her time sorting mail, greeting Big Sky folks and working with the team.

“Times they do change,” Barker said of the transition to a federally run post office in Big Sky. With the changing times comes growing pains, and the USPS is not without its challenges.

On Sept. 19, community member Steve Anderson waited 45 minutes in a three-person line to talk to a customer service representative at the counter. He said he served a decade in the U.S. Naval Forces and it made him think about his time in submarines.

“You’ve heard the expression we’re all in the same boat?” Anderson asked. “This is kind of what it is. It’s like everybody’s having a tough time, but you’re all in the same boat.”

Kim Frum, USPS strategic communications specialist for Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington said that the Big Sky Post Office shares staffing struggles that USPS sees at offices nationwide.

“It’s no secret that the Postal Service does have some staffing challenges and it has been for a while,” Frum said. Big Sky is considered a rural post office—the area hosts just under 3,600 year-round residents, but Frum understands the seasonal influx of homeowners and tourists is an important aspect to Big Sky.

“There are some permanent residents, there are some seasonal residents, and then of course you have all the tourists that come and go,” Frum said. In response to wait times in the first couple of months, Frum said staffing is key.

“We serve our community with the best people possible, and, you know, the biggest challenges we have are staffing right now.” Despite this, she highlighted the larger space and USPS’ expansion of P.O. boxes for customers.

“THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME GROWING PAINS. WE HAD TO FIGURE IT OUT FOR OURSELVES AT THE BEGINNING AND I MADE PLENTY OF MISTAKES EARLY ON TOO.”

-AL MALINOWSKI

According to Al Malinowski, president of Gallatin Partners, which held the former post office contract since 2001, the private post office location ran out of P.O. boxes in 2015. While Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” inundated radios in the U.S., Big Sky residents who arrived after the final box was given away were added to a P.O. box waitlist. Residents without P.O. boxes had to collect mail during general delivery hours, use their employer’s address or add their name to a friend’s P.O. box to retrieve mail.

On top of spacing issues, Malinowski said the contract model just wasn’t working. Through the years, he learned that Big Sky’s lopsided pattern of incoming and outgoing mail made the high-end of the model a break-even.

From 2002 to 2022, the contract post office requested and received money from Resort Tax to make ends meet, as USPS could not provide sufficient support. In March 2022, USPS fully funded the Big Sky Post Office, but the model still didn't meet the community's needs. He understands long waits can be frustrating in the transition to USPS, but acknowledges that the updated postal capacity was necessary.

“There’s going to be some growing pains,” Malinowski said. “We had to figure it out for ourselves at the beginning and I made plenty of mistakes early on too.”

In the final year of the contract post office, Malinowski credited his team and its leader postmaster Christine Alexander-Bitner for having as good a team as they’d ever had.

Outside the new post office on Sept. 19, local resident Suzanne Chamberlain spoke to EBS about the atmosphere at the old location.

“It was like a community. Like you went in, you knew everybody, everybody talked to everybody so much so that you stuck around for a little while to chat,” Chamberlain said. She’s lived in Big Sky for seven years and works as a controller for an excavation company, which brings her to the new post office daily. In the beginning, Chamberlain said the staff seemed to be overwhelmed.

“I kind of commend them on dealing with it,” Chamberlain said.

A newer Big Sky resident of two years, Jackson Hall, said that the day’s service was efficient.

“It’s gotten a lot better over the past month or so,” Hall said, noting that the wait lasted only five to 10 minutes.

Another collector of mail, Raymond Schultz said that things are picking up pace. “You just have to give them a little time,” Schultz said of the USPS team.

Sebastian Cubillos only had a few seconds to talk after his first time visiting the post office. Cubillos is from Colombia and said he appreciated the affordability of mailing services—no complaints.

For now, P.O. boxes will be open 24 hours a day and a truck will continue delivering mail and packages at 8 a.m., on a roundtrip route between Gallatin Gateway, Big Sky and West Yellowstone, returning at 3 p.m. to pick up outgoing mail.

Big Sky's USPS postmaster did not immediately comment to EBS, but expressed interest in interviewing alongside USPS representatives later.

EBS did not speak with the BSPO staff while they tended to customers’ needs in business hours. As the post office eases into its third month of operation, a quiet stretch of weeks may be helpful as BSPO staff prepares for the holiday season.

The new 7,500 square foot USPS Big Sky Post Office opened on July 15 this year. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

LOCAL GOVERNANCE STUDY ENGAGES PUBLIC: ‘WE’RE HERE TO LISTEN’ LEADERS

PROMISE UNBIASED FACT-FINDING MISSION, PROMOTE STUDY WEBSITE

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—A taxpayer-funded study of incorporation and other potential local governance options for Big Sky took a step forward on Sept. 24, filling a Wilson Hotel ballroom with dozens of community members who came to meet the study team and voice questions and concerns.

The 35-minute meeting was recorded and is available online.

Study leaders gave an introductory presentation, then hung around after its conclusion, offering their time for direct conversation with attendees. Leaders emphasized that the purpose of the Sept. 24 meeting was primarily to listen.

Dylan Pipinich is a land planner for the firm leading the study, WGM Group. He promised that the study leaders won’t disappear—it’s going to be eight to 12 months of ongoing collaboration.

“We’re here to listen. I want to hear what you think… about governance. What issues you think you may have. What issues you know you may have,” Pipinich said in the introductory presentation.

Meg O’Leary, a Big Sky resident and president of supporting firm M2O Group, said it’s being called a “local governance study” because incorporation isn’t the only option on the table for Big Sky. She noted prior incorporation efforts in Big Sky in 2002, 2004 and 2018, each led by a different entity.

“We know that incorporation could be a tough word, a tricky word, a buzzword,” she said. “This study is going to look at all options.”

Pipinich emphasized that this study won’t sit on a shelf, and the goal is for the community to be wellinformed by its findings.

“This is a fact-finding mission,” he said. “Our goal is to give facts. We aren’t going to give any recommendations or opinions, or anything like that. That decision is solely up to the community… No bias, it’s just a fact-finding mission.”

“THIS IS A FACT-FINDING MISSION. OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE FACTS. WE AREN’T GOING TO GIVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR OPINIONS, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT DECISION IS SOLELY UP TO THE COMMUNITY… NO BIAS, IT’S JUST A FACT-FINDING MISSION.”

DYLAN PIPINICH, WGM GROUP LAND PLANNER

He said past studies have generated more questions than answers—this time, they want to avoid a study that amounts to two ambiguous words: “It depends.”

Pipinich said the team will develop scenarios using detailed assumptions to outline expected outcomes, seeking to avoid a series of interdependent if-then statements. The scenarios will be derived from community feedback.

“We want to give facts, based on those scenarios,” Pipinich said.

He acknowledged that for the past 20 years, Big Sky community members have shared a lot of facts, myths and opinions surrounding the loaded topic of incorporation.

The final report will aim to answer the questions and concerns expressed by the community, informing Big Sky voters so they can decide what course of action to pursue.

Or they can opt to maintain Big Sky’s status quo, he added. “You’ve chased down all of the possibilities, and you realize, ‘we’re doing pretty good how we are right now.’”

Study team launches project website, introductory questionnaire

Pipinich urged the community to bookmark the Big Sky Governance Study website, engage. wgmgroup.com/big-sky-governance-study. It includes a project overview, space to ask questions and see answers to popular questions, a background and history section, and a live project timeline.

“Please send everybody to the website,” O’Leary asked of the audience. “We really want to start gathering those independent voices through the web, because it’s hard to talk to 3,500 people.”

A short, introductory questionnaire opened at the meeting to get the community’s initial thoughts, and to gauge what segments of the community are paying attention—hence the demographic questions regarding age, property ownership and residence status, Pipinich noted. The brief questionnaire remains open online at the project website.

The study team wants to hear from MeadowView residents, in particular.

“We really need to hear your voice,” O’Leary said, on MeadowView. “That is one area that has been really hard to understand and get to, and really meaningful—you people are the future.”

Eventually, the study team plans to launch a separate, in-depth survey of the community.

Pipinich was pleased by the meeting’s attendance, and said engagement makes the job a lot easier.

“I’ve done a lot of public meetings over my career, and you only see this type of engagement when somebody is mad about something,” he joked, scanning the crowded room. He added his hopes that most attendees have a positive outlook about the project.

Two more public meetings are planned for January and March 2025.

PHOTO BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY CHAMBER HOSTS MONTANA LAWMAKERS FOR LOCAL VISIT

TOUR PROVIDES A ‘SHOW AND TELL’ ON BIG SKY’S ECONOMIC IMPACT, INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—In early September, the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce hosted 11 Montana legislators from across the state for a “familiarization tour” of Big Sky to build on their understanding of the unique community.

The legislators—including four candidates— participated in a series of presentations and discussions regarding Big Sky’s infrastructure challenges and its positive economic impact on the regional and state economies, according to a Sept. 13 press release from the chamber.

“This visit was basically a show and tell of Big Sky’s economic impact on the state and how we often have to be creative as an unincorporated community of 3,500 people in solving some of our infrastructure deficiencies,” Brad Niva, chamber CEO, stated in the release.

The visitors were hosted by the chamber, the Big Sky Resort Area District, the Big Sky Community Housing Trust and the Big Sky Canyon Water and Sewer District. Participating lawmakers included six from Billings—Rep. Keri SeekinsCrowe, Rep. Larry Brewster, house candidate Mike Vinton, Rep. Sherry Essman, Rep. Sue Vinton and senate candidate Vince Ricci—and two from Bozeman, Sen. Chris Pope and senate candidate Cora Neumann. Others were Rep. Julie Dooling of Helena, Speaker of the House Matt Regier of Kalispell, and Rep. Denley Loge of Missoula.

On Sunday, Sept. 8, the visit began with a familystyle dinner followed by an informal discussion around a fire. Eight Big Sky residents entertained the guests, sharing their roles in Big Sky and local perspectives on community efforts.

Katie Grice, who serves on the chamber’s government affairs committee, and works with Big Sky Resort as VP of sales for Boyne Resorts, relished those chances to simply sit down and talk in a casual setting.

“It’s really just the informal side of genuine conversation that I found most meaningful,” Grice told EBS over the phone. She said the visit is part of a long-term strategy to continue improving communication between Big Sky and state leaders.

“This is a steady march of what we’re trying to accomplish in terms of education, the dynamic business environment that we have, [and] our economic contributions that we have to the State of Montana,” Grice said.

Overall, Niva said the legislators’ response was positive, exceeding his own expectations.

“The first comment we got was, ‘I wish every community in Montana did this,’” he told EBS in a phone call. “… In our case, [the purpose] was pointing out the uniqueness of our community. Being a resort tax community, being unincorporated, and having county lines splitting our community.”

Niva said over the past three years, BSRAD and the chamber have been working on “demystifying Big Sky.” In his view, Big Sky often suffers from the misconception of merely being a resort destination with second and third homes and massive wealth. In reality, Niva says, the 3,500-person community is full of nurses, teachers, firefighters and other industrious and dedicated community members who live and work here full-time. “We have problems too,” Niva said.

He added that Big Sky may lack certain tools to keep up with its own growth by investing in infrastructure, being an unincorporated resort tax community with its economy based in tourism.

On Monday, Sept. 9, the legislators toured workforce housing projects and visited the intersection of U.S. Highway 191 and Montana Highway 64, to talk about transportation challenges and an effort to improve river health through sewer implementation.

Local hosts emphasized the ways that some Big Sky organizations are paving the way—peer communities sometimes call to ask for advice from organizations like the Big Sky Community Housing Trust, according to Grice.

Niva believes that Big Sky is a statewide leader in addressing challenges including housing, watershed health and environmental impact. “We’re doing some amazing things, and I want our state to acknowledge that,” he said.

Furthermore, Niva emphasized Big Sky’s importance as an economic driver for Montana. The tour included a presentation of “The Ripple Effect,” an analysis of Big Sky’s economic impact on the region and state.

The presentation was given by Jackie Haines, BSRAD director of economic and strategic development, who did the research in early 2024.

According to the study, Big Sky’s gross domestic product is $2.276 billion, roughly 4.3% of

Montana’s statewide GDP reported as $52.952 billion, based on 2021 data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Haines told EBS economic activity in Big Sky touches one in three jobs in Madison and Gallatin counties, and that taxable value within the resort area district boundary comprised 8% of the statewide taxable value in 2023, nearly equivalent to all of Missoula County.

Big Sky is also Montana’s largest collector of lodging tax, collecting $7.12 million in 2022 which accounted for 12.3% of statewide collections that year, according to “The Ripple Effect.” Big Sky has outpaced Bozeman in lodging tax collections since 2019, despite Bozeman having many more taxable beds, Haines noted.

“I think it’s hard to understand Big Sky because it’s such a complex place, with the workforce that’s commuting in and the seasonality of the workforce, and the massive impact that tourism has on our region,” Haines said of the presentation, adding that it was a great opportunity to build bridges with Montana lawmakers.

“It takes some breaking that down to understand it, and I think they walked away with a much deeper understanding of Big Sky,” she said.

Niva believes Big Sky needs to continue focusing on telling its own story to help move the needle toward a regional and statewide understanding of the community’s positive contributions to Montana, and its unique approach to infrastructure challenges.

Grice said that although Big Sky is a complex, unincorporated community, it’s still a machine.

“And it’s a well-oiled machine in a lot of ways, and beneficial to the overall economic impact of the state,” Grice said. “But our machine still needs our legislative members’ support, to make sure that we can continue these contributions.”

Becky Brockie, program director for the Big Sky Community Housing Trust, speaks with Montana legislators and candidates during a Sept. 9 visit. COURTESY OF BIG SKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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HOUSING: COLD SMOKE ADVANCES WITH APPROVAL OF ZONE MAP AMENDMENT

BY JACK REANEY

BOZEMAN—On Sept. 12, the Gallatin County Commission voted unanimously to approve a zone map amendment in Big Sky submitted by the nonprofit Big Sky Community Housing Trust and Lone Mountain Land Company. The organizations are partnered to develop the LMLC-owned parcels of land into Cold Smoke, a planned workforce housing community, which cleared a hurdle by earning the zoning approval.

Last week’s zoning change increases the total developable density on Cold Smoke land. It spreads allowable density across the project site to accommodate development plans, primarily enabling higher-density apartment buildings in an area previously zoned for lowerdensity development.

The previous zoning conditions were established in the 1990s, and the parcel of land has not been commercially developed since.

The area that was previously zoned for high density will remain as such, but it will be used for lowerdensity development of single-family homes. Developers do not intend to build to allowable density in that area—nor would water and sewer limitations allow it, as the entire 389-unit project is limited by roughly 400 single-family equivalents entitled to the housing trust through a 2020 infrastructure agreement.

As planned, Cold Smoke would include 389 “permanently deed-restricted residents only available to the local workforce and affordable to a range of incomes,” according to a Sept. 12 press release. It would include a combination of units for rent and for sale.

“The project consists of two separate developable areas of land that are contiguous with key infrastructure,” stated Cryder Bancroft, LMLC director, in an email to EBS. “The approved Zone Map Amendment enables the Cold Smoke project to spread 389 affordable homes across a larger area of land, fostering a development plan that prioritizes open space and enhances the overall livability of the community.”

Bancroft stated that LMLC is grateful to partner with the housing trust for another project to help close the housing gap for local families and workers. “The housing trust is excited to keep moving forward on this critical part of Big Sky’s housing solution,” David O’Connor, housing trust executive

director, stated in the release. “Our community needs a variety of housing across a range of incomes and Cold Smoke will address a significant piece of our need.”

Based on Big Sky’s housing needs assessment, created in 2018 and updated in 2023 by the housing trust, the community needs more than 1,300 additional housing units by 2028. Cold Smoke could account for nearly 400, “a significant portion of that need,” according to the release.

The Gallatin County Commission’s approval of the zone map amendment (begins at 1:37:50) represents one of numerous remaining regulatory steps before construction can begin, which is anticipated in 2025.

The Cold Smoke housing development would be constructed in the forested area in this photograph’s foreground, tentatively including 125 single-family homes and 264 apartment units. COURTESY OF LMLC

FIRE ENGULFS ONE&ONLY HOTEL

BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTAINS BLAZE TO STRUCTURE; TWO ROOMS

DECLARED ‘TOTAL LOSS,’ BUILDING SUFFERS SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE

BY JACK REANEY

BIG SKY—On Sept. 26 at 6:37 p.m., the Big Sky Fire Department was called to a fire at the One&Only hotel, which remains under construction at Moonlight Basin, adjacent to Big Sky Resort.

The fire was located on the third floor of the hotel’s west guest lodge. A press release from the Big Sky Fire Department described “heavy fire” upon first responders’ arrival. The hotel’s fire suppression system, or sprinklers, had not yet been activated.

“BSFD crews made an aggressive entry, quickly advancing to the third floor,” the BSFD release stated. “After verifying there were no occupants in the building, crews initiated a coordinated offensive attack on the fire… the rapid response and decisive actions of the crews played a critical role in saving the majority of the structure.”

It was extinguished in just over an hour’s time, by 7:51 p.m., but two hotel rooms were declared “a total loss.” The entire building suffered heavy smoke damage, and the floors beneath the fire area suffered water damage, the release added.

First responders contained the fire to the building—mitigating any threat of spreading to surrounding wilderness—and kept flames indoors, according to a phone call with representatives from Lone Mountain Land Company, developer behind the hotel construction. The fire was extinguished in the hour to follow.

Big Sky Fire Chief Dustin Tetrault praised his crew for a “super quick” response, the hotel’s site manager for quickly helping shut off utilities and supporting fire suppression efforts, and construction staff for cooperating. He said LMLC employees brought printed floor plans to help the fire department plan their attack.

“Obviously, the time from the alert to when we got water on the fire… I would guess it was less than 15 to 20 minutes, which was huge to get that [fire] knocked down,” Tetrault told EBS in a phone call the next morning. “… It was just a really great coordinated effort amongst all parties involved.”

Tetrault said buildings under construction are the most vulnerable to catching fire—fire departments work proactively with developers and construction crews to ensure safety plans are in place. Thursday’s response was a testament to those collaborative relationships, Tetrault said.

“The Big Sky Fire Department responded quickly, and we are grateful for their efforts in containing the fire to the building,” Kevin Germain, VP of Moonlight Basin, told EBS via written statement at 7:51 p.m. while BSFD worked to contain the fire. He added that nobody was injured in the fire.

The source of the fire is not yet known, pending official investigation from an interagency team including Big Sky Fire Department. BSFD credited more than 20 fire units and 40 personnel for responding to the incident.

“BSFD extends its sincere thanks to our mutual aid partners, including Yellowstone Mountain Club Fire, Central Valley Fire, Hyalite Fire, Bozeman Fire, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and Gallatin Gateway Fire, for their invaluable assistance,” the release stated.

As the fire departments finished up, a curious black bear wandered into the fire scene. Tetrault said law enforcement stepped up to haze the bear away.

“First time in my career I’ve had to call dispatch to haze a bear out of our fire scene,” Tetrault said. “That’s kind of a Big Sky-only thing.”

PHOTOS SHARED WITH PERMISSION

OKTOBERFEST BRINGS BEER, BAVARIAN CULTURE TO BIG SKY

BY FISCHER GENAU

BIG SKY—Beer was flowing, bratwurst was sizzling, and the sun was shining in Big Sky Town Center during the weekend of Sept. 20, as the community embraced its second-ever Big Sky Oktoberfest. The three-day festival, one of few in Montana, offered locals and visitors the chance to enjoy German craft beers, play traditional German games and celebrate Bavarian culture.

“The energy and the enthusiasm that we’ve heard about it so far has just been great,” said Dana Wikan, a Big Sky resident who co-founded the event with her husband Larry. “It’s been overwhelming.”

Very few places in Montana organize Oktoberfests, the most notable almost six hours away in Whitefish, with smaller festivals in places like Anaconda and Red Lodge.

“I want to be the premiere regional Oktoberfest event,” Larry said. “We like this one and we’d love to just get more and more people involved.”

Tyler Nail had never been to an Oktoberfest until this year in Big Sky. He bought lederhosen, traditional leather breeches worn by men in Bavaria, last year to wear to an Oktoberfest event, but it arrived too late from Europe and Nail had to wait until this year to break them in. Naturally, the first thing he did was run two miles in it.

Nail, who recently founded Aprés Brewing in Bozeman, ran the Lederhosen Fun Run in his Bavarian breeches and stuck around afterwards to play cornhole and hammerschlagen.

“I’m having a great time, this is a really cool event,” Nail said.

Shana Seelye is also new to Oktoberfest, but after helping Larry and Dana organize Big Sky’s first in 2023, she’s grown fond of the tradition.

“This has been super fun,” Seelye said. “People come, they’re happy, they’re excited, and all of us want to get dressed up.”

Selye helped the event evolve this year as it expanded from two days to three and added the Lederhosen Fun Run, a two-mile loop in town that kicked off the final day of Big Sky Oktoberfest.

The event also featured a biergarten featuring Paulaner brewery from Munich, Germany, and a steinholding competition, a classic Bavarian contest of strength where competitors hold up a full oneliter beer stein in front of them with a straight arm for as long as they can.

One attendee asked Larry if they could do an allwomen steinholding contest, and when he agreed, over 20 lined up to compete.

Bigger than beer

Larry and Dana moved to Big Sky in 2017 from Seattle, where Larry worked for the German brewery Warsteiner and helped stage Oktoberfests along the coast as a supplier. After arriving in Montana, they noticed a glaring lack of the iconic fall festival and thought it could be fun to organize one themselves. Last year, they finally went for it.

“We love the support and how the community’s rallied around it,” Larry said.

Neither of the Wikans are German by heritage, but they share an enthusiasm for the culture and intend to make Oktoberfest a Big Sky tradition. They hope the Lederhosen Fun Run continues to grow after this year’s introduction, and next year they plan to bring a projector screen into the tent so people can watch football on Sunday.

Proceeds from this year’s event will go to Big Sky Futbol Club, a local youth soccer club the Wikans helped found, but Larry and Dana have a bigger goal to support all youth sports in Big Sky.

“Supporting local families to participate in anything they want to do is something that’s really important to us,” Dana said. “People shouldn’t say, ‘Oh, I can’t afford it,’ or, ‘It’s too expensive, my child won’t be able to participate.’”

Some of the money raised this year will go towards starting a foundation to fund scholarships for youth sports like soccer and skiing, as well as equipment, travel, and other costs. The Wikans have three kids of their own, two of them twins, so they know how expensive it is to have active children.

One of Larry and Dana’s goals was to create a family-friendly event where kids had something to do while their parents had a beer, and there were people of all ages at Town Center over the weekend, playing games, running in the Lederhosen Fun Run, and celebrating traditional German culture. If they have it their way, Big Sky Oktoberfest will eventually become a tradition of its own.

A volunteer pours a beer from Paulaner, a brewery in Munich, Germany. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU

The Lederhosen Fun Run kicks off day three of Big Sky Oktoberfest with a two-mile route around town. PHOTO BY FISCHER GENAU

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REGIONAL

SEVEN TOWN MEETINGS, TWO HOT TOPICS, TWO DRAFT GUIDES

EVENTS AIM TO COLLECT INPUT FOR HOUSING AND LAND USE GUIDES

IN GALLATIN COUNTY

BY JEN CLANCEY

On Sept. 19, residents took seats in front of a projection screen at the Gallatin Gateway Community Center. The room, marked by an elk mount above the entrance, has been a longstanding community gathering place for events like blood drives, government candidate forums and community meals.

On this particular Thursday, the Gallatin County Planning Department presented its drafts of the Future Land Use Map and Housing Strategy, two components that will build upon the current Gallatin County Growth Policy.

Following community input meetings in the spring, GCPD used feedback to create separate drafts: one is a map that visually represents how county residents want to deal with growth, and the other is a document outlining the role of the county in supporting, preserving and increasing affordable housing. Meetings throughout September, including this one in Gallatin Gateway, educated residents about the draft FLUM and HS, answered questions and collected the last round of feedback before a public hearing in front of the Gallatin County Commission later this year.

Ashlie Gilbert, associate planner with the planning department, said Big Sky’s meeting about the drafts had a diverse group of people from nonprofit representatives to homeowners. Across the board, towns have been receptive.

“Communities across the county have shown interest in the plans,” Gilbert said. “We really have tried to get to different corners of the county where we usually might not make it.”

In an effort to grasp the entire county’s desires for the future use of lands, the planning department added West Yellowstone and Belgrade on their list of locations to visit.

“I think it’s really hard for everyone when we don’t kind of have a road map that shows us where we want development to go as a community,” Gilbert said. “You know, the FLUM isn’t just what the planning department thinks we should do. It isn’t just what one neighborhood group thinks we should do. It should be a reflection of what most of the community, most of the county, wants to see in their area.”

The interactive map is divided into growth areas, which point toward locations and regions that are best suited for different types of development. The Big Sky area consists of an urban growth area in the meadow from Little Coyote Road to just beyond Rainbow Trout Run, and a surrounding managed growth area for moderate development. A teal color denotes open and working lands, which exhibit physical constraints for development and are typically a mix of open, environmentally sensitive areas and working, agricultural land.

According to the planning department, Gallatin County saw median home sale prices reach $662,000 in 2023. In Bozeman, that number ballooned to a median of $825,000 in 2023.

To manage affordability, the HS lists five top priorities: incentivized development through zoning and land use, voluntary inclusionary housing ordinance, a dedicated housing fund, a land banking strategy and an accessory dwelling unit incentive program. All this to say: the HS aims to improve supply, maintenance, access and implementation of affordable housing measures.

Meghan Hazer Alvarez, senior planner at the planning department, said that a lot of the residents she’s spoken with are concerned about rapid growth.

“There’s fears about people losing their quality of life. Many of the very specific things that people care about [are] wildlife, water, agriculture,” Hazer Alvarez said. “There [are] fears that growth’s happening too fast, so we need to manage it.”

The planning department understands the challenges in bridging technology know-how. Assistant Planner Shea Ramaker encouraged county residents to reach out with any questions.

“It’s definitely been a learning curve for a lot of people, but we’ve been reaching out in as many ways as we can saying, come into the office and talk to us ... we will directly show you, we’ll print out the materials for you.”

The housing strategy is not a mapping exercise, though it does outline housing recommendations and solutions in an area that’s struggled with growth.

She said that most feedback has been positive and she expects to see detailed feedback from Big Sky residents.

“We’re hopeful that we continue to get it right,” Hazer Alvarez said about the next step of the process.

Gallatin County residents submitted feedback through an online survey until it closed on Sept. 30. After considering feedback, the two plans will be presented in front of the Gallatin County Commission for a public hearing. The planning department hopes the final drafts will be adopted into the existing growth policy by December.

A snapshot of the draft Future Land Use Map’s urban growth area (green), managed growth area (yellow) and open and working lands (teal) in Big Sky. IMAGE COURTESY OF ENVISION GALLATIN

Gallatin County Planning Department’s Ashlie Gilbert assists residents in using the draft interactive map for future land use at the Gallatin Gateway meeting. PHOTO BY JEN CLANCEY

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MONDAY | OCTOBER 7 | 8-9:30AM 25 TOWN

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COMMUNITY WEEK SCHEDULE

A Letter from Lone Mountain Land Company

The summer season is winding down with mornings a bit cooler and our kids settled back in school and fall sports upon us. Summer brought much excitement to the community—from incredible live music with artists like Trampled by Turtles and The Wood Brothers, all of Wildlands Festival, to cheering on our favorite bull riders at the Big Sky PBR.

July marked the 10-year anniversary of the founding of Lone Mountain Land Company by CrossHarbor Capital Partners and the 15th anniversary of CrossHarbor and Discovery Land Company’s purchase of Yellowstone Club. We look back at all that has been accomplished in the last decade through partnership and collaboration with immense gratitude.

Building and developing a community is a collective effort, with dedicated people coming together toward a shared vision. As we look to the future, we see tremendous potential for positive progress and meaningful enhancements across the community for both our seasonal and year-round residents. By embracing new ideas and working together, we can address challenges, seize opportunities, and build an even more thriving community.

The fall brings a quieter time for our community and an opportunity for people to connect with one another. We encourage you to participate in the Big Sky Community Week events and activities, October 7-12. Lone Mountain Land Company is hosting a Community Coffee on Monday, October 7th from 8-9:30am at our offices above Cowboy Coffee and Montana Supply. Please join us and engage with our team members to ask questions.

We will be at the State of the Community event Tuesday evening and many of the other events that week. Please contact any of our leadership or team members to engage in constructive dialogue and be part of the solution on efforts to embrace our community’s greatest opportunities.

We are thankful for the people of the Big Sky community and we look forward to more time spent together and outdoors this fall on our local trails, rivers, and lakes before the snow flies. We hope you make the most of it.

In gratitude, Your friends at Lone Mountain Land Company

BOZEMAN AIRPORT ANNOUNCES NEW NONSTOP FLIGHTS

BY FISCHER GENAU

BOZEMAN—Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport announced new flights this winter that will make travel easier and more comfortable to and from Washington, D.C., Boise, New York City and Boston.

United Airlines will offer nonstop flights on Saturdays to Washington Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. from December to March, Alaska Airlines is adding nonstop flights to Boise five days a week, from Thursday to Monday, and JetBlue announced the addition of Mint services, a luxury flight experience with lie-flat beds, artisanal dining, priority boarding and two complimentary checked bags, according to a Big Sky Resort press release, on its flights from Boston and New York City on select weekends.

“The winter schedule not only provides ease and choice for visitors, but also connects our local community to cities all over the country from their home airport,” Yann Benjamin, Big Sky Resort’s VP of sales and marketing, stated in the release.

Bozeman’s airport, the busiest in Montana according to the Montana Department of

Transportation, will offer 20 nonstop flights this winter as it expands to accommodate more travel to and from the region.

“As the demand for travel to and from BZN grows, we will continue to see increased interest by our

airlines to expand their offerings,” Brian Sprenger, airport president and CEO, stated in an email.

The airport will soon be expanding physically as well. Construction is underway on the East Terminal Expansion Project, a $140-180 million undertaking slated for completion in 2030.

COURTESY OF BIG SKY RESORT

BUSINESS

ENJOYING THE RIDE

KEEPING TABS ON YOUR MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

BY CHRIS FIACCO EBS CONTRIBUTOR

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY: THAD BEATY

Additionally, I perform locally, either solo, alongside my wife Annie, or with Montana artist Amanda Stewart. The three of us have a project we call the Tuesday Night Rodeo Club. At this point, I call myself a retired guitar player, although my wife would argue that I play more guitar now than when I was a full-time touring musician.

I feel more supported in the work I do here in Big Sky than at any other time in my career. It’s a dream come true.

EBS: Who or what were your biggest influences in the music industry, and how have they shaped your approach?

TB: I grew up in the glory days of hair metal, and I’ve now fully embraced my love of unabashed rock guitar. I have so many influences from a musical perspective and read a ton of rock biographies, just immersing myself in the headspace of my heroes. It wasn’t always pretty, but it’s fascinating to understand the combination of tenacity, hard work, and luck that forge any artist’s career. At the end of the day, the biggest touchpoint is relationships: genuine relationships. I’m fortunate to have gotten to work with so many wonderful people here in Big Sky, so critical pieces of things come quickly to this special community.

EBS: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in establishing a music scene in Big Sky, and how have you overcome them?

TB: Supply and demand are definitely issues. We’re so fortunate to have a community that places a high value on entertainment. At peak season, it can be challenging to meet the needs of visiting corporate groups, wedding parties, etc.… There is also a different level of professionalism expected when dealing with wedding planners, corporate groups, and resort entertainment. A “spit and polish” aspect is a shift from a more casual venue. It’s not for everyone. I’m fortunate to have a great group of Artists to call upon, and I am always looking to deepen our bench.

EBS: Can you share a memorable or rewarding experience from your involvement in Big Sky?

TB: There are so many to share! The birth of our son here in Montana, walking our daughter to preschool, seeing my wife onstage at Wildlands Festival, performing at Music in the Mountains, the list goes on and on. But the biggest thing is just the everyday life we live here. Walking to work, school, and the coffee shop, running into friends and colleagues, and having such a rich quality of life while doing something I’m passionate about is the biggest reward.

EBS: How has the local community responded to the world class music events you’ve helped bring to the area?

TB: I’ve received such powerful feedback from friends in this community, particularly surrounding our Songs from the Sky songwriting series. We’ve been able to bring some incredible writers to Big Sky, both to

write and to perform. Songwriters tend to be more unassuming than the artists you’ll hear on the radio, and people are often blown away when they see someone on a more “ordinary” life trajectory creating art that genuinely changes lives. At the last event we hosted, Jordan Davis and the Creative Nation team wrote his current single! Big Sky currently has a song on the charts!

EBS: How do you select the musicians and bands that perform, and what criteria is most important to you?

TB: Of course, I’m always looking for top-tier talent—people who are engaging, personable on stage and off, reliable, punctual and professional. A big challenge can be the fluidity of a private event. If there’s a sit-down dinner, maybe it runs a little late, and an Artist’s time slot will be moved around. Flexibility is critical because there are so many moving parts between the planners, the guests, and everyone involved. My goal is for EVERYONE to have a wonderful experience and for our Artists to be valued for the incredible gifts that they bring to the table. The best events happen when the guests feel a genuine connection with the Artist, so I encourage everyone to interface as much as possible, to break down the fourth wall and invite the audience INTO the performance. That’s when the magic happens. That’s a lot of criteria, I know!

EBS: Do you have any future plans to expand or evolve the music scene in Big Sky? Or do you have any exciting upcoming projects you could tell us about?

TB: Establishing a town-wide music calendar has been impactful. Working with several venues in the town center to stagger entertainment so that people don’t have to choose between two great options on a single night has been exciting. I’m always aiming to create consistency in our calendar so people can count on reliable start times for shows/events and plan around a musical experience rather than just happening upon it—although that’s great, too! As I mentioned, we constantly consider what venues the community needs next. Being on the ground floor is exciting as we build a world class music scene.

We have a great “Songwriters from the Sky” show in a week or so with the phenomenal Carly Pearce and friends, so I highly encourage everyone to attend. You’ll hear the stories behind some huge hits and be inspired.

EBS: Is there any business advice you have received that you can share with others?

TB: Treat everyone with respect; there is no hierarchy of humanity. Everyone wants to feel valued, and everyone SHOULD feel valued. I strive to bring that spirit to my job every day. Like I said, it’s easy to do this within this remarkable community. I’m grateful to raise my kids here, to do my best to put Big Sky on the map as an entertainment hub, and to share this special place with the folks in the music world!

THE BIG SKY WAY: FUNDING OUR FUTURE

BY DANIEL BIERSCHWALE EBS COLUMNIST

A Capital Improvement Plan is a comprehensive strategy that details major capital investments required for a community’s long-term growth and sustainability. Updated in 2023, Big Sky's CIP identifies essential projects designed to address key infrastructure deficiencies throughout the boundary of the Big Sky Resort Area District. These projects include upgrades to water and wastewater facilities, transportation infrastructure, workforce housing, and parks and trails to name a few.

The CIP is currently being vetted and prioritized for projects that are shovel ready and will provide public benefit. This process will begin to define firmer costs for forecasted projects, so Big Sky can plan the fiscal path ahead. While reviewing project details, Big Sky begins to understand how far along each project is. Details include the project’s construction plan, operations and maintenance plan, funds committed to the project including sources, and what finance gaps need to be filled.

The scale and complexity of the proposed projects in the CIP requires diverse financing strategies that go beyond traditional funding methods, ensuring that projects are adequately funded without placing undue strain on any single revenue source.

This next phase, which is financial stack development, is a complex one.

First, what is a financial stack? A financial stack is basically a budget, referencing a combination of different funding sources and financial tools used to finance a project. It typically includes a mix of public funds such as taxes, bonds, federal and state grants, and private contributions through public-private partnerships and philanthropic organizations. Each of these funding sources contributes a unique and essential component to the financial stack, working together to create a sustainable and flexible funding strategy for largescale projects.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the key components that make up this financial stack.

Debt financing: To address the large upfront costs of CIP projects, debt financing is used to secure funds quickly. By issuing bonds or securing loans, communities can initiate construction before costs escalate, spreading repayment over time and ensuring projects proceed without delay.

Federal and state funds: Federal and state public funds are essential for supporting large-scale projects. These funds are often allocated through grants or specific infrastructure programs, providing substantial financial support for key infrastructure deficiency.

Grants and philanthropy: Additional funding can be obtained through grants from various foundations and philanthropic organizations. These

funds are typically earmarked for specific projects or initiatives, adding another layer of financial support.

Public-private partnerships: Collaborations between public entities and private companies can unlock additional resources and expertise. Publicprivate partnerships often bring innovative solutions and shared investment, accelerating project development and enhancing overall efficiency.

Resort Tax: Big Sky benefits from a 4% resort tax, which includes a dedicated, electorate-approved 1% for infrastructure improvements. This source of funding is pivotal but is only one part of a broader financial strategy. Resort Tax helps provide immediate relief and contributes significantly to financing key projects.

By leveraging a diverse financial stack, our community can optimize the timing and scale of investments, manage debt responsibly, leverage state and federal dollars effectively, and enhance our collective ability to deliver essential infrastructure projects that support long-term community growth and resilience.

Daniel Bierschwale is the Executive Director of the Big Sky Resort Area District (BSRAD). As a dedicated public servant, he is committed to increasing civic engagement and voter education. Many ballot issues impact government services and public funding including subsequent property tax impacts. BSRAD is the local government agency that administers Resort Tax, which offsets property taxes while also funding numerous community-wide nonprofit programs.

MONTANA MEDIA COALITION WANTS TO KEEP FILM INDUSTRY ALIVE IN MONTANA

GROUP AIMS TO EXPAND TAX INCENTIVES FOR MONTANA FILMMAKERS

BY MARIO CARR EBS CONTRIBUTOR

FOUR CORNERS—On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Montana Media Coalition held an event at the Peak Ski Company showroom in Four Corners to discuss the potential impact of the 2025 legislative session on media productions in Montana.

“This is such an important legislative session. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is,” said Lynn-Wood Fields, coalition president, at the beginning of her presentation.

Fields sought to educate attendees on the Montana Economic Development Industry Advancement (MEDIA) Act that was passed in July 2019 and how the coalition is hoping to expand on the act in 2025, which would encourage the continued growth of Montana’s film industry.

The event included a silent auction, a presentation by Fields and a premier of a new film called “Somewhere In Montana.” The event focused on helping grow the film industry in Montana, and accordingly, “Somewhere in Montana” depicts a filmmaker making a movie in Polson.

The coalition wants the state to raise its media credit cap—a tax incentive for media productions— to $30 million during this 2025 legislative session, with 60% of that money being reserved for filmmakers who live in Montana.

The Montana Department of Commerce has a webpage dedicated to the MEDIA Act, including reports that explain its economic benefits.

“The film industry produces both qualitative and quantitative economic benefits to businesses and residents of Montana,” the report states. Researchers found that while the tax credit did incur an initial tax deficit of $1.8 million to the state, that money was more than made up for through other economic impacts. “The taxes exclusively generated from film activity are only part of the impact.”

The report goes on to explain that the additional tax revenue generated from “film-induced tourism” makes up for this net loss, and ends by stating, “the industry’s spillover supports a variety of diverse sectors throughout Montana.”

The Montana Media Coalition wants Montanans to understand that these productions provide jobs in the state as well as tremendous economic impact. According to an economic report from the Montana Film Office, the MEDIA Act has created over 1,000 full-time jobs in Montana in 2024, and has increased the total economic impact of the industry from $47.6 million in 2019 to $312.2 million in just the first eight months of 2024. While Fields views the past five years as a success for the film industry in Montana, the coalition is sounding an alarm for the industry in years to come.

The media credit cap included in the MEDIA Act is what incentivizes filmmakers to shoot in Montana. Since 2022, that cap has been $12 million per year, but it won’t renew after 2024.

“We are out of credits until 2028… This is the biggest year ever because if we do not get this up, I would bet that film dies in Montana,” Fields said.

According to Fields, there are many other states offering these incentives. For example, in 2023, Texas raised its incentive to $200 million over the next two years. Fields is eager to grow the Montana Media Coalition, so that more local filmmakers can have a say in this legislation.

“Filmmakers and film businesses have never been at the table about writing this legislation. It has been developers and big studios,” Fields said.

Filmmakers and film supporters alike are welcome and encouraged to join the coalition, which currently has over 70 members—Fields is hoping to get that number to 300.

“If legislators hear that there are actual Montanans making this, that makes a difference. Right now there’s this huge perception that nobody in Montana actually does this work and that is not true,” she said.

By rallying the support of Montana Filmmakers, Fields is hoping to raise the money needed in order to pass a bill.

“To pass a bill—whether you agree with this or not—we need at least thirty to fifty thousand dollars… We are really excited that we are joining forces to make our money go further,” Fields said.

After describing economic benefits of the tax incentives, Fields discussed possible pushback.

“I’m sure all of you hear these talking points. There’s a perception that potentially ‘Yellowstone’ [the TV show] is the reason for the housing crisis—that’s a mixed bag,” she said, adding that this crisis was primarily caused by COVID and an influx of remote workers, and that Montana’s housing crisis is not unique to Montana but has been seen in western states like Utah and Idaho as well.

Fields grew up in Whitefish in the 90s. She said the film industry was huge in Montana during that time. However, when Canada introduced a tax incentive to attract filmmakers, Montana film production dropped off, she explained. With the MEDIA Act offering greater incentives beginning in 2019, the industry has bounced back—there have been 167 film productions in the state of Montana in 2024 alone, which isn’t over yet.

“That is so important to know because all we ever hear about is one,” Fields said, referring to the popular show, “Yellowstone.”

Fields also explained that this tax incentive money might be better described as a rebate because it’s disbursed after production. After film producers prove that they have paid their crew and cast in Montana through extensive auditing, they can receive this incentive or rebate.

Samuel Enemy Hunter, a member of the Crow Nation, also spoke to the group about the production assistant course with the University of Montana’s Media Training Center that he went through with Fields, and how he believes that filmmaking can provide great jobs to the indigenous population in Montana. Now, Enemy Hunter will share what he has learned with other native people around the state.

“We’re actually going to be doing a reservation tour where I’ll be teaching the [production assistant] course to the natives… In Montana we do have a lot of talent, and a lot of native talent that is being overlooked,” Enemy Hunter said.

As the leader of the coalition, Fields was careful to mention her gratitude towards productions like “Yellowstone” that have “put Montana on the map” in the film industry. But that being said, she and the coalition want Montanans to understand that there are over 100 other productions happening in the state, that are run by Montanans and depend on these tax incentives as well. The current model of the MEDIA Act offers incentives on a firstcome, first-served basis, which means that many smaller Montana productions have no chance at receiving any incentives. The coalition hopes to change that with the “sideboards” they are planning to introduce.

At the end of the presentation, casting director Tina Buckingham announced the coalition will host another, larger event on Saturday Oct. 26 at the Yellowstone Film Ranch.

The MEDIA Act could be discussed this coming winter as Montana begins its next legislative session.

Samuel Enemy Hunter speaks at a Sept. 21 event promoting an expansion of Montana's MEDIA Act. COURTESY OF MONTANA MEDIA COALITION

BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR

Thursday, Oct. 3 – Wednesday, Oct. 16

If your next event falls between Oct. 17 – Oct. 30 please submit it to explorebigsky.com/calendar-event-form by Oct. 9

THURSDAY, OCT. 3

Manhattan Short Film Festival

The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 4

Watercolor Workshop Arts Council of Big Sky, 9 a.m.

Kate Willett Stand-up Comedy The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 5

Watercolor Workshop Arts Council of Big Sky, 9 a.m.

SUNDAY, OCT. 6

St. Joseph Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

All Saints of Big Sky Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

COMMUNITY WEEK

MONDAY, OCT. 7

CW: Community Coffee Lone Mountain Land Company, 8 a.m.

CW: Kids Storytime BASE, 10:30 a.m.

CW: Pilates BASE, 11 a.m.

CW: Fire Training Facility Grand Opening & BBQ

2 Rivers Road, 11:30 a.m.

CW: Art Council Kid’s Class BASE, 4 p.m.

CW: Community Cocktails The Wilson Lobby Bar, 4 p.m.

CW: Vote Big Sky The Wilson, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 8

CW: Full Body Conditioning BASE, 9 a.m.

Big Sky Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting 88 Ousel Falls Rd Unit A1, 9 a.m.

CW: Water Resource Recovery Facility Grand Opening 25 Seeway Dr, 12 p.m.

CW: Art Council Kid’s Class BASE, 4 p.m.

CW: State of the Community WMPAC, 5 p.m.

Pickup Flag Football Community Park, 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9

CW: BSRAD/ Joint County Commission Meeting The Wilson, 9 a.m.

CW: Restorative Yoga BASE, 11:30 a.m.

CW: TIGER Grant Ribbon Cutting Little Coyote Tunnel, 12 p.m.

CW: Zumba BASE, 4 p.m.

CW: Art Council Kid’s Class BASE, 4 p.m.

American Legion Fall Bingo Riverhouse BBQ & Events, 5:30 p.m.

CW: Trivia The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

Mindfulness Sitting Group Wellness in Action, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 10

CW: Community Coffee Wellness in Action, 8 a.m.

CW: Big Sky Post Office Ribbon Cutting Big Sky Post Office, 10:30 a.m.

CW: Pizza and Purpose with CCBS Big Sky Chapel, 12 p.m.

CW: Yoga Flow BASE, 2 p.m.

CW: Community Appreciation Celebration Len Hill park, 4 p.m.

Opening reception for Abstract Women BASE Art Gallery, 5:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

CW: Volunteer Big Sky Guest Reader Big Sky Discovery Academy, 9 a.m.

CW: Full Body Conditioning BASE, 9 a.m.

CW: Blood Drive Big Sky Medical Center, 10 a.m.

CW: Ousel Falls Trail Clean up Ousel Falls Trail, 1 p.m.

CW: Kickboxing BASE, 1 p.m.

CW: The Great Pumpkin Giveaway Len Hill Park, 2:30 p.m.

CW: Volunteer Big Sky Great Pumpkin Giveaway teams Len Hill Park, 2:30 p.m.

CW: Volunteer Big Sky Fall Clean Up Morningstar Learning Center porch, 3 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

CW: Healing in Community with Be Well Big Sky

Len Hill Park, 11 a.m.

SUNDAY, OCT. 13

St. Joseph Mass Big Sky Chapel, 8 a.m.

All Saints of Big Sky Big Sky Chapel, 10 a.m.

Big Sky Christian Fellowship Big Sky Chapel, 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY, OCT. 14

Monday Night Football The Waypoint, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 15

Learning Healthy Boundaries series Wellness in Action, 6:30 p.m.

Western Roots Line Dancing Tips Up, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16

American Legion Fall Bingo Riverhouse BBQ & Events, 5:30 p.m.

Trivia The Waypoint, 7 p.m.

FEATURED EVENT: Big Sky Community Week Big Sky, Oct. 7-12

Between Oct. 7 to 12, Big Sky will hold events all over the area to celebrate facility openings, hold conversations about the present and future of Big Sky, and free workout and art classes. Learn more about community week at BigSkyCommunityWeek.org.

ENVIRONMENT DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: WHAT IS LOVE?

THE TOLL OF ‘LOVING MONTANA TO DEATH’

BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY EBS COLUMNIST

Montana, with its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, is a place of unparalleled beauty that seems to invite us to play outside. Abundant animal life, skyscraping peaks, alpine cerulean lakes, towering forests, windswept grasslands, wild rivers, and open space combine to provide ample recreation opportunities on public and some private lands. Many current locals moved to Montana to enjoy our public lands. I moved here 22 years ago for the same reasons.

There is a delicate line between loving something in a healthy way and loving it to death. Recently, I attended a panel discussion at the University of Montana, put on by Montana Free Press, called “Loving Montana to Death." A few of the ideas in this column were discussed during that event, which gave me much to contemplate. I have been wrestling with these ideas for years, so bear with me. I don’t have all the answers, but I do have questions.

Last year, three million visitors traveled to Glacier National Park, and Yellowstone National Park saw four-and-a-half million visitors. Overall, 12.5 million people visited Montana last year and spent around $5.45 billion.

Since the pandemic, an influx of 50,000 people have moved to the state, but from 2010 to 2019, the average was around 6,000 people per year. As the U.S. population stayed relatively flat, Montana’s grew by 1.6%. Progress can be good, but “growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of a cancer cell,” said author Edward Abbey in his book “A Journey Home.”

A recent Crown of the Continent Poll showed that rapid growth and a loss of open space are some of Montana residents' gravest concerns. It also stated that 78% of the public was concerned about overcrowding during outdoor recreational activities, which is a significant and anxietyinducing nuisance.

There is a collective grief over changes in Montana communities and the environment. Broadly, this feeling is called solastalgia. I worked in Glacier National Park for over 15 years, which was powerful for my formative years, and now I avoid going there during the busy tourist season. I try to only visit during the shoulder season—which I’m not sure is even a thing anymore. Our state and many of our national parks are loved to death. Is industrial recreation to blame? “Industrial recreation” is no different than any other industry: it is all about consumption. People mark places off bucket lists; in a way, it is all about consuming those places and moving on to the next cool spot that travel magazines or social media influencers recommend.

Social media and geotagging places hurt residents, displace wildlife, and force locals to change their behavior to visit places they love at certain times of day or season.

This influx of people, whether tourists or transplants, undoubtedly boosts the state economy and many of us benefit. However, it's crucial to remember that loving a place to death does hurt locals. The impact of over-tourism can be significant, from traffic congestion, soaring gas, hotel and house prices, long lines at park entrance stations and supermarkets, scarcity of reservations for parks or restaurants, overcrowded trails, rivers flooded with people, overfishing, litter and other micro-plastics left on trails, streambanks and national parks dotted with human feces. Many locals working in these busy towns can no longer afford to live in these popular destinations but must commute from outlying villages, which adds to the traffic.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying to avoid travel or that all tourism is terrible.

However, travel can be a double-edged sword. It’s not just about exploring and expanding minds but also about the ecological footprints we leave behind. Responsible travel is the key. It's about exploring but also about preserving the places we love. What to do?

Plenty of evidence states people won’t care enough to conserve a place if they don’t have a connection to it. We conserve the places we love.

So what does it mean to love a landscape? Does it mean observing it through the seasons, giving it space and allowing animals freedom to roam? How can we reduce our impact and better fit into our surroundings? How can we all save the places we love without loving them to death? The question is, how can we all practice sustainable tourism?

I do not object to seeing the world, expanding my mind, or having cultural experiences. It is all dear to my heart. I have been on wildlife safaris in Tanzania, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, traveled to Argentina and climbed Mount Aconcagua, trekked

in Patagonia, been to Mexico numerous times, explored lots of British Columbia and Alberta and pack rafted above the Arctic Circle in Alaska’s Brooks Range, all to connect with the landscape and the local people. This connection to nature is what drives us to give something back, not just take. So, I have written stories sharing those experiences with others for whatever that is worth.

Is it enough? I don’t know. Still, I also try to learn about the sense of places in those rare environments, and as Zen poet Gary Snyder said, give “a nod to the neighbors” by teaching myself about the local flora, fauna, natural history, local human stories and current challenges facing these unique locales in a sense trying to save them.

Suppose we are travelers visiting new areas. How can we be stewards of that destination that advocates caring for the local people, land, air, water, and animals? A traveler’s mission should be to shield the world’s most wondrous places by supporting wisely managed tourism where tourists help take care of these pristine landscapes, connect with locals and learn as much as we can about those landscapes we visit. We can even volunteer in those landscapes or communities if we have time. It also helps spread the impact of tourism to other less popular areas, so not all of the foot and car traffic is happening in one place. Spreading tourist money throughout the community helps put money in more diverse hands rather than just a few—we could also try to support forward-looking sustainable businesses that play the long game, not obsessing over short-term profits but instead being good stewards of the landscape and minimizing their ecological footprint for future generations by sourcing their materials and food ingredients more locally.

So, what does love have to do with it? Everything. Benjamin Alva Polley is a place-based storyteller. His stories have been published in Audubon, Esquire, Field & Stream, The Guardian, Outside, Popular Science, Sierra, and other publications on his website. He holds a master’s in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism from the University of Montana.

PHOTO BY BENJAMIN ALVA POLLEY

BEAR NECESSITIES: STAYING

BY TAYLOR OWENS

BEAR-SAFE WITH BEAR BOXES, BEAR BAGS AND BEAR FENCES

This column is presented in partnership with Hey Bear, a retail brand based in Big Sky focused on bear conservation and awareness. If you have a story about a bear encounter or interaction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, please submit via email to media@outlaw.partners.

As the weather cools and the leaves change, fall is an incredible time for camping and backpacking. But it’s also when bears are most active, bulking up before hibernation. If you’re venturing into bear country, managing your food storage is crucial. Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell, and an encounter with one can usually be a result of improperly stored food.

I was recently reminded of how important these precautions are when I saw a brown-colored black bear at the parking lot of the Sourdough trailhead near Bozeman. It was a startling experience to see such a large animal up close, especially in an area where many people begin their hikes, bike rides and trail runs. It reminded me just how critical it is to be vigilant about food storage and bear safety, even when you’re still close to civilization and on a well-trafficked trail.

Storing food properly when you’re camping not only prevents the potential of a bad bear encounter, but also prevents the bear from seeking out human food as a habit, and therefore faces the risk of being relocated or euthanized by officials if issues escalate. Here’s a closer look at the essential gear—bear boxes, bear bags and bear fences—that can help keep both you and the bears safe this season during overnight trips.

Bear boxes: The gold standard of bear-proofing

Bear boxes are hard-sided, lockable containers designed to keep bears out of your food and scented items. Made from durable plastic or metal, they are nearly impossible for bears to break into. If you’re camping in an area with high bear activity or where regulations require them, bear boxes are a must. Bear boxes are incredibly effective and virtually foolproof when it comes to keeping bears out of your supplies. They’re ideal for long trips when you need to store a significant amount of food, and many are approved by the Interagency Grizzly

Bear Committee, making them suitable for use in National Parks with strict requirements.

The main downside is weight. Bear boxes are heavy and bulky, making them less convenient for backpackers who prioritize traveling light. However, the peace of mind they provide can be worth the extra weight. If you’re using a bear box, make sure to place it at least 100 yards away from your tent and cooking area. This minimizes the risk of a bear investigating your campsite.

Bear bags: Lightweight and effective when used properly

Bear bags are a popular alternative to bear boxes, especially for backpackers looking to cut down on weight. These lightweight, flexible bags are designed to be hung from a tree, well out of a bear’s reach.

Bear bags are much lighter and easier to pack than bear boxes. They’re often made of durable, puncture-resistant fabric and can be folded up when not in use, saving valuable space in your pack. Bear bags are great for shorter trips or when you’re moving frequently from one campsite to another.

Hanging a bear bag correctly takes practice and requires the right tree. It should be at least 10-15 feet off the ground and hanging four feet away from the tree trunk. If not hung properly, bears can reach them, or they can be vulnerable to other critters. They’re also less effective in areas without suitable trees or above the tree line. Consider using an odorproof liner inside your bear bag to further reduce the chances of attracting bears. Always doublecheck that it’s hung securely before heading to bed.

Bear fences: Extra protection for extended campsites

If you’re setting up a base camp or spending multiple nights in the same location, particularly in area with a large population of grizzlies, a bear fence can provide an added layer of security. These portable electric fences create a barrier around your food storage area or entire campsite, deterring bears from approaching.

Bear fences are highly effective, providing a psychological and physical barrier that bears tend to avoid. They’re a great option for longer trips or when camping in areas with a high concentration of bears.

Bear fences can be expensive and add extra weight to your gear. They also require batteries, which means you’ll need to plan for power needs. Setting up and breaking down the fence can take some time, making it less practical for those who move camps frequently. If you decide to use a bear fence, always test it after setting it up to ensure it’s working correctly. Also, be sure to check for local regulations or restrictions on their use in the area where you’re camping.

When it comes to bears, prevention is everything. Investing in the right gear—whether it’s a bear box, bear bag or bear fence—can make all the difference in keeping your food safe and avoiding unwanted encounters.

By taking the time to store your food properly, you’re not just protecting yourself; you’re also helping to keep bears wild and healthy. As you hit the trail this fall, be bear-aware, be prepared, and enjoy the beauty of the backcountry with peace of mind.

A two-year-old grizzly bear was euthanized near Libby after becoming dangerously conditioned to human food sources. PHOTO BY MIKO FOX

A food storage requirement sign in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. PHOTO BY AARON J HILL VIA ADOBE STOCK

Listed

HEALTH

LET’S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH REDUCING MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA UNDER THE BIG SKY

BY NICOLE MADDEN GUEST COLUMNIST

For the past 30 years, Montana has had one of the highest suicide rates in the nation. Gallatin County is not immune to the complex challenges that make these statistics our reality—the number one reason why someone comes to a Bozeman Health emergency room during a mental health crisis is due to suicidal ideation.

So, why does Montana have such a high rate of prevalence of mental illness and death by suicide? According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, there’s a variety of reasons that contribute to a higher prevalence in our state. Factors include Vitamin D deficiency, living at altitude, socioeconomic and demographic factors— we see a high concentration of veterans, American Indians and middle-aged white males—social isolation due to geography, prevalence of alcohol as a coping strategy, access to lethal means and lack of access to services due to geography.

And most of all, stigma.

American Psychiatric Association research shows that more than half of people with mental illness don’t receive care, often due to stigma or poor access to care. Stigma can present in the form of self-stigma, with negative attitudes and feelings internalized about having a mental illness. It can also be experienced as a public stigma or a structural stigma. In general, stigma experienced from any of these three sources is harmful, leading to hopelessness, low self-esteem, increased psychiatric symptoms, impacts to relationships, reluctance or inability to seek access to care, isolation, reduction in opportunities, and poor outcomes for both the individual and their family and friends.

Reducing stigma is a team sport and a public health priority.

We are not defined by our mental or physical health conditions or individual qualities. Each of us, as a member of the community, can encourage open dialogue, education and inclusivity. For those who may be experiencing stigma, it is incredibly empowering to be involved and feel connected.

At Bozeman Health, including our critical access hospital, Big Sky Medical Center, we are committed to whole-person wellness and recognize the need for continued support of the behavioral health care continuum. We know that no single organization can sustain all the behavioral health services that our communities need, but we are dedicated to collaborating with partners to implement sustainable services. I am honored to be an active member of the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition and Big Sky Wellness Coalition on behalf of Bozeman Health. We are grateful for our partnering regional care and service providers, including Big Sky-based colleagues like Wellness in Action, who are also committed to strengthening the continuum as a community.

One example of a community collaboration is WIA's Affordable Counseling Program that aims to break down barriers of mental health supports to make services more accessible across the community. BSMC and WIA collaborate on “Referral Pathways”—an identified path to connect a person in need with critical direct services. This helps ensure Big Sky residents get the services they need, when they need them.

Bozeman Health’s dedication to supporting the regional care continuum and stigma reduction is inspired at all levels of the health system—from our compassionate care team to the personal passion of our leadership.

“Mental health is just health, and should be thought of just like all other aspects of health and wellbeing” said Dr. Kathryn Bertany, Bozeman Health CEO. “Removing the stigma around mental health will save lives. One of the ways we actively reduce stigma is by making it easier to access services in a variety of settings.”

We are committed to making it easier to access mental health services including the following services offered: Outpatient psychiatry services in Bozeman and Big Sky; psychiatric emergency services at Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center; a behavioral health walk-in clinic opening fall 2024 at BHDRMC; and an adult inpatient behavioral health unit opening in 2025 at BHDRMC.

I am pleased to share the exciting news that Bozeman Health has begun construction on our adult inpatient behavioral health unit at BHDRMC with a planned opening in 2025. The first floor of the inpatient wing at BHDRMC is undergoing a complete remodel to create a customized care space that will serve up to 14 adult patients.

The Big Sky Medical Center has been caring for residents of and visitors to southern Gallatin County since December 2015. As a critical access hospital providing care to the Big Sky and West Yellowstone communities, outpatient behavioral health services are available in addition to emergency department and primary care services. Behavioral health outpatient services offered at BSMC are provided by a team consisting of Kathy Damberger, nurse practitioner, Dr. Patrick Maidman, psychiatrist, and Lisa Brubaker, licensed clinical social worker. Appointments can be requested through referral from your primary care provider, or any individual may request an appointment by contacting BSMC at 406-995-6995.

“We are proud to provide care close to home for residents of and visitors to southern Gallatin County,” said Kelly Reynolds, BSMC administrator. “It is just as vital that our community has accessible behavioral health services as it to have emergency and primary care services available locally. It is our honor to care for the mental and physical health of our friends and neighbors, our community.”

I encourage you all to have open conversations about mental health with your family, friends and community. Together, we can reduce cultural stigma in Montana.

To access behavioral health resources, visit Big Sky Medical Center outpatient services or call BSMC at 406-995-6995, or connect with Be Well Big Sky. For mental health emergencies or crises, dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit the nearest emergency department.

Nicole Madden is the system director of behavioral health at Bozeman Health. She is also an active member of the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition, Big Sky Wellness Coalition and the Gallatin Mental Health Local Advisory Committee. Madden is a third generation Montanan, born and raised in Gallatin County.

Ryan Coombs Operations Director

Photo by Whitney Kamman

BY EMILY HOLTHAUS EBS COLUMNIST

The food system in the United States is expansive and innovative and allows us to have almost any food product available at any given time, at a certain cost. However, there are many health, economical, and environmental benefits to choosing local, seasonal foods.

Local, seasonal foods include any foods that are produced within 100 miles and consumed in the same season, according to research by Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. Eating seasonally can help increase variety of fruits and vegetables in the diet and makes consumers more likely to try new fruits and vegetables and different methods of preparation. When we choose these seasonal options, produce tends to be fresher, more nutritious, and tastier which increases consumption as well. When produce is consumed in the same region it’s produced, nutritional content can increase as there is less processing and need for storage, and the local produce is picked

at peak ripeness rather than ripening during the transportation process.

Eating local, seasonal foods also helps build a relationship between the consumer and the food production system which creates a more mindful eating environment and a better connection to the food we eat, according to research from Current Developments in Nutrition. Supporting local agriculture when buying produce, grains, and meat products creates a sense of community in our food system, helps consumers understand the growing process and raising of livestock, and helps promote a local food production economy.

Eating locally benefits the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transporting food around the world, and reducing the high energy and water usage that is required to produce food outside the regular growing season.

Some examples of Montana-grown foods in-season from September to November include: fruits such as apples, cantaloupe and watermelon, cherries, pears; vegetables like beets, broccoli, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, spinach, and kale; and grains such as wheat and barley, according to the Montana Team Nutrition Program.

Looking for these products locally, and mixing up preparation and cooking methods, can help increase variety in diet, support local agriculture, and decrease the environmental impact of food production. Try to find local producers, look for local labels in stores, or search for community supported agriculture memberships to find easy, affordable access to local seasonal foods. Some CSA options near Big Sky include Chance Farm and Gallatin Valley Botanical.

To learn more about creating a more nutritious, healthy lifestyle, or for other nutrition concerns contact me at Big Sky Natural Health to make an appointment.

Emily Holthaus is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Nutritionist based in Big Sky who specializes in adult and pediatric one-on-one nutrition counseling. Emily’s passions lie in general nutrition and wellness, pediatric nutrition, and sport nutrition. She can also provide counseling in various concerns including allergies and intolerances, chronic disease management, and GI disorders. She aims to help patients create small yet impactful changes to help them reach their health goals, both physically and mentally.

4 BEDS | 3.5 BATHS | 3,737 SQ FT

Amazing opportunity in Big Sky to own a beautiful custom home near Town Center! The offering includes an architecturally designed home in a well thought out design punctuated by exceptional craftsmanship and consciousness of the spectacular views with a large oversized garage. The interior showcases high ceilings and an open-concept layout inviting abundant natural light into the living spaces. Easy access to hiking, Nordic trails and Town Center right from the home. $2,500,000 #392503

Maggie Biggerstaff & Jerad Biggerstaff 406-580-6244

SUMMIT VIEW DRIVE, BIG SKY

5 BEDS | 4.5 BATHS | 5,239 SQ FT

Welcome to your dream retreat in the heart of Big Sky, Montana! This exquisite custom home, nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes is perched elegantly overlooking the majestic Lone Peak Mountain. Crafted from the historic materials of the Silver Star Barn in Virginia city, Montana, this home boasts a unique charm that blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. $4,798,900 #392748

Dan Delzer 406-580-4326

470 BIG PINE DRIVE, BIG SKY

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

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

$2,600,000 | #388104

$1,750,000 | #389834

TBD TIMBERLOFT DRIVE

Big Sky

40± acre alpine meadow overlooking the Gallatin Canyon, outstanding views of the Spanish Peaks and Lone Mountain. Two adjacent 40± acre properties, designated building sites, end of the road privacy easy all season access. Close to Ophir School and the West Gallatin River.

TBD SKYWOOD ROAD

Big Sky

What’s wrong with this campsite?

ACTIVITY: Bears are always sniffing around for food. Can you circle all the things that will attract bears?

$1,600,000 | #380146

Enjoy privacy and outstanding views of Lone Peak from this beautiful Skywood Preserve property. Rolling forested hills combined with a grassy alpine meadow complete with a small natural pond create a beautiful 21± acre parcel, just minutes from Town Center or Meadow Village.

TBD LOW DOG ROAD

Big Sky

Ski accessable w/ biking and hiking access to area trails. Convenient to all the services at Big Sky’s Mountain Village. Great access to the Middle Fork of the Gallatin River by taking an established trail from the building site directly to the stream. Property located on the North side of Low Dog Rd.

COLORING

Bears are opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of a readily available food source and expending the least amount of energy for the highest caloric intake.

SAFETY TIP

Make sure to place garbage in an airtight plastic bag and put into a bearproof trash can!

Gear up for adventure at HeyBear.com

Explore Big Sky - October 3 to 16, 2024

CREATIVE

SALES AND OPERATIONS

OPENING SHOT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BRIEFS

NEWS IN BRIEF BRIEFS

SEARCH AND RESCUE COMPLETES TWO SUNDAY MISSIONS

MONTANA GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE PLANNED FOR OCT. 16

CLASSIFIED

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

AN APPEAL TO MONTANA’S CANDIDATES AND VOTERS

LOCAL

SPIRITS RUN HIGH FOR HOMECOMING WEEK IN BIG SKY

LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT COUNCIL PREPARES FOR A WEEK OF TRADITIONS AND MEMORABLE EVENTS IN GRADES K-12

LONE PEAK HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING

BIG HORN SPORTS

SCHEDULE

BSRAD, CHAMBER PREPARE FOR COMMUNITY WEEK

FROM COFFEE TO COCKTAIL HOUR, EVENTS INCLUDE WORKOUTS, STATE OF THE COMMUNITY, VOLUNTEER GIGS AND A GATHERING AT LEN HILL PARK

STAYING POSTED ON USPS’ ARRIVAL TO BIG SKY

LOCAL GOVERNANCE STUDY ENGAGES PUBLIC: ‘WE’RE HERE TO LISTEN’ LEADERS

PROMISE UNBIASED FACT-FINDING MISSION, PROMOTE STUDY WEBSITE

DYLAN PIPINICH, WGM GROUP LAND PLANNER

BIG SKY CHAMBER HOSTS MONTANA LAWMAKERS FOR LOCAL VISIT

TOUR PROVIDES A ‘SHOW AND TELL’ ON BIG SKY’S ECONOMIC IMPACT, INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

FEATURED RECENTLY SOLD RESIDENCE

HOUSING: COLD SMOKE ADVANCES WITH APPROVAL OF ZONE MAP AMENDMENT

FIRE ENGULFS ONE&ONLY HOTEL

BIG SKY FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTAINS BLAZE TO STRUCTURE; TWO ROOMS

DECLARED ‘TOTAL LOSS,’ BUILDING SUFFERS SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE

OKTOBERFEST BRINGS BEER, BAVARIAN CULTURE TO BIG SKY

REGIONAL

SEVEN TOWN MEETINGS, TWO HOT TOPICS, TWO DRAFT GUIDES

EVENTS AIM TO COLLECT INPUT FOR HOUSING AND LAND USE GUIDES

IN GALLATIN COUNTY

ASK: LONE MOUNTAIN LAND COMPANY

COMMUNITY COFFEE WITH LONE MOUNTAIN LAND COMPANY

CENTER AVENUE | UPSTAIRS OFFICES

A Letter from Lone Mountain Land Company

BOZEMAN AIRPORT ANNOUNCES NEW NONSTOP FLIGHTS

BUSINESS

ENJOYING THE RIDE

KEEPING TABS ON YOUR MOST IMPORTANT FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

MAKING IT IN BIG SKY: THAD BEATY

THE BIG SKY WAY: FUNDING OUR FUTURE

MONTANA MEDIA COALITION WANTS TO KEEP FILM INDUSTRY ALIVE IN MONTANA

GROUP AIMS TO EXPAND TAX INCENTIVES FOR MONTANA FILMMAKERS

BIG SKY EVENTS CALENDAR

ENVIRONMENT DISPATCHES FROM THE WILD: WHAT IS LOVE?

THE TOLL OF ‘LOVING MONTANA TO DEATH’

BEAR NECESSITIES: STAYING

BEAR-SAFE WITH BEAR BOXES, BEAR BAGS AND BEAR FENCES

HEALTH

LET’S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH REDUCING MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA UNDER THE BIG SKY

COLORING

SAFETY TIP