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The heads of Helena’s two colleges told a grassroots group of their plans for the coming year, touting programs, praising students, and, when asked, responded to a question from a lawmaker as to how the state could help colleges.
Sandra Bauman, dean and executive officer of Helena College and John Cech, president of Carroll College, spoke Thursday to Hometown Helena, offering details about their campuses.
Sandra Bauman, dean and chief executive officer of Helena College.
JINNY JANDRON
Helena College, a two-year school, is part of the University of Montana system and offers degree and non-degree options and 25 academic programs, Bauman said, adding it has two campuses -- one on Roberts Street and the other that adjoins the Helena Regional Airport.
The college has 1,500 students taking academic courses and another 900 taking community education courses, she said, adding preliminary numbers say enrollment is up 3%, but could change.
Helena College also has 80 permanent and 80 temporary employees.
She said the college recently launched a banking fundamentals program in cooperation with Opportunity Bank because of a shortage of bank employees in Helena.
Helena College offers more than 30 diverse degree and certificate programs on two campuses.
She said the new cosmetology program is one of the bigger initiatives for the college and officials hope to put construction projects associated with the class out for bid in a few months.
It will be the first public cosmetology program in the state.
She said enrollment in the aviation programs is way up.
Bauman said programs are doing well because of strong partnerships with some businesses in which students come to the college for half a day and then go to the job site.
She also mentioned the “1-2-Free” program in which high school students who want to take college classes get six credits for free and then pay $50 for each credit after. The $50 fee is half price.
Bauman said the college also takes steps to make sure the students are not taking a class just for the sake of college credit.
“We want meaningful value for them,” she said.
Carroll College President John Cech.
Cech said Carroll continues to work on its strategic initiative plan in which it outlines five goals focusing on enhancing lives and outcomes of students.
He said more than 80% of Carroll students who apply for medical school get accepted, compared to 41% nationwide.
Cech said Helena is a “magical” place for students and staff. He said there are 375 employees at Carroll who are dedicated to the private Catholic school’s hometown. He said there are officially 2,899 alumni living in Helena, but he believes there are many more than that. The college is planning a $3.5 million makeover to the coffee shop, C-Store and dining room.
Carroll now has 950 people living on campus, which is roughly the population of White Sulphur Springs. That represents a 20% increase of students living at Carroll.
He said “a number” of their parents have purchased real estate in Helena as well.
The Carroll College campus in Helena.
Cech said the freshman class represents 29 states and 20 countries.
“It brings a great melting pot here to Helena,” he said.
Cech said many of those who graduate remain in the Treasure State and 72% of graduates five years after graduating are working in Montana.
He also said Carroll has a “fantastic” relationship with Helena College, noting 62 students came to Carroll this year from Helena College to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, asked Bauman and Cech what the state Legislature could do to help their colleges.
“The thing you are all expecting me to say is money, and that is true,” Bauman said.
Bauman said it is hard to start new programs at the college because of costs.
Cech said Montana is one of the few states that does not offer a great deal of scholarships to students. He said he’d like to see the state increase that support and "humbly“ asked that it would include students who attend private colleges as well.
Cech also said the state pays for every junior who takes the ACT test. But students do not have to opt in on allowing their names to go to colleges. He said it would help, perhaps through legislative action, to take that option away so that colleges could reach out and let students know what is available.
Mary Ann Dunwell
Carroll College gets $800K from Murdock Trust to complete library renovation
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has granted $800,000 to help Carroll College finish the transformation of its library into a modern and collaborative learning center.
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2022-09-10T00:09:53Z
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helenair.com
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Leaders of Helena's 2 colleges outline plans for coming year | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/leaders-of-helenas-2-colleges-outline-plans-for-coming-year/article_8ccb0f5e-35dc-5d59-b584-49ac4e297d0a.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/leaders-of-helenas-2-colleges-outline-plans-for-coming-year/article_8ccb0f5e-35dc-5d59-b584-49ac4e297d0a.html
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BILLINGS — A federal judge on Friday ordered the Biden administration to reinstate a drilling lease that has been in dispute for decades on land near the Blackfeet Indian Reservation that is considered sacred to Native American tribes in the U.S. and Canada.
The Badger-Two Medicine area just south of Glacier is land considered sacred to the Blackfeet tribes of the United States and Canada.
Provided by Gene Sentz
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2022-09-10T01:47:29Z
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helenair.com
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Judge restores oil lease on land sacred to US, Canada tribes | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/judge-restores-oil-lease-on-land-sacred-to-us-canada-tribes/article_9166f1b0-d11b-5620-8ba8-757cea59713b.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/judge-restores-oil-lease-on-land-sacred-to-us-canada-tribes/article_9166f1b0-d11b-5620-8ba8-757cea59713b.html
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Randl Ockey: More isn’t always better, Linus
RANDL OCKEY
It was the summer of 1968. I had just graduated from high school and was eagerly looking forward to enrolling at Brigham Young University in the fall.
To earn money for college, I got a job at a paint factory warehouse in a neighboring town. It was a tedious, physically taxing job with dreadful working conditions. However, the people I met working there kept the job from being boring.
One of the interesting fellows I met that summer was Tom (not his real name), a person about 10 years my senior who worked in the warehouse office.
On one occasion, Tom shared with me that he and his wife had decided they were going to retire at 40 and that both of them were working two full time jobs to amass the wealth required to achieve that goal. I was incredulous; I had never heard of anyone doing that and wondered how it was possible. Tom acknowledged the many challenges that came with what they were doing, but declared their determination to reach their goal.
I never saw Tom again after that summer, but I’ve wondered a few times if he and his wife succeeded in reaching their goal. I’ve worried about what their health was like when they hit 40. And I’ve wondered if their marriage survived.
We live in a society and at a time when “more” is consistently portrayed as “better.” If saving money so you can retire in your 60s is good, then acquiring more wealth faster so you can retire in your 40s must be better. If a 2,000 square foot home is good, then 4,000 square feet must be better. If two credit cards are good, six must be better. We even see it on vehicle bumper stickers: “He (she) who dies with the most (fill in the blank) wins.”
Once we recognize it for what it is, it’s relatively easy to spot and, as appropriate, reject the “more is better” message in material things. But I worry that sometimes the “more is better” message creeps into our spiritual lives.
If our prayers don’t seem to be making it through the ceiling of our home, is “more” prayer (i.e., more time spent in prayer) really the answer? Perhaps it is, but consider these other choices: greater focus in our prayers on the needs of others and less focus on our own needs; more time and thought spent in preparation for prayer; a change in our prayer routine (time, place, etc.); a more focused approach to prayer (one issue, need, challenge, etc.).
If our scripture reading isn’t providing us with the desired connection to heaven, is more time spent in reading the scriptures the answer? Maybe, but here are some other possibilities: seeking new insights by reading a different translation of the scriptures; reading the scriptures with a singular focus (for example, what do the scriptures have to say to about dealing successfully with life’s inevitable adversities?); changing our scripture reading routine (time, place, etc.).
And what about service? If the service we’re currently engaged in no longer feels satisfying or meaningful, is more hours the only answer? Probably not. Here are some other solutions: email your pastor, express your need for a change, and state your willingness to serve wherever you’re needed most; select a local nonprofit, contact whoever in the organization coordinates volunteer efforts and ask, “What can I do to help?”; rather than organized service, engage in random acts of kindness (if you’re not familiar with this concept, google “random acts of kindness ideas”).
One of my favorite movies is the 1995 version of the movie “Sabrina,” starring Julia Ormond in the title role and Harrison Ford as Linus Larrabee, the business tycoon who’s too busy tycooning to have a life—until he tries to break up the undesirable, budding romance between his brother, David (played by Greg Kinnear), and Sabrina (“the chauffeur’s daughter”) and ends up falling in love with her himself.
At one point in the movie, Sabrina and Linus fly to Cape Cod together to take photographs of a property there Linus is preparing for sale. Standing in a room of the house that offers multiple beautiful views of the surrounding area, Sabrina asks Linus which view he would like her to photograph. “All of them,” he quickly replies. In a very kind, but gently reproachful tone, Sabrina observes, “More isn’t always better, Linus. Sometimes it’s just more.”
In the material things of life, in life’s spiritual matters, and in perhaps many other things, more isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just more.
Randl Ockey is a former stake presidency member and bishop for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Leah R Gilman
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2022-09-10T13:13:01Z
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helenair.com
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Randl Ockey: More isn’t always better, Linus | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/randl-ockey-more-isn-t-always-better-linus/article_7ecb2263-b4a1-5577-9507-e0f4b725069a.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/randl-ockey-more-isn-t-always-better-linus/article_7ecb2263-b4a1-5577-9507-e0f4b725069a.html
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Carroll College junior Emma Patek learns how to throw an atlatl from Jessica Bush.
MEGAN MICHELOTTI, Independent Record
How long has it been since you tried something new?
On Sept. 8, Carroll College’s “Introduction to Native American Studies” class taught by Laura Marsh, a compliance officer for the Montana Historical Society, acquired a new but ancient skill: throwing atlatls.
“We have all the stuff at the Historical Society, which is where we all work with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)," Marsh said. "(We) use it with kids usually for Archaeology Days that the Historical Society hosts every year. It got closed because of COVID the past two years, but it is supposed to happen this year but undetermined.”
State Archaeologist Jessica Bush, who used to teach the class, gave a guest lecture before the atlatl throwing.
Bush presented on the atlatl, which is a worldwide historic hunting weapon that pre-dates the bow and arrow by thousands of years. It’s made up of two parts: the dart and the atlatl. The dart is the long spear-like object that loads into the atlatl to be thrown. The atlatl is typically made of wood with a projectile point typically made of something hard like stone or shell. There are sometimes finger loops at the back and a weight in the middle of the atlatl.
According to Bush, the earliest known atlatl dates back to a cave in France 17,000 years ago. The earliest known North American one dates back to 10,000 years ago, said Bush.
The materials this weapon is made of are decomposable. However, ice patch archaeology has helped to preserve some of them. In Montana, in and around the Beartooth Mountains and Yellowstone National Park, some atlatls have been found preserved in ice. Bush noted the challenge is getting to these items in a timely manner before they are exposed to the elements again.
The motion of throwing an atlatl is like throwing a tennis ball launcher for your dog. Each Carroll student took at least two throws with the atlatls. Only one hit the target, although many tried.
A Carroll College student throws an atlatl at the target.
Bush, Marsh and Laura Evilsizer, another state compliance officer, put on the atlatl throwing for the Carroll students. They all work for SHPO, which is a part of the Montana Historical Society.
Bush noted how hunting with atlatls during archery season in Montana (September and October) is legal but might not work as well as a bow and arrow because with atlatls, hunters have to stand up to get a good throw, which alerts their prey.
Also in her lecture, Bush noted her responsibilities as a state archaeologist involve national historic preservation. This involves the Montana State Antiquities Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), which “requires federal agencies to consider the impact of their actions on historic properties and provide the ACHP with an opportunity to comment on projects before implementation,” according to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s website.
Bush helps with education, research and policy review and is a resource for anyone and everyone. She also helps out but is not on Montana’s Burial Preservation Board. This board's purposes “are to protect from disturbance or destruction human skeletal remains, burial sites, and burial materials found on state and private lands in Montana and to resolve claims for repatriation of human skeletal remains and funerary objects,” according to the Burial Preservation Board’s site on Montana.gov.
The board has representatives from indigenous nations around Montana and has similarities with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Bush’s lecture also touched on tribal sovereignty, colonialism, exploitation and public and private resources. She noted this issue with many early anthropologists is that they would go into indigenous communities, write about them and make a lot of money off their books and movies while no money was going to the community they wrote about. In response to this, indigenous centered archaeology has emerged with the goal to “engage and empower indigenous people in their own preservation of culture and heritage,” stated Bush.
Another effort to decolonize archaeology and highlight tribal sovereignty is the establishment of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, who represent the unique values and interests of their people when it comes to government affairs.
“(The goal of this class) is to gain a broader knowledge of the different Native American nations that are in the U.S. today and that also were in all of the North American region in the past to sort of connect what it looked like in the past to what they still are in the present because they’re very much still thriving cultures. Then gaining a broader appreciation of the different traditional knowledge and other ways of life from our own,” stated Marsh while students threw atlatls in the background.
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2022-09-11T14:19:39Z
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helenair.com
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Carroll's Native American Studies class learns to throw atlatls | Education | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/carrolls-native-american-studies-class-learns-to-throw-atlatls/article_b84a8fd1-46c1-537d-8c0d-9abb4a130130.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/carrolls-native-american-studies-class-learns-to-throw-atlatls/article_b84a8fd1-46c1-537d-8c0d-9abb4a130130.html
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The Montana Department of Justice held a ceremony Sunday at the state Capitol on the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A ceremony was held Sunday at the state Capitol on the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., encouraged people to "thank, pray for and support those who are willing to run in when the rest of us our running out. They are the first responders. They are the law enforcement. ... They're there holding the front line away from your family."
Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale speaks at a ceremony for the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks Sunday at the state Capitol.
Members of the Montana Highway Patrol Honor Guard stood at attention in front of the U.S. flag, saluting and kneeling in succession to 21 bell rings, followed by a somber rendition of taps by the group's trumpeter that echoed in the dome.
"To this day, I can still see images of death and destruction," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. "But the way our nation came together in the days and weeks following was also remarkable."
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen was the final speaker at a ceremony Sunday honoring the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Knudsen told those in attendance to "never forget" the sacrifices made. He noted how the country seemed to unify in the aftermath and called for a renewed unity.
"I pray it does not take another tragedy like the one we experienced 21 years ago for them to experience the same unity that we did that day," he said.
The Montana Department of Justice held a ceremony for the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to honor first responders Sunday at the state Capitol.
Lewis and Clark County Undersheriff Brent Colbert in a speech to the crowd thanked "first responders and veterans for their sacrifice and for their commitment to their jobs and their duties."
Helena Fire Chief Jon Campbell said on this time every year, his thoughts are often with the loved ones of those who lost their lives on 9/11.
Campbell said the lasting effects of that infamous day "cut deepest in those who continue to experience the absence and sorrow."
Elsewhere in town, a Heroes of Helena event was held Sunday at the Albertsons store on North Montana Avenue in which fire trucks, law enforcement vehicles, emergency vehicles and first responder vehicles were on display. It included a color guard, demonstrations and food. First responders and other emergency personnel attended as well.
The flag is raised Sunday at the Heroes of Helena event at Albertsons on North Montana Avenue.
Eric Dowell, manager of Safeway and event organizer, said the event was put on as a salute to the heroes of 9/11 and as an opportunity for the public to come down and "shake the hand of a hero of Helena." He said the event was held at the Albertsons on North Montana Avenue because the parking lot is bigger than the Safeway store. He said several hundred people attended throughout the day.
The public was invited to come down to the Heroes of Helena event on Sunday and shake the hand of a real hero, one of many first responders and emergency personnel at the event.
Eric Dowell
Rosendale offered comments at the event as well as Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester sent remarks, Dowell said.
And Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton posted Sunday on Facebook that he, Sgt. Bob Kinyon, and Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Kevin Arnold recently rode into Gates Park, Bob Marshall Wilderness, to raise a flag in honor of those who lost their lives or responded on 9/11. The flag was flown at the state Capitol in Helena especially for this tribute and Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the proclamation on July 7.
"We thank you for what you did, and we will do our best to never forget," Dutton said.
Montana Capitol
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2022-09-12T02:59:12Z
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helenair.com
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Helena area holds remembrances in honor of heroes, victims of 9/11 | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-area-holds-remembrances-in-honor-of-heroes-victims-of-9-11/article_aa46886d-450f-5caf-becb-c573e2c1524a.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-area-holds-remembrances-in-honor-of-heroes-victims-of-9-11/article_aa46886d-450f-5caf-becb-c573e2c1524a.html
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A tractor works the fire line Saturday of the Murray fire.
The Murray fire 12 miles southwest of Helmville was listed at 70 acres Sunday evening and 65% contained.
There are 135 personnel assigned to the fire.
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) officials said aircraft is primarily being used to shuttle equipment, cargo and firefighters to and from the spike camp in the fire area, as well as doing mapping missions.
The steep and rocky terrain has proved challenging for crews.
The fire was reported 6 a.m. Sept. 5 and was determined to be lightning-caused. No injuries have been reported nor have any structures been damaged. The fire is on Bureau of Land Management property under the protection of the DNRC.
Also on Sunday evening, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest reported that fire personnel are responding to a new fire on Cliff Mountain east of Deer Lodge.
Officials said the No Grass Creek fire, reported at 3:47 p.m., is estimated to be between 50-100 acres and is exhibiting active behavior. Air attack is en route. More details will be shared as they become available.
There are now 41 actives fires burning in Montana, making the total 1,780 fires for far this year and 109,000 acres burned, the DNRC said.
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2022-09-12T02:59:18Z
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helenair.com
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Murray fire southwest of Helmville now 65% contained | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/murray-fire-southwest-of-helmville-now-65-contained/article_1cdbcb28-c84d-58f4-8757-8536f371cd10.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/murray-fire-southwest-of-helmville-now-65-contained/article_1cdbcb28-c84d-58f4-8757-8536f371cd10.html
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Nuggets From Helena: Carson Addition gave GIs an affordable place to live after WWII
NUGGETS FROM HELENA
F.J. Viereck
William (Bill) Avon Carson constructed the little Carson Addition just east of the State Capitol Complex. Debuted in 1950, the modest Carson Addition homes were priced between $11,000 and $13,000, met FHA standards and were approved under the GI Bill loan program for veterans.
FJ Viereck photo
America’s economy boomed after World War II ended in mid-1945. GIs came home from the European and Pacific Theatres, got married, had children, attended or finished school, began careers and needed affordable places to live. Builders responded to the soaring demand for affordable housing; Helena was no exception.
In Helena, builder William (Bill) Avon Carson constructed the little Carson Addition just east of the State Capitol Complex. All Carson Addition homes were modest. Carson homes were priced between $11,000 and $13,000, met FHA standards and were approved under the GI Bill loan program for veterans.
The Carson Addition is bordered by Oakes Street to the west, Ninth Avenue to the north, Hannaford Street to the east and Sixth Avenue to the south. In the addition, all streets are numbered except for Silver Street. There is no Seventh Avenue or Tenth Avenue in the addition. Carson purposely curved Eighth and Oakes to slow traffic and make the area safer for children because those streets are closest to what once was Ray Bjork Elementary School. Nearby Carson Street (in front of the 1959 Governor’s Mansion) is named after Carson. He very likely named the street himself. Carson sold the property that the current Governor’s Mansion sits on to the state.
Carson Addition homes were economies of scale, very plain and almost boring. Unlike Helena’s upper westside with historic, ornate and architecturally-rich homes, Carson homes had few architectural adornments. Most had right angle, corner bedroom windows, solid wood front doors with three graduated, stair step windows and a gabled roof in front. All had state-of-the-art (at the time) in-floor radiant heat with copper pipes embedded in concrete foundations. Early day double-paned metal windows were used throughout the homes; picture windows were featured in living rooms. Single-car, attached garages were included because most families only owned one car after WWII. With nearly the same sizes and only six different designs, labor costs were lower for the homes. About 45 of the 180 planned homes were built in the addition; the Sixth Avenue Mormon Church is now located on former lots. There were a few non-Carson constructed homes in the addition that were constructed when parts of wide lots were sold off. Plats show alleyways but there really was no room for them with the addition’s very shallow lots, some of which were as wide as 130 feet. Carson homes vary only slightly in size (968 to 1,429 square feet), with one bathroom and two or three bedrooms.
W.A. Carson was the first tract housing builder in Helena. Lewis and Clark County records document the Carson Addition as number 49 on the list of Helena additions. Carson debuted the little homes in 1950 with a Sunday afternoon open house. The addition had curbs, sidewalks and paved streets. Carson said, “there was more sunshine, more Helena Valley views, and more mountain views,” from the addition. And, nearby shopping arrived in 1959 as Helena grew eastward with the former Capital Hill Mall. Original covenants restricted boulevard tree planting to maintain the sunshine in the Carson Addition.
Bill Carson’s birth certificate says he was born in Helena in 1914. However, his 1967 obituary says he was born in Butte but graduated from Helena High School. Sadly, Carson died of natural causes at the young age of 52. Carson had a significant impact on the growth and development of Helena. He was a fair board president and was involved in more than 40 Helena civic groups. Carson Construction had offices in Helena, Seattle, Los Angeles and Alaska. Carson began his work life in nearby York shoveling sand at the Golden Messenger gold mine. One of his next jobs was with Helena Fuel Company, which was owned by Arthur Cooper, actor Gary Cooper’s brother. By 1941, Carson was employed by Merrill Construction as a superintendent.
Carson obtained a contract with the federal government in the early 1960s to move 1,800 very cheaply framed homes from Washington to Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. A few of those homes remain on Van Orsdel Road in the Helena Valley today. Carson bought Helena Sand and Gravel in 1955 from George Jacoby, who had started mining gravel on the westside of town in 1928. Jacoby’s gravel, used for ready mix, was shipped to the then-under-construction Fort Peck Dam in the late 1930s. Mining at the Helena Sand and Gravel pit ceased in 1964 and a lake was born at the site. In 1981, the state of Montana purchased the land for recreational use at a place that’s now called Spring Meadow Lake.
I recognized the Carson Addition as a tract when I saw it in 1970 after my first Capitol tour and considered the homes were very plain. Ironically, I have lived in a Carson home since 1984. Carson Addition homes are considered historic because they now are more than 50 years old. All homes over 50 years old are potentially historic according to the National Register of Historic Places if they have retained their original design, windows and building materials.
Fran Viereck is a retired state employee, has a B.A. from Carroll College and also graduated from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. Viereck wrote this for the Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council, which provides the monthly "Nuggets From Helena" column for the Independent Record.
Carson Addition
Nuggets From Helena: How the Montana Capitol was restored to its original grandeur
Stained glass, wooden doors and trim, floor tile, hardware, plumbing fixtures, fireplaces, light fixtures and other items were removed from the Montana Capitol in the 1960s.
Nuggets From Helena: Grandstreet Theatre and its history
Though most people may have only known Grandstreet as a theater, this building has had many changes since its construction.
Nuggets from Helena: The history of the South-Central neighborhood
Those who preceded us came to this city to follow their dreams, pursue new adventures, or perhaps to seek the riches of the 1864 gold discovery.
Nuggets From Helena: History of Cruse Avenue
Cruse Avenue sits above the east side of downtown high, wide and empty. Almost 60 feet across, it carries less traffic than residential street…
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2022-09-12T16:26:07Z
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helenair.com
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Nuggets From Helena: Carson Addition gave GIs an affordable place to live after WWII | History | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/history/nuggets-from-helena-carson-addition-gave-gis-an-affordable-place-to-live-after-wwii/article_de44f8a9-60ee-50c3-9168-c5871267f1f5.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/history/nuggets-from-helena-carson-addition-gave-gis-an-affordable-place-to-live-after-wwii/article_de44f8a9-60ee-50c3-9168-c5871267f1f5.html
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The new location for Benefis Downtown Helena is at 55 W. 14th St., Suite 102.
Great Falls-based Benefis Health System is having a ribbon cutting Wednesday to celebrate the opening of a new location, Benefis Downtown Helena, which will offer internal medicine and gastroenterology care.
The Helena Area Chamber of Commerce is having a ribbon cutting at the new location at 1 p.m. at 55 W. 14th St., Suite 102, not far from the Great Northern Carousel.
In the newest facility, an internal medicine specialist treats people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and more, and helps them them connect with other specialists as needed.
Dr. Andrew Anderson; Anna Denton, FNP; and Mary Middagh, FNP, began seeing patients at Benefis Helena Downtown at the end of August.
It is the latest foray by Benefis into Helena, a city traditionally covered by St. Peter's Health, PureView Health Center and other health care providers.
Construction continues on the 64,000-square-foot, three-story specialty center at the site of the former Capital Hill Mall along Prospect Avenue. It’s scheduled to open in early 2024. It will have an infusion suite for cancer treatment, four operating rooms, and a mix of Helena-based and Great Falls-based specialists.
In July 2021, Benefis opened its 4,800-square-foot Helena Northeast urgent care center. Benefis acquired Helena Imaging last fall, with significant investment continuing to upgrade imaging capacity, Benefis officials said.
On Sept. 7 Benefis installed a new MRI for faster, less confining, and smarter scans at the Ptarmigan Lane location of Benefis Helena Imaging, officials said.
Anderson and Denton are a married couple and military veterans. Anderson, an internal medicine physician, was in the U.S. Army, and Denton was a U.S. Navy nurse before becoming a nurse practitioner.
Middagh, a family nurse practitioner who specializes in gastroenterology, is a Helena native who had been part of the St. Peter’s Medical Group, Benefis officials said.
Pureview Health Center
Gastroenterology Care
Helena Chamber Of Commerce
Helena Northeast
Benefis Helena Imaging
Helena Imaging
Anna Denton
Carroll College adding Master of Social Work degree
Carroll College in Helena is adding its second master's degree program, a Master of Social Work degree, beginning in the fall of 2021.
Benefis ready to open urgent care center in Helena
Benefis Health System will open its new 4,800-square-foot urgent care center in Helena on July 26 in a building that once housed an IHOP.
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2022-09-12T20:24:50Z
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helenair.com
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Benefis continues expansion into Helena with new downtown location | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/benefis-continues-expansion-into-helena-with-new-downtown-location/article_0a82d6af-7269-5870-a4ec-970c7d52853a.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/benefis-continues-expansion-into-helena-with-new-downtown-location/article_0a82d6af-7269-5870-a4ec-970c7d52853a.html
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Lewis and Clark County justice of the peace candidate Shawn White Wolf of Helena has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, his first offense.
White Wolf was arrested by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper after being pulled over near the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and Crossroads Parkway just outside of Helena around 1:30 a.m. April 22, according to documents filed in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court.
In August, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 180 days suspended. He was also fined $1,000 plus a $85 surcharge with $400 suspended, for a total of $685.
White Wolf was required to enroll in PRIME For Life. This course has three phases: assessment, course and treatment (ACT). In the assessment phase, the person will be evaluated by a licensed addiction counselor to see if they are chemically dependent. During the course phase, the person will receive 12 hours of education regarding Montana law. Lastly, the level of treatment is dependent on the chemical dependency level in the assessment.
White Wolf is not to enter bars or casinos except for employment and is not to have alcohol or drugs, unless prescribed, according to court records.
He sent the following statement to the Independent Record Sept. 9:
"First, I sincerely apologize to the community for my poor decision. I had been downtown at a local restaurant/bar visiting with friends who I hadn't seen since before the Covid lockdowns. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in jail. It was indeed a wake-up call. Since the incident, I have duly remained sober and worked very hard to follow court orders. I do have to say I have first-hand hand knowledge and am up-to-date with our justice system now. And it's because of this that I have a much different view of its purpose, its strengths and weaknesses, and the complexity of the current situation our community faces. I thought very thoroughly about ending my campaign or not after this incident. I concluded that ending my campaign would be another bad decision. I spent one night in jail. However, I have spent more than two decades participating in community meetings, gatherings and on many boards. The lesson here is not to give up just because I stumbled and fell. I am well prepared to lose this election. It is most certainly a consequence of my actions. Should the voters choose to elect me, I will enter this office prepared to bring forth a list of proposals that I believe will improve our justice system and the safety of our community overall.”
Shawn White Wolf
Lewis and Clark County justice of the peace candidate charged with DUI
Lewis and Clark County justice of the peace candidate Shawn White Wolf of Helena was arrested for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
General elections set in Lewis and Clark County
In Tuesday’s primary election, Lewis and Clark County voters approved two local-option marijuana sales taxes and narrowed the field of candida…
Over a dozen file for county offices, Gallagher bows from reelection
Over a dozen candidates have filed for election to six offices on the ballot this November in Lewis and Clark County.
Candidates lining up for Lewis & Clark County elections
A few candidates for the four Lewis and Clark County positions up for election in 2020 filed to run on the first day Thursday.
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2022-09-12T20:24:56Z
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helenair.com
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Lewis and Clark County justice of the peace candidate pleads guilty to DUI | Crime & Courts | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lewis-and-clark-county-justice-of-the-peace-candidate-pleads-guilty-to-dui/article_33288edc-b9f0-5f58-9bd6-dbbd369019dd.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lewis-and-clark-county-justice-of-the-peace-candidate-pleads-guilty-to-dui/article_33288edc-b9f0-5f58-9bd6-dbbd369019dd.html
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The fire, reported at 3:47 p.m. Sunday, is on Forest Service-managed land in/around Blackfoot Meadows east of Deer Lodge. It is in the Electric Peak Inventoried Roadless Area and is not threatening any homes or private property at this time, forest officials said.
The cause of the blaze was not listed.
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2022-09-12T20:25:09Z
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helenair.com
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No Grass Creek fire east of Deer Lodge now at 400 acres | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/no-grass-creek-fire-east-of-deer-lodge-now-at-400-acres/article_4078814d-78fc-5064-a3ae-357dd8027a94.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/no-grass-creek-fire-east-of-deer-lodge-now-at-400-acres/article_4078814d-78fc-5064-a3ae-357dd8027a94.html
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Eternity Miner
A 21-year-old Helena woman was charged with felony theft and misdemeanor criminal mischief after allegedly stealing a vehicle.
On Sept. 6, an officer was dispatched to the 1600 block of Prospect Avenue for a report of a stolen vehicle.
The victim told the officer that he had driven the vehicle that he had borrowed to a business and left the vehicle running with the keys inside the ignition but removed the key fob. He said he locked it while it was still running and went inside the business.
He said he unlocked the vehicle as he exited the business, and Eternity Rose Miner, who had somehow gotten into the vehicle, drove away in it.
According to court documents, video surveillance showed Miner opening and closing the rear passenger door of the vehicle. Then, the hazard lights of the vehicle flash on the video, showing that the vehicle had been unlocked. Miner could be seen jumping into the front seat of the vehicle and driving off, the documents say.
On Sept. 7, the stolen vehicle was located in East Helena and retrieved by officials. The front passenger door handle was broken and hanging, totaling $800 in damages, said authorities.
The owner of the vehicle arrived on the scene and reported that multiple items were stolen from inside the vehicle, totaling around $12,750. The vehicle itself was estimated at $16,000, according to court reports.
Miner had already been arrested for another charge and was located at Lewis and Clark County Detention Center to be advised of the new charges against her.
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2022-09-12T23:51:58Z
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helenair.com
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Helena woman charged with vehicle theft | | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/helena-woman-charged-with-vehicle-theft/article_fa58dd29-a96d-58c3-a625-e23d0d3bb9cf.html
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https://helenair.com/helena-woman-charged-with-vehicle-theft/article_fa58dd29-a96d-58c3-a625-e23d0d3bb9cf.html
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State Highway 284 will be closed on both sides of the dam to traffic from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 26-29.
Access across Canyon Ferry Dam on state Highway 284, at both sides of the dam, will be closed to traffic Sept. 26-29, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, Bureau of Reclamation officials said Monday.
The temporary road closure will allow the Bureau of Reclamation to safely do work necessary to complete project work on the dam infrastructure.
Required work includes replacing electrical components of the dam integral to the operation of the gantry crane. Travelers must seek alternate routes, north and south of the dam during the closure period.
However, emergency vehicles and first responders will be allowed to pass over the dam during the road closure but may face delays of about 15 minutes.
Contact the Canyon Ferry Field Office at 406-475-3310 or visit http://www.usbr.gov/gp/mtao for more information.
Canyon Ferry Dam
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2022-09-12T23:52:04Z
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helenair.com
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Access across Canyon Ferry Dam closed to traffic Sept. 26-29 | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/access-across-canyon-ferry-dam-closed-to-traffic-sept-26-29/article_2236686d-8430-5ef4-802a-83a92c94099f.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/access-across-canyon-ferry-dam-closed-to-traffic-sept-26-29/article_2236686d-8430-5ef4-802a-83a92c94099f.html
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HPD Assistant Chief Cory Bailey
Provided by the Helena Police Department
Then Lt. Corey Bailey poses for a photograph outside the Law Enforcement Center in this 2016 IR file photo.
Bailey most recently served as captain on the force, where he fulfilled assistant chief duties following the promotion of Brett Petty to chief.
Petty, who also boasts a two-decade HPD career, and Bailey referred to their tenures as "growing up in the department."
"He and I grew up in this department," Petty said in a phone interview Monday morning. "We're on the same page when it comes to the direction of the department going forward."
Bailey said he received the news Sept. 6 and, like most people taking on a new challenge, had to overcome an initial moment of doubt.
"I thought, 'What's next? Am I ready for this,'" he said.
Bailey grew up in the Helena area. He went to high school in Townsend and graduated from Montana State University.
Petty said "he's from around here."
Bailey started out in HPD as a patrol officer. He was a school resource officer and conducted investigations.
Eventually, Bailey transitioned into an administrative role, overseeing the investigations unit for two different stretches, the patrol division and the records division.
"He understands how the Helena Police Department works," Petty said. "He will help continue moving this department forward in a more community-focused direction."
The Helena Police Department is allotted 53 officers and currently has 47.
Following the retirement of former Chief Steve Hagen at the end of 2021, Petty stepped in as interim chief before ultimately being hired to the post full time in January.
Since then, the department has gone without an assistant chief. Bailey was promoted to captain in January and carried some of the assistant chief load.
"It was just Chief Petty and I," he said. "I got a little taste of assistant chief and it helped."
Bailey said the department has "been on a good path over the years."
"It's always been a well-run department with community backing," he said. "We want to make sure we're continuing that."
He said he hopes to see the force continue to be "proactive to what the needs of the community are going to be and improve the quality of life for citizens."
Bailey believes that will require officers to spend more time out in the community they serve building trust.
"We want the citizens to know we're here. We live and work here," he said. "And we want our city to be the best it can."
Helena Police Assistant Chief
Helena Police Chief
Cory Bailey
Steve Hagen
'A remarkable week': Academy gives kids a taste of law enforcement
The Junior Police Leadership Academy is taking place at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena and gives kids a closer look at a career in law enforcement.
One of Helena's finest and furriest retires
The city of Helena bid farewell to one of its finest during Monday evening's city commission meeting.
K-9 officer Copper joins Helena Police Department
Helena Police Department officer Jacob Scavone has a new partner on the force, and this one wears a badge on his collar.
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2022-09-12T23:52:07Z
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helenair.com
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Bailey named assistant chief of Helena Police Department | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/bailey-named-assistant-chief-of-helena-police-department/article_99481804-a062-5297-a512-106ed642dce6.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/bailey-named-assistant-chief-of-helena-police-department/article_99481804-a062-5297-a512-106ed642dce6.html
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Carroll College President John Cech offers muffins and coffee for the first day of classes in front of the Campus Center.
Carroll College said Monday that its more than 20-year streak as one of the best regional colleges in the West by U.S. News and World Report’s "Best Colleges" ranking has continued this year.
“We are particularly excited to have returned to the top of the leaderboard for value,” said John Cech, president of Carroll College. “By recognizing that we provide the best value in our 15-state region, it affirms what we have always believed, which is that Carroll College provides the best return for your educational investment.”
For the previous 11 years, Carroll ranked first for "Best Regional College in the West." This year, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University took the No. 1 spot, and Carroll ranked second. Cech noted in his weekly Carroll update email on Monday that the "rocket scientists at Embry-Riddle should enjoy their victory lap" because Carroll is looking for that No. 1 spot again next year. Carroll did rank first in "Best Value College in the West."
According to Carroll’s website, the private institution's 2022-2023 full-time tuition (12-plus credits) with room and board costs around $50,000 annually. However, after gift aid, that cost is cut in half to about $25,000 annually.
This brings the price into the range of public education costs. Montana State University’s in-state tuition, room and board is at $24,256 annually, and the University of Montana’s in-state tuition, room and board is at $22,258 annually.
“Accessibility is paramount to us. We do not want cost to be a barrier to higher education so we are proud to have put the resources in place to make Carroll an affordable choice,” said Cech.
Almost all students, 99%, receive institutional aid. Carroll also has the lowest loan default range in Montana. The college attributed job placement after Carroll as a main reason for this, with students’ median earnings around $53,000 annually upon graduating.
Carroll also placed second regionally for "Best Colleges for Veterans," first for students in the top 25% of their high school graduating class, tied for first in first-year retention rate, second for graduate rate and third in alumni giving.
The "Best Colleges" ranking is an annual report of over 1,400 regionally accredited institutions based on 17 metrics of academic excellence such as retention, graduation rate, class size, student-faculty ratio, financial resources per student and more.
There are 266 colleges in the regional colleges category organized into four regions: North, South, Midwest and West. The West, which includes Carroll College, has 15 colleges.
The full rankings are on the U.S. News and World Report website.
“While it is certainly nice to be recognized by one of the premiere sources for college rankings, what we are truly proud of year in and year out is the exceptional academic experience we provide, the dedicated and accomplished faculty and staff we employ, and the bright, compassionate students we graduate,” said Cech. “Nothing changes from year to year in how we strive to live our mission and instill knowledge and goodness in our students, and desire to make Carroll College the very best Catholic, liberal arts college in the west.”
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2022-09-12T23:52:19Z
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helenair.com
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Carroll College places well in U.S. News and World Report ranking | Education | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/carroll-college-places-well-in-u-s-news-and-world-report-ranking/article_4759aab8-bb02-57d6-9f04-b9d6745234f5.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/carroll-college-places-well-in-u-s-news-and-world-report-ranking/article_4759aab8-bb02-57d6-9f04-b9d6745234f5.html
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The No Grass Creek fire in Powell County on the west end of the Helena Ranger District was listed Monday afternoon at 424 acres, U.S. Forest officials said.
The fire, reported at 3:47 p.m. Sunday, is on Forest Service-managed land in/around Blackfoot Meadows east of Deer Lodge. It is in the Electric Peak Inventoried Roadless Area and is not threatening any homes or private property at this time, U.S. Forest officials said.
The cause of the blaze was not listed. The latest update on the fire was posted on https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8421/ at 2:46 p.m. Monday. The fire was at 400 acres in the previous posting Monday morning.
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2022-09-12T23:52:25Z
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helenair.com
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No Grass Creek fire east of Deer Lodge now at 424 acres | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/no-grass-creek-fire-east-of-deer-lodge-now-at-424-acres/article_4078814d-78fc-5064-a3ae-357dd8027a94.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/no-grass-creek-fire-east-of-deer-lodge-now-at-424-acres/article_4078814d-78fc-5064-a3ae-357dd8027a94.html
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The Absaroka Mountains, which overlook the Yellowstone River in the Paradise Valley, are part of the expansive Custer Gallatin National Forest. Recreation on the forest, especially in the greater Bozeman area, has grown exponentially.
Several environmental groups have filed a lawsuit over a U.S. Forest Service livestock grazing plan near Yellowstone National Park, alleging that the decision will lead to more conflicts with federally protected grizzly bears.
The groups, which include Western Watersheds Project, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Native Ecosystems Council, Center for Biological Diversity, Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, Sierra Club, Friends of the Bitterroot, Wildearth Guardians and Gallatin Wildlife Association, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the East Paradise Range Allotment Management Plan.
The groups argue that allowance and expansion of grazing in grizzly bear recovery areas and travel corridors will lead to more conflicts, resulting in the deaths of more bears. They ask the court to reverse the decision and order additional environmental analysis of the plan’s impacts on the bruins.
Six livestock grazing allotments make up the plan on this portion of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, located southeast of Livingston. The Suce Creek, South Sixmile and Mill Creek allotments will remain vacant under the plan, while the Pine Creek, Elbow Creek, and North Sixmile allotments will continue to be grazed, in some cases with expanded dates and range.
When announcing the decision, the Forest Service said the plan strikes a balance between ecological values and multiple uses of the areas. In response to the lawsuit Monday, the agency said grazing is an appropriate use of National Forest system lands and environmental analysis supports the decision.
“The grizzly bear analysis and the East Paradise Decision are consistent with the 1987 Gallatin Forest Plan, for which this decision was signed under and the 2016 Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy,” said spokesperson Mariah Leuschen-Lonergan. “Livestock grazing on public lands does have the potential to result in conflict as was disclosed in the environmental analysis; however, in this area there has been little to no conflict between livestock and bears. The Forest (Service) consulted with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in accordance with the Endangered Species Act and they concurred with our assessment in the Biological Opinion.”
The Forest Service issued an environmental assessment detailing potential effects of the plan on habitat and wildlife. Its decision concluded that a more rigorous analysis, called an environmental impact statement, was unnecessary due to the level of impacts.
The groups argue that conclusion was incorrect, pointing to the need for habitat connectivity and a shift in food sources to a more meat-based diet due to declining whitebark pine. Bears that target meat tend to see more livestock conflicts, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit also alleges that the agencies’ use of a 1998 “baseline” analysis of the area is flawed. The baseline essentially details where grazing was taking place and by how many animals, with a goal of not expanding beyond those levels. But the groups argue that the baseline was never fully analyzed and is now outdated.
“The 1998 baseline was designed as habitat-based delisting criteria for the 1993 grizzly bear recovery plan,” the lawsuit states. “The 1998 baseline is not a proxy or surrogate for analyzing the effects of an action on grizzly bears or grizzly bear recovery.”
The groups also argue that the wildlife service’s conclusions, because they are based on the 1998 baseline, are also flawed and thus violated the Endangered Species Act.
Livestock Grazing
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2022-09-12T23:52:33Z
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helenair.com
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Citing grizzlies, groups sue over grazing plan in Paradise Valley | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/citing-grizzlies-groups-sue-over-grazing-plan-in-paradise-valley/article_15e4349b-5435-5a91-ac97-a24aee8a539b.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/citing-grizzlies-groups-sue-over-grazing-plan-in-paradise-valley/article_15e4349b-5435-5a91-ac97-a24aee8a539b.html
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Candace Payne has the background and competency that is needed to be our next county commissioner. As a practicing lawyer myself for 43 years in the community, I recognized Candace's long tenure as a hardworking, dedicated representative of numerous business clients and individuals. In addition, Candace made the time to serve her community through involvement in numerous groups. We served on the YMCA board together where she was an important contributor. She is a longtime member of our Helena Kiwanis Service Club and when I asked her to consider the presidency of that important club she rose to the occasion and served with distinction.
Candace has the endorsement of all three current county commissioners as well as past commissioners. She is a good listener who will take the time to consider all sides of an issue and make decisions that are not necessarily politically correct, but responsible and well reasoned to protect the taxpayer and citizen interests of all Lewis and Clark County residents. I urge you to join me in voting for Candace as our next county commissioner.
Rick Pyfer,
Rick Pyfer
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2022-09-13T14:33:23Z
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helenair.com
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Candace Payne for county commissioner | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/candace-payne-for-county-commissioner/article_c87509e4-5685-5296-bf8a-5d4105e0468e.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/candace-payne-for-county-commissioner/article_c87509e4-5685-5296-bf8a-5d4105e0468e.html
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Janet Ellis deserves your vote
Sen. Janet Ellis is not a typical politician. She isn’t in it for herself — she got involved (and has stayed involved) in politics to advance the issues Helenans care about: quality education, access to healthcare, assuring fair and open elections, protecting the environment, and improving the economy.
She listens to her constituents and has a track record of working across the aisle to get the job done for Montanans. She’s one of the hardest workers and most committed public servants I’ve ever met. She deserves your vote! Let’s reelect Janet Ellis for Senate District 41.
Jake Troyer,
Jake Troyer
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2022-09-13T14:33:29Z
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helenair.com
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Janet Ellis deserves your vote | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/janet-ellis-deserves-your-vote/article_d7139bae-bffa-5851-b15e-1b3eabb42777.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/janet-ellis-deserves-your-vote/article_d7139bae-bffa-5851-b15e-1b3eabb42777.html
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Carolyn Murphy tutors inmates as they work through EdReady, a remedial math curriculum, in the Montana State Prison's educational center in this June 2022 file photo.
Ten inmates at Montana State Prison last month began college courses with Helena College as part of the Second Chance Pell Grant program officials hope can help reduce recidivism.
The federal program is administered through the Montana Department of Corrections and the Montana University System.
Pell Grants are typically available to students in financial need, although they were previously unavailable to students in prison settings. The U.S. Department of education in April announced an expansion of the Second Chance program, now in its third round of grant disbursements. Among the additional 73 colleges and universities that will provide college courses to students in prison settings were Great Falls College, Montana State University Billings, Dawson Community College and Helena College.
The 10 inmates who received the grants began their work Aug. 29 toward a certificate of applied science in automotive technology through Helena College, the state corrections department said in a press release Monday.
"I believe it will be an essential part of my success,” said Ty Jensen, an inmate who recently completed a welding course at the prison and hopes to own a fabrication and auto body shop. “It’ll help give me the skills and the ability to have a career and to stay out and never come back.”
Helena College Dean Sandra Bauman said in the press release the students will be plugged into the classroom experience via smart boards and other technology while getting the hands-on experience through Montana Correctional Enterprises, the prison's work and training program.
“This provides the right training to get into the automotive industry, but it also provides an opportunity for anyone who wants to continue their education and earn an associate degree,” Bauman said. "From there, the sky is the limit. This is a university system program, so there is (a) lot of transferable coursework. Students can continue to build upon that education as they like."
Corrections and education officials both lauded the program's opportunities in Monday's press release.
“This is a great opportunity for people under our supervision to continue their education and improve their skills so they can have more employment opportunities when they leave our facilities,” DOC Director Brian Gootkin said. “We’re excited to help these offenders fill the employment gaps in Montana with the skills they gain through training with Montana Correctional Enterprises and now with additional skills from our collegiate partners.”
“Higher education is a proven pathway for reducing recidivism, improving employment opportunities after release, and providing the necessary skills and training for successful re-entry,” said Montana Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian. “Providing high-quality educational opportunities to students from all walks of life is central to everything we do in the Montana University System. I’m happy our colleges and universities are joining the Department of Corrections to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.”
Second Chance Pell Grants
Ty Jensen
Clayton Christian
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2022-09-13T22:41:53Z
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helenair.com
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10 state inmates enrolled in college courses through federal grant | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/10-state-inmates-enrolled-in-college-courses-through-federal-grant/article_ad85cd57-5c44-5629-bbdf-6d379a5a56a6.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/10-state-inmates-enrolled-in-college-courses-through-federal-grant/article_ad85cd57-5c44-5629-bbdf-6d379a5a56a6.html
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Chambers joins Montana Justice Foundation as executive director
Alissa Chambers
Alissa Chambers has been named the new executive director of the Montana Justice Foundation.
Chambers was a partner at Crowley Fleck, where she was a commercial attorney focusing on merger and acquisition transactions and private securities. Chambers also worked with Crowley’s in-house pro bono attorneys to expand Crowley’s pro bono efforts across the firm.
“I have been passionate about pro bono work and access to justice issues since I became a lawyer in 2011,” Chambers said in a news release. “I have had a fulfilling legal career doing commercial transactions, but sometimes you must follow your heart. When I saw my dream job posted, I knew I had to go for it. I’m thrilled to join this organization and work to bring equal access to justice for all Montanans.”
Kim Schulke, board president of the Montana Justice Foundation, said Chambers brings a strong legal background “but also a passion for providing equal access to justice.”
“We are excited to see what the future will bring under her leadership,” Schulke said.
The Helena-based Montana Justice Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to raise, manage and distribute funding that increases access to the civil justice system statewide. MJF raises funds through the Interest on Lawyer Trust Account program, court-ordered awards and contributions from Montana lawyers, law firms and other private donors.
It makes grants for projects that provide essential services to those in need, like stable housing, medical care and safety for those escaping abusive and violent environments. Grant recipients from 2021 are listed at www.mtjustice.org/impact. It also works with the Access to Justice Commission – an entity created by the Montana Supreme Court to remove barriers to justice – to help ensure a coordinated spectrum of legal aid resources across the state.
For more information, visit www.mtjustice.org.
Montana Justice Foundation
Kim Schulke
Interest On Lawyer Trust Account Program
Access To Justice Commission
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2022-09-14T01:05:53Z
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helenair.com
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Chambers joins Montana Justice Foundation as executive director | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/chambers-joins-montana-justice-foundation-as-executive-director/article_735fc782-0b76-5e27-88b6-61918b568f60.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/chambers-joins-montana-justice-foundation-as-executive-director/article_735fc782-0b76-5e27-88b6-61918b568f60.html
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Health Matters: Challenge yourself to prioritize mental health
BRIDGID CROWLEY
One in five Americans suffered from mental health symptoms in 2020, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health. Young adults between 18-25 years of age had the highest rate of psychiatric symptoms. Excessive worry and sadness, trouble sleeping and other psychiatric symptoms are common in our community. When we experience these symptoms, it does not always mean that we need to be treated with medication. Just as we do for our physical health, things can be done to keep our mental health in check. As September is National Suicide Awareness and Prevention month, St. Peter’s Health and I challenge our readers to take this opportunity to focus on behaviors that protect our mental health.
Eat a well-balanced diet: Ensuring that we nourish our bodies with a variety of healthy and whole foods as well as an appropriate amount of calories has been shown to help with improved mood symptoms.
Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated helps our bodies function efficiently and feel better.
Exercise: Regular movement, whether it is a leisurely walk, yoga or higher intensity exercise, has evidence for improving anxiety, depression and sleep. Move your body daily, even if you only have a few minutes to spare.
Get plenty of rest: Sleep is important for our overall health, mental health included. One of the best ways to help with sleep is to stick to a routine. Go to bed and wake up around the same time every day. This can help our brain fall into a pattern, ensuring that when we lay down at bedtime, we drift off to sleep.
Connect with loved ones: Socializing is more important for our overall health than we might realize. Not only can friends and family help to provide emotional support, they can help us stick with healthy habits. Connect with loved ones on the phone, or better yet, in real life.
Find purpose: Turning our focus outward and finding purpose in what we do bolsters self-esteem and mood. Give back, whether it’s helping a neighbor with a small task or volunteering for a community organization. Helping is contagious. Not only can it boost our mood, it can also help inspire others.
Take a moment out of the day to just be present: The practice of mindfulness, which means “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally,” has robust data for helping psychiatric symptoms. Dedicating a few minutes at the start of your day for a mindful moment can help shift how your day unfolds.
Make time for an activity that you enjoy: It’s easy to become caught up in daily routines with work, school and other life expectations. Pencil in an activity that’s important to you such as reading, fly fishing, art, or walking the dog.
Limit alcohol and other substance use: Substances of all types, excessive caffeine included, can worsen sleep, anxiety, mood and other mental health symptoms.
Check in yearly with your primary care provider: During yearly visits, primary care providers can screen for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Our community primary care physicians are great at detecting concerning symptoms and treating them if needed.
These and other healthy behaviors are important for all of us to incorporate into our daily routines as they can help provide a buffer for our mental health, especially when dealing with stress. Importantly though, if symptoms start to interfere with your daily life and functioning, such as making it difficult to work, sleep, eat, or get out of bed, make an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss and determine if treatment is right for you.
If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, there are other resources. If in an emergency, call 9-1-1. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also available. You can call or text 9-8-8 or chat with 988lifeline.org directly. These resources are for anyone in crisis, are confidential and available 24 hours a day.
You matter. There are things that we can do to help. Please reach out.
A Helena native, Dr. Bridgid Crowley is a psychiatrist at St. Peter’s Health. She is board certified in general adult psychiatry and psychosomatic/consult-liaison psychiatry, and was recently named to the Helena Independent Record’s “20 under 40.”
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2022-09-14T14:28:38Z
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helenair.com
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Health Matters: Challenge yourself to prioritize mental health | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/health-matters-challenge-yourself-to-prioritize-mental-health/article_90a68ded-884d-549b-b235-19911fba8365.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/health-matters-challenge-yourself-to-prioritize-mental-health/article_90a68ded-884d-549b-b235-19911fba8365.html
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When infrared heat energy comes upon a wobbly molecule like carbon dioxide (CO2) the energy activates the molecule, like music jazzes up a dancer, making it vibrate, with carbon waving its two oxygen "arms" in a dance.
After a while, the molecule releases the infrared energy and stops "dancing," but the energy keeps going. It can head in any direction — to make another molecule dance, go to space, or head back to earth, heating it up again.
Water vapor, an oxygen atom with two hydrogens, is also a great dancer. It differs from CO2 in how long it stays in the atmosphere. Remember the water cycle? Carbon also cycles between the atmosphere, land and ocean. The difference is that water molecules linger in the air for only about two weeks, while carbon cycles at a glacial pace. The carbon is in the air as CO2, remaining in the atmosphere (dance floor) for decades, to hundreds, even a thousand years!
When we burn carbon-based fuels like coal, oil and gas, each carbon molecule released from the fuel combines with two oxygen molecules from the air to form CO2. We add to the naturally occurring CO2 in the atmosphere that rises from the ocean, decaying plants and animals, occasional volcanic eruptions, and wildfires. It all just keeps accumulating, because the natural "sinks" that remove CO2, most notably the ocean, are so slow.
Back to our car example, the car’s windows are like the vibrating molecules that absorb and release heat and make up less than 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere. Putting more CO2 into the atmosphere is like rolling up the windows of your car. Did you know that, if left in the sun with the windows up, your car can go from 80 degrees to 99 in 10 minutes?
Need a visual? Google this great three-minute YouTube video from Minute Earth called “How Do Greenhouse Gases Actually Work.”
Kristen Walser (Montana Citizens' Climate Lobby, state co-coordinator)
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2022-09-14T14:28:50Z
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helenair.com
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Climate Conversations: The greenhouse effect, dancing carbon dioxide, and your hot car | Columnists | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/climate-conversations-the-greenhouse-effect-dancing-carbon-dioxide-and-your-hot-car/article_9641be4a-b2c0-5a1c-8663-f5a011f49d3d.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/climate-conversations-the-greenhouse-effect-dancing-carbon-dioxide-and-your-hot-car/article_9641be4a-b2c0-5a1c-8663-f5a011f49d3d.html
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LR-131 is harmful to women’s health. Passage of laws similar to LR-131 in other states had a chilling effect on health care providers’ willingness to perform abortions because of the risk of prosecution. The law would reduce women’s access to reproductive health care and put women at risk, especially those without the means to travel out of state to get the care they need.
LR-131 would cause real harm to nonviable infants by requiring extreme medical procedures to prolong intolerable pain and suffering. A severely disabled infant with a negative prognosis can require millions of dollars in care, ultimately paid by taxpayers and the insured to prolong a predictably short and painful life. These decisions need to be made by medical experts who are fully knowledgeable about each unique situation.
LR-131 could harm parents by interfering with their ability to comfort, hold and touch their nonviable infant while it is dying.
Women hold the power to create a more perfect democracy. We have been fighting for equal rights in the United States since the Woman’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. It was a long fight to win passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, extending the right to vote to some women; voting rights were not extended to all women until the Civil Rights Act of 1965. It was a long fight to the Roe v. Wade decision in 1972, granting bodily autonomy to women.
Nancy Leifer, president, League of Women Voters of Montana; Sue Hoell, co-president, League of Women Voters of Helena; and Becky Piske, co-president, League of Women Voters of Helena.
Nancy Leifer
Sue Hoell
Becky Piske
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2022-09-14T14:28:57Z
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helenair.com
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Guest view: LR-131 is unnecessary and harmful | Columnists | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/guest-view-lr-131-is-unnecessary-and-harmful/article_188d8082-3215-58da-8d56-77f3b6d23e06.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/guest-view-lr-131-is-unnecessary-and-harmful/article_188d8082-3215-58da-8d56-77f3b6d23e06.html
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If we were to forget about starting salaries and evaluate where alumni are at, say, age 40, not only as regards income, but professional success, I suspect those who major in the human service fields and humanities and fine arts would be doing quite well when compared with those who sought job-training degrees.
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2022-09-14T14:29:03Z
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helenair.com
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Lawrence K. Pettit: It’s not all about money | Columnists | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/lawrence-k-pettit-it-s-not-all-about-money/article_50fe4576-d52b-5ce5-9d3e-a7acf41f3475.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/lawrence-k-pettit-it-s-not-all-about-money/article_50fe4576-d52b-5ce5-9d3e-a7acf41f3475.html
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In a recent column, "Don’t forget what happened last session," (Helena IR Aug. 26) Backcountry Hunters & Anglers fails to acknowledge the reality of elk hunting in Montana. For many reasons, including land management, predators and decades of overhunting, elk populations have migrated from public to private lands. Instead of coming up with any creative approaches to this evolving issue, organizations such as BHA continue to oppose all efforts to incentivize private landowners to allow more Montana residents access to their properties.
New programs such as The Elk Hunting Access (EHA) Agreement Program, called “454 agreements,” were passed by the 2001 Legislature to increase access to private lands for Montana resident hunters. The program allows for a landowner to receive an elk permit and/or license in exchange for allowing free elk hunting access to at least three public hunters -- one of which may be selected by the landowner. The numbers released by Montana FWP demonstrate the success of the program in its first year.
The numbers don’t lie:
In its first year, the 454 program opened up nearly 400,000 acres of prime elk hunting on private land.
Ten of 13 landowners enrolled in the program indicated they provided additional free public access in addition to what was required, providing opportunity to more than 660 additional public hunters above the statutory requirements.
In total, the program provided access on private lands for 750 hunters, most all of which were Montana residents.
There are real challenges to elk populations and hunting in the state of Montana. Real solutions will require creative thinking and must include increasing public access to private lands.
Rod Paschke,
Rod Paschke
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2022-09-14T14:29:09Z
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helenair.com
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The numbers don't lie | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/the-numbers-dont-lie/article_4bfc3953-a6bc-5d42-95f2-e274fb5ae7cf.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/the-numbers-dont-lie/article_4bfc3953-a6bc-5d42-95f2-e274fb5ae7cf.html
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Montana State News Bureau
Grizzly bear track
The 4-year-old male bear had first been captured and collared in 2021 in a trap set due to cattle depredation. It was unknown at the time if the trapped bear had killed the calf or was scavenging the carcass, so it was collared and released on-site, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said in a news release. Later in 2021, the bear was documented visiting sites where a sheep and a calf were killed. Officials say the bear was confirmed by trail camera and collar data, but it evaded attempts to capture it at that time.
On Sept. 5, landowners reported another sheep had been killed, and FWP and USDA Wildlife Services technicians responded and confirmed the sheep was killed by a bear. Collar data from the bear showed it was present at the kill site and it was shot and killed on Friday afternoon after approval for the removal came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Grizzlies are listed as threatened under Endangered Species Act.
The hide and head from the bear were salvaged and will be used for educational purposes, FWP said.
U.s. Fish And Widlife Service
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2022-09-14T18:58:08Z
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helenair.com
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Officials kill grizzly near Choteau after livestock depredations | Montana Untamed | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/outdoors/officials-kill-grizzly-near-choteau-after-livestock-depredations/article_8009aa0b-6e38-5dde-805d-6b2a178ce9f7.html
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https://helenair.com/outdoors/officials-kill-grizzly-near-choteau-after-livestock-depredations/article_8009aa0b-6e38-5dde-805d-6b2a178ce9f7.html
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Benefis Health System officials line up Wednesday in front of their new Helena office.
Benefis Health System held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday for its latest foray into town with Benefis Downtown Helena, which will offer internal medicine and gastroenterology care.
The office is on the western edge of the Great Northern Town Center.
“It’s a wonderful place to be,” said Amy Linder, division operations director for Benefis Health System, during a ceremony with the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce.
The office at 55 W. 14th St., Suite 102, has been open since Aug. 29 and provides more room beyond the Benefis Helena Northeast urgent care center that opened in July 2021.
In the new facility, an internal medicine specialist treats people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and more, and helps them connect with other specialists as needed.
Among those attending the celebration was John Goodnow, chief executive officer of Great Falls-based Benefis.
“I am just tickled to be here in Helena,” he said.
Goodnow said Benefis has been serving the Helena community a long time, but patients, for the most part, had to travel to Great Falls.
He said Benefis thought it was better for the people of Helena to be in Helena rather than to make them come to Great Falls.
“We are happy to be here,” Goodnow said.
He was asked about Benefis’ growing presence in a town that has traditionally been served by St. Peter’s Health and others such as PureView.
Benefis is building a 60,000-square-foot Benefis Helena Specialty Center on the site of the former Capital Hill Mall. The $44 million facility will have 34 exam rooms and a 16-chair infusion suite. Benefis officials said there will be eight physicians based in the center at the start.
It also acquired Helena Imaging last fall, with significant investment continuing to upgrade imaging capacity.
“We won’t be that large here when you get down to it,” he said.
He said Benefis will be giving Helena residents more choice and be like other communities in the state.
And he added he was not opposed to more expansion of Benefis in Helena.
John Goodnow
Amy Linder
Helena Area Chamber Of Commerce
Great Northern Town Center
Benefis Helena Northeast
Shodair breaks ground on new $10M medical office building
Shodair Children’s Hospital recently broke ground on a new $10 million medical office building at Saddle and Shodair drives in Helena. The 25,…
Shodair Children's Hospital construction project progress
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2022-09-14T22:53:04Z
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helenair.com
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Benefis celebrates opening of another office in Helena | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/benefis-celebrates-opening-of-another-office-in-helena/article_5ffdff09-5900-5eea-ba18-83bd9b3d222f.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/benefis-celebrates-opening-of-another-office-in-helena/article_5ffdff09-5900-5eea-ba18-83bd9b3d222f.html
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The current district map for the Montana House of Representatives was adopted in 2013. Screenshot from Dave's Redistricting App includes partisan lean based on recent statewide elections.
PABLO — Republican proposals for new legislative districts in Montana would reduce the number of districts with Native American majorities, an approach that has been criticized by tribal members, indigenous activists and Democrats since they were unveiled last month.
During one of two public hearings taking place on Indian reservations in the state, Monday’s meeting at the Salish Kootenai College in Pablo saw tribal members, local leaders and indigenous lawmakers asking the Districting and Apportionment Commission to preserve the current districts in which Native Americans make up a majority of voters. Democrats argued that keeping those districts intact is critical to complying with the federal Voting Rights Act.
“That helps to provide that knowledge, that long-standing reflection on the Native people in this area, in our legislative system,” Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Chairman Tom McDonald told the commission during the hearing.
The meeting was sparsely attended compared with other recent hearings around the state, including in Bozeman and Missoula, where comments were more evenly divided between those supporting maps advanced by Republicans versus Democrats.
Under the current legislative map, six House districts have a majority of voters who are Native American. Montana’s 50 Senate districts are each made up of two adjacent House districts. The six majority-minority House districts currently pair up to form three majority-minority Senate districts: One spanning the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations, another covering the Blackfeet Reservation and portions of the Flathead Indian Reservation and a third stretching through portions of the reservations on the Hi-Line.
McDonald argued for the importance of maintaining some form of House District 15, which stretches across much of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex to link the eastern portion of the Flathead Reservation with the Blackfeet Reservation.
Commission members disagree on the need for the sprawling district, and Republicans have suggested the lengthy driving distance between its corners may run afoul of the requirement that districts be “compact and contiguous” with respect to transportation, geography and other factors. That requirement is spelled out in the Montana Constitution, as well as the commission’s adopted criteria.
Montana’s redistricting process is overseen by a commission split between the two parties, with two members appointed by Republicans and two appointed by Democrats. Chairperson Maylinn Smith serves as the fifth, nonpartisan commissioner appointed by the state Supreme Court, and often serves as the tie-breaking vote.
In August, each of the four partisan commissioners offered up their map proposal, kicking off a series of public hearings held around the state and via remote meetings to gather public input. Smith has said she expects the maps to change once the commission meets after the November election for a lengthy work session to refine the borders of the 100 House districts.
GOP-appointed commissioner Dan Stusek’s plan is the only one of the four that wouldn’t adopt some form of HD 15, instead creating a Flathead Reservation district with 48% Native voters that doesn’t connect to the Blackfeet Reservation. And because Senate districts are formed by combining two adjacent House districts, it would automatically eliminate one of the current majority-minority Senate districts, as well.
“I made that split partially because of practical contiguity,” Stusek said in August, after unveiling his map proposal. He added, “I believe … the contiguity issues there create a district that would not be deemed that it would violate the Voting Rights Act.”
His GOP colleague, Jeff Essman, has proposed a map that retains six minority-majority House districts, but would also only allow for the creation of only two such Senate districts.
Stusek noted that part of the courts’ analysis rests on whether a minority group in a district is able to elect its “candidate of choice.” This amounts to determining whether the minority group has a clear preference in candidate, and whether a district is drawn in a way that allows members of the racial majority to vote as a bloc to defeat the minority group’s choice. He also noted that the maps are likely to change significantly as the process continues.
"We're not drawing any lines in the sand," he said in an interview last month. "We're open to change if that's what the people comment on."
Democratic Commissioner Kendra Miller, in an analysis she submitted recently to the commission, pointed to a higher likelihood of those “candidate of choice” wins in the districts with high Native populations on the Democrats’ maps, versus those from Republicans. In an August meeting, she also accused the GOP commissioners of ignoring the Voting Rights Act in their map proposals.
Many of the commenters in Pablo stressed the shared history and culture between the two tribes, a nod to one of the commission's adopted goals to keep "communities of interest" intact.
Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, represents Senate District 8, which currently unites the two majority-minority districts covering the Flathead and Blackfeet reservations. A Blackfeet tribal member, she highlighted the shared family trees of tribal members on the two reservations.
“Historically, we’ve fought on another, but when we got into the modern era, we have been allies politically and socially,” Webber said in an interview at the meeting.
The CSKT have a relatively diffuse Native population compared with other Montana tribes, with a reservation population that is nearly two-thirds white. Only one House seat that currently represents part of the reservation is held by a Native lawmaker, Webber said, and she worried that without a minority-majority district, the CSKT would lose their voice in the Legislature.
“To just eliminate House District 15 entirely, these people won’t have any representation,” she said. “I take that very seriously as a representative. Whatever they want, I take that seriously.”
Webber also pointed to successes by the Legislature's Native American Caucus advancing common legislative priorities like combating invasive species and the crisis of missing Indigenous people.
Montana's Native American population, at 9.3% of the total according to the 2020 census, has historically been disproportionately represented in the Legislature, although that gap has closed in recent decades. Indigenous lawmakers currently make up 8% of both chambers, up from just over 5% a decade earlier.
Native Voters
Native American Lawmakers
Reapportionment
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2022-09-15T00:50:09Z
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helenair.com
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Native voters, leaders ask redistricting panel to preserve minority districts | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/native-voters-leaders-ask-redistricting-panel-to-preserve-minority-districts/article_b5bdba4a-dedb-534e-a698-c6465eb9b17c.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/native-voters-leaders-ask-redistricting-panel-to-preserve-minority-districts/article_b5bdba4a-dedb-534e-a698-c6465eb9b17c.html
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Holter director Chris Riccardo resigning Oct. 15 to return to ceramics
Health is one key reason Chris Riccardo is resigning as executive director of the Holter Museum of Art Oct. 15.
Another is art – having time to make it.
“I love this place,” he said, sitting in his office, which is often overflowing with work projects and fascinating art objects. Resigning is “one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made.”
He started at the Holter as an education assistant in 2014, became interim director in 2015 and executive director in 2016.
Since the pandemic, the Holter has pretty much been on his mind 24/7.
“Stress can kill you,” he said of why he needs time to focus on himself and his own health.
“I’m an artist and I want to do that, and I haven’t really had the chance.
“I’d really like to commit one solid year and just be in my studio focusing solely on my work.”
Chris Riccardo works on a sculpture in this IR file photo from 2014.
In the future, he would like to step in periodically to help the Holter.
The Holter is planning to hire an interim director for six months, while it launches a search for a permanent director, said Holter board president Corey Palmer.
Riccardo is the third Helena arts director to step down in recent months – Steven Lee at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts stepped into being Bray special projects manager this summer, and Grandstreet Theatre Managing Director Kal Poole announced his resignation in July.
All three departures are amicable.
And all three directors say the pandemic was a factor in their decision.
Riccardo took over as director during a very rocky time, when it looked like the Holter might have to shut its doors.
“We did a lot in six years,” he said.
The Holter is more financially stable, it’s expanded its education and outreach programs and built the new “W” Wiegand Creativity Center, offering a venue for all sorts of art and community events.
“It’s generating income,” he said. “It's bringing in people who’ve never been to the museum…and they’re being exposed to art.”
Initially, the Holter was planning a capital campaign to launch Holter Re-Imagined in 2018-2019, but scaled down that ambitious vision once COVID hit, focusing on the “W.”
Riccardo also threw himself into rebuilding trust and close relationships with community members, businesses and donors.
Some other accomplishments include:
launching two popular youth art programs – the After-school Teen Arts Council and Art for Survival;
installing a new membership database and growing membership;
revamping the Holter website;
initiating the Healing Arts Program with St. Peter’s Health;
initiating a resident artist program; and
exhibiting dynamic, thought-provoking shows like the interactive CAVE exhibit and “Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate.”
“I’m super proud of the exhibits we’ve brought in," he said.
During the pandemic, the Holter shared the exhibits and artist talks online, which it will likely continue to do.
Riccardo sees now as the perfect time to leave, so a new leader can take the Holter to the next level.
“The past six months have definitely taken a toll,” Riccardo said. “People are tired.”
Board president Corey Palmer said the board is planning a farewell event for Riccardo and a celebration of his accomplishments, but the date hasn’t been set.
“I’m excited for Chris," Palmer said.
It’s been a hard few years, for him especially. He’s been facing the most pressure.
“I want to thank the community for helping us navigate through these tumultuous times.
“Chris really stepped in and stabilized the Holter and stabilized the finances,” said Palmer, “building a strong staff.”
He particularly credited Riccardo for creating the healing arts program, setting a compelling vision for the Holter and overseeing the creation of The "W."
“He’s ensured the Holter is a place for the community to come together to experience unique artistic voices.”
Last Wednesday, Steven Lee spent the whole day in his studio and one could hear the smile in his voice even over the phone.
Time to make art is one of the reasons Lee stepped down as director of The Bray.
He doesn’t think what’s happening on the art scene in Helena is unique.
He’s seeing nationwide changes in leadership in the ceramics world, he said. “A lot of people have moved on.”
Steven Young Lee works on a piece in his studio on the Bray grounds in this IR file photo from 2016. Lee recently stepped down as resident director at the Archie Bray Foundation and is now a special projects manager.
For Lee, who announced his job change last November, “it was the right time to pass on the leadership.”
He had just headed up a successful multi-year capital campaign and campus renovation and oversaw receiving The Bray’s biggest endowment gift ever – a $15 million gift from the Windgate Foundation.
A new director can bring a different energy and ambition to the organization, he said.
The pandemic was a really scary time for The Bray.
Although it has an established international reputation, “it all could have disappeared in a minute.” People dug in and did everything they could to keep it afloat – moving classes, art auctions and sales online.
Government and foundation funding and donors provided a huge relief.
Both the state and federal government and foundations changed their rules to make themselves more flexible and responsive.
He sees the pandemic as an opportunity for nonprofits to take a fresh look at themselves and how they’ve always done things.
“It allowed us to look at things with a new light.”
Kal Poole, playing the role of Stage Manager, performs a monologue on the set of 'Our Town' at Grandstreet Theatre in this IR file photo from 2015. Poole announced his resignation as managing director at the theater in July.
In July, Kal Poole announced his resignation.
“I’ve had my dream job and it’s been awesome. I love, love, love Grandstreet,” he said. “But I think it will be good to have someone with a different skill set” step in.
He wants a break from stress and is looking forward to more time with his family.
“We had to reinvent the wheel 12 times,” he said of reacting to COVID.
Grandstreet had to close its doors for months.
So, it took plays and theater classes online, helped the city build an outdoor stage in Hill Park, produced shows with all the cast masked, and installed a new heating and air conditioning unit that purifies air.
The main problem arts organizations are facing, he said, is people fell in love with their couches.
“People are buying streaming services instead of tickets.
“People need to break up with Netflix,” he said, and get back to going to live shows, museums and galleries.
He sees stepping down from Grandstreet as a time to grow.
“I’ve got a ton of things that interest me. I’m excited to see what’s next.
“I’ve been working in theater 30 years.”
Montana Arts Council Executive Director Tatiana Gant said not-for-profits have been particularly at risk during the pandemic. “They tend to run really close to the line.”
There’s been some turnover at Montana arts nonprofits, but it’s not something they’ve tracked the numbers on.
There are a lot of job openings at nonprofits in general, noted deputy director Kristin Han Burgoyne, but that’s also true in state government and the private sector.
For a lot of arts directors, navigating COVID was one of their legacy accomplishments, Burgoyne said.
But Helena’s three arts directors have all built an amazing legacy of accomplishments, she noted. “I don’t think COVID got the best of them….It will be exciting to see what they do next.”
Gant added, “I’ve heard people say, we’re not going back to prior times, it’s a portal. We’re going to come through in a totally different place.”
Steven Young Lee takes new position at the Bray, which launches search for new director
Steven Young Lee, resident artist director at the Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts in Helena, will be transitioning into a new position…
Managing Director Kal Poole is leaving Grandstreet Theatre
Kal Poole is stepping down as managing director of Grandstreet Theatre, but he’s not ready to bow from the community theater stage entirely.
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2022-09-15T14:31:29Z
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helenair.com
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Holter director Chris Riccardo resigning Oct. 15 to return to ceramics | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/holter-director-chris-riccardo-resigning-oct-15-to-return-to-ceramics/article_8cc14111-d084-554e-814f-e5208ea1756c.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/holter-director-chris-riccardo-resigning-oct-15-to-return-to-ceramics/article_8cc14111-d084-554e-814f-e5208ea1756c.html
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Ukraine is similar to Montana in size, latitude and topography, but one of our most notable commonalities is a critical export of wheat. While this year Russia’s wheat yield is at a record high, Ukraine’s is down 38%. The heaviest costs of decreased wheat production in Ukraine may not be felt here in Montana, but the increased prices of wheat cultivation and transportation are. While prices per bushel for wheat have exceeded $10, Montana farmers are struggling through devastating droughts, and the high oil prices caused by the war in Ukraine have made planting, harvesting and transporting wheat double in cost. Montana and Ukraine both export about 80% of their wheat crops. While this year’s wheat yield in Montana is much higher than last year’s due to increased rainfall, Montana’s production is still well below average, and farmers are struggling to bear the burden of increased production costs due to the war. Russian oil and Russian and Ukrainian wheat are crucial to global supply chains that, when interrupted, cause great detriment to us in Montana.
These consequences are not lost on Russia. Since 2014, the U.S. and many of its allies have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its illegal annexation of Crimea, to minimal results. Now Russia has the geopolitical power to deprive much of Europe of the oil and gas needed to survive winter. Russia also holds one-fifth of the world’s freshwater and more than one-fifth of the world’s remaining forests, and has the power to leverage these resources against nations that depend on them.
To learn more, join Iuliia Mendel, former press Ssecretary to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. in a Mansfield Zoom Dialogue, where she will discuss her experience on the ground during Russia’s invasion as well as prior events including attending meetings between Zelenskyy and Putin and fielding press inquiries after the infamous calls between Donald Trump and Zelenskyy. Register at mansfieldcenter.org.
Keegan Lundman recently graduated from UM with a focus in Russian, history, German and European studies after studying Russian in Ukraine in 2021. She currently works at UM’s Mansfield Center.
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2022-09-15T14:31:41Z
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helenair.com
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Keegan Lundman: Ukraine’s fight for its life and why it matters to Montana | Columnists | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/keegan-lundman-ukraine-s-fight-for-its-life-and-why-it-matters-to-montana/article_6b93b86a-3278-53c0-b5d5-b4c1e83901a7.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/keegan-lundman-ukraine-s-fight-for-its-life-and-why-it-matters-to-montana/article_6b93b86a-3278-53c0-b5d5-b4c1e83901a7.html
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Works continues on the new Montana Heritage Center.
Bruce Whittenberg, former director of the Montana Historical Society, told members of Hometown Helena, a grassroots group, that he had just toured the $81 million center now under construction.
Bruce Whittenberg
“It’s really going to be something,” he said. “It will be a wonderful addition to the state of Montana.”
Officials had said earlier they expected the new facility to open in 2024 or early 2025.
Eve Byron, public information officer with the Montana Historical Society, said spring 2025 is the new projected opening date. She added she has heard that Sletten Construction Co. is ahead of schedule. But she added that flexibility was needed when it comes to construction.
Work continues on the Montana Heritage Center site.
The new 66,000-square-foot addition at 225 N. Roberts St. will have expanded galleries, so visitors can see more of the art and artifacts held in trust by the Montana Historical Society. It also will include meeting rooms for up to 300 people and a public café.
This drawing by the architectural firm Cushing Terrell shows the new Montana Heritage Center.
The heritage center’s projected cost has grown from its original price tag of $53 million to $81 million, due to skyrocketing prices for labor, building materials and shortages. Byron said Thursday the projected cost remains at $81 million.
Montana billionaire Dennis Washington and wife, Phyllis, donated $25 million through their foundation to help keep the project on track. They attended the May topping off ceremony and encouraged others to donate as well.
Ground was broken on the center in September 2020, following a nearly 15-year effort to build a new facility. Officials said the current museum was outdated and did not have the room to display the state’s extensive collections. It is expected to bring in 78,000 more visitors a year and create $7.5 million more in annual tourist spending.
Dennis Washington speaks at Tuesday's topping out ceremony of the new Montana Heritage Center in Helena.
Senate Bill 338, known as the Montana Museums Act of 2020, passed in the final hours of the 2019 legislative session.
Lawmakers increased the statewide accommodations tax -- often called a bed tax as it targets tourists and applies to hotel rooms and campgrounds -- from 3% to 4% to use a portion to pay for the new home for the Montana Historical Society. Not only was it to benefit the creation of a new Heritage Center, it also created a grant program to fund restorations of historical sites and museums across the state.
Whittenberg urged the public to drive by the construction site and see the progress being made on the new center.
“It’s pretty darn cool,” he said.
Montana Heritage Center
Sletten Construction
Eve Byron
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2022-09-15T21:58:58Z
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helenair.com
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Helena group gets update on new Montana Heritage Center project | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-group-gets-update-on-new-montana-heritage-center-project/article_dc0699a6-bf09-5ea9-a9e0-4605805d5d6c.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-group-gets-update-on-new-montana-heritage-center-project/article_dc0699a6-bf09-5ea9-a9e0-4605805d5d6c.html
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No Grass Creek fire east of Deer Lodge now at 1,145 acres
The No Grass Creek fire east of Deer Lodge was reported 3:47 p.m. Sunday.
The No Grass Creek fire east of Deer Lodge is estimated to be 1,145 acres, U.S. forest officials said Thursday.
The fire, reported at 3:47 p.m. Sunday, is in Powell County on the west end of the Helena Ranger District and the far east end of the Pintler Ranger District. It is being managed by the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, in close coordination with Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
The fire is in an area that has had large amounts of tree mortality, officials with the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest said.
It is dense and continuous throughout the Electric Peak roadless area and recommended wilderness area. Because of the current state of the dead timber, it’s neither safe nor effective to put fire personnel into the area, officials said.
Fire personnel are managing from the air, while other firefighters are observing the fire’s progression, activity and overall behavior from various vantage points on the two districts.
No homes or private property are threatened by the fire. Officials said this provides an opportunity to responsibly allow fire to naturally function and provide ecological benefits.
Officials said appropriate management actions will be considered and implemented as dictated by the fire.
Closure orders have been issued for some areas of the forest in the Electric Peak area and Kading Campground.
Pintler Ranger District
Montana Department Of Natural Resources And Conservation'
Electric Peak
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2022-09-15T21:59:04Z
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helenair.com
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No Grass Creek fire east of Deer Lodge now at 1,145 acres | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/no-grass-creek-fire-east-of-deer-lodge-now-at-1-145-acres/article_5fda9f87-9d64-5e61-8b6f-a21acb007ca6.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/no-grass-creek-fire-east-of-deer-lodge-now-at-1-145-acres/article_5fda9f87-9d64-5e61-8b6f-a21acb007ca6.html
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Patti and Fred Verzani pose for a photo inside Montana Flag and Pole on Wednesday.
After 34 years of selling flags, poles and flag auxiliary items, Fred and Patti Verzani have decided to call it quits, or, as they may put it: it is time to take in the flag.
The owners of Montana Flag and Pole on Last Chance Gulch in Helena said it’s time to retire. They have had little luck in selling their business, so they plan to have a liquidation sale and close.
“We’ve been trying to sell since early spring and there have been no takers so it is time to retire,” Patti said Monday. “It’s bittersweet.”
Fred said the 829 N. Last Chance Gulch business remains for sale, but if it’s not sold by the end of the month, they will have a final sale in October.
The Verzanis, who are both 74, said they originally got into the business after supplying flags for the Montana centennial celebration in 1989. They said they decorated inside and outside of the Capitol.
They liked it so much, they decided to continue it as business.
Patti noted husband Fred is a veteran.
“We are very patriotic,” she said.
The Verzanis said they not only helped customers buy flags, but also provided information on what size they need, what size pole and other material.
“We have just tried to educate people all these years,” Patti said.
They said business has grown in the past few years with more veteran memorials sprouting up all over the state.
Their favorite projects remain the Old Glory flag in Helena’s Memorial Park, which consists of a 115-foot pole with a 30-by-50-foot flag, and a 125-foot pole on the Crow Agency, also with a 30-by-50 flag.
Patti said the store sells a hearty variety of flags, all made in the United States, including state of Montana flags, U.S. flags, military and Canadian flags and all of the tribal flags. They have a whole wall of decorative banners, windsocks, Cat, Griz and Carroll flags, angle brackets to put on a house, memorial cases for flags and solar light flag poles.
And with the recent death of Queen Elizabeth, British flags were a hot-ticket item.
“People are very surprised at the products available…” Fred said. “They are always amazed what they see.”
They said the business is for sale for $175,000 and that does not include the building, which will be sold separately.
The Verzanis are not optimistic a sale will take place, adding that people today do not want to buy businesses and that “young people are definitely not interested in owning this type of retail business,” Fred said.
Patti said she had a customer who came in said if she was not retired, "I would buy and keep it going.”
They note they are the only retail flag company in the state and in the region. And they realize their closing will leave a void.
“Fred has a lot of customers that he keeps their flags looking good,” Patti said. “There’s a lot of service, and I think that is what the people who come in here have said, ‘What are we going to do?’”
A sign on the door to Montana Flag and Pole notifies customers that the business is closed.
They note they are especially concerned about the tribal nations who rely heavily on the store for flags. They also note their flags and poles are used at Montana schools, various cities, rodeos, cemeteries and rest areas.
Ray Read, director of the Montana Military Museum, calls the business “a jewel waiting to happen” and adds if he was 10 years younger he would buy it himself.
He said he has been out knocking on doors looking for someone to buy it. Read said Montana Flag and Pole services the museum, which is now trying to purchase and store as many materials as it can.
He said Montana winds are especially tough on flags, adding some last only two to three months.
“It’s a silly thing that we can’t find someone to pick it up and run with it,” he said.
The Montana Department of Administration and General Services Division has been a customer of Montana Flag and Pole for many years.
“While we routinely use multiple suppliers for flags, we will seek a new supplier for poles,” officials said in an email. “DOA will miss the professional relationship that we have with Fred. His institutional knowledge of flags and flag protocol will be difficult to replace.”
Another customer bemoaned the store’s demise.
“It’s a sad thing. I don’t where I’m going to buy (my) stuff,” said Fred Anaya, a customer since 2008.
He said he has bought flags and poles from the Verzanis.
“It’s got what I need,” Anaya said. “He’s friendly and knowledgeable.”
He said he was upset the store is closing, “but I ain’t got no control.”
Anaya said he has purchased two sets of flags, which will buy him two years until he figures out where he will buy from next.
“It’s going to be a loss, but we all got to retire,” he said.
The Verzanis said they plan on spending their remaining weeks at the store reaching out to cities, towns and other loyal customers to make sure they have enough flags and other related supplies to get by for a few months when they are not here.
They say they plan to remain in Helena and smile as they talk about how they can drive around town and have a memory or story about many of the flags they see.
Fred Verzani beams when he speaks of a grandson who seems to have picked up the family zeal.
"(He) enjoys spotting the flags," he said.
Frank Verzani
Patti Verzani
Montana Flag And Pole
Crow Agency
Ray Read
Fred Anaya
New 50-foot flag raised at Helena's Old Glory Landmark during Fourth of July celebration
On Monday morning, hundreds of people came out to Helena’s Centennial Park to celebrate Independence Day at the sixth annual Capital City Fourth of July Celebration.
Old Glory Landmark, Helena's 50-by-30-foot flag, gets new caretakers
The Old Glory Landmark off Last Chance Gulch is one of the most iconic places in Helena, but it takes a lot of work to keep it that way.
Old Glory Landmark: A symbol of patriotism
When you drive by the “Big Flag” in Centennial Park, think about this: it has cost more than $250,000 in cash and in-kind services to build, s…
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2022-09-15T23:43:15Z
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helenair.com
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Time to take in the flag: Owners of Montana Flag and Pole in Helena are retiring | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/time-to-take-in-the-flag-owners-of-montana-flag-and-pole-in-helena-are/article_a560f124-fed9-58d9-b84f-bae11dfe4ea7.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/time-to-take-in-the-flag-owners-of-montana-flag-and-pole-in-helena-are/article_a560f124-fed9-58d9-b84f-bae11dfe4ea7.html
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I could write numerous essays on the dangers of Christian Nationalism, but since Banned Books Week (Sept. 18-24) is upon us, I’m going to concentrate on the ideology’s abuse of literature. Political parties and ideologies with winning ideas don’t need to ban books. Christian Nationalism, however, features inferior ideas that can’t compete in the modern world without cheating. It’s as if its followers are saying, “God forbid if our children read about diverse ideas that open their eyes and...” gulp, “turn them into liberals!”
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2022-09-16T14:19:51Z
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helenair.com
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Marty Essen: Christian nationalism and book banning | Columnists | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/marty-essen-christian-nationalism-and-book-banning/article_67fb90eb-7c30-5c96-b51f-0281af1155c8.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/marty-essen-christian-nationalism-and-book-banning/article_67fb90eb-7c30-5c96-b51f-0281af1155c8.html
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I ran the Montana Communicable Disease Epidemiology program and retired three months before it started. Finally good timing in my life. In March 2020, I was quoted in an article saying that this was NOT the zombie apocalypse but more like the flu from heck. And so it is. I helped CDC write their original pandemic plans in 2005/2006 and have been immersed in this a good piece of my career.
So, what does this article mean to YOU as a Montana citizen? The most recent weekly Montana COVID report states, "Since the beginning of April 2021, 75% of Montanans who were hospitalized and 75% of those who died were unvaccinated at the time of infection." Lesson? Get vaccinated...sorry about your opinions, but COVID doesn't care...
What does the article mean for COVID not going away? Well, letting you in on a secret, but there are presently two major COVID related diseases that impact our world every year... They are called "colds" as they are not killers, but they sure are a pain and you have all had them repeatedly over your lives. Here is the CDC article on that. cdc.gov/coronavirus/general-information.html.
COVID isn't there yet. Get vaccinated.
Karl Milhon,
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2022-09-16T14:20:07Z
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helenair.com
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Get vaccinated | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/get-vaccinated/article_3b63d6bc-a334-5af6-b612-7928b133b055.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/get-vaccinated/article_3b63d6bc-a334-5af6-b612-7928b133b055.html
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We have subscribed to the Independent Record for more than 40 years, but we are thinking of cancelling our subscription after the latest changes to the paper! It seems as though the IR wants us to go to their virtual paper. They certainly don’t seem to want their customers' input as to their wants or needs. We will certainly miss the paper being part of our daily routine!
Mike Sinnott,
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2022-09-16T14:20:14Z
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helenair.com
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Recent newspaper changes | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/recent-newspaper-changes/article_3eb20a3c-0e12-5d68-962b-d65a6ed5108c.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/recent-newspaper-changes/article_3eb20a3c-0e12-5d68-962b-d65a6ed5108c.html
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The 2021-2022 end-of-the-year summative assessment scores for Montana were released this week.
The summative assessment measures math and reading, or English Language Arts (ELA), proficiency in grades three through eight and 11. It is required through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The 2021-2022 school year differed in that the federal Department of Education did not issue any waivers for the end-of-the-year summative assessment scores.
In the 2021-2022 school year, 98.2% of Montana students in grades three through eight participated in the reading assessment. Of those students, 46.1% were at or above proficient and 53.9% were below the proficient level for their grade. For 2020-21, 46.4% were at or above proficient.
In the 2021-22 school year, 96.7% of Montana students in grades three through eight participated in the math assessment. Of those students, 36.5% were at or above proficient and 63.5% were below the proficient level for their grade. For 2020-2021, 35.6% were at or above the proficient level.
National scores are submitted to the federal Department of Education in December, so it will be a few months until people can see how Montana students compared to the national average for the end-of-the-year summative assessments in math reading.
For the 2021-2022 school year, 90.5% of Montana high school juniors completed the reading portion and 91.9% completed the math portion of the ACT. Montana’s average score was 18.6 out of 36, which is below the traditional national average score of 22.
Under the new admission requirements adopted by the Montana Board of Regents as of May 27, 2021, students no longer need to provide their ACT or SAT scores for admission.
“I am proud of the resiliency our Montana students have shown through the school closures and uncertainties of COVID,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen said in a press release. “We have work to do to increase math skills throughout our state. I am focusing on opening our state math standards that haven’t been revised in over ten years. I am also creating math innovation zones that will increase our teacher’s confidence in teaching math so that our Montana students can achieve educational excellence. This fall, the new innovative MAST pilot program will launch in participating fifth and seventh grade Montana classrooms to more accurately measure student learning in Montana which will lead the way to student success.”
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2022-09-16T19:56:07Z
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helenair.com
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Montana releases 2021-22 assessment scores for math and reading | State & Regional | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-releases-2021-22-assessment-scores-for-math-and-reading/article_682cbcc6-92d1-5d7c-9717-b29c235ea3dd.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-releases-2021-22-assessment-scores-for-math-and-reading/article_682cbcc6-92d1-5d7c-9717-b29c235ea3dd.html
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A sign for a Block Management area. The program comes in two types, with Type 1 allowing access by signing in while Type 2 requires a reservation.
The maximum cap a landowner could receive through the popular Block Management program would double under draft legislation lawmakers recently voted to advance.
Block Management currently pays landowners a $13-per-day “impact” fee for each public hunter allowed to hunt on their property. By law the program, which is funded by hunting licenses, is capped at $25,000, meaning any hunters allowed after 1,900 are uncompensated.
Currently 22 landowners meet the cap, according to Ed Beall the owner of a Helena sporting goods store and chair of the Private Land/Public Wildlife Council advisory committee. He said that Block Management is a high-demand program seeing increasing pressure.
Pointing to leasing or VRBO-style hunting reservation systems, “even at $25,000 it appears that when you look at what the market is, it’s not even close,” he said.
The Environmental Quality Council, the legislative interim committee charged with oversight over Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, voted unanimously to pre-introduce a bill in the next Legislature that would raise the cap on Block Management to $50,000. Pre-approval will allow the agency to introduce the full bill at the beginning of the session, where it will still go through the full legislative process including potential amendments.
The move came at the recommendation of the PL/PW, which works to improve cooperation between landowners, hunters and outfitters. That group presented its biannual report to EQC recently.
“Montana has programs that are the envy of neighboring states,” Beall said. “Block management is certainly the primary one that we’re all aware of and the one that’s used the most and the one that’s most well-known.
“Hunters want more access. Landowners want better management and cooperation. Outfitters want opportunity for their businesses. Those are the challenges we see in addressing today’s challenges with access.”
In addition to payment, Beall said landowners often request assistance with managing hunters, including increased enforcement presence. Hunter ethics and behavior are also frequent concerns from landowners, he said, and PL/PW has pushed FWP to provide more education.
PL/PW also encouraged a bump in the payment per day. If the rate had kept up with inflation from its inception, that would be $18 per day, Beall said.
Block Management has seen a number of financial adjustments since its inception in 1985. In 1995 impact payments were set at $10 per day and an $8,000 cap. In 1999 the cap went to $12,000 but the daily rate did not increase until 2009, when it went to $11. In 2017 the daily rate went to $13 and the cap went to $15,000. Then in 2021, lawmakers pushed the cap to $25,000.
While the Legislature sets the cap, the daily rate is set at the discretion of the FWP director, Sarah Clerget, FWP’s chief attorney, told EQC. Raising the cap would provide Director Hank Worsech the flexibility to increase the per day payment, she said, calling the legislation the “first step” in the conversation.
FWP spokesperson Greg Lemon said there is interest in raising the per day rate, but indicated the decision to do so would be a product of “a lot of variables” including whether to include it in the governor’s budget and proceeding through the legislative budget process.
“We have to have an appropriation from the Legislature to spend money. It starts there,” Lemon wrote in an email. “So, even if the per day rates were increased by the director, we can’t spend more than the cap. If that cap is increased, we would consider a per day rate increase as well.
“Would the increased cap lead to more participation in the program? Possibly. Would increased participation from landowners result in more hunter days? Probably. Those are the kinds of variables we’re going to have to factor in if this moves forward.”
The financial implications of increasing the cap or daily rates is not entirely clear given variables such as landowner participation, increased hunter days and where an increased daily rate might be set by the department. In 2017 the last time both were increased, that equated to an average increase of 17.5% per contract totaling an additional $1.2 million.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public input on how the state's elk populations should be managed (Video from Montana FWP)
Block Management
Ed Beall
Environmental Quality Council
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2022-09-16T21:35:17Z
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helenair.com
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Legislation would double payment cap for Block Management | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/legislation-would-double-payment-cap-for-block-management/article_f23e87a1-5d87-5564-884f-3ab91668da2e.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/legislation-would-double-payment-cap-for-block-management/article_f23e87a1-5d87-5564-884f-3ab91668da2e.html
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American Legion's national commander highlights POW/MIA Day in Helena
American Legion National Commander Vincent J. "Jim" Troiola was the guest speaker at the 43rd National POW-MIA Recognition Day Friday at Memorial Park.
“Honoring the men and women who have been held captive, and pressing for a full accounting for those who remain missing, is a sacred mission of our organization,” said Jim Troiola, at the 43rd annual Prisoner of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Recognition Day event at Memorial Park in Helena on Friday.
Troiola, who is the American Legion’s national commander, said during the rain-soaked ceremony that the "value of this program is to keep this issue at the top of all our agendas and reminding the media, our leaders and the public to never forget these heroic men and women.”
He told the story of the late Air Force Col. George “Bud” Day, who was twice captured by the enemy.
“A veteran of World War II and Korea, Col. Day broke his arm in three places and strained his knee while ejecting from his F-100 over Vietnam,” recounted the commander.
The 43rd National POW-MIA Recognition Day was held Friday at Memorial Park.
He was taken prisoner immediately, but after interrogation and severe torture, he escaped into the jungle, surviving on berries and frogs. Day was captured again a couple weeks later by a Viet Cong patrol, being wounded in the leg and hand by gunfire.
The commander read Day’s Medal of Honor citation: “Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy.
“Col. Day’s conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.”
Troiola said Day’s experience is a reminder of the “hell our POWs endured,” and to remember how many Gold Star Families are still waiting to hear “what exactly happened to their veteran” who never made it home.
The event was supported by the Fort William Henry Harrison Museum Foundation of Montana; the Military Museum; the American Legion Post No. 2 (Lewis & Clark) Voiture 718, 40 & 8 Society; L&C Veterans Memorial Foundation; and veterans at large.
Vincent J. “Jim” Troiola is a life member of American Legion Post 1682 in Rockland County, New York. He spent five years in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves from 1969-74, completing a tour aboard the USS Nitro, an auxiliary ammunition ship, while attaining the rank of Boatswain’s Mate petty officer third class.
Troilola has served in many offices at every level of the American Legion. He was elected department (state) commander of New York for 2010-11, and chaired several national commissions. From 2016-17, Troiola served as national vice commander.
He was elected national commander of the nation’s largest veteran service organization three weeks ago, during the American Legion’s 103rd national convention.
Jim spent his entire working career in the automotive service industry, starting out as a parts manager at a local Chevrolet dealership and working his way up to director of service and parts at a New York metro Mercedes Benz outfit.
Shortly after retiring in 2017, Troiola began driving a school bus for the Falmouth School District.
“The American Legion treasures its relationship with the National League of POW/MIA Families,” he concluded on Friday. “We support the efforts of organizations that are looking for answers… Many have gone missing in countries that are still hostile to us.
“But the American Legion will continue to press. We owe it … to all men and women that we send into harm’s way…”
During the ceremony, the names of 53 Montanans listed as prisoners or missing in action were read by volunteers.
Next came the reading of 53 names of Montana POW/MIAs by those who gathered at the veterans' memorial.
Following the ceremony, Troiola’s itinerary consisted of visits to Fort Harrison’s Montana National Guard, the Veterans Administration, Montana Military Museum, and Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office at the Montana Capitol.
His discussion agenda includes the America Legion’s “Be The One” program, to reduce the epidemic of veteran suicide.
Curt Synness, a USNR veteran, can be reached at 406-594-2878 or curt52synness@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter @curtsynness_IR
Jim Troiola
Stories of Honor: Jenni Maier served as corpsman at Bethesda Naval Hospital
As a civilian, the Helena native continued her affiliation with Uncle Sam, volunteering with the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots in Helena and working for the VA Healthcare System.
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2022-09-16T23:21:53Z
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helenair.com
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American Legion's national commander highlights POW/MIA Day in Helena | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/american-legions-national-commander-highlights-pow-mia-day-in-helena/article_d18a4d36-6d1e-59f8-852a-c85d63f2a27e.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/american-legions-national-commander-highlights-pow-mia-day-in-helena/article_d18a4d36-6d1e-59f8-852a-c85d63f2a27e.html
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Nuclear power advisory panel proposal fizzles, gets tabled
A proposal to set up an advisory council to help guide the development of nuclear power in Montana fizzled Friday when the committee tabled the motion, in effect keeping the idea from moving on to the 2023 legislative session.
Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, made a motion to table the proposal, which was approved 10-0 by the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee (ETIC). Sullivan had advocated for the proposal, but her motion generated no comment from fellow committee members.
However, Sen. Terry Gauthier, R-Helena, said prior to the meeting he was frustrated as it was a good idea that failed to get traction.
He said he had balked at attempts to put ratepayer protections into the proposal, saying that was the job of the Public Service Commission. He said some Democrats on the panel object to nuclear power or having it developed in Montana.
“With this attitude we would have never discovered the new world or landed on the moon,” Gauthier wrote in a text.
Those opposed to the council had said the newer version was a watered down from an earlier proposal. They said it was rushed and omitted ratemaking provisions that would protect the public.
The advisory council was a last-minute idea considered by the committee. It also would have created a nuclear liaison for the state who would have to submit a report annually to ETIC.
The funding plan was to have the costs of the committee supported by any nuclear company that submitted an application with the state.
The study of nuclear power was the result of Senate Joint Resolution 3, passed in the 2021 legislative session. Carried by Gauthier, SJ-3 notes the closure of coal-fired power plants will result in negative impacts on the Colstrip community and coal-fired boilers could be replaced by a small nuclear reactor that would provide clean, well-paying jobs. He said it can then use the existing infrastructure to produce and distribute clean, affordable electricity safely and without carbon emissions.
The interim committee reviewed two reports it would submit to the Legislature, and one of them was SJ3.
Rep. Andrea Olsen, D-Missoula, asked for some additions to be made to the reports.
“I feel like waste and costs are barriers we should spend more time on in our reports,” she said, adding they are barriers that have not been addressed properly.
Gauthier said those issues have been addressed in the reports.
“I think there is plenty of in-the-weeds conversation already and I would object to that,” he said.
Rep. Steve Galloway, R-Great Falls, said it is an advancing technology.
“It’s just not your dad’s nuclear systems anymore,” he said, describing nuclear power as “an evolution that hasn’t arrived yet.”
GOP lawmakers have also noted in the past there are federal agencies that regulate nuclear power as well.
Olsen said Galloway's comment that nuclear power is evolving does support her claim that there are questions about how they will dispose of waste.
Gauthier said waste will be reduced by small modular reactors. He said the waste generated by this country is about football-field sized and 30 feet high.
Sen. Janet Ellis, D-Helena, said she objected to comments that blew off the waste issue.
“I think it’s a big issue, I agree with … Olsen on that,” she said.
Committee Chair Sen. Mary McNally, D-Billings, said she had concerns of waste and cost but the committee was at a point that the time for modifying contents had passed.
The committee voted to move the reports on to the Legislature as drafted.
SJ3 passed 9-1, with Olsen as the lone dissenter. SJ33, a grid modernization study, passed 10-0.
You can read SJ3 at https://bit.ly/3LiG9IN
You can read SJ33 at https://bit.ly/3DBOaqt
Andrea Olsen
Senate Joint Resolution 3
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2022-09-16T23:21:59Z
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helenair.com
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Nuclear power advisory panel proposal fizzles, gets tabled | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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A Gallatin County District Court judge has ruled three state laws unconstitutional as they apply to Montana’s public university students and campuses.
Judge Rienne H. McElyea’s Sept. 14 decision blocks laws or portions of laws dealing with speech on campus; requiring student athletes to participate on teams based on their sex assigned at birth; and funding for student political organizations. The judge found in all three cases that Montana’s Constitution put decision-making power with the Board of Regents rather than the Legislature.
“Each law attempts to directly control internal university affairs and inject legislative policy judgments into (Montana University System) administration, contrary to the letter and intent of the Montana Constitution,” McElyea wrote.
Attorney Jeff Tierney with the Goetz law firm in Bozeman applauded the decision Friday.
“We are gratified by the court’s decision,” he said. “The delegates to Montana’s Constitutional Convention had the foresight to protect our public higher education system from tinkering by the Legislature. Today’s decision affirms our Constitution, and is an important victory for the university community and all Montanans.”
In citing precedent, the judge pointed to the recent Montana Supreme Court case which found unconstitutional a portion of House Bill 102 brought by Rep. Seth Berglee, R-Joliet. That bill expanded where firearms may be carried, but the high court ruled it infringed on the Board’s authority in regulating campuses.
A spokesperson for legislative Republicans on Friday cited an earlier statement by Berglee in criticizing the judge’s ruling.
"Rep. Seth Berglee warned months ago that the Montana Supreme Court's ruling against HB 102 was a slippery slope,” spokesperson Kyle Schmauch said. “Now we're starting to see that play out.
“The courts seem to be embracing the constitutionally dubious theory that unelected bureaucrats have complete power over every aspect of Montana's university system, including matters totally independent of academic freedom. Montanans should understand that the courts are striking down the will of their elected representatives while handing more power to unelected bureaucrats."
Plaintiffs, including former members of the Board of Regents, former Commissioner of Higher Education Lawrence Pettit; the Montana University System Faculty Association representatives; Montana Public Interest Research Group, Faculty Senate of Montana State University; professors from the University of Montana, Montana State University and Montana State University-Billings; and two students, challenged House Bill 349, House Bill 112 and Senate Bill 319.
The case was originally dismissed when brought directly to the Montana Supreme Court, which found the district court must hear the case. In June 2021, the case was filed in Gallatin County. In March, McElyea denied the state’s motion to dismiss, in which the state had argued the Board of Regents was the proper party to bring the suit, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported.
HB 349 was brought by Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula, and requires post-secondary institutions to adopt antidiscrimination policies and states a student could not be disciplined for speech or public expression unless “the speech or expression explicitly or implicitly conditions a student's participation in an education program or activity or bases an educational decision on the student's submission to unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors.”
Hopkins argued the bill would push back on “cancel culture” or censorship on campuses, but opponents countered that it could direct student funding to groups that could exclude students based on religion or ideology.
McElyea found that those policies could only be set by the Board of Regents.
“While the parties disagree about the actual purpose and effect of the bill, it intrudes on the internal (Montana University System) governance and impacts matters constitutionally committed to the Board’s oversight,” she wrote.
HB 112 brought by Rep. John Fuller, R-Whitefish, was among the most controversial bills of the session, requiring transgender athletes to compete in sports based on their sex assigned at birth.
Proponents of the bill said it would ensure fair play in women’s sports, but it saw vehement opposition from transgender advocates who said it was discriminatory and would further impact an already marginalized group.
McElyea ruled that the bill’s language dealing with college athletes again tread onto Board of Regents’ authority. She rejected the state’s claim that the board had no existing policies, finding that the board’s decision to comply with NCAA regulations in regards to transgender athletes constituted the policy in place.
“Contrary to the state’s characterization, the Board’s policy is not a delegation of the Board’s constitutional authority to a non-governmental body (NCAA), but an exercise of the Board’s authority to ensure the eligibility of Montana athletes and to protect the (Montana University System’s) substantial financial investment in its athletics programs,” the judge wrote.
The ruling leaves in place provisions dealing with K-12 student athletes.
Part of SB 319 brought by Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, was already ruled unconstitutional earlier this year after a judge found that late amendments did not fit under the title of the bill as required by the state Constitution. Among the provisions already struck down included restrictions on when and where political activity could occur on campuses.
McElyea’s decision found an additional portion of the law unconstitutional. That part required students to “opt in” to additional student fees directed to student organizations functioning as political committees. Plaintiff Montana Public Interest Research Group, or MontPIRG, a liberal nonprofit group that represents Montana college students, was directly affected by the law, the judge found.
“The court concludes that SB 319 impermissibly seeks to micromanage student groups and financial matters that are committed to the Board’s oversight,” the judge wrote.
Montana Board Of Regents
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2022-09-17T01:00:07Z
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helenair.com
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Judge strikes down parts of MT laws affecting campuses, collegiate trans athletes | Crime & Courts | helenair.com
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A new Helena resource is in the works for both those who are and those who are not members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In May, Zebulon Eaton created a Facebook group called “Helena MT LGBTQ,” which has now been renamed to “West Coast LGBTQ Community” to accommodate a wider scope of members since people from cities around the state and from other states were joining.
The group started with three members. As of September, there’s around 90.
Eaton is a member of the LGBTQ community. The group started when he realized that if his transgender coworker was needing a support system in Helena, there had to be other people out there struggling as well.
“One of my coworkers, who later became my assistant manager (at the Subway store I was managing), is trans, and they didn’t really have a support system. I sat down and thought ‘OK, so let’s create a support system.’”
In early July, Eaton brought up the idea of creating a nonprofit called the Pride Room as a resource center in Helena for LGBTQ+ members in the Facebook group.
“It was so well received that I’m like ‘OK, so this isn’t just something that I want to happen, this is something that needs to happen...'” said Eaton.
The resources Eaton envisions at the Pride Room are an easy-access food pantry, internet and computer access, support groups, mentorship, 24/7 on-call crisis counselors, a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, free at-home testing kits for HIV and other STIs and more.
Eaton has been working with the Department of Public Health and Human Services in Montana to receive donations of the testing kits. As of October, the testing kits will be available by mail since the Pride Room doesn't have a physical location yet. All information is private, and to get one email theprideroom@outlook.com. Mailing is free of charge.
Eaton pointed out that the resources will be for everyone, even those who are not members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“The Pride Room is a safe place. It’s a place where you can go and not be judged for who you are,” said Eaton. “It’s a place where you can go and if your pronouns are they/them, that is how we talk to you. If you’re a female to male and, you know, your legal name is Alisha but you want to be called Lee, OK then that is what we call you… It’s a place of mutual respect.”
Eaton moved to New Mexico in July, but the idea for the Pride Room started when Eaton lived in Helena, which is why he wants the first one to open here. He hopes to open a physical location by the end of the year and to open a second one in Albuquerque in the beginning of 2023. Eaton’s goal is to open at least one Pride Room in every state.
As of now, the plan is to be open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, and staffed with at least two volunteers and a manager. The five board members of the Pride Room are from New Mexico, Maine and Montana. Currently, the Pride Room exists as a website (https://bit.ly/3LlpILG).
The Pride Room will be a nonprofit, and Eaton is currently working toward the 501(c)(3) designation. On the low side, Eaton said this could cost $750 just to file.
The Pride Room can apply for grants, but it can’t do that until after it is registered as a 501(c)(3).
On Sept. 13, Eaton posted an update in the Facebook group about the Pride Room. Two letters have been sent out for support from local businesses, an employer Identification number (EIN) has been achieved for business purposes, and the application for 501(c)(3) status is being finalized.
Any community member can donate to starting up Helena’s Pride Room here: https://donate-the-pride-room.square.site/.
“The Pride Room is solely based right now on the donations of the community," Eaton said. "While we already know that we’re going to get a lot of backlash from a lot of different people because they don’t agree with it or whatever the case is, we don’t ask that you agree. We just ask that you be kind and courteous to those who support it because not everybody has the same opinion.”
Last Chance Gulch awash in rainbows as Montana Pride Parade celebrates LGBTQ community
More than 3,000 members of the LGBTQ community and their allies celebrated in a sunny Last Chance Gulch in downtown Helena Saturday as Montana Pride hosted its annual parade and rally.
Montana rejects library logo over similarity to pride flag
The commission that oversees the Montana State Library has rejected a proposed new logo after a member said the main feature brought to mind the rainbow LGBTQ pride flag.
Threats to Idaho LGBTQ event won't hamper Montana Pride plans, organizer says
“It’s never going to be perfect and be 100% safe, but we will do whatever we can to make it safe,” said Kevin Hamm, president of Montana Pride.
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2022-09-17T16:24:09Z
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helenair.com
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The Pride Room, a budding nonprofit, aims to open in Helena | Local | helenair.com
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Stories of Honor: Army Sgt. John Zavalney served as lab tech during Vietnam War
Army lab tech Sgt. John Zavalney served in Vietnam from March 1969 to January 1970.
John Zavalney was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968.
John Zavalney of Helena fits comfortably into the Vietnam veteran credo, “All gave some. Some gave all.”
“My story is not that of a big hero,” Zavalney, 77, states up front, “just survival as a draftee, and I was able to help save lives as an Army lab tech.”
His parents came from Russia, and Zavalney is "the proud son of immigrants" and extra happy that he was “born in the USA” and not Russia.
His father fought in World War I and came back with a slightly injured leg. His stepdad, John, was part of Patton’s tank brigade in WWII. And his mom was part of the VFW women’s auxiliary and sold poppies every Veteran’s Day.
After graduating from Glasgow High in 1963, and a failed attempt at college, Zavalney was drafted into the Army on April 4, 1968. He attended boot camp at Fort Lewis, Washington, and Fort Sam Houston’s medic school in Texas. And he remembers feeling worried about being skilled enough to save lives.
Because one of Zavalney’s two older brothers, Harold, was an Air Force navigator in Vietnam, he was initially not among the 80% with orders for Southeast Asia. Instead he was off to Fort Polk, Louisiana, as part of an ambulance group. The duty was very boring, consisting of attending an occasional parade, or gathering weaker guys from the long hikes. Zavalney's commander saw him as an ambitious military man (he washed his ambulance everyday to overcome the boredom), and he was recommended for the hospital's laboratory.
"I felt so blessed to be out of the ambulance racket that starting out doing all the crappie work seemed just wonderful," he wrote in his memoirs "Fortunate Vietnam War Story." "I recall bleeding the sheep and making all the culture plates with the sheep blood.
"Blood drawing day was Friday, for units of blood sent to Vietnam, and I got pretty good at poking the large needle into about 30 guys’ arms. We had lots of volunteers because the soldiers got the rest of the day off from duty for donating their blood."
The on-the-job training and some good evaluation scores led to his military occupation specialty (MOS) being changed to lab technician. And soon enough, his brother finished his Vietnam tour, and Zavalney was ordered overseas.
After about three days of training – he skipped out on shooting the M16 rifle, figuring “If I was going to die, it would be by a bomb, or I’d miss hitting the Viet Cong and they wouldn’t" – he landed in the Republic of Vietnam on March 15, 1969. Zavalney was assigned to the 24th Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh, about 50 miles from Saigon.
The 24th Evac Hospital specialized in head wounds and had "several high-powered doctors." When John learned there was also a tennis court there, he packed his big green duffle bag with his racket sticking out of the top. He described the facilities as a group of Quonset huts bunkered by sand bags.
The job entailed 12-hour shifts and the most critical work was cross-matching blood, in an effort to save lives. There wasn't a lot of equipment to do the blood analysis with, so the microscope became their main tool. Zalvaney learned to identify the various types of malaria and created quite a microscope slide collection of those types.
The most difficult part of his work was having to draw blood from the wounded soldiers. "Many of the guys would rather be dead than be paralyzed and would ask me to kill them," he recalled. "In one case, the only place I could get a good blood draw was from his ear because of an IV and missing body parts."
He said their free time was spent "exercising, drinking beer, playing lots of volleyball" and listening to a Vietnamese band sing with an accent at the hospital bar. His tennis racket gathered dust in the corner, due to lack of tennis balls and opponents.
And just because Zavalney wasn't a combat vet, doesn't mean he never met the enemy. Next to the hospital there was a prisoner complex that housed about 200 captured North Vietnamese, and the lab techs were required to do blood work on the sick.
"The first time I had to go in there, I asked the guard, 'Aren’t you going with me?'" John wrote. "As he slammed the gate behind me, he said, 'Nah, you can handle it!' So there I was just holding a lab tray with only a needled syringe for protection, surrounded by a couple hundred of the enemy staring at me in the open yard. I ... looked back at the guard in a pleading way, but he just grinned and walked away.
"But after a few times going into 'enemy's territory,' I got my strut back and greeted them in Vietnamese."
On another occasion, he found out the local barber who shaved him was with the Viet Cong after he disappeared, so he could claim the enemy "had a straight razor to my throat" and he lived to tell about it. Then there was the time Zavalney and another lab tech were helping take the body-bagged dead to their makeshift morgue, and after setting it on the floor and walking away, the bag jumped. But when they investigated to see if the soldier was still alive, they discovered the movement was caused by a loose floorboard they stepped on.
A memorable event occurred when he and four other guys from Glasgow met for a beer. The photo of the gathering hangs in Glasgow's Museum.
Zavalney received a Section VIII, Chapter 5 "AR 635-200 SPN 413 school release rad" and left Vietnam on Jan. 4, 1970, after nine months in the RVN. He was honorably discharged from the service the next day. The following day he boarded a plane for Billings, to enroll for Eastern Montana College (now MSU-Billings). Once they landed in the Magic City, after a quick trip to the airport bathroom, John grabbed his duffel bag and rushed out for a taxi ride to the college.
"So, about two days out of the war torn country, I was still wearing my army dress greens, registering for classes, where I received a lot of stares from the students also registering," he wrote. "Standing in front of a table offering philosophy and sociology classes, the college professor on the other side was giving me a long stare. I thought, Oh boy, here comes my first war protesting comments.
"He finally spoke, 'Your zipper's down.' This was the closest I came to being harassed about my role in the Vietnam War."
Zavalney graduated from Eastern in 1972 as a business major. The majority of his career he worked for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, doing economic research, for 29 years. John has three children – Nathan, Matthew and Katrina – and one grandchild. Among his pastimes are photography and running the Governor's Cup.
“To a large degree, the responsibility of being a lab technician in a war zone, saving and healing lives, changed me for the good,” he concluded, looking back on his Vietnam service. “I moved up in rank to an E-5 (Sergeant) in less than two years, and I realized that I can achieve in life.”
Curt Synness, a Navy vet, can be reached at 406-594-2878 or curt52synness@gmail.com. He's also on Twitter @curtsynness_IR
John Zavalney
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2022-09-19T16:27:42Z
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helenair.com
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Stories of Honor: Army Sgt. John Zavalney served as lab tech during Vietnam War | Local | helenair.com
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Wells Fargo workers, Habitat for Humanity put finishing touches on Helena homes
Wells Fargo workers welcome Samantha Stringer to her new home on Friday.
Photo courtesy of Wells Fargo
A team of volunteers gathered in a Westside Helena neighborhood last week to put the finishing touches on two houses that will give local families a place to call home.
People came to 1000 Choteau St. on Friday to help put the finishing touches on a Habitat for Humanity home.
Among them were Wells Fargo employees, whose company gave Helena Area Habitat for Humanity $25,000 to be used to install solar panels on each of the two houses at 1000 Choteau St.
Employee volunteers were also helping Habitat workers put the final touches on the homes, such as plants in the yard.
Friday was the first day of the 2022 Parade of Homes event, which included the Choteau homes as part of the tour.
Samantha Stringer, whose husband and four children will join her in the larger of the two homes, stopped by Friday to help pick sites where to place the plants.
“It’s very lovely,” she said of the home. “They did an amazing job.”
This is one of the two Helena Area Habitat for Humanity homes at 1000 Choteau St.
In late 2021, Habitat officials announced the larger house had been donated to them. Christian Frazza, director of the Corette Library at Carroll College, had died and left his house to longtime companion Sue Jackson. She decided to make the house a donation to the nonprofit, saying she had volunteered for them and knows of their quality work.
The house went from being a two-bedroom, one-bath home to being a four-bedroom, two-bath home, said Jacob Kuntz, executive director of Helena Area Habitat for Humanity.
A detached garage on the same property was torn down and replaced with a two-story home that has two bedrooms and 1-1/2 baths.
And another garage was built.
Kuntz estimated the value of the larger home to be $400,000, but said it was being sold to the family for $220,000.
Officials said earlier the two homes would be deeded to Trust Montana, a statewide land trust, which will ensure the homes remain permanently affordable.
The home in back will be sold for $190,000.
Kuntz called the finishing touches being done Friday “the icing on the cake.”
Samantha Stringer works Friday with Chris Leipzig of Habitat for Humanity to decide where plants will be placed.
Wells Fargo selected Helena Area Habitat for Humanity as one of the 230 Habitats across the U.S. for this $25,000 grant. It is part of a $7.75 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International through the Wells Fargo Builds grant making program which supports construction, renovation and repairing of more than 350 affordable homes across the United States, Wells Fargo officials said in a news release.
Randy Riley, a district manager with Wells Fargo, was working at the site Friday.
“This is cool for so many different reasons,” he said, noting the money would not only be used for plants but also solar panels.
He said he has worked on other Habitat projects.
Stringer said her kids cannot stop talking about moving into the four-bedroom house.
“They can’t wait to have their own space,” she said.
Jacob Kuntz
Christian Frazza
Sue Jackson
Randy Riley
Samantha Stringer
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity organizing aid for Red Lodge
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Jacob Kuntz: Ask legislators to make affordable housing a priority
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Helena to create affordable housing trust fund
The Helena City Commission approved the creation of an affordable housing trust fund on a 4-1 vote during Monday evening's regular meeting.
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity setting June goal on six-house build
The row of houses taking up a block of new construction on Helena’s east end are indistinguishable from the dozens of other homes in the area,…
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2022-09-19T16:27:48Z
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helenair.com
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Wells Fargo workers, Habitat for Humanity put finishing touches on Helena homes | Local | helenair.com
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The new Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana building east of Helena.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana was awarded the contract to be the third-party administrator for medical benefits and claims administration for the state of Montana Benefit Plan, Montana Department of Administration officials said.
Misty Ann Giles
The contract, effective Jan. 1, will result in nearly immediate savings for the self-funded State Plan in 2023, with a projected savings of $28 million over the next three years, benefiting state agencies, state employees and the taxpayers of Montana, Department of Administration (DOA) Director Misty Ann Giles said in a news release.
“Contracting with BCBSMT (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana) will allow us to enhance our ability to be responsible stewards of State Plan contributions while ensuring accessibility to high-quality medical care for State employees,” she said.
The contract has been issued for an initial term of three years, with the option to renew for a total of 10 years. BCBSMT was the third-party administrator for the state health plan for nearly 30 years until the state selected a different administrator in 2012. The state will pay BCBSMT to administer medical plan benefits. BCBSMT would potentially pay the state only if it doesn't meet performance guarantees or other contract requirements.
“We are honored to welcome state employees and their families back to the Blue family,” said John Doran, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana’s divisional vice president of external affairs.
“We have already begun to roll up our sleeves and get to work on behalf of state employees and their families to ensure a smooth transition. Providing the highest level of customer service is our top priority,” he said.
Cigna served as the state’s third party administrator from 2013-2015, then Allegiance Benefit Plan Management served from 2016 to present day, DOA officials said.
A third-party administrator provides administrative services for self-funded health plans. They can also provide access to health care networks and may be able to source more vendors, such as stop-loss insurers. The state sets the benefit design, and the TPA administers every facet of the health plan, including contracting with the provider network, providing customer service, paying claims, aiding in care coordination and sourcing outside vendors to provide ancillary services.
The Request for Proposals was released in March with the goal of finding a vendor to help the DOA streamline the administration of State Plan medical benefits and also modernize its Medicare reimbursement strategy, DOA officials said. Blue Cross was one of six vendors who bid. An evaluation committee scored the bids. BCBSMT received the highest score and was awarded the contract.
The contract includes fees BCBSMT will pay for certain services per employee and the state shall pay BCBSMT within 30 days of the date the monthly billing report is generated.
BCBSMT officials said the savings will be through provider contracts for reimbursement of services and also population health initiatives. They said their contracts are more favorable than the current TPA and the population health initiatives are aimed at improved health outcomes that save costs over the long term.
The state will continue to offer one medical plan for all eligible plan members. Minimal impact is anticipated for members as the transition is completed. Monthly benefit contributions for state employees will remain stable, as will plan member access to participating facilities and care providers. The new contract allows the State Plan to continue improving upon its multiple of Medicare reimbursement strategy by setting specific benchmark levels of reimbursement that BCBSMT is responsible for maintaining.
“This new partnership will allow us to effectively continue serving our 28,000 members who rely on State Plan coverage for affordable and reliable health insurance coverage,” said Health Care & Benefits Division Administrator Amy Jenks.
She said it will also provide more opportunities for member engagement and management of medical conditions, including access to more programs and services for members.
Open Enrollment for 2023 will be Oct. 23 to Nov. 5. Open Enrollment is an annual opportunity for plan members to review benefit elections and changes plans or covered dependents for the coming calendar year.
The State Plan is self-funded by the state and includes medical, prescription drug, dental and vision plans.
The state provides health benefits to state employees, retirees (non-Medicare and Medicare), legislators, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) enrollees, and their dependents who are referred to as plan members. DOA’s Health Care & Benefits Division is responsible for the administration of the State Plan, which includes the self-funded medical plan.
BCBSMT has operated in Montana since 1940 and provides more than 300,000 members with plans. BCBSMT employs nearly 600 people in five locations, with offices in Helena, Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls and Kalispell.
Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Montana
Third Party Administrator
Amy Jenks
Longtime employee named president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Helena resident Collette Hanson, who has worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana for 35 years, was named president of the organization…
Lawmakers take up direct primary care
The bill would codify a policy set in place by former state Auditor Matt Rosendale, and supported by newly elected state Auditor Troy Downing.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield program stresses mental wellness in students
Students at Montana City School participated in a program designed to help educators foster mental wellness in their classrooms and equip stud…
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2022-09-20T00:10:55Z
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Blue Cross of Montana awarded state contract, $28M in savings touted | Local | helenair.com
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Bryan Neil Arvidson
District Court Judge Kathy Seeley sentenced Bryan Arvidson to 40 years in prison with none suspended for attempted homicide and six months in jail for obstructing a peace officer. These two sentences will run concurrently.
Arvidson was also sentenced to six years with five suspended for criminal endangerment and six years with five suspended for tampering with evidence. These two sentences will run consecutively, for a total of 42 years.
"This case, like most, took time and dedication from investigators and members of the County Attorney’s Office. We appreciate the work from everyone involved," the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook Monday.
On Oct. 1, 2021, a deputy was dispatched to Strandberg Drive for a report of gunshots.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed in District Court, Arvidson, who was 29 at the time, agreed to stop firing until he had taken proper precautions to not hit any people or livestock. However, the affidavit says he kept shooting.
The crisis negotiator team for the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Helena Police Department arrived at the home in an armored vehicle.
Arvidson came outside holding a shotgun and a pistol, the affidavit says. Attempts to negotiate were unsuccessful, and authorities shot him in the leg with a .40mm non-lethal "direct impact" rubber munition in an effort to stop him.
Arvidson made it back into his house, where his wife and children were. The affidavit says he fired multiple rounds, and at least two hit the armored vehicle.
On Oct. 2 around 5 a.m., his wife and children left the residence. Arvidson remained inside until a SWAT team deployed flashbangs.
He was found guilty by a jury in April and received credit for 352 days served in jail.
Bryan Arvidson
Kathy Seeley
Helena man guilty in October shootout with officers
A Helena man who shot at law enforcement in October has been found guilty of multiple felonies.
Helena man charged in shootout with law enforcement
A 29-year-old Helena man was charged with multiple felonies following a shootout with police officers over the weekend.
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2022-09-20T00:11:01Z
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helenair.com
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Helena man who shot at officers gets 42 years in prison | Crime & Courts | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/helena-man-who-shot-at-officers-gets-42-years-in-prison/article_15734373-d67d-5529-83cb-5425f2b98535.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/helena-man-who-shot-at-officers-gets-42-years-in-prison/article_15734373-d67d-5529-83cb-5425f2b98535.html
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Dr. Brian Barrett, the new principal of St. Andrew School, talks with students outside the school.
“Ad Meliora” is Latin for “towards better things.”
This is the direction Dr. Brian Barrett, who taught Latin last school year at St. Andrew School in Helena, hopes to guide the private Catholic school to as its new principal.
“For me personally, this year the quote I keep coming back to in my mind is Hebrews 4 because I’m taking on something new here,” said Barrett. “I hope that I’m doing it in a way that is at the service of this particular school community ... I know how much forbearance is required of others' to work with me in this role, and I hope that I can reflect that forbearance that I see in the community and everyone else I am coming into contact with.”
He will build off the work of GG Grotbo, who was the previous principal and now serves as the advancement director at St. Andrew.
Barrett is standing outside to see students off at 3 p.m. on a Wednesday. There’s traffic, hellos, goodbyes and a few hugs as the high school students gather their bags and head toward a bus waiting to take them to the school's annual Salt and Light Retreat at Legendary Lodge, a camp owned by the Diocese of Helena on Salmon Lake.
Barrett stepped into his role as principal on July 1. St. Andrew has been an independent Catholic school for 26 years, since it opened its doors in 1996. The school was accredited in 2014, and it now serves grades K-12. Their mission on the school's website reads: “Trust in God, listen to His Word, and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance.”
Each school year, the school picks a theme, and the theme for this year is First Corinthians 13:7.
“Love bears all things - Omnia suffert caritas..." said Barrett. "I think the work of renewal is hard, and it requires a great deal of forbearance on everyone’s part. That’s the theme I hope we continually come back to as we try to understand what it is we’re trying to accomplish as a school community.”
Barrett met his wife, Dr. Hannah Hemphill, on their first day at Notre Dame, where they both studied theology. Hemphill’s doctorate is in theology, and she is the assistant professor of Catholic studies at Carroll College and a scholar of Saint Thomas Aquinas, whose teachings she wrote her dissertation on.
Dr. Brian Barrett, who taught Latin last school year at St. Andrew School in Helena, is the school's new principal.
Barrett’s doctorate is in theology as well, with a specialty in patristic theology, the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers.
One of Barrett’s favorite Church Fathers is Origen, who was an early Christian scholar, ascetic and theologian from Alexandria. His favorite Saint is Catherine of Sienna because, in short, of the beauty of her thoughts, writings, advice and accountability.
“Early on, in my own education, I knew I wanted to study theology,” said Barrett. “I went through Catholic school, and ... (theology) was the only thing I was good at and enjoyed. I loved thinking about everything else I was studying in relation to what I was learning in my theology classes.”
Barrett and Hemphill initiated and directed Notre Dame’s study abroad programs in Jerusalem from 2011-2014. This included organizing and conducting pilgrimages in the Holy Land as well. After this, they moved to Helena.
“(We) love the Helena community. It’s a great place to raise a family," said Barrett. "It’s a wonderfully tight-knit Catholic community. It’s beautiful here ... I love the mountains.”
Hemphill and Barrett currently have three daughters. Two attend St. Andrew in third grade and first grade, and the other is 9 months old. In his free time, Barrett enjoys spending time with his family and doing outdoor activities.
Barrett will also be the academic director for the Diocese of Helena’s permanent diaconate formation program that is being reanimated on top of his busy schedule this fall.
“That’s what makes a Catholic community precisely what it is, right? That we identify with one another in love and not because we just like each other or because we’re related to each other,” said Barrett. “I’m really just impressed with the dedication and devotion of families to this particular school. It’s been very moving to work with them and get to know them in this way.”
St Andrew School
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2022-09-20T12:36:07Z
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helenair.com
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Brian Barrett starts as new principal of St. Andrew School in Helena | Education | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/brian-barrett-starts-as-new-principal-of-st-andrew-school-in-helena/article_5755ad12-b792-53c5-b2a2-d79b8d8fc4cf.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/brian-barrett-starts-as-new-principal-of-st-andrew-school-in-helena/article_5755ad12-b792-53c5-b2a2-d79b8d8fc4cf.html
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The stalling tactics that Donald Trump has used his entire life continue in the Mar-A-Lago documents case. Donald Trump has always held a deep disdain for the rule of law and the professionals of the DOJ and FBI but being the hypocrite that he is he uses the courts and the law to his full advantage. When it benefits him. The professionals of the DOJ and FBI (director of counterintelligence) have sworn under oath that the documents seized are indeed classified. The Trump appointed federal judge in this case seems to think otherwise. In the judge's ruling she states "I have no way of knowing the documents seized by the FBI, with a search warrant , that are marked classified and have been identified by the FBI and the Justice Department as classified actually are classified." An analogy if I may.
Your honor we have a leak in the roof. (Judge) How do you know you have a leak in the roof? Well, your honor, there is a large amount of water coming in. (Judge) How do you know that it's water?
Mick Plovanic,
Mick Plovanic
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2022-09-20T16:01:51Z
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helenair.com
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An analogy | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/an-analogy/article_c2d137a4-e362-59bf-9e9e-4cae9c23b5fa.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/an-analogy/article_c2d137a4-e362-59bf-9e9e-4cae9c23b5fa.html
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I am writing in support of Dan Guzynski for Lewis and Clark County attorney. I have known Dan and his family for years. When I first met Dan I only saw a genuine, kind and thoughtful guy with an easy smile. Not until later did I learn he prosecuted the hardest of criminals across the state of Montana for over 20 years advocating for victims and their families. Dan lends his expertise to other attorneys and is lead prosecutor of many cases. Dan worked most of his 22 years under different attorneys general, both Republican and Democrat. Just look at his endorsements on his website. He doesn't play politics, he is simply a champion of justice for victims, even against rich and influential perpetrators. I would encourage anyone reading this to Google him and his cases. Sexual assaults, murder and crimes against children. Despite the nature of his work, he maintains optimism and casts a critical eye on what's fair for lesser crimes and rehabilitation. I am asking for everyone to consider voting for Dan Guzynski as Lewis and Clark County attorney, who quietly and humbly dedicated the last 22 years to Montana justice. There isn't a better candidate.
Andrew Swallows,
Andrew Swallows
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2022-09-20T16:01:53Z
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helenair.com
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Dan Guzynski is a champion of justice for victims | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/dan-guzynski-is-a-champion-of-justice-for-victims/article_feb6d10c-f876-55b7-83d8-12bfb5cb9f30.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/dan-guzynski-is-a-champion-of-justice-for-victims/article_feb6d10c-f876-55b7-83d8-12bfb5cb9f30.html
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I had the pleasure of working with Dave Galt while serving as a state senator. He was a lobbyist at the time, and we had several conversations over the years. He was considered one of the good ones and a straight shooter when either providing information or me asking for information. Let me tell you that Dave Galt is no rookie when it comes to the state capital; he has a working knowledge of how things run. When Dave is elected to the Montana state Senate, he has at least two sessions of experience on his side over any other rookie senator, he will be productive on day one! He has vast knowledge of subjects and extremely smart from working in the capital. He also was the director of the Montana Department of Transportation. The people of Helena will be significantly served well having Dave in the Senate. As a legislator he will get what needs to be done fairly in bipartisan way. I highly recommend Dave Galt for SD 41, and I hope all you do too.
Sen. Terry Gauthier,
Dave Galt
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2022-09-20T16:01:57Z
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helenair.com
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Dave Galt has vast knowledge | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/dave-galt-has-vast-knowledge/article_a2f4c4e5-fb00-52af-a60e-e6ca63151bdb.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/dave-galt-has-vast-knowledge/article_a2f4c4e5-fb00-52af-a60e-e6ca63151bdb.html
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A 22-year-old Helena man was charged with two felony counts of attempted deliberate homicide and two felony counts of assault with a weapon after allegedly shooting and injuring two men on Aug. 18.
Jory Jerae Songer was served an arrest warrant Monday at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center, where he was already in custody for another incident.
Around 1 a.m. Aug. 18, officers responded to the 800 block of Abbey Street for a report of an assault with a weapon. Authorities discovered two males who had been shot, and the suspect had fled the scene. The two victims were transported to the hospital via ambulance and neither suffered life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
According to a press release from the Helena Police Department Tuesday, authorities identified the suspect after spending several days sifting through surveillance footage provided by Helena Housing Authority and surrounding businesses and schools.
Documents filed in Lewis and Clark County District court say the footage shows the suspect vehicle, which had been reported as stolen a few days before the shooting, stopping on the north side of the Stewart Homes apartment complex. Someone got out of the vehicle and walked toward the south end of the building, where the shooting occurred two minutes later.
The residence was occupied by a man and his young child. On the night of the shooting, the man's nephew and the nephew's friend were staying the night.
While the young child was asleep inside, the male resident, a friend, the nephew and the nephew's friend were outside socializing when someone in a mask and all black clothing including a hoodie approached them. There was a verbal altercation before the masked man started shooting, court records say.
Authorities arrived and found the male resident on the ground outside the apartment with a gunshot wound to his thigh. The man’s friend was outside with a shot to his left forearm. Six shell casing recovered from the area indicated that the two were shot by a 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Both the nephew and his friend said they could feel bullets hitting the ground near their feet before they ran inside to avoid being shot.
The suspect ran toward Butte Avenue. Surveillance footage shows the suspect vehicle heading west on Butte Avenue, then turning onto Cooke Street, and then down an alley in the general direction the suspect was last seen heading. Officials and two witnesses believe Songer was picked up by the stolen vehicle after the shooting.
The stolen vehicle was recovered Aug. 19 in Helena’s Yesco parking lot, after an employee reported she saw a man and his dog sleeping in it the day before.
The vehicle was searched, and a Great Northern parking garage ticket with the date Aug. 15 was found inside. A Helena Parking Commission employee said the vehicle was parked on the upper level for several days.
On the morning of Aug. 17, a man and a woman and their dog entered the vehicle in the parking garage. The man and dog looked similar to those the Yesco employee described. The man entering the car was identified as Shay McPhee after an officer recognized him and his dog.
A bowl of barbecue wings from Walmart was found in the vehicle. Walmart surveillance footage showed McPhee and a woman allegedly stealing the wings and other items before driving away in the stolen vehicle. Authorities recognized the woman as Patience Walker (Davis) based on prior encounters with her.
On Sept. 9, an officer recognized McPhee in a vehicle with Songer. McPhee was arrested for outstanding warrants unrelated to the shooting investigation.
Songer gave authorities a false name and then ran away. The officer contacted Probation and Parole after learning Songer was on probation with a request to search his backpack after spotting drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. A significant amount of meth and a scale were found inside the backpack, along with a white half-face mask with a depiction of a skull on it. Songer was later arrested for the drugs and booked into Lewis and Clark County Detention Center.
Officials interviewed McPhee on Sept. 9, and he admitted to using the stolen vehicle with Walker (Davis) because he thought it was hers. He denied being involved in the shooting and requested an attorney.
On Sept. 13. Walker (Davis) was arrested for outstanding warrants unrelated to the shooting. She admitted to stealing the vehicle and using it with McPhee. She initially denied being involved in the shooting, but later admitted to driving the stolen vehicle to the Stewart Homes complex around the time of the shooting to drop off Songer on the north end so that he could visit some friends who lived there.
She could not provide an exact time of when this occurred because she stated that she was using drugs at the time. Her recollection of the route she drove matched that on video surveillance. She said she was on her way to a Town Pump gas station when Songer got in the car again and said he couldn’t find his friends. She stated she did not expect to see Songer again that night.
Walker (Davis) denied knowing about the shooting. She stated she didn’t end up going to the Town Pump but couldn’t provide a reason why. She then drove to East Helena in a round-about way.
On Sept. 14, Songer was interviewed by authorities. Songer stated the shooting “wasn’t planned.” He also admitted to using drugs that day.
Songer then backtracked and denied knowing anything about the shooting besides what he had heard. He said, “It wasn’t a planned hit. I wasn’t there, though.” Songer ended the interview by stating “It was not a planned assassination. I had no involvement, and I don’t wanna talk.”
Jory Jerae Songer
Shay Mcphee
Helena police seeking suspect in early morning shooting
Two males were shot by an unidentified suspect around 1 a.m. Thursday in Helena, police said.
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2022-09-20T21:43:20Z
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helenair.com
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Helena man charged in connection with August shooting | Crime & Courts | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/helena-man-charged-in-connection-with-august-shooting/article_6ddec7ed-9239-530f-b4bc-f23072b65cdd.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/helena-man-charged-in-connection-with-august-shooting/article_6ddec7ed-9239-530f-b4bc-f23072b65cdd.html
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The Montana Department of Commerce in Helena.
Citing sparse interest in workforce training grants, Republican state lawmakers and administration officials on Tuesday moved to shift $6 million in federal funding from that program to one that would provide interest-free loans to Montana businesses to automate manufacturing processes.
But Democratic legislators and labor representatives objected to the proposal, arguing that the limited applications for the workforce training program were due to an onerous application process, a lack of advertising for the grants and a low ceiling on the amount of grant money per worker.
The money for the program is part of Montana’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal pandemic relief program signed into law last year by President Joe Biden.
Liane Taylor, a division administrator with the Department of Commerce, told the committee that while $1.2 million from the workforce training grant program had been awarded to businesses in the state, only $128,000 of those contracts had been fulfilled.
With a workforce shortage showing little sign of abating, Taylor said businesses need “to become more productive and efficient with their current workforce.”
The jobs that would be automated “are physically demanding jobs, those that are dull, have high turnover, and those are the jobs that also have the highest work comp issues, workforce injuries, et cetera,” Taylor said.
Montana AFL-CIO Political Director Amanda Frickle objected to the proposal during public comment, arguing that the department could have done more to investigate why the original workforce training program didn’t attract more applicants.
“We are dealing with a workforce shortage issue, this is not going to be resolved simply by equipment upgrades,” Frickle said. “And so we really have to figure out as a state how are we going to solve this issue.”
The program would award loans of up to $500,000 per business. Paddy Fleming is the director of the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, which would help the Department of Commerce administer the grant program.
“I think it’s more of an issue that there are no people to train,” Fleming told the committee. “What’s a manufacturer to do, other than try to automate a job that no one will apply for anyway?”
Allocations of the federal funds are overseen by several advisory committees made up of lawmakers from both parties and representatives of Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration.
Both Frickle and House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, one of the two Democrats on the committee, suggested the committee instead take a closer look at why the training program failed to attract more interest.
The committee's executive branch members and Republicans lawmakers instead voted in favor of the proposal, which passed without Democratic support. It still needs final approval from Gianforte.
American Resuce Plan Act
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2022-09-21T00:06:49Z
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helenair.com
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Republicans shift $6M from workforce training grants to biz automation loans | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/republicans-shift-6m-from-workforce-training-grants-to-biz-automation-loans/article_dc2c292b-3e6c-5bce-bec9-7d63d5c88222.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/republicans-shift-6m-from-workforce-training-grants-to-biz-automation-loans/article_dc2c292b-3e6c-5bce-bec9-7d63d5c88222.html
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The Montana Office of the Secretary of State inside the state Capitol in Helena.
Montana’s Secretary of State paid more than $1.2 million over a one-year period to a law firm it hired to defend several controversial new election laws being challenged as unconstitutional.
Those payments to the law firm Crowley Fleck PLLP are only a partial accounting of the legal expenses racked up by Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, who has been named the defendant in at least five lawsuits challenging laws passed by Montana’s Republican-dominated Legislature during the 2021 session.
They also eclipse the $100,000 budget the Legislature provided Jacobsen to cover the expected legal expenses in anticipation of the laws they passed being challenged in court.
Crowley Fleck provided a half-dozen attorneys who participated in a nine-day trial that took place in August, in which a coalition of plaintiffs are challenging several new election-related laws.
It’s unclear whether the trial costs are included in the $1.2 million. That total includes payments that began in July 2021 and extend through July 2022, according to a spending transparency website maintained by the state. Jacobsen spokesperson Richie Melby declined to answer questions asking for further details, including how much the firm has billed the state since then.
Jacobsen's office has also hired a Crowley Fleck attorney in a separate, unrelated lawsuit against the Secretary of State. It's unclear whether any of the $1.2 million stems from that case, which is related to the office over-charging businesses for filing fees last year.
Montana's Legislative Fiscal Division last week identified around $1.3 million Jacobsen's office had spent defending the state's new election laws, in excess of the $100,000 appropriated by the Legislature.
"There may be a little bit that was spent on something else, but the majority of it was spent on those lawsuits," said fiscal analyst Kris Wilkinson, addressing lawmakers on an interim budget committee last week.
Among the three laws challenged in last month’s trial were a pair of measures that Jacobsen lobbied heavily for during the 2021 session. One ended voter registration on Election Day and another instituted new, stricter requirements for voter identification.
A third law, which Jacobsen didn’t directly weigh in on during the session, creates tight limits on ballot collection practices by third parties.
Crowley Fleck attorneys were brought in early last year to assist with the state’s defense against three lawsuits, which have been consolidated under the case that went to trial in August. Attorney General Austin Knudsen and lawyers from his office were also among the attorneys listed on court filings.
But no AG lawyers were present at the trial, which included at least a half-dozen Crowley Fleck attorneys. In addition to lengthy examinations of the witnesses, the defense also hired a pair of expert witnesses who submitted reports and provided testimony at rates of $400 per hour.
Payments to Crowley Fleck accelerated sharply this summer as the trial neared. For the year from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, her office reported $659,000 paid to the law firm. In just the first half of July, Crowley Fleck was paid $559,000.
Yellowstone District Court Judge Michael Moses has yet to issue an order in the case, but his decision is likely to be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Depending on how the courts rule, Montana taxpayers could be on the hook for the plaintiffs’ legal fees. Alex Rate, an American Civil Liberties Union Montana attorney, said last week the nonprofit is providing pro bono representation to a coalition of Native American tribes and indigenous rights organizations in one of the three lawsuits included in the consolidated case.
Rate said he didn’t have an estimate of how much the ACLU has spent on the case, but the legal team would likely ask the state to pay attorneys’ fees if they prevail. Likewise, Rylee Somers-Flanagan said her legal group is providing free counsel to a trio of youth organizations also challenging the election laws, but would ask the state to compensate legal expenses if they win.
Jacobsen has tapped other parts of her office's budget to cover litigation costs. A recent update from the Legislative Fiscal Division notes that during the fiscal year that ended June 30, her office transferred more than $2.6 million into its operating expenditures budget, which covers a range of expenses, including legal fees.
Since draining its initial $100,000 litigation fund in February, Wilkinson said the Secretary of State has paid ongoing litigation costs using their enterprise fund. That money includes payments for services provided by the Secretary of State, such as business filing fees. The office has added $1.6 million of those funds to its operating expenses budget since May, according to the budget report.
Legal Bills
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2022-09-21T00:06:55Z
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helenair.com
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Secretary of State's legal tab, including defense of GOP elex bills, tops $1.2M | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/secretary-of-states-legal-tab-including-defense-of-gop-elex-bills-tops-1-2m/article_006ecd27-a9cf-5060-aa82-fbbe567653f4.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/secretary-of-states-legal-tab-including-defense-of-gop-elex-bills-tops-1-2m/article_006ecd27-a9cf-5060-aa82-fbbe567653f4.html
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“I am grateful that the Board of Public Education has approved the timeline to begin public comment,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. “School quality is not a simple check-the-box process. The new rules emphasize local control through strong programs where every Montana student will have access to pursue college or a career and will have the resources to support their well-being.”
The state of Montana has had school accreditation standards since 1947, and it is among a handful of states that accredit at the school level versus the district level.
The preface from the 1976 accreditation standards states the purpose as to “establish a measure of adequacy by specifying for schools the ‘minimum’ upon which a quality educational program can be built. Second, they serve to insure the size, scope, and quality of the minimum educational program available to the citizens of the state,” according to OPI’s final report on Chapter 55.
According to OPI’s report, the revisions aim “to better ensure Montana’s school accreditation standards provide all Montana students with access to a quality educational program that will develop their full educational potential and preserve the cultural heritages of American Indians.”
The Chapter 55 revisions began in November 2020. From January to May 2022, a task force held 13 meetings to review and make recommended changes to the superintendent on Chapter 55.
The research phase lasted from April 2019 to October 2021. Following that was the review phase, which occurred from November 2021 to May 2022. During this time, the task force created an "informal, non-scientific field survey" that was administered by OPI to identify needs and perspectives from educators in relation to accreditation and revisions to Chapter 55.
The survey got 271 responses. For school performance item importance related to school quality, responders noted student attendance rates as the most important and state assessment scores as the least important.
Figure 5 of OPI's Chapter 55 revisions report.
For school staffing item importance related to school quality, properly licensed school counselors and properly licensed teachers were close to each other and ranked as the most important. The average length of employment of school staff was ranked least important.
For school policy/program item importance related to school quality, the most important for survey respondents was ensuring all students have equal access to an education. The least important was policy requirements for the board of trustees.
Building off the research and review phases, the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (NRC) was convened by the superintendent in July and met 18 times that month to finalize the recommendations.
In the end, unanimous consensus was reached on 49 of the 50 negotiated rules.
The only rule on which consensus wasn't reached by NRC was 10.55.710, which covers the assignment of school counseling staff and their ratio to students. As of now, 10.55.710 states that a full-time counselor should be employed for every 400 elementary and high school students in a school. Districts with less than 126 students may contract or employ a licensed, endorsed school counselor or Class 6 specialist or utilize a multidistrict agreement or interlocal cooperative to secure the services.
The following are the three recommended changes to 10.55.710:
First, “Each school must have a school counseling program for K-12 students aligned to delivery standards in ARM 10.55.1901 and national counselor and student standards. The school system will assess the need for student supports that result in the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students need to: address mental health, safety, and well-being; achieve academic success and college and career readiness; and develop the mindsets and behaviors as identified in the national school counseling standards.”
Second, “Based on the needs of the district in concert with national and state standards the superintendent must recommend to the local board of trustees the assignment of counseling staff based on the capacity of individual counselors to provide school counseling programming and services by: employing licensed school counselor(s) or Class 6 specialist(s); or contracting licensed school counselor(s) or Class 6 specialist(s); or utilizing a consortium, multidistrict agreement, or interlocal cooperative to secure these services; or utilizing any other cooperative method that is authorized to secure these services."
Third, “Based on the student need and school population(s) the district superintendent must recommend to the local board of trustees, the assignment of additional degreed, licensed, or credentialed staff (e.g., school counselors, school psychologists, career advisors, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, behaviorists, other mental health professionals, and/or other resources) that supports the staffing levels based on evidence-based research and national counseling standards,” the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) stated in a press release on Sept 15.
These changes would remove the student-to-counselor ratio requirement, allowing each district superintendent to decide the appropriate number of counselors for their schools.
On Sept. 14, the Montana Board of Public Education heard from panelists as the rulemaking process for school accreditation standards nears its public comment period that will open on Oct. 7 and continue until Nov. 4.
Many experts' comments expressed worry over the proposed changes to student-to-staff ratios for librarians, school counselors, and superintendents, according to prior Missoulian reporting.
For the final proposed rules to Chapter 55, visit https://opi.mt.gov/School-Quality-Task-Force-Negotiated-Rulemaking and click on "Final Proposed Rules for Chapter 55."
The final revisions to ARM 10, Chapter 55 will be implemented in July 2023 as of now.
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee
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2022-09-21T02:25:29Z
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helenair.com
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Revisions to school accreditation standards opening for public comment in Oct. | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/revisions-to-school-accreditation-standards-opening-for-public-comment-in-oct/article_eb61248d-9bf8-5359-b215-903c4ea121fb.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/revisions-to-school-accreditation-standards-opening-for-public-comment-in-oct/article_eb61248d-9bf8-5359-b215-903c4ea121fb.html
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In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tested that separation. Frustrated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s resistance to his New Deal programs, FDR backed legislation to essentially expand the court from nine to 15 members. With his overwhelming Democratic majorities in Congress, Roosevelt thought that for political purposes, he could easily take over the court, thus giving the executive and legislative branches controlling power over the constitutionally independent Supreme Court.
Congressional leader of the opposition to the “court-packing plan” was Montana’s highly influential Sen. Burton K. Wheeler. A Democrat and “New Dealer” himself, Wheeler was shocked by what he saw as an outrageous political power play.
In vivid contrast, Brown’s opponent, Montana Supreme Court Associate Justice Ingrid Gustafson, gained valuable experience as a full-time practicing lawyer in a widely varied practice for nearly 16 years. Her record for diligence and dedication was brought to the attention of Republican Gov. Judy Martz, who appointed her district judge in the Billings district. (At that time, Brown had not even completed law school.) A recognized hard-worker, Gustafson went on to preside over nearly 15,000 cases as the people of Yellowstone County repeatedly reelected her district judge. Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock recognized her ability, and appointed her to the Montana Supreme Court to which the people of Montana have since elected her. She has directly participated in about 1,100 opinions in her service on the Supreme Court.
Straight-arrow, nonpartisan, hard-working Justice Ingrid Gustafson is experienced and qualified in all aspects of the legal profession. She is a totally impartial, fair, dedicated and deeply qualified public servant. Comparing her record of public service and achievement to her opponent’s is like comparing a Mack truck to a motor scooter.
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2022-09-21T13:49:52Z
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helenair.com
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Bob Brown: Supreme Court: Mack truck v. motor scooter | Columnists | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/bob-brown-supreme-court-mack-truck-v-motor-scooter/article_95eb1488-117e-53d2-96a6-9c88e864295b.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/bob-brown-supreme-court-mack-truck-v-motor-scooter/article_95eb1488-117e-53d2-96a6-9c88e864295b.html
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Lessons are supposed to be learned from recent history. The rise of fascism in Nazified Germany was at first probably dismissed as a fringe phenomenon until it became inexorable. Then it was too late.
If we don't appreciate the potential for malevolence here, we are not putting the chain of racism, anti-feminism, voter suppression, organized violence encouraged by disaffected sociopaths and the like together. Taking possession of people and treating them like annoying flotsam and jetsam is one of many canaries in the coal mines across the U.S. that are warbling ever more loudly. Using Fox as a worthy news source is eerily similar to the propaganda machine fed by the maniacal Nazis.
It's not too late but it is getting closer. So let's go to the voting booths in November in unprecedented numbers, register our rejection of this multi-headed creature and start to restore the balance we seem to timidly invoke to each other. If we sit at home on our hands, we become useless appendages to the body politic.
Randy Dix,
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2022-09-21T16:07:20Z
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helenair.com
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Learning our lessons from history | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/learning-our-lessons-from-history/article_9b6546f3-d644-522e-8cd4-cf0802e56dff.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/learning-our-lessons-from-history/article_9b6546f3-d644-522e-8cd4-cf0802e56dff.html
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Why are my Montana taxes being used to make political points instead of supporting the needs of the people in our state? A recent article in the IR notes that the secretary of state's office has spent over $1.2 million just to defend election laws that legislators passed and were signed by Gov. Gianforte, but ruled unconstitutional. I recall many other legislative bills that have gone though this process, wasting more money in the process. This doesn't include the money spent by others like Planned Parenthood and ACLU to defend our rights. Last year I contributed $8,400 in Montana taxes to support the work of the state. This means that for every bill that is passed, signed into law and then declared unconstitutional by our Supreme Court, 142 taxpayers like me have their money used by our legislators just to make a political point, with no benefits to our state and community. I can think of many worthy causes that need this money and I’m sure other Montana taxpayers can do the same. It’s time we elect representatives who work for us and are able to also read and respect our state constitution. How hard is that?
Marie Bourgeois,
Marie Bourgeois
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2022-09-21T16:07:32Z
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helenair.com
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Money should not be used by legislators | Letters | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/money-should-not-be-used-by-legislators/article_9f5ca9ca-03ef-5812-b8fb-0b2b89351787.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/money-should-not-be-used-by-legislators/article_9f5ca9ca-03ef-5812-b8fb-0b2b89351787.html
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Vehicles in the 2021 Soap Box Derby were required to have a driver and could have up to two pushers.
Helena's inaugural Septemberfest Soap Box Derby was cut short after a spectator who was hit by one of the homemade vehicles was taken away in an ambulance.
Helena's Septemberfest Soap Box Derby is set to return Saturday for its second year, and event organizers say this year's race boasts increased safety measures.
Hosted by Downtown Helena Inc. and Point S Tire & Auto Service, the derby features racers in homemade vehicles careening down Sixth Avenue from the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce building to the Last Chance Gulch Walking Mall.
The 2021 derby ended abruptly after one of the vehicles ran off the course and struck a spectator, who was transported by ambulance to St. Peter's Health.
Several drivers of the ramshackle vehicles made of household items like bicycle tires and plywood were thrown from the driver's seat during the downhill race, and at least one of the vehicles rolled upside down.
With the lone emergency medical technician transporting the injured spectator, last year's race was cut short.
A spectator at the 2021 Soap Box Derby in downtown Helena was taken away in an ambulance after one of the homemade vehicles slammed into the crowd.
Jake Crawford of Point S Tire & Auto Service said the emphasis has always been on safety, but more so this year.
Crawford, who has been organizing the event with Vanessa Larson of Point S and Downtown Helena Inc., said he had heard from people all year about the derby returning to downtown. He said the derby was always planned to be an annual celebration, “but we wanted to make sure it is as safe as possible for the public and participants.”
Downtown Helena Operations Director Jordan Conley said through "negotiations with the city," it was determined that larger barricades are needed for Saturday's derby.
Conley said last year the course had only straw-filled wattle and temporary crowd control barricades keeping vehicles from pedestrians, due to "a straw shortage."
She said this year's derby will have larger bales of straw and temporary crowd control barricades lining the course.
"If the cars get too far over to the edge, they'll get bumped back onto the course," Conley said.
Crawford said the dimensions of the bales are 3 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet.
Conly said additional EMTs will also be on hand for the race.
The derby has also expanded to a two-day event. Vehicle check-in and newly added safety inspections conducted by Point S representatives are scheduled to happen in front of Ten Mile Creek Brewing on the walking mall Friday evening.
In addition to the soap box car show, Downtown Helena plans to offer activities on the walking mall for children and families from 4-8 p.m. Friday evening, including decorating and racing toy cars.
The race begins at 1 p.m. Saturday. Conley said Saturday' festivities will also feature live music courtesy Big Ska Country, food trucks and the award ceremony after the race.
"The goal of every event hosted by Downtown Helena, including this one, is to showcase our downtown and businesses," she said. "It's all geared toward keeping people downtown and showcasing local businesses."
The organization is anticipating 1,500 to 2,000 people over the course of the two-day event. More than 20 teams have registered to participate in the race so far, up from 18 in 2021. Teams include one driver and up to two pushers.
Downtown Helena's website lists the race course as the same as last year's. It will "begin on Cruse Avenue, take a hard left down 6th Ave." The race begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, with an awards ceremony at 5 p.m.
The "hard left" is what thwarted a number of teams during 2021's derby. But Conely said the portion of Cruse Avenue within the course's footprint is "really more of a staging area" this year.
There will also be a ramp near the Last Chance Gulch finish line.
"They can get a little air and speed if they want to," Conley said, adding it is only for style points and is optional.
Conley said Downtown Helena has been "in communication" with the woman who was injured in 2021, and that the organization has "worked closely with her" and "discussed next steps."
She declined to comment on what she referred to as "ongoing conversations."
Helena Soap Box Derby
Jake Crawford
Helena Soap Box Derby organizers plan for safer event in 2022
Organizers of Helena’s inaugural Soap Box Derby said the spectator who was taken to the hospital during Saturday’s event is “on the mend,” and…
Septemberfest to bring derby fun to streets of Helena
Montana’s version of the fast and (perhaps not-so) furious will be coming to downtown Helena on Sept. 25 as the first-ever derby takes to the …
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2022-09-21T22:22:17Z
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helenair.com
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Downtown Helena Soap Box Derby returning with additional safety measures | Local | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/local/downtown-helena-soap-box-derby-returning-with-additional-safety-measures/article_b5a6d1a1-3815-540f-bce5-c80438a843af.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/downtown-helena-soap-box-derby-returning-with-additional-safety-measures/article_b5a6d1a1-3815-540f-bce5-c80438a843af.html
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The spire at the Helena Civic Center gets a fresh coat of paint in July 2021.
Photo Courtesy of Bridget Johnston
Chief among these expenses is a third fire station and fire training facility estimated at about $8 million.
Since 2006, the Helena Fire Department's calls for service have increased more than 43%, more than 54 additional miles of city streets have been laid, and the populations of the city and Lewis and Clark County have increased by 8,000 and 14,000, respectively, according to a 2021 study.
That study projected Helena Fire Department response times would climb to an average of nearly eight minutes by 2025 without a third station.
The average response time for HFD currently stands at about six minutes and 30 seconds.
The National Fire Protection Association lists the national standard for fire emergency response times at five minutes and 20 seconds.
During a capital plan presentation to the Helena City Commission earlier in September, Helena Fire Chief Jon Campbell said that with the hire of an additional fire inspector in 2021, the department is "out of administrative office space at our headquarters station."
Campbell said an expansion of station one is needed this year.
The city's finance department delivered a balanced budget for this fiscal year, approved by the commission Sept. 12, but to get to that point budget cuts were required of every department.
Campbell said to "maintain our materials and operating budget, the magnitude of that cut would have been very restrictive. It was permissible to use a balance transfer out of our capital fund, so that we continue the ability to manage our M and O budget for the year."
In all, the fire department has budgeted for more than $730,000 in capital outlay for fiscal year 2023.
Campbell also stated the fire department is in need of additional hand radios and lamented the department's tendency to wait to replace radios all at once.
"We'd like to get on a better regular interval of purchasing radios, so we're not reliant on a mass purchase to upkeep that functionality," he said.
The city's fire department shares its radio system with the Helena Police Department.
Helena Police Chief Brett Petty said new hand radios are on his department's list of future capital needs as well.
"Vehicles and equipment, that's what it comes down to," Petty said.
HPD currently uses Motorola XTS5000 radios, which it purchased around 2004 for about $5,000 each. Petty said those are past their life expectancy and need to be replaced with the Motorola APX8000 models, each of which come with about an $8,000 price tag.
"We've looked at other radios. We've looked at other companies," Petty said. "Motorola beats them all out as far as capabilities and just the use and wear and tear."
He said those digital radios purchased in the early aughts are still in use.
"Whether they should be or not, they're still working," he said.
The availability of radios has improved in recent years. Petty recalled in his early days on the force, not every police officer was issued a radio when going on patrol.
"Hopefully you got there early enough so you could check out a radio," Petty said.
Officers would have to return to their vehicle to use the radio.
"Heaven forbid you'd have to run after someone. You'd just have to yell real loud," he said. "So we've come a long ways is what I'm saying. We're doing very good."
Petty also said patrol vehicles will continue to be a yearly capital expense for the department.
"Every year, we're going to see patrol vehicles. That's the nature of the beast," he said.
He said the life expectancy of a patrol vehicle is about five years, during which time they rack up an average of about 100,000 miles.
This will be the third year of the department purchasing hybrid patrol vehicles, which use both gas and electric power.
"We're saving money on gas, so we're going to continue to order those," he said.
Since the department presented its fiscal year 2023 budget this summer, Petty said the cost per vehicle has gone up by $8,000.
"We'll still be able to order under the confines of what we've been approved for," he said.
The officers' Glock sidearms and patrol rifles are also reaching the end of their lives. The department will look into replacing its firearms soon, but Petty said there "might be a kit or modification that we can use to update all of those for a lot less price than buying all those brand new."
He said the force is also in need of additional K-9 units. Filu, the department's explosives detection K-9, was retired by the city earlier this year.
"He is sorely missed," Petty said of the dog. "With being the capital city with all the state buildings here, we get a lot of requests for those searches."
Police dogs cost the city between $13,000 and $15,000, including the training, and Petty said the department is looking into securing grant money for that purchase.
Every body and dashboard camera's footage is stored on two servers administered by Motorola to the tune of $50,000 each.
Those servers are expected to function for five years before they need to be replaced.
Petty said one of the servers was replaced in 2021 and paid for by both the city and Lewis and Clark County.
Looking further into the future, Petty said his department will look to hire a full-time, non-sworn officer to serve as municipal court security. Per Montana law, the chief of police must furnish a municipal court with such security if requested.
"The court has been gracious enough because right now we're struggling with staffing on the street, so they have not pushed the issue," he said. "We're looking at FY24 for that."
Petty said HPD is currently considering the idea of re-instating a traffic enforcement team on motorcycles. Concerns over staffing levels and the fact that such a team can only operate four months out of the year caused the city to scrap the team and sell off the Harley-Davidson motorcycles more than five years ago.
The chief said if they do bring back the motorcycle cops, they will not be on Harley-Davidsons.
"Those are 800 pounds with all the gear on it," said Petty, who at one time served the city as a motorcycle cop. "And, yes, I've tipped that over several times while working, and it's embarrassing. But I would look at Hondas, which are more efficient and a lot lighter."
Within Helena's Community Facilities Department, which oversees the management of all city-owned buildings and equipment, Director Troy Sampson estimated nearly a quarter of a million dollars in immediate needs city-wide.
The department uses a "facility condition index" score to provide an indication of a building's overall condition and plan for capital expenses. It is calculated by dividing the costs of current needs by the current replacement value.
Within the next decade, the cost of needed maintenance at the city shop complex's main building and garbage truck storage will come close to or exceed the facilities' replacement value, at more than $2.4 million and $500,000, respectively.
The maintenance costs for the city's Capital Transit building, Missouri River Water Treatment Plant high zone building and main water plant, as well as the Helena Civic Center, will climb to around 50% of those facilities' replacement costs.
Sampson listed 19 items constituting immediate need, including more than $112,000 in maintenance at the shop building, $68,000 in maintenance at the City-County Building and nearly $10,000 in maintenance at the Law and Justice Center.
In the coming years, Sampson said the city will need to install new roofs on the city-county building, civic center, city shop, Grandstreet Theatre and Law and Justice Center; new boilers in the Law and Justice Center, city shop, fire station one, and Grandstreet; new air handler units at fire station one and the Law and Justice Center; and air conditioning units at the civic center, parks maintenance building, transfer station and Missouri River Water Treatment Plant.
Also on the facilities laundry list are a locker room remodel for the east side fire station, a fire alarm system at the city shop, LED lighting upgrades city-wide, parking lot repairs and exterior wall painting on some buildings.
Each city department pays into a facility fund every budget cycle, funding many capital improvement projects in recent years, but Sampson said it is quickly depleting as internal charges are no longer covering the facilities department's expenses.
"More and more replacements are on the horizon," Sampson said. "We must find alternate funding sources to keep our facilities and equipment in good operational condition."
Unlike other departments such as public works, the facilities department does not charge yearly rates to cover operational costs.
Helena Finance Director Sheila Danielson said she will be meeting with the facilities department go over its maintenance and operating cost recovery and "also we'll be looking to coordinate with the county on the actual rental rates for both this building and the Law and Justice Center and to incorporate a capital component into those fees."
Interim City Manager Tim Burton said about $1.2 million was available in the facilities fund, so some "major projects" will get the green light this year.
Burton also stated the Lewis and Clark County Board of County Commissioners is considering recreating a building board, which will provide a space for the city and county to meet and discuss issues related to their shared facilities such as the City-County Building and Law and Justice Center.
Lewis And Clark County Board Of County Commissioners
Troy Sampson
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2022-09-21T22:26:38Z
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helenair.com
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Critical Helena departments detail millions in capital needs | Government & Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/government-and-politics/critical-helena-departments-detail-millions-in-capital-needs/article_032a2e5a-0425-5b70-8d7a-f6b5dcba21e3.html
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https://helenair.com/government-and-politics/critical-helena-departments-detail-millions-in-capital-needs/article_032a2e5a-0425-5b70-8d7a-f6b5dcba21e3.html
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Dr. Timothy Mitchell is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Missoula.
Jenn Banna and her husband sing the lullaby “You Are My Sunshine” to their children when they’re babies. The western Montana family had the chance to do that with their infant Anna Louise during her very short life, but now Banna worries others in their situation won't have the same kind of opportunity if a referendum put on the November ballot by GOP lawmakers is passed by voters.
Legislative Referendum 131 is the so-called Born-Alive Infant Protection Act. Its language says that “infants born alive, including infants born alive after an abortion, are legal persons.” It would require “health care providers to take necessary actions to preserve the life of a born-alive infant” and comes with penalties of up to 20 years in jail and a $10,000 fine for doctors who violate its terms.
Jenn Banna speaks during a rally in opposition to LR-131 at the Montana State Capitol on Wednesday.
While backers of the proposal say it will protect infants, Missoula Dr. Tim Mitchell, who specializes in maternal-fetal medicine and often treats families making incredibly difficult decisions in devastating situations, says it is something else entirely.
“LR-131 is a piece of propaganda, part of a false narrative created by those who are against individuals and families who want to make health care decisions without interference from the state,” Mitchell said at a press conference at the Capitol in Helena on Wednesday. “The outcomes (that) this initiative claims to exist simply do not happen."
In an interview last week, Mitchell said the referendum, if passed, would force doctors to intervene in situations where no amount of action is going to change the outcome for the family.
That would include where there’s no chance a fetus could survive outside the womb, such as when kidneys or a nervous system do not develop, or labor starting at 16 weeks, when there is not enough development for an infant to live.
Dr. Timothy Mitchell, a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist, speaks during a rally in opposition to LR-131 at the Montana State Capitol on Wednesday.
Former state Sen. Al Olszewski, an orthopedic surgeon in Kalispell, said in an interview Wednesday that the intent of the referendum is not aimed at families dealing with fetuses with fatal anomalies. The Republican brought a similar bill in 2019, though his version would have enacted the policy outright and not put it to voters. The legislation was vetoed by former Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock. Since Montana elected a Republican governor in 2020, the GOP-majority Legislature has passed several bills limiting access to abortion that are now stalled out in the courts.
Republican state Rep. Matt Regier, of Kalispell, carried the referendum bill last year. He did not return a message Wednesday seeking comment.
Like many proponents of the 2021 legislation that created the referendum, Olszewski said it was necessary because of comments made by former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam in 2019 on a bill in that state that would have changed laws around abortions performed late in pregnancies.
During a radio interview, Northam said in referencing abortions in the third trimester of pregnancy “where there may be severe deformities. There may be a fetus that’s non-viable” … “If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”
Those comments were taken out of context by some who claimed Northam was saying he would allow for infanticide.
To Olszewski, Northam’s comments “introduced to the nation the idea of infanticide can now be considered post-birth abortion,” which for Olszewski necessitated the legislative referendum.
Olszewski acknowledged Montana already has laws stipulating the protection of an infant that survives an abortion, but he again said Northam introduced a “new legal concept” of “post-birth abortion.”
“Now we have to state in Montana that all children born in Montana automatically receive personhood rights,” Olszewski said.
But Samantha Berg, the manager of state advocacy for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, said the language of LR-131 is not about infant health and safety.
Mitchell said while supporters of the referendum paint a picture of people having abortions in the case of unwanted pregnancies in the final trimester, in reality the law would affect families who learn that their fetus has unexpected severe anomalies that are not compatible with life or the pregnant person is at risk of dying.
“It’s based off propaganda and a false narrative,” Mitchell said. “The fact that it even exists is creating an idea that we see pregnancies in a way where the initiative is describing — it is just not true.”
Megan Condra, a spokesperson for Community Medical Center, said while much of the discussion on the referendum is about abortions, the ballot language would also include induced labor or Cesarean deliveries.
Mitchell said the government should not be inserted into family decisions made at incredibly difficult times.
Banna said her daughter was born with a beating heart but their physician told the family she’d only live a few minutes.
“My husband and I leaned in close to our daughter and we sang our song to her while her heart slowly stopped beating. Her grandmother and her aunt then took turns holding her. The opportunity to snuggle and sing to her would not have been possible if she had been taken away,” Banna said. “Anna Louise would have died in a different room, without me, robbing me of the opportunity of comforting and holding her during her short life. It was my fondest memory and the only experience I had with her … Our family was able to create our own experience because there was no government interference.”
Lea Bossler, a Missoula woman whose daughter died 115 days after being born prematurely, said during the Wednesday press conference that at one point baby Maesyn pulled out her ventilation tube.
Lea Bossler speaks during a rally in opposition to LR-131 at the Montana State Capitol on Wednesday.
“I will never shake the sights, sounds or feelings of multiple re-intubation attempts,” Bossler said.
The day Maesyn died, Bossler and her fiance were able to take her outside, free of medical interventions, and give her the experience of feeling the sun on her face, something Bossler said was the greatest thing she was able to do to honor her daughter’s spirit.
Doctor concerns
In a state where it’s difficult to get specialized care during pregnancies, Mitchell said the passage of LR-131 could make access even more challenging.
Dr. Melody J. Cunningham, a pediatric hospice and palliative care provider, speaks during a rally in opposition to LR-131 at the Montana State Capitol on Wednesday.
“How are we going to offer care for these families? Are we going to recommend that we should transfer these families out of state so that they don’t have to go through this process of having to have a medical team intervene when everybody in the room knows this is not the right thing to do?” Mitchell asked. “It is scary to think that me providing the standard of care to families in the state could potentially land me in jail or my colleagues in jail for decades.”
There are only about nine maternal-fetal specialists in Montana, Mitchell said.
“At the end of the day if we start to see physicians being criminalized and prosecuted for providing standard of care medical treatment, it’s going to make you think twice about practicing in this state,” Mitchell said.
Olszewski said he believed there would be a rule-making process to implement the law if the referendum passes. He also anticipated that if LR-131 is passed by voters, it would end up challenged in court, where legislative sponsors would have to make their intent clear. He also said he hoped for some form of public comment period for input.
Referendum vs. passing a law
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in which justices said the U.S. Constitution does not protect the right to an abortion, states have engaged in their own debates over access.
While in Kansas recently voters overwhelming rejected ballot language that would have amended that state’s Constitution to say it did not guarantee the right to an abortion, LR-131 in Montana is not posing the same question of access. Still, Olszewski said Republicans wanted voters to decide.
Back in 2019, Olszewski’s own bill to create a born-alive law passed a GOP-majority Legislature, only to get vetoed by a Democratic governor. And though there was another attempt to pass the policy into law in 2021, Republicans decided to go the referendum route instead.
Hillary-Anne Crosby, the campaign coordinator for Compassion for Montana Families that is advocating against LR-131, said in an interview last week that Republican state lawmakers had every opportunity to pass a born-alive bill last session but instead chose to put the referendum on the ballot to energize the party’s base.
“This drags it out and drags Montana families’ absolutely worst memories of their worst days through the mud ... just so they could drive (people) to the polls,” Crosby said in an interview last week.
Olszewski disputed that framing.
“Yes, in 2021 it could go through a Republican-dominated Senate and House and go to a Republican governor. It could have been signed in the first week of the legislative session, but this issue is so important that it was put in front of the people as the highest form of democracy to decide,” Olszewski said.
For Mitchell, though, he’s concerned the language could be confusing to voters, with a disastrous outcome.
“This law is going to impact Montana families who have very desired pregnancies who have been given some of the most devastating news you can receive,” Mitchell said.
Legislative Referendum
Lea Bossler
Jenn Banna
Abortion Clinic Firebombings
Al Olszewski
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2022-09-22T00:13:07Z
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helenair.com
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Opponents say 'born-alive' referendum will traumatize MT families | 406 Politics | helenair.com
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/opponents-say-born-alive-referendum-will-traumatize-mt-families/article_391e645e-c1a6-533a-baec-f94e7529bd89.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/opponents-say-born-alive-referendum-will-traumatize-mt-families/article_391e645e-c1a6-533a-baec-f94e7529bd89.html
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Dammit Lauren brings Indie music to the Tap Room on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Dammit Lauren, a rock and roll trio formed in the middle of nowhere, Montana, brings Indie music to the Tap Room on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Buckle up for a night of funky bass and deep grooves brought to you by Montana’s top-tier electronic musicians. Synthesis performs on Friday, Sept. 23, from 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. $5 cover charge.
The Waiting celebrates the music of Tom Petty on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. $20 advance/ $25 day of the show.
Ed Hill performs at the Tap Room on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Bone Dry Comedy presents comedian Ed Hill on Sunday, Sept. 25, from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
Musikanten Montana opens 19th season
Join Musikanten Montana for Choral Evensong at St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 4 pm. Led by cantor Gerald Schafer, the traditional Anglican service includes Psalms, Bible readings, congregational hymns, prayers and supplications.
Musikanten Artistic Director Kerry Krebill will conduct Orlando Gibbons’ Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, the Preces & Responces of William Smith of Durham, anthems and motets of G.P. Palestrina and Maurice Duruflé, and Benjamin Britten’s Festival Te Deum. Organist Wendy Yuen will play music of Marcel Dupré and Felix Mendelssohn.
Musikanten is celebrating the 43rd anniversary of its founding in 1979 in Bethesda MD, and looking forward to its 19th season of performances as Musikanten Montana. All are invited to join (singing or listening) with Musikanten and friends in this Choral Evensong liturgy, followed by a reception in the undercroft. St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral is at 511 N. Park in Helena.
SpaceOneEleven presents Tom Catmull, with an opening set by Max Hay, on Friday, Oct. 7, at 7p.m.
Tom Catmull along with Max Hay will perform at SpaceOneEleven on Friday, Oct. 7.
Provided photo by Tom Robertson
Tom Catmull is a songwriter from Gulf Coast Texas who landed in Western Montana in 1994. After seven full length recordings, several band combinations, thousands of performances, and the acquisition of one corduroy jacket, he now finds himself playing some of the best shows of his career.
After over a decade of relentless touring, globetrotting troubadour, Max Hay is back in his hometown of Helena. Hay will open the evening with some unreleased and rarely performed original songs.
The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will start at 7. Refreshments will be available. The show will last roughly an hour and a half. It’s expected to sell out as there are only 40 tickets available. If there is sufficient interest, the venue and artists may add a second performance at 9. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Purchase online at: www.SpaceOneEleven.com
Carroll College Theatre opens Cinderella in the Carroll College FLEX Theatre, Sept. 22. The show runs through October 9.
This year's season opener show is Rodgers + Hammerstein's "Cinderella," a new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical. This contemporary take on the classic tale features Rodgers & Hammerstein's most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It's Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” alongside an up-to-date, hilarious and romantic libretto by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane.
The show will be performed live September 22-24, 29-30, October 1, 6-8 at 7:30 p.m., and Sept. 25, Oct. 2, and Oct. 9 at 2:30 p.m.
In-person tickets can be purchased online at the BookTix. In-person tickets are $5 for individuals with a current Carroll ID and those under 13, $10 for students from other schools and seniors, and $15 for general admission.
A maximum of 140 audience members will be allowed for each performance.
Author to talk about book
Christy Leskovar will be in Helena and East Helena speaking about her new book "East of the East Side." The book is historical nonfiction and includes much Helena and East Helena history packed into a fascinating true story.
'East of the East Side,' by Christy Leskovar. Leskovar will be in Helena and East Helena speaking about her new book "East of the East Side."
On Thursday, Sept. 22, at 4:30 p.m., she will speak at the Montana Historical Society.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, at 1 p.m., she will speak at the East Helena Library.
All are welcome and the events are free. Books will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow each talk.
Carroll homecoming and family weekend
Join Carroll College for homecoming and family weekend Sept. 23-25 with events to include the Athletic Hall of Fame Breakfast, soccer games, social gatherings, Time Capsule Unveilings, and a tailgate celebration before the Fighting Saints take on Southern Oregon.
For a full schedule of events and to register visit: www.carroll.edu/homecoming.
The theme of the pow wow is "Honor The Children." One of our missions is to help teach our youth the many traditions of Native American culture and to share this with their peers to create a better understanding between Native and non-Natives.
A scene from the 2019 Last Chance Community Pow Wow. The 2022 23rd annual Last Chance Community Pow Wow in Helena takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Exhibit Hall, Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds.
For more information, call 406-439-5631, email lccpw@hotmail.com, visit our website at lastchancepowwow.com, or like us on Facebook.
Whether your talent is music, art, poetry singing, dancing, yodeling... we welcome it all.
It’s free to participate, but a suggested $5 donation at the door will be split amongst the performers.
Sumatran tiger cub triplets at ZSL London Zoo are sexed and vaccinated during first official health check. ZSL London Zoo’s trio of tiger cubs have had their visit from the Zoo’s veterinarians, who were finally able to confirm the sexes of the stripy babies – two males and a female!
Clark Tap Room
Carroll College Theatre
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2022-09-22T13:05:45Z
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helenair.com
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Around the Town: Helena-area arts and entertainment news published Sept. 22
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https://helenair.com/news/local/around-the-town-helena-area-arts-and-entertainment-news-published-sept-22/article_5a90459b-c8c8-57dd-aeff-fbddc85797ac.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/around-the-town-helena-area-arts-and-entertainment-news-published-sept-22/article_5a90459b-c8c8-57dd-aeff-fbddc85797ac.html
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Celebrating American Indian Heritage Day: Native humor takes center stage at The Myrna Loy
It doesn’t escape Krys Holmes that we’re all walking around on land that was the vast home of Native Americans.
She’s keenly aware of this history, which is one reason as executive director of The Myrna Loy, she’s created an annual event celebrating Montana’s American Indian Heritage Day, which is the fourth Friday in September.
“I’m really trying to establish this as a tradition at The Myrna Loy,” she said.
Kasey Nicholson is a Seattle-based standup comic. “We all enjoy this medicine of laughter.”
One highlight of this year’s celebration is a night of Big Medicine Comedy, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, featuring Kasey “Rezzalicious” Nicholson (A’aninin/Gros Ventre and Pikuni/Blackfeet), a Seattle-based standup comic who’s also a trainer for the Native Wellness Institute and a motivational speaker. He’s joined by Donovan “Beef” Archambault, an actor known for his appearances on “First Nations Comedy Experience” (2018), a television series featuring Native American and World Indigenous comedians.
Donovan “Beef” Archambault, an actor known for his appearances on “First Nations Comedy Experience” (2018), a television series featuring Native American and World Indigenous comedians, will perform at The Myrna.
In addition to the comedy show being super entertaining, there are thousands of years of American Indian cultural heritage around humor, said Holmes.
Archambault, who is enrolled as a Fort Belknap Assiniboine, lives in Poplar, and will be making his Helena debut at The Myrna.
“I’ve been doing stand-up comedy professionally for 11 years,” he said in a phone interview from Billings, where he was in transit to his next booking.
He does not just do stand-up comedy, but is also a motivational speaker, who speaks about mental health and wellness.
“As far as my material, it’s real-life things. Basically, I’m just a kid from the rez talking about the rez. What it’s like to be married. Me and my wife have been together for 15 years and what it’s like having three daughters, and we’re expecting again. Life on the reservation…being an Indian in the modern world.”
Humor “is part of who we are.”
“There’s humor in just about anything…if you choose to see it.
“In high school I knew I wanted to do this full time,” he said, adding that he used to watch shows with George Carlin, Chris Rock and Robin Williams. He idolized them, but didn’t think he could do it.
Then in 2011, a friend finally nudged him onto the stage, and he decided it was time to sink or swim. He’s been swimming ever since.
“Every new experience, every new town…is a question mark. I mean that in a good way. It’s something new and different and that’s the intoxicating part – the rush.
“I still get those butterflies. It’s just that rush – like I’m ready to go bungee jumping or skydiving…It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Nicholson (A’aninin/Gros Ventre and Pikuni/Blackfeet) is a Seattle-based standup comic.
“I’ve always been interested in being a comic,” said Nicholson in a phone interview from a California hotel where he was making an appearance.
The opportunity came when he saw comedian J.R. Redwater at Fort Belknap Reservation and he needed an opener.
Nicholson jumped in and he was so successful Redwater urged him to give comedy a try.
His next time out, he bombed. But that “lit the fire” because he knew he could do better.
Like Archambault, he finds plenty of comic material in his daily life.
“I think laughter is just universal,” he said, and goes across cultures. “I think funny is funny.
“We all enjoy this medicine of laughter.”
Humor plays an important role in American Indian cultures, said Mike Jetty, Indian education specialist with Montana Office of Public Instruction.
“Humor is weaved through tribal culture,” he said, pointing out that it’s a key element of coyote and trickster stories.
The stereotype of the stoic Indian is off-base. There is a lot of laughter and joking among American Indians.
He’s planning to bring Archambault and Nicholson into the schools to share songs and stories, what Jetty calls “edutainment.”
“We encourage people to come check it out,” he said of the comedy show.
‘Daughter of a Lost Bird’
Filmmaker Brooke Pepion Swaney grew up in Helena, graduating from Capital High School in 1999, and was very involved with Grandstreet Theatre.
Her award-winning film, “Daughter of a Lost Bird,” is showing 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at The Myrna Loy followed by a Q&A with Swaney.
A movie still from Daughter of a Lost Bird. Filmmaker Brooke Pepion Swaney grew up in Helena, graduating from Capital High School in 1999, and was very involved with Grandstreet Theatre. Her award-winning film, “Daughter of a Lost Bird,” is showing 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at The Myrna Loy.
Photo Courtesy of Women Make Movies
The Blackfeet-Salish filmmaker said the documentary is “about helping my friend learn where she came from.”
The film follows Native American actor Kendra Potter, who was adopted by a loving white family and decides when she is 34 to discover her tribal roots.
Potter has played various Native roles, appearing in “Winter in the Blood,” “OK Breathe Auralee” and a Hallmark Holiday film, and was growing more uncomfortable playing these roles without knowing her own history.
With Swaney’s help, she finds her Native family and her birth mother, April Kowalski, and begins exploring her Lummi Nation heritage.
“It wasn’t an easy journey” for Potter, said Swaney. “Words like hard, difficult and emotional come up when you go through change.
“It’s not going to be an easy process, especially when it has to do with identity and how you view yourself.”
Potter was a perfect protagonist for the film, said Swaney. “Kendra is very articulate and very in tune with her interior state. She has such an artful way of seeing herself.
“People tell me to tell everybody… to bring a box of tissues…. The film elicits strong emotions. It brings you along a very personal journey.”
‘In Dreams: The Art of Monica Gilles-Brings Yellow, Stella Nall, Salisha Old Bull and Rachel Twoteeth’
The work of four talented artists: Monica Gilles-Brings Yellow, Stella Nall, Salisha Old Bull and Rachel Twoteeth comes together in this vibrant new show opening in the Jailhouse Gallery, Thursday, Sept. 22, and running through Nov. 8.
A reception is 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, prior to the film screening of “Daughter of a Lost Bird” (see related story).
DD Dowden said that she and co-curator Amy Brakeman Livezey wanted “to provide an environment to give voices to these women.
"Grandmother Moon" by Rachel Twoteeth, who is a member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe. Her works are on ledger paper from her grandmother’s store.
Courtesy of Rachel Twoteeth
This will be the first show for emerging young Helena artist Rachel Twoteeth, a member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe. She is greatly influenced by her grandmother Sharon Twoteeth, and her works are on ledger paper from her grandmother’s store. An art student at the University of Montana, she works in a variety of media and intertwines her culture with modern art styles.
"Waiting for Grand Entry" art by Monica Gilles-Brings Yellow. Yellow is a self-taught Indigenous artist raised on the Flathead Reservation
Courtesy of Monica Gilles-Brings Yellow
Monica Gilles-Brings Yellow is a self-taught Indigenous artist raised on the Flathead Reservation. She uses non-traditional methods of painting (layers of resin, inks, gold leaf) to create richly colored abstract backgrounds. Her “3-D collage” often incorporates photos of her family as a way to reclaim her culture.
Artwork by Stella Nall, a First Descendant of the Apsáalooke Tribe.
Courtesy of Stella Nall
Stella Nall, a First Descendant of the Apsáalooke Tribe, incorporates imagery and techniques from traditional Native culture, such as beadwork and elk’s teeth, in creating contemporary Indigenous art.
"The Dogwood Bloomed" by Salisha Old Bull.
Courtesy of Salisha Old Bull
Salisha Old Bull, a Salish/Crow artist, believes that place provides a person their sense of self, allows them to grow intellectually and enables them to explore their potential in life.
For more information on these events, visit 15 N. Ewing St., https://themyrnaloy.com/. For more information, call 406-443-0287.
Wednesday, Sept 28: 5:30 p.m. – Artist reception in the Jailhouse Gallery honoring the opening of the “In Dreams” art exhibit featuring four Native American artists. Free and open to the public.
7 p.m. – Special screening of the film “Daughter of a Lost Bird.”
Thursday, Sept. 29: 6 p.m. – Dedication ceremony for Blackfeet artist Louis Still Smoking’s new mural for The Myrna Loy.
7:30 p.m. – Big Medicine Comedy performance.
Friday, Sept. 30-Sunday, Oct. 2: Last Chance Community Pow Wow at Lewis & Clark Fairgrounds. Begins 6:30 p.m. Friday with Grand Entry at Exhibit Hall.
For more information on The Myrna Loy events, visit 15 N. Ewing St., https://themyrnaloy.com/ or call 406-443-0287.
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2022-09-22T13:05:51Z
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helenair.com
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Celebrating American Indian Heritage Day: Native humor takes center stage at The Myrna Loy
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https://helenair.com/news/local/celebrating-american-indian-heritage-day-native-humor-takes-center-stage-at-the-myrna-loy/article_4facc376-a5b7-5731-b967-975e021cd7d6.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/celebrating-american-indian-heritage-day-native-humor-takes-center-stage-at-the-myrna-loy/article_4facc376-a5b7-5731-b967-975e021cd7d6.html
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About 30 volunteers from the Helena Climber's Coalition helped build a new trail and retaining wall along the base of favorite local climbing spot Winter Wall in Hellgate Gulch Saturday afternoon.
Volunteers straddle a retaining wall built along the base of Winter Wall, a favorite local rock climbing site, Saturday.
A group of local rock climbers spent the weekend improving a favorite Helena-area climbing spot in an effort to make use of the site more sustainable as the sport's popularity grows.
Helena Climber's Coalition with some assistance from Access Fund, a nationwide nonprofit advocating for access for climbers, built a retaining wall along the base of Winter Wall, a massive limestone face tucked into Hellgate Gulch on the far side of Canyon Ferry Reservoir.
An adjustment to the motorized trail recently caused the loose earth at the base of Winter Wall to slough away, making it difficult to hike along the rock face.
The coalition was formed in 2017, and Chairman Brad Maddock said this project is its biggest.
Access Fund, based in Boulder, Colorado, administers an annual climbing conservation grant program. Only 10 projects across the country were selected to receive a grant. Winter Wall was one of those projects.
"It is a really big deal," Maddock said.
Access Fund spokesman Garrett Garner-Wells said as the sport becomes increasingly popular, it also becomes more important to advocate for it.
"We want to show people that climbing is a legitimate use of public lands," Garner-Wells said.
Helena Climber's Coalition Chairman Brad Maddock, center, measures lumber before cutting and placing it into the new retaining wall.
The wall boasts about 35 separate routes across its face that vary in difficulty. The wall is also south facing and can be climbed on sunny winter days, hence the name.
"It's one of the most consolidated areas for climbing in Helena and the surrounding area," Maddock said.
About 30 volunteers showed up to help out during the three-day project. In addition to providing financial assistance, Access Fund also sent its two-man special projects conservation team.
Kyle Leihsing, half of that team, said he and his partner travel about 20,000 miles over the course of 10 months every year assisting with projects across the country.
Leihsing said the focus on such projects not only benefits the local user groups but also the management agencies like the U.S. Forest Service.
"If we can come in and make these places sustainable, we're taking hours off the Forest Service's docket," he said.
The wooden retaining wall the crew installed will prevent the new catwalk-like trail from eroding.
Helena Climber's Coalition and Access Fund volunteers work on a retaining wall at the base of Winter Wall, a popular rock climbing site in the area, Saturday.
Kristen Drumheller and her husband, Bill Dockins, made the trip from Bozeman to participate in the project.
The couple has close ties to Winter Wall. They installed some of the first routes in the wall in 1986.
"It's just a striking place," Drumheller said when asked what initially drew them to Winter Wall. "It's a pretty amazing feeling to be down at the bottom of the wall, looking upward."
For the uninitiated, rock climbing comes in a variety of flavors. The type found at Winter Wall is known as sport climbing, where the climbers rely on already installed fixed bolts in the rock face to clip their ropes into.
In 1986, there were no bolts previously sunk into the limestone. Drumheller, Dockins and their friends had to put the bolts in themselves. This is known as traditional climbing and is more dangerous.
"It's a lot of work, but it's incredibly exciting," Drumheller said. "There is very much a sense of adventure."
From the trail, Winter Wall looks fairly sheer and not exactly conducive to climbing, but Drumheller said rain water trickling down the face of the wall for millions of years has eroded small pockets big enough for "a finger or two."
"So a lot of these lines look impossible until you get up there and it all opens up to you," she said.
She said it was nice to visit Hellgate Gulch again.
"We've been coming here for so many years. It feels so familiar," she said. "We used to spend days and days here. A lot of these climbs feel like old friends."
In addition to catching up with old friends, Maddock said projects like this and other coalition-sponsored events have a secondary goal of bolstering the community.
"We want to help people meet other climbers and build our climbing community," he said.
Hazel Puchalsky is one of those new faces. Puchalsky said she moved to Helena from Philadelphia.
Though she only got to town on Sept. 11, she said she wanted to meet people as quickly as she could. Having recently gotten into the sport, she also knew she wanted to try her hand at outdoor climbing once in Montana.
She found Helena Climber's Coalition on social media and said it felt like a good fit.
"I met a lot of people. Everyone is so welcoming. It's been great," Puchalsky said.
After spending more days volunteering at the wall than actually climbing it, Puchalsky said she was looking forward to giving it a go.
Though the Helena climbing community may be relatively small for the moment, the fact that 30 individuals volunteered their time speaks to the character of climbers, according to Leihsing.
"Climbers mobilize," he said. "There aren't too many user groups who do that."
Canyon Ferry Lake
Hellgate Gulch
Winter Wall
Access Fund
Helena Climbers Coalition
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2022-09-22T16:18:52Z
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helenair.com
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Building sustainability and community: Helena climbers make improvements at Winter Wall
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https://helenair.com/news/local/building-sustainability-and-community-helena-climbers-make-improvements-at-winter-wall/article_52711d10-33c7-50e3-b217-8f6ee3112e7d.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/building-sustainability-and-community-helena-climbers-make-improvements-at-winter-wall/article_52711d10-33c7-50e3-b217-8f6ee3112e7d.html
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The relatively stable supply of the Sun’s energy, coupled with the right combination of greenhouse gases (GHGs) — primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) — and the open oceans and polar ice caps, produce our climate. The energy is absorbed, reflected and reabsorbed to yield an average temperature of 57 degrees Fahrenheit.
The amount of energy the Earth sends out increases with temperature until the amount of that radiated energy equals the amount that’s absorbed. Based on the amount of energy received, Earth’s average temperature should be about 0 degrees, well below the current average temperature of 57 degrees!
How can the buildup of infrared heat energy cause both heatwaves in Alaska and cold snaps in Texas? It makes sense that when the land and air are hotter, there are more heatwaves, but what about the cold?
Before Arctic warming, the polar jet stream corralled the cold air up there. Now, with the Arctic warming at three to four times the rate of the rest of the Earth, the temperature and pressure differences between the warm equator and the cold north are smaller. The jet stream slows down and stalls for days and weeks, maintaining a hot dry period, or a cold or wet period. It makes long loops deep into the southern U.S. states, bringing them cold but heating the north.
How can we keep our planet in the "just right" state? We need to vote for candidates who will support policies to reduce excessive greenhouse gases. Goldilocks would agree!
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2022-09-22T16:19:00Z
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helenair.com
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Jim Amonette: Climate Conversations: Goldilocks: from just right to too hot!
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/jim-amonette-climate-conversations-goldilocks-from-just-right-to-too-hot/article_5dc88769-f217-5897-a61c-750fc000df80.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/jim-amonette-climate-conversations-goldilocks-from-just-right-to-too-hot/article_5dc88769-f217-5897-a61c-750fc000df80.html
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Happy with puzzle, comic changes
I originally decided not to protest the changes to the comics and puzzles in the IR, thinking that there are many more important issues to be concerned about. However, after the recent rash of negative comments about the new LA Times crossword I have changed my mind. I thought that was the one improvement and I hope it will be retained. The old ones were repetitive and boring. Now after an early glitch many of the old comics are back in the E-edition on page X99, including some new ones. I’m especially happy about the return of Non Sequitur!
Harry Houze,
Harry Houze
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2022-09-22T16:19:03Z
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helenair.com
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Happy with puzzle, comic changes
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/happy-with-puzzle-comic-changes/article_410bf9a1-8e23-538f-b07f-fa264f4adb7f.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/happy-with-puzzle-comic-changes/article_410bf9a1-8e23-538f-b07f-fa264f4adb7f.html
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Hopefully, once the entire legal procedure is concluded, these laws will take their rightful place in the trash bin of history. Taking away a woman's right to choose her reproductive destiny is a violation of her basic right to be left alone, to have personal autonomy. History shows that when a right is refused to some, the rights of the rest of us are not far behind. There is rumbling among the anti-abortionists that birth control is next. How about teaching evolution in the schools? The apparent motivation of the right-wing radical Republicans is a religious conviction. OK, that's what they seem to believe. But what about the rest of us, those who have other opinions on the matter? I can easily consider this to be a religious freedom issue. By passing anti-choice legislation, the government is telling me that my religious preference doesn't matter. But here's what the state constitution has to say about it: Section 5. Freedom of religion. The state shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. So passing anti-abortion laws in the name of a religious preference is respecting an establishment of religion. For me, the election on Nov. 8 will be about reproductive rights. I will not vote for anyone who would restrict our freedom in the name of a personal religious conviction. Please register and vote for freedom. Vote Democrat.
Riley Ford,
Riley Ford
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2022-09-22T16:19:31Z
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helenair.com
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Nov. 8 election is about our freedoms
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/nov-8-election-is-about-our-freedoms/article_c949ce50-e104-57e8-92f9-38673e9d3cf5.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/nov-8-election-is-about-our-freedoms/article_c949ce50-e104-57e8-92f9-38673e9d3cf5.html
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I would like to remind the people who changed the paper that there are quite a few older people in our community that read the paper, comics and do the crossword as a daily ritual. When you changed all those things without the input of the people who are your target audience then you silenced their opinions. Also they are usually the ones that don't have computers and aren't comfortable with technology. Please consider putting the comics and crossword back to the original.
Margo Rapley,
Margo Rapley
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2022-09-22T16:19:37Z
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helenair.com
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Opinions were silenced
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/opinions-were-silenced/article_60b16a51-5aa9-5b55-9024-15c8a669a5a6.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/opinions-were-silenced/article_60b16a51-5aa9-5b55-9024-15c8a669a5a6.html
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Shiloh Berry
A 42-year-old Helena man is being charged with felony aggravated assault after a physical altercation with his partner.
On Sept. 12, an officer was informed by dispatch of a Probation and Parole report of domestic assault.
According to charging documents, the partner reported that Shiloh Seth Berry broke the person's thumb during an altercation in a car.
The partner was driving the car and picked up Berry. Berry allegedly tried to take his partner's phone, causing injury to the person's thumb.
An X-ray at the hospital revealed the thumb was broken.
Berry was booked into the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center on Sept. 17.
Seth Berry
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2022-09-23T00:08:13Z
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helenair.com
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Helena man accused of breaking partner's thumb
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https://helenair.com/helena-man-accused-of-breaking-partners-thumb/article_4aa81c62-1e64-5412-89b8-0c4ebd362782.html
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https://helenair.com/helena-man-accused-of-breaking-partners-thumb/article_4aa81c62-1e64-5412-89b8-0c4ebd362782.html
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Matt Olson will serve with honesty, integrity
We are life-long Helena residents; I was born and raised in East Helena and my wife in the sixth ward. Our state and country are facing many critical challenges right now so it's more important than ever to elect leaders who will face them honestly, responsibly, and with a sense of duty to constituents. Matt Olson, candidate for SD42, is just such a person.
In the 25 years we have known him, he has proven himself to be a man of his word and a model of integrity. He also has over 28 years of successful business experience in Helena. Matt is invested in this community and can be trusted to confidently and competently address the issues facing Montanans. I encourage you to join with me in voting for Matt Olson this November.
Terry and Karen Screnar,
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2022-09-23T13:35:06Z
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helenair.com
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Matt Olson will serve with honesty, integrity
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/matt-olson-will-serve-with-honesty-integrity/article_6e4c0cec-107c-590d-a093-d221d637ede5.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/matt-olson-will-serve-with-honesty-integrity/article_6e4c0cec-107c-590d-a093-d221d637ede5.html
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Tom Rasmussen: Change has occurred within the Democrat Party
TOM RASMUSSEN
I am writing concerning the excellent series in the Helena IR several weeks ago on the current state of the Democrat party in Montana. This follows the result of the 2020 election in which they were swept in all the statewide races plus getting trounced in the state legislature election.
I have somewhat of a unique perspective in that I initially served in our state Legislature in the 1970s and the political make-up then was exactly reversed from what it was in 2021. In the House there were then 67 Ds and 33 Rs, of which I was one.
Obviously something very dramatic has happened to bring about such a monumental political shift in the over four decades since that time. I submit that Montanans haven't changed that much but that the change has occurred within the Democrat Party.
To start in this examination, I first want to touch on very recent actions by our current federal Democrat administration which illustrates the party's philosophy on governing.
First off would be their positions on crime and our criminal justice system. They've pushed the "defund the police" movement and the premature release of many criminals from prison. This has resulted in the soaring crime rates across the country and made some of our great cities, specifically those run by Democrat mayors, almost unlivable in places.
They opened up our nation's borders, resulting in hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants pouring across our southern border. This is untenable in that our Executive branch of government is openly violating its responsibility to police our immigration laws, which have been in place throughout the history of our nation and through which millions of people have lawfully become citizens.
Our nation had recently become energy independent before the Democrats took over. Very early on they made sweeping policy changes which in a relatively short time has resulted in the U.S. again being energy dependent and having to rely on volatile Middle Eastern nations to help keep us afloat.
As a direct result of these and other left-wing policies at the federal level, we are now experiencing sky-rocketing inflation including gasoline prices which have devastated the lives of millions of middle and lower income Americans. This all started shortly after the new administration took office last year.
We've also seen the unprecedented attack on one of our most cherished rights, that of freedom of speech. Earlier this year the Democrat administration proposed creating a government Disinformation Board which would involve censoring anyone's opinion that didn't line up with the official government narrative.
This echos the policies of Nazi Germany, the former Soviet Union and the current government of China. On the foreign policy level they orchestrated our choatic, catastrophic withdrawl from Afganistan. This resulted in the loss of numerous American lives, thousands of Afgan lives and multiple billions of dollars of our military equipment, all as a result of unimaginably inept and totally failed leadership.
This Democrat adminstration has also supported giving the World Health Organization unilateral authority to dictate certain public health decisions in our country. To rational minds this is an unthinkable position re: our nation's sovereignity.
As we reflect on these plus other of their party proposals it becomes completely clear that this is no longer the Democrat party of yesteryear, of presidents like Harry Truman and John F Kennedy. They are no longer "the party of the working class". They are now the party of the liberal east coast elites and of west coast Hollywood celebrity wealth. Their leaders would be headlined by Rep. Alexandria Ocassia-Cortez, Socialist Bernie Sanders, New York Sen. Chuck Shumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Many of their young leaders are now openly pushing socialism.
We can see with our own eyes the results of left-wing control. In our Pacific Northwest we see the trashing of two of our once beautiful cities, Portland and Seattle. This is resulting in businesses and residents fleeing. We see the same with other Democrat run cities like Minneapolis, New York and Chicago, among others.
We see the same in Democrat controlled states like California, New York, Washington and Oregon. Businesses and residents who can are fleeing to free states like Texas, Florida and states like our own plus Idaho, Utah, etc.
In conclusion it is my hope that Montana Democrats could do their part to somehow help turn the spiraling plunge by their national party ever further to the left and once again bring us in Montana to where we have a vibrant, healthy two party political structure.
Tom Rasmussen is a retired Helena Optometrist and previously served one term in the Montana House of Representatives and two terms in the State Senate.
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2022-09-23T13:35:12Z
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helenair.com
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Tom Rasmussen: Change has occurred within the Democrat Party
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https://helenair.com/tom-rasmussen-change-has-occurred-within-the-democrat-party/article_a17409bf-5451-5f81-bbc1-e793dc1169eb.html
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https://helenair.com/tom-rasmussen-change-has-occurred-within-the-democrat-party/article_a17409bf-5451-5f81-bbc1-e793dc1169eb.html
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Thank a public health laboratorian
For those of you that don’t know, September has been designated as Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month. The work that goes on in the State Public Health Laboratories is behind closed doors, so often goes unnoticed, and yet the importance of their work is the cornerstone to public health emergency response and protecting our communities from infectious disease outbreaks and harmful environmental contaminants.
Public health laboratories provide the testing and data required to detect, confirm, and monitor epidemic and pandemic events. Their importance was most evident over the past few years, as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and they were the only ones in the state able to provide COVID-19 testing to help with public health response. With little infrastructure, they worked tirelessly, day after day, to perform thousands of tests per week trying to keep up with the community demand. They were the unseen frontline responders and unsung heroes.
So for this month, and into the future, think about the people and the work that goes on behind the scenes. Thank a Public Health Laboratorian today!
Debbie Gibson,
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2022-09-23T15:54:18Z
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helenair.com
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Thank a public health laboratorian
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/thank-a-public-health-laboratorian/article_1891c056-0c37-5ae2-8887-601ffdefdaef.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/thank-a-public-health-laboratorian/article_1891c056-0c37-5ae2-8887-601ffdefdaef.html
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Dr. Matthew Goldes poses for a photo outside St. Peter's Health. Goldes joined the hospital as a general and vascular surgeon on Aug. 28.
On Aug. 28, Dr. Matthew Goldes joined St. Peter’s Health as a general and vascular surgeon. He is the son of Dr. Jeffry Goldes, who has been practicing dermatology in Helena for 32 years, since 1990.
"Most of my patients will show me like a spot on their arm and say, ‘He took this off of me,’" Matthew Goldes said. "So, the fact that he has this reputation is a little intimidating, and with Dr. Harper retiring, they’re really big shoes to fill.”
Dr. William Harper was a general vascular and thoracic surgeon at St. Peter's Health who served the Helena community for 35 years before retiring. Matthew Goldes was the planned succession recruit.
He became interested in medicine at a young age because his family is made up of dentists, nurses, ER physicians and dermatologists.
"Seeing (his father's) satisfaction with his career and my other family that was involved in medicine and their care for the people around them sort of urged me towards (medicine)," he said. " ...It was probably during my pre-med years in college when I was a hospice volunteer where we got exposed to specialties of medicine that I realized I wanted to pursue it seriously.”
When Matthew Goldes was an infant, his parents moved from the east coast to Helena to be closer to family after the death of an uncle.
Matthew Goldes attended C.R. Anderson Middle School and then Capital High School. In 2013, he was accepted into the WWAMI Medical Education Program through Montana State University and attended University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, where he met his wife.
Matthew Goldes moved to Miami, where he completed his residency in general surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Together with his wife, they have a cat, Sir Isaac Newton, and distant plans of a possible second feline in the house. He does not see himself leaving Helena any time soon.
“It’s really cool to be back in my hometown, a lot of people don’t get to do that. Being a part of the community, it’s serendipitous that it worked out," said Matthew Goldes.
Pictured from left are Dr. Robert Maher, Dr. James Maher and Dr. Katrina Maher.
Drs. Katrina and Robert Maher are siblings who both grew up in Helena and attended Capital High School. Their father, Dr. James Maher, practiced medicine in Helena for over 33 years and worked at St. Peter's before retiring in 2015.
“There were a lot of times growing up, that you know the vacations maybe started a bit later because he had to stop by the hospital and see someone or things like that,” said Katrina Maher. “You know that was always something I really respected… As a kid it was a little harder, but now it really is impressive, the work ethic a lot of our docs from that era had.”
Katrina Maher earned her bachelor's of arts in biology and art history from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Her art history degree focuses mostly on prehistoric art. She said this helped her a lot in med school because it's mostly memorization of details.
Like her father, she attended medical school at Wayne State University School of Medicine. She's a board-certified member of the American Board of Family Medicine. She arrived at St. Peter’s as a primary care provider with a specialty in family medicine in March of 2020.
“I tried pretty hard to see if there was anything else I found more interesting than (medicine). I double majored in art history and thought about doing something along those lines, but I just love being able to interact with people, helping take care of them. I really enjoy all aspects of it, so with time, it seemed like (medicine) was the best option for me.”
Before coming back to Montana, Katrina Maher held temporary positions in Washington and New Zealand.
“I love to travel, but there are things you just can’t find outside of Helena, and I’ve looked... Growing up in Helena, it doesn’t feel like it’s big enough, but as I’ve left and come back, I just really appreciate the community, and the fact that it is a community," she said.
Katrina Maher is a member of the Clay Arts Guild of Helena. In her free time, she hikes, does photography and hangs out with her two cats, Jackson and Zoey.
Robert Maher attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, where he received a bachelor's of science in chemistry. Like his sister and father, he too studied medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Arizona-Phoenix School of Medicine and is a board-certified member of the American College of Surgeons.
“I enjoy helping people. I enjoy the sciences, so this seemed to be the best compromise between the two of them,” said Robert Maher. “Both my wife and I are from Helena, so it was a long-term plan to come back here. All of our families are here. We both really enjoyed growing up here.”
Robert Maher started at St. Peter's in August of 2021 as a general surgeon. He and his wife have a little baby boy together.
“The truth is, raising a kid around family is a lot more fun, a lot easier than doing it elsewhere,” he said. “That was another one of the draws to come back here is that our son could be raised with his grandparents and his aunt and everyone else.”
Robert Maher is an avid runner when not in scrubs. He just ran in the Helena Ultra Runner League's Elkhorn Endurance Run 50k in early August.
In addition to medicine, the Maher siblings also share an appreciation for the arts and their hometown's art scene.
“It’s a great community as far as the people go. The fact that we have so many trails right outside. We have a vibrant art scene with the symphony, with Grandstreet Theater…” Robert Maher said. “I really love ceramics and the fact that we have the Archie Bray and Clay Arts Guild (of Helena) is great as well. There’s all the things you could get in a big city, all the things that I love, right here.”
Matthew Goldes
William Harper
Jeffry Goldes
Katrina Maher
James Maher
All 15 species of bats in Montana are insectivores, eating their body weight in insects each night and up to 1,000 insects per hour.
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2022-09-23T18:02:48Z
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helenair.com
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A family affair: Children of 2 longtime Helena physicians carrying the torch at St. Peter's
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https://helenair.com/news/local/a-family-affair-children-of-2-longtime-helena-physicians-carrying-the-torch-at-st-peters/article_c74dc04b-80ed-5e80-89a0-53ac3f2e5bc2.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/a-family-affair-children-of-2-longtime-helena-physicians-carrying-the-torch-at-st-peters/article_c74dc04b-80ed-5e80-89a0-53ac3f2e5bc2.html
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Sheriff Leo Dutton speaks with members of the press in this file photo.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, back from a conference in Arizona, gave Helena residents a bleak summary of what he saw, and warned of trouble headed our way.
Dutton said he attended a law enforcement conference to talk about the importing of illegal drugs.
“I wish I could say they will stay in the middle of the United States and not make it here but that would not be true,” he said Thursday to members of Hometown Helena, a grassroots organization.
“The cartels own the border. They do,” he said. “I’m sorry to say they own our United States borders.”
Dutton said in about two months Montana is going to have an epidemic of methamphetamine, and the drug is on its way to Montana schools. He said that historically, when there is a trend at the border, it takes two months to get to Montana.
“It’s coming here and it’s going to be available for a cheap price and it’s going to wreak havoc,” Dutton said.
He said part of the conference involved looking for illegal immigrants coming across the border from Mexico.
“I have to tell you it changed my perception. ... My heart sank when I saw the women,” Dutton said, adding they are being raped and “they are beat down and haggard."
He said he hates the cartels for what they do to people just for money.
“I’m not being political. I am telling you what I saw," he said.
“If you have a heart and go down and see what is happening to the human race -- I don’t care of the origins, they are not all Mexicans," he said. "There are 168 countries going through there.”
Dutton, who is up for reelection against John “Doc” Holiday, said the immigrants on the border are coming here in search of a better life.
"They want the opportunity to take what we take for granted..." he said. "They see the United States as a dreamland and they are paying big bucks to get it.”
He said the cartels treat these people like cattle and stack them in cargo trailers.
Dutton said a wall does help, but if you build a 30-foot wall they will build a 31-foot ladder.
Jim Smith, moderator of Hometown Helena, said it was something to see a grown man emotionally moved by such an experience.
He said he hoped those convicted of such crimes are put “away forever.”
U.S. House Democrats have passed four bills to provide more funding for police departments. This package will provide money for de-escalation training, mental health services and other benefits.
Methamphetamine Use
Methamphetamine In The United States
John "doc" Holiday
Recent overdoses are the tip of the iceberg
The Fentanyl Crisis has reached our community. The nine overdoses reported by the Lewis & Clark Sheriff’s Office are just the tip of the i…
Local police say they're ready for recreational cannabis
Law enforcement agencies around Montana say following a generation of medical marijuana, they’re prepared for cannabis-centered interactions with the public.
Man stuck on Mount Helena cliff charged with meth possession
A 51-year-old Helena man rescued from a cliff on Monday has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, authorities said.
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2022-09-23T20:03:10Z
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helenair.com
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Sheriff warns of meth epidemic on way to Montana schools
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https://helenair.com/news/local/sheriff-warns-of-meth-epidemic-on-way-to-montana-schools/article_73f05473-a172-53d0-826b-d5707063c4de.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/sheriff-warns-of-meth-epidemic-on-way-to-montana-schools/article_73f05473-a172-53d0-826b-d5707063c4de.html
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The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day year round. Dial 988 then press 1, text 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
A recent report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs showed suicides decreased nationwide in 2020 for the second year in a row, and that fewer veterans died by suicide in 2020 than in any year since 2006.
However, Montana’s suicide rate was “significantly higher” than the national average for veterans and the general population as well.
The 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report released Sept. 19 offers the most recent analyses of veteran suicide from 2001-2020, the VA stated. Officials said this report is unique in that it is the first to examine veteran suicide mortality data during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, there were 6,146 veteran suicides nationwide, the VA said, making an average of 16.8 per day. In 2020, there were 343 fewer veteran suicides than in 2019, and the number of veteran suicides was lower than each prior year since 2006.
Montana had 53 veteran suicides in 2020 and 288 suicides overall, according to the 43-page VA report. That is 58.2 veteran suicides per 100,000 people as compared to 31.7 nationwide, according to the Sept. 19 report.
Montana is part of the VA’s western region, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The western region reported a veteran suicide rate of 35.3, the VA stated.
Montana as a whole had a suicide rate of 33.8, compared to the western region rate of 18.7 and the national rate of 17.3, the report stated.
The report did not offer an explanation as to why the rate was higher in Montana, which state officials said has ranked in the top five for suicide rates for all age groups in the nation, for the past 30 years. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services referred all questions on the study to VA Montana Health Care, which did not offer comment.
Key findings in the report included that in 2019 and 2020, veteran suicides decreased in consecutive years by 307 and 343 deaths — the biggest decrease in the suicide count and rate since 2001. From 2018 to 2020, the age- and sex-adjusted suicide rate among veterans fell by 9.7%.
Among women veterans, the age-adjusted suicide rate fell by 14.1%, compared to 8.4% among non-veteran women, the VA reported. The age-adjusted suicide rate for women veterans in 2020 was the lowest since 2013, and the age-adjusted suicide rate for Veteran men was the lowest since 2016.
Officials said the COVID-19 pandemic did not have an impact on veteran suicide mortality. The study said suicide was the 13th leading cause of death among veterans overall in 2020, and it was the second-leading cause of death among veterans under age 45.
The VA also announced it was giving more than $52 million to 80 community-based organizations in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and the American Samoa for suicide prevention services for veterans and their families.
The money was from the Staff Sgt. Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, which is part of the Cmdr. John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019.
That bill, signed into law in 2020, was introduced by Sens. Jon Tester, D-Montana, and Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, and named for a Montana resident and former Navy SEAL who killed himself in 2018.
These efforts are part of the VA’s 10-year National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide and the Biden-Harris administration’s plan for Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide, the VA said.
In Montana, the Adaptive Performance Center, which is based in Billings, will receive $750,000 and the Rocky Boys Veterans Center will get $650,000.
Volunteers of America, Northern Rockies, which serves veterans in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming will get $750,000.
“There are not enough descriptive words to cover our level of gratitude and excitement,” Karen Pearson, chief executive officer of the Adaptive Performance Center, said when asked about the grant.
Pearson said Montana is in the top three states when it comes to veteran suicide.
Adaptive Performance is a nonprofit fitness center that aims to reduce suicide rates and help build community. It combines mental health with physical fitness.
Mitch Crouse, chief operating officer at Adaptive Performance, said “Work your body, work your mind -- they go hand in hand.”
The grant is to serve Yellowstone and Lewis and Clark counties.
Pearson and Crouse said they are opening in Helena on Central Avenue and will hire 10 people.
Pearson said they applied for the grant and got letters of support from Montana Republicans Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale.
Officials from Rocky Boys Veterans Center in Box Elder, now called the Great Plains Veterans Service Center, did not return a call seeking comment.
2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Adaptive Performance Center
Karen Pearson
Mitch Crouse
Montana VA launches new patient check-in tool Monday
The PCI application for smartphones will ultimately be replacing Montana VA’s existing check-in kiosks.
Fort Harrison VA Hospital celebrates 100 years
Fort Harrison Veterans Hospital celebrated its first 100 years Friday with a ceremony that not only drew the entire Montana congregational delegation, but other federal officials as well.
Suspected suicide under investigation at state prison
Coroner's inquests are still pending for three recent deaths at Montana State Prison, according to the Powell County attorney.
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2022-09-24T01:40:10Z
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helenair.com
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VA report says Montana has 'significantly higher' rate of veteran suicide
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/va-report-says-montana-has-significantly-higher-rate-of-veteran-suicide/article_93c7cb51-f2e1-5ec2-aa10-32eddd095cdc.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/va-report-says-montana-has-significantly-higher-rate-of-veteran-suicide/article_93c7cb51-f2e1-5ec2-aa10-32eddd095cdc.html
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Chris Haughee column: The difference a friend can make
Chris Haughee
Friendship is a common theme in scripture. The first couple was created for one another because of the need for companionship. The writer of Ecclesiastes bemoans the fate of the friendless, saying, “pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up... if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?” (Ecclesiastes 4:10-11) And, in Jesus’ last moments with the disciples, he told them, “I no longer call you servants… I have called you friends” (John 15:15).
Friends are there for us when times are difficult and we need someone to be with us in our turmoil. Over the last few years, the need for friendship and companionship has been acutely felt… especially by those children and families experiencing a mental health crisis. Coming to Intermountain (intermountain.org), those in crisis find not only a mental health organization with clinical expertise and excellence in delivery of services, they find compassion and friendship for the journey towards health. They find healing through healthy relationships.
Montana is rightfully proud of Intermountain, and those that have supported the work since its founding in 1909 know they are a part of something special. From the loose change a child gathers in their “Change for Children” can to estate gifts and government grants, the support Intermountain receives makes a difference. But what does this have to do with friendship? I am glad you asked…
One of the characteristics of a good friend would be their faithfulness and loyalty. Every church, faith-based institution, and non-profit counts on faithful and loyal support from those that share their mission values. At Intermountain, this group of dedicated supporters is called “Caring Friends.” Caring Friends are monthly supporters who understand the value of friendship as expressed tangibly. Following the lead of Jesus Christ, who held up a child as an example of faith and hope in the Kingdom of God, Intermountain’s Caring Friends have found room in their hearts (and their monthly budget!) to insure that “not one of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:14).
It is amazing to think that for less than a dollar a day, Caring Friends can help provide for the physical, emotional, and educational needs of a child. If you are reading this and want to become a Caring Friend, you can visit intermountain.givingfuel.com/donate and check the box for “Monthly Giving.”
A generous incentive grant has been secured that will gift Intermountain $500 for every new Caring Friend monthly donor of at least $10 per month, if they sign up this fall. What an amazing opportunity to turn $120 into $620 to benefit a worthwhile cause! Amen?
And if not Intermountain, please find another Montana non-profit that fits your passion and values. Contact them and find out how you can come alongside them as caring and compassionate friend that gives monthly to their work.
In the same way Intermountain values those relationships that are consistently and faithfully there for us to lean on, Montana’s other charitable organizations cherish those that step up and make the commitment to give generously and often.
Montanans look out for one another and often organize with friends and neighbors to help those in need. According to The Montana Nonprofit Association’s Associate Director, Adam Jespersen, there are over 8,000 501c3 charitable organizations in the Treasure State. Of those, roughly 2,700 are “revenue generating,” meaning that they are actively raising friends and funds in order to further their mission. These are all organizations that would be blessed to have you reach out and befriend them with your generosity.
Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). We gain a lightness of heart and a joy down deep in our bones when we embrace the value of generosity.
Generosity also does wonders for friendships. We each know what it means to find a true friend in our time of need. Conversely, those who are close friends know that they can count on us to be there when times are tough. Reports from a variety of entities that serve children and families have sounded the alarm, and the message is clear: the children of of Montana need all the friends they can get!
Haughee
The Reverend Chris Haughee is a licensed minister of the Evangelical Covenant Church and is the Church Relations liaison for Intermountain. An adoptive father to two, Chris is an advocate for greater inclusion of foster and adoptive families in the life and ministry of local congregations. Chris is the author of several devotional books including his latest, Hope for Healing, which is available at Amazon.com or by directly contacting Intermountain at 406-457-4804.
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2022-09-24T16:14:07Z
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helenair.com
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Chris Haughee column: The difference a friend can make
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https://helenair.com/news/local/chris-haughee-column-the-difference-a-friend-can-make/article_05dee11d-24c3-5f29-979c-e13e937c24d8.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/chris-haughee-column-the-difference-a-friend-can-make/article_05dee11d-24c3-5f29-979c-e13e937c24d8.html
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Candidates running for Montana's first congressional district: Monica Tranel, with microphone; Ryan Zinke, center; and John Lamb, left, take part in a candidate forum at the DoubleTree in Missoula on Aug. 8.
Congressional candidates on both sides of the divide are set to take the stage in a pair of forums held by Lee Newspapers, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio in the coming weeks.
This year's election cycle features two congressional districts for the first time in 32 years, introducing a newly shaped western district (U.S. House District 1) without an incumbent.
On Thursday, Sept. 29, Republican Ryan Zinke, Democrat Monica Tranel and Libertarian John Lamb will square off in the Montana Tech auditorium in Butte, starting at 7 p.m.
Zinke is the former U.S. Secretary of the Interior under the Trump administration and previous congressman for Montana; Tranel is a former Olympian and lawyer who worked for the Public Service Commission; Lamb is a farmer and construction worker from Norris.
The forum in Butte will be the second time the western district candidates have appeared on stage together, the first taking place in Missoula a month after the June primary election narrowed the field.
The eastern district (U.S. House District 2) challengers to the heavily favored incumbent Rep. Matt Rosendale present an interesting field, where an Independent candidate has out-fundraised a major party candidate for the first time in the digital age.
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Democrat Penny Ronning, Independent Gary Buchanan and Libertarian Sam Rankin will take the stage at the Petro Theater beginning at 7 p.m. on the campus of Montana State Billings. Rosendale will not be in attendance due to a previous commitment, his campaign said.
Ronning is a former Billings City Council member and organizer against human trafficking; Buchanan is a financial advisor and longtime public servant with the state; Rankin is an attorney and real estate broker.
Reporters from Lee Newspapers and both radio networks will serve as panelists asking questions of the candidates. Attendance at each forum is encouraged and free to the public.
"Forums like these are such a crucial component to a flourishing democracy," Lee Montana Editor Jeff Welsch said. "It's vital that Montanans get a chance to see and hear these candidates side by side, not only sharing their viewpoints on the issues that matter most to voters but also having their feet held to the fire by their opponents and reporters in civil discourse."
If you have a question for a candidate, email the Montana State News Bureau at holly.michels@lee.net.
On Oct. 1, candidates in both districts will participate in a live debates moderated by MTN News. The eastern and western district debates will both begin at 6 p.m.
Montana Western Congressional District
Montana Eastern Congressional District
Petro Theater
Lee Montana
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2022-09-24T16:14:13Z
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helenair.com
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Congressional candidates set for Butte, Billings forums
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/congressional-candidates-set-for-butte-billings-forums/article_fba64bdf-eec3-53c7-b937-699e32d16c63.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/congressional-candidates-set-for-butte-billings-forums/article_fba64bdf-eec3-53c7-b937-699e32d16c63.html
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Get ready for preparedness month
Launched in 2004 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, September National Preparedness Month is dedicated to encouraging the public to assess and prepare for local disaster risks and unplanned emergencies.
This year, FEMA’s campaign theme is centered around “Lasting Legacies: The life you’ve built is worth protecting. Prepare for disasters to create a lasting legacy for you and your family.”
FEMA’s 2020 National Household Survey found that a growing number of people are investing in disaster preparation activities. Nearly 68% of respondents have taken at least moderate steps toward and have set aside funds in preparation for an emergency – up 6% from the previous year.
Whether responding to a surging heat wave, volatile hurricanes, or regional flooding, having a preparedness kit and emergency response plan is the highest priority, but what about protecting your personal information and the value of your belongings? Better Business Bureau recommends the following tips to help minimize the negative impact that may arise from being unprepared and/or underinsured.
Start by speaking with your current homeowners', renters', or auto insurance companies to find out what additional coverage you may need to add on. For example, most homeowners’ insurance policies generally do not cover flood damage, so you’ll need to purchase a flood policy separately. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners lists the types of coverage you can add to your current policy.
Research past natural disasters in your area to determine whether the families affected had the appropriate level of coverage. Ask multiple insurance agents for their take on the level of coverage they recommend and determine whether you’d like to increase your coverage.
The last thing you want is to be underinsured and not have enough compensation when it comes time to clean and/or rebuild.
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2022-09-25T12:24:43Z
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helenair.com
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Better Business Bureau
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https://helenair.com/news/local/better-business-bureau/article_ab26a5ec-389a-5ac0-b1b3-c4d18dc0e4b4.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/better-business-bureau/article_ab26a5ec-389a-5ac0-b1b3-c4d18dc0e4b4.html
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MUSIC, FAMILY FUN, FOOD AND FIREWORKS
The third annual Let Freedom Ring concert sponsored by several Helena-area businesses and other donors was held Saturday evening in a Helena Valley field off East Loren Road. This year's free event featured live music by Insufficient Funds, The Kelly Hughes Band and Three-Eyed Jack, along with food vendors, informational booths, children's activities and fireworks. "There Is More That Unites Us Than Divides Us," event organizers posted on social media. "This has been our slogan since the beginning. And this is what we truly believe. We started this concert as a way to bring people together. To create a FREE event for people to come and enjoy being around others and to celebrate their freedom."
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2022-09-25T14:48:26Z
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helenair.com
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Photos: Let Freedom Ring concert in the Helena Valley
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https://helenair.com/news/local/photos-let-freedom-ring-concert-in-the-helena-valley/article_04c6e871-a1c7-5d86-b306-b919d248d47c.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/photos-let-freedom-ring-concert-in-the-helena-valley/article_04c6e871-a1c7-5d86-b306-b919d248d47c.html
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Holly Michels , Nora Mabie
In Missoula County, a program helps engage kids to play at recess. Up in Browning, an organization's need-based food pantry provides healthy foods as part of the effort to combat health problems.
The two programs are examples of ways Montana communities have worked to address childhood obesity, a problem that affects Montana less severely than most of the country but still causes concern in the Big Sky state.
A 2006 report from the state of Montana pointed out that while obesity has increasingly become a problem for Americans, Montanans, with access to the outdoors and more active lifestyles, are relatively fit compared to other states.
"These include an abundance of beautiful outdoor recreation sites, a traditional heritage emphasizing physical activity, high rates of breastfeeding, and a population that is still among the most active in the nation,” the report states.
Still, the document flagged children as a priority, in part because of concerns that being overweight in childhood and adolescence indicates the likelihood of obesity as an adult. Being overweight can also cause children to develop Type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, orthopedic complications and more.
Further, the report marked lower-income and Native children at higher risk.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data compiled in October 2020 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that Montana was one of eight states with lower obesity rates than the national rate, coming in at 10.6% compared to Kentucky at the highest in the nation at 23.8%.
While Montana looks good as a whole, data from the Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the Office of Public Instruction, which offers perhaps the most localized look, shows disparity between Native American children compared to white kids.
The most recent survey, from 2021, shows that about 8% of Native students surveyed identified themselves as “very overweight,” compared to nearly 4% of all students. About 54% of all students said they were about the right weight, compared to 46% of Native children. And nearly 59% of Native students said they were trying to lose weight, compared to 41% of all students surveyed.
Illustrating the disparity between income levels, county-wide body-mass index data from Missoula County collected in 2018 shows 16.3% of third graders attending low-wealth schools sampled were obese compared to 6.8% of those at high-wealth schools.
Dr. David Krainacker, who is board-certified in obesity medicine and practices at St. Peter’s Health in Helena, said he sees lots of children that are in households that fall below 400% of the federal poverty line.
“Those populations tend to have a higher percentage of kids that are overweight, as well as in the obese category, than those who are above that line,” he said. “There’s definitely a socio-economic impact, and that’s for a lot of reasons.”
Given its lower rates of childhood obesity compared to the rest of the country and acknowledging the increased risks for certain populations, much of the work to help improve the health of Montana’s kids has focused on access to nutritious foods and affordable ways to be active.
Moving in Missoula
The 5-2-1-0 Let's Move! program in Missoula County is one such effort in the state. The project’s mission is to build healthy kids and residents of all ages, no matter where they live, work, play or learn.
The program encourages kids to eat five fruits and vegetables a day, limit recreational screen time to two hours, engage in an hour of physical activity each day and drink no sweetened beverages.
Finding ways to help kids be active is a big part of senior community health specialist Peggy Schmidt’s job.
“We work on programs building partnerships and programs that give people access to physical activity and quality nutrition,” Schmidt said. “We have a real focus on health equity.”
In efforts to help kids meet the goal of 60 minutes of activity, Schmidt curates a calendar of free- and low-cost events where kids and families can get active.
The calendar has everything from bowling for $2 a lane and $2 for shoe rentals to free organized bike rides, practice sessions for a Hula club, farmers markets, yoga and more. Schmidt is constantly working to expand the events email list, and this summer an intern from United Way helped too by working with local doctors' offices and dental clinics, faith-based organizations, collecting emails at community events, and social media.
Schmidt’s organization also piloted the Midday Move at Russell and Lowell elementary schools.
During the pilot program, a YMCA employee went to Russell School three days a week from early February to late April. That position helped facilitate play, from engaging with kids that weren’t active to using a bag full of items like Frisbees, jump ropes and soccer balls.
Schmidt and a few nursing students collected data and observed the program. They found that 13% more kids were active at recess compared to before.
“Teachers said kids came in so much more ready to learn,” Schmidt said. Conflicts on the playground also were resolved more often and office discipline referrals went down 9%.
Small-town challenges
Many rural areas and reservations in Montana are classified as “food deserts,” meaning an area that doesn’t have access to fresh produce within 10 miles of a rural town.
The Rocky Boy Reservation, for example, has two convenience stores but no grocery stores. Most residents travel either 29 miles to Havre for food or 102 miles to Great Falls. The median household income on the Rocky Boy Reservation is $30,139. In the U.S., it’s $67,521, more than double.
High gas prices, limited access to a vehicle and the high cost of produce can also stand in the way of people trying to buy healthy foods. Fruits and vegetables also take longer to cook. If people work long hours or don’t have childcare, it can be increasingly hard to devote time to healthy meals.
Tescha Hawley, who is Aaniiih and Nakoda, runs Day Eagle Hope Project, an organization that helps rural Montanans navigate the health care system.
Hawley said the organization promoted healthy food at the youth rodeo by providing all children and their families with a bag of fresh produce from a nearby Hutterite colony. Hawley also provides fresh, local food to community members each month.
“As American Indian people, we have the worst health care in America,” Hawley said. According to a recent Indian Health Service report, past funding for the agency addressed about 48.9% of the health care needs for the population it serves.
According to a recent Indian Health Service report, when compared to the rest of the U.S. population, Native Americans have a lower life expectancy, and face high rates of diabetes and obesity.
The disparities, according to the report, “are a result of centuries of structural discrimination, forced relocation, reduced economic opportunities and chronic underfunding of health care.” Additional barriers to health and health care include historical trauma, discrimination and poverty.
“By eating healthy and living an active lifestyle, it cuts down on diabetes, it cuts down on cancer,” Hawley said. “If we can get people to eat healthier food and have access to quality produce, it’s huge.”
Even Hawley faces barriers when trying to get healthy food to the reservation.
“We can’t transport it in the winter,” she said. “The food will just freeze. We’re struggling to get adequate heating and cooling facilities so that we can do this in the wintertime.”
Danielle Antelope — executive director of FAST Blackfeet, a food access and sustainability organization — said about 67% of families on the Blackfeet Reservation experience some kind of food insecurity.
There are a few grocery stores in Browning on the reservation, but Antelope said rural communities, especially reservations, have higher food prices. When she went to the store in town the other day, a head of cauliflower was $12, and half a bag of grapes was $8. The next closest grocery store is two and a half hours away in Great Falls. But some families don’t have access to reliable transportation, and gas prices make the trip expensive.
“That’s food insecurity,” she said. “People are not going to buy healthy foods when they cost this much.”
Browning is located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana.
TONY BYNUM FOR KHN
Antelope said there are two other food assistance programs that serve the Blackfeet Reservation, but both are income-based, which can provide challenges for families.
When Antelope was growing up, for example, her single mother technically missed the income baseline for these food assistance programs by $6.
“Based on her income, that supposedly meant she could feed us healthy foods,” Antelope said. “But that was not the case. She chose cheaper foods that could get us full, like pizza and chicken nuggets.”
Antelope said when she and her siblings moved out of her mom’s house, they were “obese, overweight and mentally unhealthy.”
FAST Blackfeet offers a need-based pantry, rather than income-based. It also offers a mobile pantry to reach families who live rurally on the reservation. Antelope said between the two programs, the organization reaches well over 1,000 households each week.
The program is family- and community-based, and Antelope said a big piece is community education.
“We live in a community where we’re like, ‘Grandma had diabetes, mom had diabetes, so I’m going to get diabetes,’” she said. “We need people to recognize, well great-grandma didn’t have diabetes because she had traditional foods in her diet.”
Antelope said it’s important for people to understand the traumas that are linked with food insecurity.
“Oil, flour and sugar were all introduced to Native people through the ration system after the massacre of buffalo,” she said. “Our land loss relates to food insecurity. Our loss of cultural knowledge of harvesting and cooking is related. So, we’re on a mission to educate our community.”
While FAST Blackfeet doesn’t have programs specifically for children, Antelope said the family focus encourages children to get involved. Their pantry has juice boxes and healthy snacks available for children when they walk in. And when families take cooking classes, their children get excited about new food options.
Laura Toeckes, nutrition director at Power School, said she’s noticed that children are more likely to try new foods before they hit about fifth grade.
Eggs for sale at a local grocery store in Butte.
“This is when kids are most impressionable,” Toeckes said, referencing children younger than fifth grade. “They may think, ‘Ew!’ but everyone is trying it, and then they’ll try it and actually like it. You have a greater success rate when they’re little.”
“If we expose them to it now, it may be a fun experiment for them,” Toeckes said. “It may be something they can learn to do more. If they try new foods now, the more likely they are to try something new in the future.”
Toeckes tries to make nutrition adventurous and fun for the children at Power School.
She tries to expose them to all kinds of local foods, like mangos, Flathead cherries, yellow watermelon and zucchini. And she always tries to pair a new food with a few fun facts.
“I don’t say, ‘Bananas have a lot of potassium,’” she said. “Because that wouldn’t be interesting to me when I was in second grade. Instead, I say, ‘A single banana is called a finger, and a bunch is called a hand.’ I think it engages them and makes it exciting. It opens their eyes, and hopefully, opens their willingness to try something new.”
Doctor’s approach
Krainacker, the Helena doctor, uses an approach in his practice called “lifestyle medicine.”
While it involves exercise, diet is the primary pillar, and he works with his patients to focus on calories coming in, especially given how much physical activity it takes to burn off something like a bagel and cream cheese, which can clock in around 500 calories.
The work is important to help prevent some of the adult problems he’s now seeing in his young patients. Type 2 diabetes used to be known as an adult-onset disease, but now he’s seen it in kids as young as 8. Being overweight can also put children at a higher risk down the road for heart disease, joint problems, sleep apnea and at least 13 different kinds of cancer. For girls specifically, being an unhealthy weight can increase gynecological cancer risk.
Krainacker sees adults in their 30s who have never learned how to cook well and frequently bumps into a perpetuation that eating a healthy diet is expensive. He works with patients to help them understand how to better shop sales and reach for foods abundant and affordable in Montana, like rice, beans and lentils. He reminds patients “something good is always on sale.”
He provides new patients with three weeks of recipes for foods that are easy to prepare, convenient and inexpensive.
A shopper picks out items at a local grocery store in Butte.
“My joke is people say it’s not convenient to eat healthy. What’s more convenient than an apple,” he said. “All you have to do is eat it. There’s no cooking involved.”
Still, Krainacker is cognizant of the challenges of focusing on numbers in a world where body image can create unhealthy situations, especially for children. The work with children, he said, is not about weight loss but weight stability — keeping a child at a weight and having them grow into it.
“Let’s be honest, for whatever reason it’s an age where we are extremely cruel to each other,” Krainacker said. While BMI is a convenient tool, he has a scale that also measures the percentage of body fat, which is a more accurate measurement, especially with kids.
Working parents with kids in school don’t always have the time to sit down and cook every day, he said, meaning it can be easier to pick up a meal from a fast food restaurant on the way home. Krainacker encourages families to prepare meals ahead of time by taking a couple of hours on the weekend.
“Use an Instant Pot, use a crock pot, make these meals way in advance," Krainacker said. "Have them in the refrigerator (or) in the freezer. You come home and you have ... a hot, nutritious meal in five minutes. You’re done (and) don't have to wait in line at McDonald's.”
Not shaming
Schmidt, in Missoula, echoed that fruits and vegetables can take more time to cook and, depending on location in the state, can be hard to access.
“It’s not that people are overweight because of some kind of failure on their part,” Schmidt said. “It’s the nutrition environment in which they live.”
Efforts in Missoula have moved away from the lens of obesity prevention in an effort to avoid stigmas around weight and body image. The pandemic forced a pause on the program that tested third graders and eventually the county might do it less frequently or switch to another metric, though all that is still in process.
The discussion for her work has shifted away from talking as much about obesity prevention to living a healthy lifestyle.
“In the '80s, '90s, 2000s, 2010s, it was such a big public health crisis and articles coming out telling you how unhealthy you are,” Schmidt said. “I just talk about getting people access to physical activity and quality nutrition.”
Weight Shaming
No Access To Food
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2022-09-25T14:48:32Z
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helenair.com
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In Montana, efforts on childhood obesity focus on access to nutritious food and activities
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/in-montana-efforts-on-childhood-obesity-focus-on-access-to-nutritious-food-and-activities/article_9d6ed72d-7976-571c-a751-b0496d9f799c.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/in-montana-efforts-on-childhood-obesity-focus-on-access-to-nutritious-food-and-activities/article_9d6ed72d-7976-571c-a751-b0496d9f799c.html
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I am very proud to write in support of Mary Ann Dunwell, candidate for Senate District 42 here in Helena. I’ve known Mary Ann for many years and am in awe of her energy, passion and determination. She is the embodiment of the word advocate.
The upcoming legislative session is of critical importance. The potential for a “super majority” of naysayers, eager to take Montana backward instead of forward is real. Our remarkable 50 year old Constitution might be at risk, progress in the area of public health, public lands and economic stability for struggling Montanans might be at risk.
As you look to election day in November, and consider the kind of future you want for your kids and grandkids, please support Mary Ann Dunwell. Mary Ann’s tireless advocacy will be focused on issues of critical importance to Montana families…those of today and those of future generations. Vote Dunwell!
Sheena Wilson,
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2022-09-25T14:48:45Z
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helenair.com
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Mary Ann Dunwell will focus on issues critical to families
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/mary-ann-dunwell-will-focus-on-issues-critical-to-families/article_6753dc69-332d-57c7-b18f-fef5efc33cf5.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/mary-ann-dunwell-will-focus-on-issues-critical-to-families/article_6753dc69-332d-57c7-b18f-fef5efc33cf5.html
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When Tom Rasmussen served in the Montana Legislature, Republicans like Bob Brown and Marc Racicot represented the party’s norms. They and many other Republicans, including more conservatives, those who shared the character of people like Karl Ohs, understood the concept of responsible public service. Today, Republicans who attempt to serve honestly and with integrity are dismissed by fellow Republicans, like Tom Rasmussen, as RINOs. Thus, Rasmussen’s claim that it is the Democrats who have changed is specious.
We can see with our own eyes the results of right-wing control in Montana and neighboring areas in eastern Washington and Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming. The American Redoubt movement is alive and well. Too many elected Republicans share that radical philosophy. There may have been advocates for such extremism when Rasmussen was a legislator. However, that was not the face of the Republican Party. Today’s Republicans no longer respect the Montana and U.S. Constitutions. And, they no longer respect that fellow Americans who reject right-wing extremism are citizens entitled to the same rights they claim for themselves.
John Mundinger,
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2022-09-25T14:48:51Z
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helenair.com
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Today’s Republicans no longer respect the MT and U.S. Constitutions
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/today-s-republicans-no-longer-respect-the-mt-and-u-s-constitutions/article_5e1536ff-3606-5739-ad36-06768c229599.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/today-s-republicans-no-longer-respect-the-mt-and-u-s-constitutions/article_5e1536ff-3606-5739-ad36-06768c229599.html
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James J. Hill is the subject of a documentary: “The Empire Builder: James J. Hill and The Great Northern Railway.”
Courtesy Stephen Sadis
“The Empire Builder: James J. Hill and The Great Northern Railway” was 21 years in the making, its creators from Great Northern Filmworks said.
It was produced and directed by Stephen Sadis and Kyle Kegley.
The documentary captures the life of someone Sadis and Kegley describe as one of America’s greatest entrepreneurs. Hill County in Montana, where the Empire Builder, now operated by Amtrak, rolls through, bears his name.
The film took a few twists and turns.
Filmmaker Stephen Sadis spent 21 years on this project.
“It started with the idea of being a drama about an unscrupulous robber baron and turned into admiration of someone with incredible integrity,” Sadis said.
When the railroad ushered in one of the most transformative eras in American history, Hill built a transportation empire that stretched across North America and to the Orient.
He was seen as a catalyst for the agriculture, timber and mining industries of the West.
“He not only changed trade;” said U.S. Economics Professor, Burton Folsom, “he changed the way the world worked.”
Hill, who was born in Canada and died in Minnesota, was interested in the development of the United States and an early advocate for the sustainable use of the nation’s resources, even mentioning “climate change” in a speech in 1909.
In 1878, Hill organized a syndicate to buy a Minnesota railroad that had gone bankrupt three times. Over the span of 15 years, he blanketed the Midwest’s Red River Valley with lines, then pointed his rails west, crossing the Rockies and Cascades to reach Seattle.
What was once derided as “two streaks of rust and a right of way,” Hill built into an expansive transportation network that continues today as the BNSF Railway.
The Great Northern Railway.
“He sort of became a Forest Gump of his time for being a lightning rod for all these things in flux,” Sadis said, adding the story is more about the evolution of America.
Hill built the Montana Central Railway from Butte to Great Falls, where it connected with the Great Northern. Without the benefit of federal land grants, Hill had to build his transcontinental differently than the other railroad barons. He also had to create the market to feed his railroad, dispersing agents around the country and throughout Europe to attract tens of thousands of immigrants and settlers to the West.
A considerable portion of the Great Northern now operates as the BNSF Railway. Amtrak continues to offer service on the Empire Builder passenger train.
Paris Gibson, founder of the city of Great Falls, introduced Hill to the region.
Hill brought investors to Great Falls to build a hydroelectric plant to power future smelting plants. Those investors included: Indiana Sen. Benjamin Harrison, meat packer Philip Armour, retail magnate Marshall Field, investor John Forbes and Charles Perkins, president of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.
In episode 2, there is also a nice mention of Helena and the arrival of Hill and his wife Mary in 1887 to celebrate the railroad’s arrival:
“Today the arrival of the Hill special train was greeted in royal manner. A procession of 5,000 people marched to the depot to meet the train with flags flying and brass band music. The turnout was tremendous, and when the procession left the depot it was fully two miles long.”
James J. Hill left his footprint on Montana.
Sadis said Hill, despite all his accomplishments, was somehow placed on the sidelines of history.
“His life was filled with a handful of presidents, kings and prime ministers… He should be as well known as Rockefeller, Carnegie or Morgan. He somehow was dropped from pages of history."
Sadis is hopeful PBS or something like Netflix picks up the documentary, but for now it will be offered for purchase on DVD or video on demand.
A four-minute trailer and information on how to stream or buy the DVD can be found at: www.greatnorthernfilmworks.com. The two-DVD set is $99.99 and video on demand is $79.99.
Sadis said he first wrote a one-hour script in 2001 but was unable to raise production funds through grants. In 2008, he began to underwrite the film himself, and with the help of Kegley, a two-hour script was written and nine interviews with scholars and historians were filmed.
This photo is from the documentary. Louis Hill is James Hill's son.
The project was shelved again until 2017, when they established Great Northern Filmworks, a nonprofit organization. Over the next five years, a shoestring budget was raised, the script evolved into a four-hour series and another 17 interviews were filmed, he said in a news release.
Emily Mayer, manager of the H. Earl Clack Museum in Havre, the county seat of Hill County, was not aware of the documentary, but was excited to see it -- for several reasons.
“I think it’s fabulous,” she said, adding that James Hill not only was important to Hill County, but to her family as well.
She said her grandfather, John Mayer, was Hill’s “right hand man,” and had worked for Hill for years. John Mayer died from a job-related injury and Hill named a small town in Minnesota after him.
Mayer said she knew there were several books about Hill, but had not heard of a documentary.
“It’s going to be interesting,” she said.
“the Empire Builder: James J. Hill And The Great Northern Railway”
Great Northern Railway
Stephen Sadis
Kyle Kegley
Burton Folsom
Paris Gibson
H. Earl Clack Museum
Emily Mayer
New, cleaner Amtrak locomotives debut on Empire Builder route
Amtrak is using the Empire Builder route that rolls through Montana to debut new locomotives that it says are cleaner, faster and more fuel-ef…
Empire Builder returning to daily service across northern Montana May 23
The Empire Builder that rolls through northern Montana will return to daily service on May 23.
Lewis and Clark County to mull rail authority membership
The Lewis and Clark County Commission is set to decide whether to join the Big Sky Rail Authority Thursday.
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2022-09-25T19:07:09Z
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helenair.com
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Documentary looks at life of James Hill and Great Northern Railway
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/documentary-looks-at-life-of-james-hill-and-great-northern-railway/article_1edf0f87-11ba-52f5-8fe0-7b70e7474150.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/documentary-looks-at-life-of-james-hill-and-great-northern-railway/article_1edf0f87-11ba-52f5-8fe0-7b70e7474150.html
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Carroll College students walk across campus in this IR file photo.
The world since COVID-19 has been a strange one to navigate, especially for first-year college students who spent more than half their high school careers dealing with the disruption of the pandemic.
“The thing I’ve been thinking about the most is this question of, ‘What are we seeing in the student population post-pandemic?’” said Jennifer Glowienka, senior vice president of academic affairs and dean of Carroll College.
The faculty and staff at the private Catholic college in Helena have been talking about the resilience and mental well-being of students, Glowienka said.
"The response to some kind of perceived failure is much more amplified (in incoming students)," she said. "That kind of panic, that stress, that real immediate fear of failure as opposed to, ‘I can do this. I can figure out a plan.’”
Glowienka noted that faculty have also brought up the concern that the attention span of students has shortened since COVID-19.
Across the country, hundreds of thousands of recent high school graduates are starting college. They endured a jarring transition to online learning, the strains from teacher shortages and profound disruptions to their home lives. And many are believed to be significantly behind academically, the Associated Press recently reported.
Colleges could see a surge in students unprepared for the demands of college-level work, education experts say. Starting a step behind can raise the risk of dropping out. And that can hurt everything from a person's long-term earnings to the health of the country's workforce.
To help address these concerns, Carroll College is focusing on student well-being, socialization and academic support.
For well-being, one campus resource is the Wellness Center located in Guadalupe Hall. Students in need can go there and find a nurse, three licensed counselors who offer free counseling, and a quiet relaxation room in the back that can be used to hang out or do homework.
Beth Demmons, a counselor at Carroll College’s Wellness Center, has started a weekly program called MindTap that meets every Tuesday and is open to all of Carroll. It aims to help students adjust to the environment of college and to develop skills that help to improve mental health and well-being such as meditation, mindfulness, self-care assessments, boundary setting, safe alcohol choices and more.
Around 10-15 students attended Demmons' weekly programs during the spring semester last year, mostly because it was offered as extra credit for psychology courses. Only one or two students have been attending her sessions this school year, which has left her pondering how to increase student use of the resources she is offering.
“The main question is, ‘How do students want this delivered to them? How do we make it so they can capitalize on this resource?’" she said. "I'm not sure but am open to ideas.”
Demmons said that in her three years working as a counselor for Carroll students, this is the first time she has had first-year students and their parents come to her before school started. She saw this as concerning at first and a possible foreshadowing of the state of students' mental health for the upcoming school year.
However, she noted that she now sees it as students learning to be proactive about their mental health and knowing their limits.
Along with the Wellness Center, there’s also a multi-department care team that works to be proactive and monitor struggling students even before classes begin, noted Glowienka.
For the socialization goal, college students once again can hang out safely in each other’s rooms and attend large gatherings.
Carroll College’s Residential Life and Housing team has also made a shift with a whole new staff at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. The housing staff changed it so that resident assistants (RAs) no longer have to put on programs for their floors but instead are focusing more on intentional smaller interactions with their peers like coffee dates, game nights and more. The goal with intentional interactions is to try to make contact with every student to give them a connection to the college and someone they know they can speak with who can connect them to more resources if necessary.
Exchange programs have started up again at the college. Carroll currently has 21 students on campus from countries all over the globe, such as Israel, Brazil, Lebanon, Egypt, Iceland, China, Malawi and more. Carroll also has six Saints studying abroad -- four in Ireland and two in Spain, according to Shannon Ackeret, director of global education at Carroll.
As for academics, Glowienka highlighted two student resources in the basement of the library: the Communication Lab and the Writing Center. These programs both started in the fall of 2020, peak pandemic time.
At the Communication Lab, students can record their presentations and get feedback on them from Communications Professor Dr. Alan Hansen. This lab proved essential during COVID-19 when classes were online but students still had to record presentations to submit.
Through the Writing Center directed by Dr. Jeffrey Morris, students can make an appointment and get one-on-one feedback on their writing and papers before submitting them.
Glowienka noted that this school year, Carroll increased the number of introductory college writing classes to three sections instead of the one or two usually offered to meet demand.
Other academic coaching comes through the Saints Success Center that can connect students with schedule help, internships, tutoring, resumes, interviewing and more. The tutoring schedule was set up as soon as possible this school year as a resource for students.
Glowienka said around 20 Carroll staff and faculty recently took a Trauma and Resilience course from Florida State University that focuses on college student well-being in order to better care for and support students since the pandemic.
"We have an incredible faculty and staff who are dedicated to serving our students and who are committed to our mission as a liberal arts Catholic diocesan college and are engaged in the Helena community," said President of Carroll College John Cech.
Throughout all the ups and downs of life since the pandemic, Carroll has still seen growth.
“National trends show many colleges and universities continuing to shrink following the COVID-19 pandemic, with data showing that enrollments are down close to 5% year-over-year, and nearly 10% since the onset of the pandemic,” said Michael McMahon, Carroll’s vice president of student engagement and mission.
McMahon said Carroll is not following the national trend in lower enrollment numbers.
“This fall we achieved a 5% growth year-over-year in new undergraduate students (transfers and first-year students), and nearly 10% growth over two years when we were navigating the heart of the pandemic,” he said.
The college’s enrollment increased by around 3% this fall and 5% over the past two school years with a total of 1,180 students currently enrolled, noted McMahon. The first-year class along with transfers makes up around 350 of that total.
There has also been a 20% increase since last school year in the number of students living on campus, with about 950 undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff and some alumni living in dorms and the campus apartments.
“I think we have ambitions for greater growth, and we certainly have opportunities to do so,” said McMahon. “... I have reason to believe that within the state of Montana, our success, modest as it is, isn’t exactly the norm, that we’ve managed to continue to make some progress in a challenging time for higher education in this state.”
"I have never felt better about the future of Carroll! We have now completed our third successive fall of enrollment growth with 2.5 of those years having been in the middle of a global pandemic," said Cech. "Our enrollment team has a laser focus on student recruitment and retention. The dynamics for driving enrollment continues to change and I am pleased with our understanding of the new environment."
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2022-09-26T12:18:33Z
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helenair.com
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COVID grads face college: Carroll focusing on student well-being, socialization, support
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/covid-grads-face-college-carroll-focusing-on-student-well-being-socialization-support/article_6d26bf29-bfd0-57a1-a77e-d38ceb5f88d0.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/covid-grads-face-college-carroll-focusing-on-student-well-being-socialization-support/article_6d26bf29-bfd0-57a1-a77e-d38ceb5f88d0.html
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Bret Haux, school resource officer at Helena High School, monitors the hallways in between classes recently.
School resource officers have been in Helena Public Schools for more than 20 years, but local students will see a couple of new faces behind the badge this year.
At the middle schools, officer Scott Finnicum is in C.R. Anderson and officer Jessica Cornell is in Helena Middle School. At the high schools, officer Jon Pulsifer is in Capital High School and officer Bret Haux is in Helena High School.
This is Cornell's and Haux's first year as School Resources Officers (SROs), but Finnicum and Pulsifer both have at least one year of experience in the position.
These officers help out at other Helena schools as well. Haux said their schools are organized into east and west by Last Chance Gulch. The west side is covered by Finnicum (CRA) and Pulsifer (CHS), and the east side is covered by Cornell (HMS) and Haux (HHS).
The city, school district and the Helena Police Department are still finalizing the SRO memorandum of understanding but hope to have that done in the next few weeks.
To become an SRO, an officer puts their name into a pool, interviews are conducted, and the selected officers are assigned to their schools.
Haux graduated from Helena High School in 2016, so he pointed out that it was nice to be back in Bengal territory and see some familiar faces.
“My little brother is a freshman here, and I have two cousins who also go here. One plays volleyball and the other plays basketball,” said Haux. “I run into kids all the time, and I’m like ‘Hey, I’m related to you.’ So that’s pretty fun... My goal is to be here till my brother graduates.”
Haux joined the National Guard when he was 17 and became a Helena police officer in late 2020.
As an SRO, he wears many hats. He helps with traffic, is a first responder for incidents at the school, and works as an informal counselor and more.
“I have yet to have a typical day,” said Haux. “Sometimes when it’s raining, it’s pouring, and you’re busy all day. Like today, I went and met with a class, and helped them out with crime scene processing and photographing, so I guess I get to use my expertise in that to teach kids. Otherwise, I’m being responsive and helping out the school with what they need … and trying to have good interactions with kids. For a lot of them, it’s their first time interacting with police, so I want to make sure it’s a good experience.”
Since 2010, the Helena Police Department has worked with the Helena nonprofit Angel Fund for “Running for Montana’s Future," which promotes physical activity and positive relationships between law enforcement and kids in the community. Through 5K races and individual sponsorships, officers purchase shoes for Helena children through The Angel Fund. At a recent Helena school board meeting, executive director of The Angel Fund Janet Riis said that last school year, around 90 pairs of shoes were provided to Helena students through this program.
It's not often they get to enjoy such a sweet treat.
Bret Haux
Jessica Cornell
Jon Pulsifer
Scott Finnicum
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2022-09-27T13:37:47Z
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helenair.com
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New faces among the ranks of Helena's school resource officers
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/new-faces-among-the-ranks-of-helenas-school-resource-officers/article_1be93e9a-7659-5573-b1d1-e138882286af.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/education/new-faces-among-the-ranks-of-helenas-school-resource-officers/article_1be93e9a-7659-5573-b1d1-e138882286af.html
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Helena approves Affordable Housing Trust Fund guidelines
The Helena City Commission approved during its Monday evening meeting the guidelines for doling out its Affordable Housing Trust Fund dollars.
The commission established the fund in November 2020 to spur on development of affordable housing projects within the city and has since poured approximately $2.1 million into it.
A seven-person, volunteer citizen advisory board was also formed to make recommendations on future funding.
Monday, the commission approved the guidelines and application process documents to guide disbursement of the funds.
"Our dedicated staff has worked diligently to put all that together," said Helena Community Development Director Chris Brink.
Helena Housing Coordinator Kara Snyder is one of those staffers.
"I think we're in a really good position, one where a lot of other cities and towns are probably wanting to be right now," Snyder told the commissioners during a Sept. 7 administrative meeting.
The resolution establishing the fund allows for the city manager to establish a reserve fund to take maximum advantage of unforeseen opportunities and expenses, and $100,000 will be used to create that contingency.
All funds allocated will be in the form of a low-interest loan, though the recommended 1% interest rate could be raised or lowered depending on the project. Projects involving a land trust could be eligible to receive funds as a grant.
The guidelines include a list of eligible uses for the funds, which are intended to cover all aspects of creating or supporting affordable housing from acquisition to construction, including an 8% cap on administrative expenses.
Eligible projects must serve those within 80% of the area median income -- $55,000 for a household of one or $78,000 for household of four -- and could go up as high as 120% of the area median income -- $82,000 for household of one and $118,000 for household of four -- per commission discretion.
Eligible projects must also incorporate a mechanism for ensuring affordability for a predetermined period of time either through deed restriction, land use agreement or covenant.
That period of affordability depends on the project and level of city investment and ranges from 20 years up to 35 years.
Applications will be considered twice yearly and require a $200 non-refundable application fee. City staff will review applications for eligibility and completeness, then the advisory board will offer recommendations to the city commission, which will have final approval.
That seven-member board is made up of representatives of the real estate, finance, architecture and engineering industries, and is to include a person with lived experience of housing insecurity and someone representing nonprofit housing providers.
Those appointed to the board will serve three-year terms and cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.
Applicants must also provide a five-to-one match of funds. Applicants planning a shelter or other temporary housing project will be required to provide a three-to-one match.
"These guidelines prioritize projects that use other funding sources, do not duplicate existing services and have long-term community impact," Snyder said. "The priorities were developed with dual intent of maximizing and protecting the city's investments in housing."
Brink said the first round will open to applicants Oct. 3.
City Commission Melinda Reed thanked staff and previous commissioners for "moving this forward."
The guidelines were approved on a 4-0 vote by the commission. City Commissioner Emily Dean was not present for the vote.
Helena Affordable Housing Trust Fund
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2022-09-27T17:44:51Z
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helenair.com
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Helena approves Affordable Housing Trust Fund guidelines
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https://helenair.com/government-and-politics/helena-approves-affordable-housing-trust-fund-guidelines/article_7814c230-1698-5995-a61d-8524d29f2f11.html
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https://helenair.com/government-and-politics/helena-approves-affordable-housing-trust-fund-guidelines/article_7814c230-1698-5995-a61d-8524d29f2f11.html
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Frontier Town's main street is shown in this undated photo of the attraction John Quigley built on McDonald Pass west of Helena.
Frontier Town, the Old West-themed tourist attraction that operated from 1948 to 2002 just below the summit of MacDonald Pass west of Helena, is under contract to be sold, its current owner said Tuesday.
Jeff Battershell, the current owner of the property that has since become a private residence, said it has been under contract for a month and a half and he is optimistic the sale will go through.
The asking price was $1.7 million. Battershell would not divulge the sale price or the name of the potential new owners, saying they wanted privacy.
“They’re nice people,” he said. “Everybody wants to know and nobody needs to know (the sale price) but me and the people who bought it.”
He did confirm it was not Taegan Walker, the granddaughter of Frontier Town’s founder John Quigley. Walker has expressed interest in buying the property just off Highway 12, which includes 15 springs on 41 acres on the eastern slope of the Continental Divide.
“I’m incredibly sad about it all,” Walker said Tuesday in an email. “I know it was a ‘business decision’ and I guess we shall see at what price tag.
“All I can hope and pray for is that the new owners will accept my offer of friendship and support and hopefully be understanding of my eternal love of my family legacy,” she said.
John R. Quigley and Frontier Town.
Provided by the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame
The residence, which was being sold “as is,” includes a large wood-burning fireplace, and a kitchen/dining room area are built with log and rock walls.
It includes 42 rooms with lots of stone and woodwork. There are several outbuildings including a church and a detached large garage. There are several antiques included in the sale, a Facebook posting said.
According to the website frontiertownmontana.com, Frontier Town was built by John R. Quigley. With the help of his wife Sue and his children Jack, Peter and Kitty Ann, John operated and upgraded Frontier Town for more than 30 years.
Frontier Town was featured in national publications such as "Life" and "Readers Digest" and attracted famous personalities such as George Montgomery, Dinah Shore, A.B. Guthrie Jr. and the Rev. Billy Graham, the Independent Record previously reported.
Jeff Battershell, who said he has lived on the property for 21 years, said earlier the property was literally falling down when he arrived.
He said Tuesday it was time to let somebody else own it.
Teagan Erickson
The Rev. Billy Graham
Dinah Shore
A.b. Guthrie Jr.
Jeff Battershell
John R. Quigley
Famed Frontier Town property near Helena listed for $1.7M
Frontier Town, a piece of the Helena area’s colorful past, is on the sale block for $1.7 million.
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2022-09-27T23:12:08Z
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helenair.com
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Frontier Town property near Helena is under contract, current owner says
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https://helenair.com/news/local/frontier-town-property-near-helena-is-under-contract-current-owner-says/article_2f1e3ca0-3bad-5cc4-8dd6-77a435a58e15.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/frontier-town-property-near-helena-is-under-contract-current-owner-says/article_2f1e3ca0-3bad-5cc4-8dd6-77a435a58e15.html
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The Helena City Commission denied a requested historic building demolition permit Monday. The applicant sought to demolish the former home of Cornelius Hedges, a prominent Helena pioneer.
The two-story, Italianate style house, located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Rodney and Broadway streets, was built in 1878 for Cornelius Hedges and his family.
Helena/Lewis and Clark County Heritage Preservation Officer Pam Attardo said Hedges is a figure of "local, state and national significance."
Attardo said Hedges arrived in Helena in 1865. Hedges practiced law, one of the first in Helena to do so, and served as a U.S. Attorney.
Additionally, he was the editor of the Helena Daily Herald, chairman of the committee that formed the Helena Library, superintendent of public schools for eight years, the first superintendent of public instruction and a co-founder of the Montana Historical Society.
Arguably his biggest claim to fame is his involvement in the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition. The group explored northwestern Wyoming, making maps, noting landmarks and observing wildlife. When the group came across that famous geyser in the area, they timed its eruptions and gave it the name Old Faithful.
Hedges wrote articles about the expedition in the local paper and used the platform to advocate for the establishment of Yellowstone National Park, which happened two years later.
Nathaniel P. Langford, a fellow member of the expedition and later the first superintendent of Yellowstone, credited Hedges with having the idea to set aside the Yellowstone area as a national park.
"He's the most famous person you've probably never heard of," Attardo told the city commissioners. "He didn't amass a fortune, but rather lent his talents to causes that uplifted fellow citizens."
The home on Rodney Street was converted to a fourplex by Hedges' son in 1922, later became a funeral home, then was converted back into a fourplex in the early 1990s.
A space heater in the unit on the north side of the building caught fire in December 2018 and spread to the attic. The building has remained vacant since.
Attardo said the first floor has no fire or smoke damage. The southern second floor unit has water damage caused by the fire hoses, but no smoke or fire damage.
The fire marshal did not condemn the structure, and a Heritage Tourism Council-provided professional engineer stated "access to the main floor should pose no risk to people" and that "most of the second floor is safe."
The owner of the building is listed in the demolition permit application as Bent Tree Enterprises, a Helena-based roofing and construction company owned by David Blackman.
Attardo said the owner purchased the building the summer of 2019 and neglected to put tarps over the roof to prevent further water damage and "the current pigeon infestation."
"The applicants attended a pre-application meeting in June 2019 and submitted a signed (a historic building demolition) application in June 2022. That building has remained open to the elements during that three-year period," Attardo said.
The owner proposed constructing an eight-unit apartment building. The units would be rented at market rate, well above the affordable rents charged in the neighborhood.
"Demolishing the Hedges house ... would erode the historic fabric and sense of place and have significant adverse impacts on the historic district," Attardo said.
Helena's Historic District, on the National Register of Historic Places, is made up of the many "contributing structures" in the city's urban core. Should a significant amount of those historic structures be removed from the district, the National Parks Service could remove its historic designation.
Attardo also noted that Hedges' house is the only remaining structure associated with the pioneer and the only National Register listed house of a nationally significant person in Helena. The houses of Charlie Pride, Myrna Loy, L. Ron Hubbard and Gary Cooper are not listed.
Two hearings on the proposed demolition were held before the Heritage Tourism Council on July 12 and Aug. 16, following which the council voted unanimously to recommend denial, citing the historic significance and "the fact that the applicant presented no documentation of structure as structurally unsound despite repeated requests," Attardo said.
A conditional approval with nine stipulations, including the owner obtain a building permit within one year of demolition and fully document the building with photographs and descriptions, was presented as an alternative recommendation.
However, City Attorney Rebecca Dockter said such a permit cannot be issued with conditions.
Charlie Carson, de-facto mayor of Rodney Street, reminded the commissioners during public comment that he "own(s) a lot of Rodney Street" and said he is opposed to the demolition. Carson said he would like to see the building rehabilitated and that he made a "very fair" offer to purchase the property and was turned down.
"We feel we have gone above and beyond in following the historic guidelines," Blackman said during public comment.
He stated the roof would likely have to be replaced and the building would need to be completely rewired as a result of the water used to fight the fire. Blackman also cited the numerous upgrades that would need to be made to bring the structure up to modern codes. Additionally, asbestos and lead paint mitigation work would need to be done.
"This is expensive and a time-hungry endeavor," he said.
Blackman also stated he was not aware of the historic district restrictions when he purchased the property.
"For three years we have tried to find the combination to the ever-changing riddle of an approved rendering," he said, referencing the Heritage Tourism Council's required documentation of what would replace the structure.
"What is disconcerting is the building has undergone so many changes with no regard to historic importance that it is unrecognizable to its predecessor," he said. "So now somehow we are at fault for not being willing to overhaul this eyesore to the original glory."
Ten people stated they opposed the demolition during the public comment period; no one supported it.
City Commissioner Melinda Reed moved to deny the demolition permit request.
In a roll call vote, City Commissioners Andy Shirtliff and Reed voted in favor of the motion.
City Commissioner Sean Logan voted against the motion.
"The historical sentiments that have been expressed here tonight are certainly not lost on me, but on the flip side of that, I am sympathetic to some investor who has taken a risk on a building that sustained a lot of damage, not only fire, but water," Logan said.
Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins, after asking the city attorney what happens in a tie and being informed the motion would fail, voted to deny the demolition permit request.
Blackman said the denial is "not a good scenario," but declined to offer what his next steps will be for the building.
Bent Tree Enterprises can reapply for a historic building demolition permit in six months.
Heritage Tourism Council
Cornelius Hedges
Rodney Street
Pam Attardo
Historic downtown Helena home up for demolition
Helena Heritage Tourism Council is scheduled to hear a request to demolish a historic downtown Helena home.
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2022-09-27T23:12:14Z
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helenair.com
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Helena City Commission denies demolition of historic house
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https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-city-commission-denies-demolition-of-historic-house/article_8cd4979b-4465-5bab-bc08-64e9c8673ad6.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-city-commission-denies-demolition-of-historic-house/article_8cd4979b-4465-5bab-bc08-64e9c8673ad6.html
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I first met Guzynski ten years ago when we worked together at the Attorney General's Office. It became clear to me early on that he was a top prosecutor in the state with decades of experience bringing violent criminals to justice. After 45 felony trials, including 15 homicide trials, few attorneys can match what he brings to the table in terms of experience.
When I was Chief Deputy Attorney General, I recommended Guzynski for promotion as the bureau chief for the state prosecution office. Since then, he has done incredibly well recruiting and managing prosecutors in the office - a skill set that will serve him well as the Lewis & Clark County Attorney.
Dan Guzynski will be a dedicated public servant as County Attorney, just as he has been as one of the state's top prosecutors for 22 years. A vote for him will be one of the best you cast this election,
Jon Bennion,
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2022-09-28T15:30:25Z
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helenair.com
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Dan Guzynski will be a dedicated public servant
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/dan-guzynski-will-be-a-dedicated-public-servant/article_6caa0f5a-7e28-5259-9751-ec74fc4103be.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/dan-guzynski-will-be-a-dedicated-public-servant/article_6caa0f5a-7e28-5259-9751-ec74fc4103be.html
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Support Janet Ellis for SD41
Our state Constitution is a jewel in Montana’s crown. It is one of the finest state Constitutions in the country. Among other things, it protects Montanans’ rights to privacy, to dignity, to participate in government, and to have a clean and healthful environment. And yet this marvelous document is under threat.
If the Republicans pick up two seats in the Montana Senate, they’ll have the super majority they need to endanger these constitutional protections.
If you value Montana’s wonderful Constitution and the rights it guarantees for us all, please join me in supporting Janet Ellis for Senate District 41. The future of our Constitution is at stake.
Terry Cohea,
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2022-09-28T15:30:38Z
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helenair.com
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Support Janet Ellis for SD41
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/support-janet-ellis-for-sd41/article_24a8aef2-bff9-5e82-9ea0-43adeefb7734.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/support-janet-ellis-for-sd41/article_24a8aef2-bff9-5e82-9ea0-43adeefb7734.html
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Elizabeth Gunn, author of 18 mystery novels, died in Helena Aug. 30, at age 95.
Born Elizabeth Anne McConnell in Chatfield, Minnesota on June 10, 1927 to James and Susie McConnell, she met and married Phil Gunn one summer in Yellowstone National Park when they were both working their way through college. They owned and ran motels in Helena for more than 25 years. They raised two daughters.
Liz earned her pilot's license and flew herself and Phil around the state, across the U.S., and up the Alcan Highway to Alaska. She took up running, riding, skiing and skydiving. She completed one marathon and shorter races. She gave up jumping out of airplanes because a hard landing "ruined the ski season that year."
They bought the Main Motel at 910 N. Last Chance Gulch in 1956 and moved into the tiny apartment that would be their home for most of the next 25 years on Halloween night. They were greeted the next day by a housekeeper reporting she had found a body when she went to clean one of the rooms. The death was ruled to be from natural causes.
They transformed their property from the original 37-room 1950's "motor court" into the 100+ room Coach House Motor Inn Downtown. In the '60s, they added a bar known as Room 35 which later became Casino Jack's. They built blocks of rooms down the hill toward what is now Great Northern Boulevard. They absorbed a neighboring motel across Last Chance Gulch and, eventually, the gas station in between the two properties, which became a central laundry and maintenance facility. In the late 1970s they and a partner acquired another standalone hotel, bar, and restaurant on Helena's east side and rebranded it as Coach House East.
Eventually she and Phil sold the motels and became "citizens of the world," living on a series of boats and RVs, traveling through Mexico, the Caribbean, and the U.S, scuba diving and snorkeling as they went. They weathered a hurricane by breaking into an old lighthouse on a tiny island. They moved to Barcelona, Spain, for a year and worked on their Spanish. Liz made time to finish her bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, taking one final correspondence course and receiving her diploma at age 65.
She realized her lifelong dream of becoming an author. First she wrote travel articles that she sold to papers across the U.S., including The New York Times. Then she wrote her first murder mystery and saw it published when she was 70. Having settled in Tucson, Arizona with Phil, she enjoyed a successful 20+ year career as an author. Her last two novels were published when she was in her 90s and one of her series was reissued by a new publisher in 2021.
Seven of her books were set in Tucson, 10 in Minnesota, and one in Montana. Titles in the Jake Hines and Sarah Burke mystery series include "Cool in Tucson," "Burning Meredith" and "Eleven Little Piggies."
Marilyn Stasio of The New York Times described Liz’s police procedurals as “precision-tooled” while Publishers Weekly said, "Outstanding may be an understatement." But for Elizabeth, the highest praise came from the cops, firefighters, and even FBI and DEA agents who would sometimes come up to her after an appearance at a bookstore, library, or festival and say, simply, "You got it right."
When Phil got cancer, Liz tended him for two years until he died in their Tucson home in 2011. Then she found new interests, took up yoga, and kept writing. She suffered a broken hip earlier this year, left Tucson, and died in Helena.
She is survived by daughters, Susan Gunn of Helena, and Anne Gunn (Mark Rapf) of Sheridan, Wyoming, and grandchildren, Elizabeth Rapf, Rebecca Rapf and Leslie Gunn. She was cremated. A family memorial service is still being planned.
Read more about her at https://legcy.co/3fjcu69.
Phil Gunn
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2022-09-28T20:32:35Z
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helenair.com
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Elizabeth Gunn, author of 18 mystery novels, dies in Helena at age 95
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https://helenair.com/news/local/elizabeth-gunn-author-of-18-mystery-novels-dies-in-helena-at-age-95/article_52df51b9-e001-56fa-9b7b-7d176dee5f05.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/elizabeth-gunn-author-of-18-mystery-novels-dies-in-helena-at-age-95/article_52df51b9-e001-56fa-9b7b-7d176dee5f05.html
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Two women facing voter fraud charges in Phillips County were set to enter no contest pleas earlier this month, but haven’t been heard from after failing to show up for the hearing, according to the county attorney.
Grace O. Albia and Jannet Benitez Zeta each face one misdemeanor charge of deceptive election practices for allegedly registering and voting in the Dodson mayoral election last year, despite not being U.S. citizens.
The case presented a rare instance of possible voter fraud in Montana, and even more unusual, may have been enough to affect the outcome of an election. The small Hi-Line town’s November 2021 mayoral race was decided by just two votes, and both of the women’s ballots were subsequently called into question.
With Albia and Zeta absent during a Sept. 13 hearing to sign their changes of plea, Justice of the Peace Gayle Stahl ordered their bonds forfeited, according to court documents.
Phillips County Attorney Dan O’Brien said Tuesday that Stahl gave their lawyer, Kalispell attorney Thane Johnson, additional time to locate his clients. Johnson did not respond to phone calls left at his office this week.
“The case is effectively done,” O’Brien said, but added that “it would have been nicer and cleaner had they signed it.”
According to the charging documents and prior statements by Phillips County Sheriff Jerry Lytle and Clerk and Recorder Lynnel LaBrie, the two women allegedly registered and cast ballots in the mayoral election, despite being Philippine citizens. Both women had work visas and were employed as local school teachers. Montana requires U.S. citizenship in order to vote.
After community members alleged that two foreign residents had registered and cast ballots in the municipal election, the county's top elections official asked the sheriff's office to investigate, Lytle previously said. Neither Albia nor Zeta have publicly addressed the allegations.
The mayor’s race was decided by just two votes, though it’s not known who Albia or Zeta voted for. But because the election had been certified by the time their citizenship was called into question, LaBrie previously told the Montana State News Bureau she was unaware of any avenue for her office to challenge the election results.
Albia and Zeta each forfeited their $585 bonds, which covered the maximum $500 fines they would have faced for their misdemeanor charges. No contest pleas in Montana aren’t an admission of guilt, but acknowledge that the state’s case would have likely resulted in a conviction.
O’Brien didn’t know the last time either of the women were in Phillips County, but their last in-person court appearance was for an omnibus hearing in February. He said their whereabouts are unknown.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been notified of the issue, O’Brien said.
The justice of peace could issue a warrant for their arrest, but O’Brien noted in a follow-up email that those can’t be served out of state, assuming the two women are no longer in Montana.
“Ultimately, the case may end with the forfeiture of bond for failure to appear, assuming they never return to Montana,” O’Brien wrote.
As is the case elsewhere in the country, instances of voter fraud are exceedingly rare in Montana. Most recently, a man in Gallatin County pleaded guilty to using his driver’s license number to submit a phony voter registration under a different name in 2020.
The only other proven instance of attempted election fraud in Montana’s recent history came in 2011, when a Liberty County man was caught after voting his ex-wife’s ballot without her permission.
Four justices signed the majority opinion, while three justices joined a pair of dissenting opinions.
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2022-09-28T22:06:31Z
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helenair.com
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Hi-Line voter fraud case 'effectively done,' defendants not located
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/hi-line-voter-fraud-case-effectively-done-defendants-not-located/article_980ac797-dc27-5ab5-bbd0-776764208719.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/hi-line-voter-fraud-case-effectively-done-defendants-not-located/article_980ac797-dc27-5ab5-bbd0-776764208719.html
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Spring Meadow Lake State Park is seen in this 2014 file photo. Spring Meadow is one of 55 state parks across Montana.
Eliza Wiley, IR file photo
Emergency responders received a call at 2:34 p.m., Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said.
Dutton said the man, who was fully clothed, was wading in a deeper part of the north area of the swimming section in the Helena lake. He was carrying a boy, estimated to be about 3 years old, on his shoulders and apparently walked into some mud and the child began to thrash.
A woman with the child’s mother, who was onshore, jumped into the water and grabbed the child, Dutton said.
The man went underwater.
The sheriff’s Water Emergency Team, Helena Fire Department, St. Peter’s Health and Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue responded and were able to find the man.
St. Peter’s Health began rescue efforts and the man was pronounced dead at the hospital. The child and the child's mother were also taken to the hospital for examination.
Dutton said family members were still being contacted and he did not release the man’s name.
“Our condolences go out to the family,” he said.
Sheriff Leo Dutton
Water Emergency Team
Lewis And Clark County Search And Rescue
Toddler drowns at Helena Valley day care
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of death except birth defects throughout the United States.
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2022-09-28T23:43:48Z
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helenair.com
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Man drowns while carrying child at Spring Meadow Lake State Park
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https://helenair.com/news/local/man-drowns-while-carrying-child-at-spring-meadow-lake-state-park/article_b1423d58-143a-5f5e-b7e3-ba0dc453da91.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/man-drowns-while-carrying-child-at-spring-meadow-lake-state-park/article_b1423d58-143a-5f5e-b7e3-ba0dc453da91.html
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A Billings asphalt and seal coating contractor has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of attempted monopoly after allegedly trying to cajole a competitor to forego future state contracts with Montana and Wyoming.
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division filed an indictment against Nathan Zito, of Z & Z Asphalt Inc., on Sept. 19, accompanied by a plea agreement signed by Zito and his attorney. A hearing for Zito to enter a guilty plea is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Zito, through his attorney, declined comment for this story while his case is ongoing.
Court records filed Monday in Billings federal court refer to Zito as the former owner and president of the company.
The conduct for which Zito is charged is alleged to have occurred over the course of 2020. According to vendor award information provided by the Montana Department of Transportation on Wednesday, Z & Z Seal Coating, another company registered by Zito, received $931,240.19 as the prime contractor from 2021 through Aug. 23. According to state records available online, Z & Z Asphalt received another $937,913.73 during fiscal year 2022.
A Montana Department of Transportation spokesperson declined to comment when asked why the department continued to do business with Zito and his company following the 10-month federal investigation in 2020, stating the department does not comment on pending litigation. However, the transportation department is not a party in Zito's court proceedings. Asked to clarify, the spokesperson said they had no comment.
"MDT has no involvement and no comment at this time," the spokesperson wrote in an email.
According to charging documents filed Sept. 19, which name Zito but not his company, approximately 95% of his company's business comes from providing crack sealing services on publicly funded highway projects.
Z & Z and another company, also unnamed in the court records, routinely compete for the same publicly funded highway crack sealing jobs and, in many cases, were the only two companies to submit bids for the projects administered by the Wyoming Department of Transportation and those in neighboring states, according to court filings.
In January 2020, Zito phoned the owner of the other business, identified in court filings as Company B, to propose a "strategic partnership."
The owner of Company B reported that phone call to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which turned the matter over to the agency's Office of Inspector General. The owner of Company B then worked with the federal investigators to record phone calls.
Zito, according to federal prosecutors, laid out the terms of his proposal in another phone call with the owner of Company B in June 2020. The competitor would agree to stop bidding for highway projects in Montana and Wyoming and Zito would forego any bids for projects in South Dakota and Nebraska. Zito proposed paying the competitor $100,000 as additional compensation for the competitor's lost business in Montana and Wyoming.
Although not mentioned in federal court records, Z & Z Seal Coating received a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan for $150,000 in April 2020. (Zito’s company also got a PPP loan for $165,300 in January 2021. Both were forgiven in 2021.)
"From the outset, Zito stated his intention to eliminate Company B as a competitor in Montana and Wyoming," federal prosecutors wrote in charging documents. "He told (Company B's owner) that if they agreed not to compete, their companies' revenue streams would be more stable and their margins would be higher."
Zito ultimately prepared and presented a written contract that included an option to purchase the competitor's company, according to federal prosecutors, although the owner of the other company told Zito he had no intention of selling.
It's unclear when Zito became aware of the investigation into his proposal.
The charge carries a possible penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine. Prosecutors agree to not recommend incarceration, but will have to defer to the judge.
According to the plea agreement filed with the charging documents, Zito has agreed to pay a fine of $27,000. The agreement also notes Zito may be "debarred" by agencies who could preclude Z & Z from receiving future work on publicly funded projects.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned oil and gas companies against raising prices on consumers as Hurricane Ian nears landfall along Florida's southwest coast. "Do not, let me repeat, do not use this as an excuse to raise gasoline prices or gouge the American people," Biden said at the start of unrelated remarks on addressing hunger in America. After 14 weeks of declines, the streak of falling gas prices was broken last week, ending 99 straight days of falling prices. The nationwide average price soared above $5 a gallon — and over $6 in California — in June, as economic recovery and an increase in travel boosted demand for gasoline, and Russia's war in Ukraine caused a spike in oil prices. There are few signs that average gas prices have jumped significantly in Florida as the hurricane began to approach. AAA put the statewide average at just under $3.40 a gallon, a mere six-tenths of a cent higher than a week ago. Prices in the Tampa area where the hurricane is expected to hit have increased slightly over the past week, rising nearly 3 cents a gallon to an average of $3.39. Still, Biden said that the hurricane "provides no excuse for price increases at the pump" and "if it happens, he would ask federal officials to determine "whether price gauging is going on." "America is watching. The industry should do the right thing," Biden added. Biden on Friday spoke with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis about hurricane preparation and plans for the federal government to surge resources into the state to help with recovery. Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified as it neared landfall along Florida's southwest coast Wednesday morning, gaining top winds of 155 mph (250 kph), just shy of the most dangerous Category 5 status. Damaging winds and rain lashed the state, and forecasters said the heavily populated Fort Myers area could be inundated by a storm surge of up to 18 feet (5.5 meters).
Nathan Zito
Z & Z Asphalt
Z & Z Seal Coating
U.s. District Attorney Montana
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2022-09-28T23:43:54Z
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helenair.com
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Contractor who attempted to monopolize state bids agrees to plea deal
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/contractor-who-attempted-to-monopolize-state-bids-agrees-to-plea-deal/article_6682898c-ee4b-560e-beca-9176aaf98b4f.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/contractor-who-attempted-to-monopolize-state-bids-agrees-to-plea-deal/article_6682898c-ee4b-560e-beca-9176aaf98b4f.html
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Author Lisa See to discuss ‘The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane’ in Helena
The cover of 'China Dolls'
The cover of 'The Island of Sea Women'
What: An Evening with Author Lisa See discussing ‘The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane’
Where: Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave.
For more information, visit lclibrary.org, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch, 406-447-1690
Lisa See
“No coincidence, no story.”
Thus opens Lisa See’s enchanting book, “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.”
Not only is the story’s plot woven with coincidences, but so too is the very existence of the book itself.
Not just one coincidence, but thread upon thread of coincidences magically came together.
It would seem, the universe wanted this book to be.
See will share the stories behind the story during her author’s talk and book signing, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Helena Civic Center.
The free talk is made possible by the Lewis & Clark Library Foundation, Lewis & Clark Library and the Helena Civic Center.
It’s one of a series of events the Lewis & Clark Library is hosting – from tea tastings to film showings and book discussions – to celebrate the book throughout October’s Community Read.
The cover of 'Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane'
The New York Times bestselling novel tells the story of a young Akha girl, Li-yan, growing up in a remote tradition-bound village, when an unexpected visitor makes a call that changes her life’s trajectory.
The book explores not only the beauty and occasional tragedy in their lives, but also the beauty and hardships of tea farming and its fascinating history, the deep relationship between Li-yan and her mother and the life of Li-yan’s daughter, who is given up for adoption.
The story of the book itself began one night when See was walking to the movie theater with her husband.
Ahead of them in the crosswalk was a Chinese teenage girl with a bouncy ponytail walking with her parents – an older White couple.
Something clicked.
See, who is Chinese-American, had been wondering for years about Chinese girls given up for adoption during China’s One-Child Policy.
“So truly, from one side of the street to another, I knew what my next book would be,” she said in a phone interview from her home in Los Angeles.
“I had been thinking about writing about the One-Child Policy and adoption from China for about 20 years. In that moment, I had my way into the story.”
The girl, and her energy, struck See as a “fox spirit,” which in Chinese tradition can be mischievous and naughty, or in their better moments they “have the ability to bring great love and to create families.”
The girl with the bouncy ponytail was just the first of many fortuitous coincidences.
A few months later See was invited to do a book event at a library near San Diego, and the “opening act” was a tea master.
“He poured these different teas and I tasted them.”
He also talked about the Tea Horse Road, the ancient trade route to Tibet, the difference between tea trees and tea shrubs and specifically about the unique qualities of Pu’er tea.
“This tea, much like wine, grows in value with age, unlike other tea,” See said.
Most tea has to be thrown out after six months to two years, but Pu’er can be drunk 20, 30, 50 years later.
In 2015, when See was working on the book, a Pu’er tea cake sold for $150,000 at an international auction.
“When I heard that, I knew what the historic backdrop was going to be.”
The third element she needed was where to set her story.
It turns out that all Pu’er tea grows in one province – Yunnan – which is also the most biodiverse province of China.
“Yunnan is pretty unique,” she said. “That biodiversity also applies to humans. Ninety-five percent of Chinese are Han.”
China is also home to 56 ethnic minorities, 26 of which live in Yunnan Province.
Much of See’s initial research focused on the Dai people, who she thought would be central in her story.
But then there was another serendipitous coincidence.
An acquaintance learned about her book idea and introduced her to a Chinese woman who is the largest importer of Pu’er tea in the United States.
While meeting and interviewing her and her friend, Linda, the owner of a small tea import company, See was invited along on a tea buying trip to Yunnan Province.
It was on this trip that See encounters the Akha people and a young Akha woman, Ah-bu, who inspires parts of Li-yan’s story and character.
See refers back to the Akha saying, “No coincidence, no story,” which opens the book.
“I feel like that happened to me. It kept happening over and over again.”
She will talk more in depth about the amazing coincidences that made this book, but also about what it’s like for girls who are adopted from China.
See, an award-winning author of 11 books ranging from nonfiction, to mysteries to historical fiction, is working on her newest book, “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women,” due out next June.
It’s the true story of a woman doctor in the Ming Dynasty, who wrote a medical book in the 1500s that is still in use today and is published in many languages, said See.
See said she is really looking forward to visiting Helena. It will be her first book presentation since COVID hit more than two years ago.
“I’m very excited to go to Helena. I love to travel and just to be able … to do an event with real, live people that are all in the same room together.”
For more information about the Community Read, visit lclibrary.org, 120 S. Last Chance Gulch, 406-447-1690.
For more information on Lisa See, visit https://www.lisasee.com/.
Readers and book groups can also visit her website for information on ordering tea sample kits from Bana Tea Company to savor while reading and discussing the book.
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2022-09-29T13:34:13Z
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helenair.com
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Author Lisa See to discuss ‘The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane’ in Helena
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https://helenair.com/news/local/author-lisa-see-to-discuss-the-tea-girl-of-hummingbird-lane-in-helena/article_1509a5c0-5ada-5b7a-8bf5-e05dd2544961.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/author-lisa-see-to-discuss-the-tea-girl-of-hummingbird-lane-in-helena/article_1509a5c0-5ada-5b7a-8bf5-e05dd2544961.html
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JOE DOOLING
After Labor Day, campaigns kick into high gear for the final stretch. Like you, I have been watching the local races and researching our candidates. In 2020, the commissioners proposed, and the voters approved, the initiative effecting eight county races making them nonpartisan. As the Republican Central Committee Chair, I supported that measure because I felt that our local candidates were being subject to, and pressured by, the national trends of politics of both parties.
I was extremely disappointed to learn that McCormick and Hunthausen, two of our three Lewis and Clark County commissioners, have publicly endorsed a candidate in the current commissioner election. My disappointment comes from the fact that these two elected officials have endorsed a candidate in nonpartisan positions, essentially attempting to stack the commission in their favor.
These endorsements are problematic for a couple of reasons: What if their endorsed candidate doesn’t win? Are they setting up the possibility of an adversarial relationship?
Folks, this is not a job interview and the commissioners don’t get to pick and choose their future co-worker. Elections are to be by the people for the people, not big government putting people into positions to support their own agendas. We the voters of Lewis and Clark County get to choose the next commissioner.
The current county commissioners are endorsing, hoping to sway the public to vote for, a candidate who spent her entire life as an attorney and lobbyist, working for whoever wrote the biggest check, no matter what the cause or issue, good or bad. She’s even hired a professional consulting firm to help get elected. I’ve spent my life in politics, raising funds and supporting candidate campaigns and the one thing I've known is the lobbyists tend to work for whichever organization pays them the most money.
The candidate that I endorse and proudly will vote for is Curt Dallas. Curt Dallas is a fourth-generation Lewis and Clark County resident. He was 25-plus years with MDT and worked in the family real estate business, Dallas Land Company. He has a long history and intimate knowledge of the value of land, property rights and needs of this county. Curt has spent 30-plus years as a football referee for high school and college, developing great skills dealing with the public, and will fairly call the shots and not be influenced by big check books. Curt’s grass roots campaign and fundraising efforts started around the family kitchen table. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more humble, earnest, hard-working guy and as commissioner, he’ll be the champion of the voters, something the commission has been lacking for a long time.
Joe Dooling is a Helena-area farmer and rancher, and the former chair of the Lewis and Clark County Republican Central Committee.
Lewis And Clark County Commission
Curt Dallas
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2022-09-29T13:34:38Z
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helenair.com
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Joe Dooling: Support Curt Dallas for county commissioner
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/joe-dooling-support-curt-dallas-for-county-commissioner/article_46d616a0-896c-5aa1-8790-8c9a8135503a.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/joe-dooling-support-curt-dallas-for-county-commissioner/article_46d616a0-896c-5aa1-8790-8c9a8135503a.html
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Gary Buchanan represents Montana values
Helena is my home. I am supporting Gary Buchanan who is running as an independent for U.S. Congress. I’ve known Gary and his family for 40-plus years and he has been an independent that entire time. He is a quality person of integrity, intelligence and common sense. He is respectful of others. He has an impressive amount of experience in business and in government, serving both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Gary will work to protect and strengthen our democracy and keep our country free.
He values the rights and freedoms I value most: a clean and healthy environment, affordable housing, safe streets, the availability of quality public education, the right to privacy and reproductive choice, and access to competent mental and physical health care for all Montanans from every walk of life. Last but never least, Gary values public lands and understands the importance of them in our Montana way of life.
Gary makes me proud to be a Montanan. Whether you vote by mail in or at the ballot box, join me in voting for Gary to represent Montana in the U.S. Congress!
Sandi Ashley,
Sandi Ashley
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2022-09-29T15:05:11Z
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helenair.com
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Gary Buchanan represents Montana values
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/gary-buchanan-represents-montana-values/article_2737fc4d-511b-5d69-ae28-b95e1ad010f9.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/gary-buchanan-represents-montana-values/article_2737fc4d-511b-5d69-ae28-b95e1ad010f9.html
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Think carefully about who you want representing you
This is in response to Dr. Rassmussen’s op-ed from Sept. 23. He lambasts Democrats for their changing to a “far left” platform. I guess it depends on what one considers “far left.” For as long as I can remember, Democrats have espoused liberal ideologies. Let’s remember John F. Kennedy’s speech from Sept. 4, 1960, “If by a 'liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a 'liberal,' then I'm proud to say I'm a 'liberal.'”
I too am proud to say I am a liberal. On the other hand, speaking of change within a party, the National Republican party at CPAC embraced Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, then-candidate for prime minister of Italy. She represents the “Brothers of Italy” party which has its roots in post World War II neo fascist Italian social movement. Sen. Steve Daines and Congressman Matt Rosendale were in attendance at CPAC. Giorgia Meloni won the election in Italy. Think carefully about who you want to represent you.
Beth Cottingham,
Beth Cottingham
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2022-09-29T15:05:36Z
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helenair.com
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Think carefully about who you want representing you
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/think-carefully-about-who-you-want-representing-you/article_a8f87073-88ec-515c-8b07-51a97bf18ca6.html
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https://helenair.com/opinion/letters/think-carefully-about-who-you-want-representing-you/article_a8f87073-88ec-515c-8b07-51a97bf18ca6.html
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Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter
www.cascadecountymt
Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter on Saturday broke up an investigation carried out in apparent coordination between federal and Canadian authorities at a Great Falls gun show, saying those agencies had not contacted his office beforehand.
Although state law does not require federal investigators to obtain approval from local law enforcement to conduct operations, the agents left the fairgrounds "reluctantly" and without issue. Slaughter has positioned himself as a "constitutional sheriff," which theorizes sheriffs are the ultimate authority in their county — above local, state and federal officials — raising questions in this incident about possible friction between layers of law enforcement.
According to a Sept. 24 report compiled by the Cascade County Sheriff's Office, Slaughter and a deputy responded to a complaint that a man at the Montana Expo Park was acting suspiciously by taking photographs of vehicles. According to the fairgrounds director, the man was driving around the property in a black SUV with Canadian license plates, but never entered the show.
A deputy contacted the man, who identified himself as Richard Kurina, a Canadian police officer with the Lethbridge Police Department working with a Royal Canadian Mounted Police task force. According to the sheriff's office report, Kurina said the task force was designed to catch Canadians smuggling illegal firearms into Canada and that he was with another officer, Agent Craig Howe with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to the report, Slaughter questioned Howe on why his office wasn't contacted about the investigation; Howe said he had made contact with city police. The fairgrounds however are under the county's jurisdiction. Howe added the person they were investigating was an American who did not have a federal firearms license to sell guns, according to the report. Slaughter noted this was a different reason than that provided by the Canadian police officer.
After a discussion under the fairgrounds' grandstands, Slaughter "informed them they had to leave, to which they did."
"I told Craig that because he did not tell me about the operation, they were no longer allowed to continue conducting it," Slaughter wrote in his section of the report. "Craig then stated he does not have to tell me, insinuating that because he is a federal agent he is not required to do so."
In a phone interview Thursday, Slaughter acknowledged that federal agents in fact do not have to make contact with local law enforcement.
"They're supposed to, it's a courtesy thing," Slaughter said. "They need to tell us what's going on, because we're responsible for that jurisdiction."
The offices of the ATF, the RCMP and Lethbridge Police Department did not immediately return requests for comment Thursday.
Slaughter said he had several concerns after learning of the investigation underway at the fairgrounds, primarily a public safety concern that if the federal or Canadian authorities were to use force in any way, they might be mistaken as a citizen assaulting another citizen. Citizens, local law enforcement or the agents involved could have been injured "if something went awry," he said.
The sheriff also said he has constitutional questions about the legality of the investigation.
"I don't know what their investigation was, it's important that you print that," Slaughter said, noting again the two investigations he was told about; looking for Canadians smuggling guns to the north, and investigating an American who was not licensed to sell firearms.
Slaughter said that had the federal and Canadian agencies contacted his office prior to Saturday's incident, he would have been able to call off questions of who the agents were, or what they were doing, allowing the investigations to proceed.
Asked Thursday if drawing attention to the federal agents put those law enforcement officers in jeopardy, Slaughter said their police work outed themselves.
The Cascade County Sheriff's Office and detention center in Great Falls.
"We don't know they're undercover," Slaughter said. "We don't know who they are, but we have them acting suspiciously."
Slaughter said he expects next legislative session, which begins in January, to see passage of a bill that would require federal agencies to make contact with local law enforcement before launching an investigation on the ground. Such a law would further validate his stance as a "constitutional sheriff."
Such proposals, known previously under the banner of "Sheriffs First," have failed to pass muster in the state Legislature before. In 2011, a Republican state Senator from Thompson Falls introduced a bill that would have subjected federal agents to kidnapping or trespassing charges if they failed to obtain permission from the local sheriff to effectuate an investigation. Supporters said the legislation would prevent the bloodshed seen in episodes like the 1993 federal raid in Waco, Texas.
But state law enforcement officers and prosecutors called the measure unconstitutional, adding it would disrupt important federal operations and interagency cooperation of state, local and federal officials.
A legislative committee ultimately gutted that bill by removing the requirement agencies receive permission to begin investigations and replacing it with non-binding language merely encouraging agencies to "use the knowledge and expertise" of local law enforcement.
Gov. Marc Racicot, a Republican, had vetoed similar legislation in 1995 and in 2011, Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer vetoed the proposal again, writing it was "unenforceable and therefore unnecessary."
"Communication between federal and state law enforcement officials is established when those law enforcement officials talk to each other," Schweitzer's April 13, 2011 veto read. "Communication is not established through passage of frivolous legislation."
It's unclear if federal agencies have become less inclined to work with Slaughter since he has taken a public stance as a constitutional sheriff. Asked if he believed they had, Slaughter deferred.
"If that's the issue, that's their issue, not mine," he said. "I've always had a cooperation with the federal government. But it has to be reciprocal. It's not just a one-way communication.
"We're all on the same team and we should be working together, not separately."
Montana Gun Show
Cascade County Sheriff
U.s. Bureau Of Alcohol
Tobacco And Explosives
Montana Expo Park
Lethbridge Police
U.s. District Attorney
Craig Howe
Brian Schweitzer
Richard Kurina
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2022-09-30T01:49:47Z
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helenair.com
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Cascade County sheriff breaks up federal investigation at gun show
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/cascade-county-sheriff-breaks-up-federal-investigation-at-gun-show/article_cb683614-adac-5d58-85f5-9637af85ed1d.html
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https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/cascade-county-sheriff-breaks-up-federal-investigation-at-gun-show/article_cb683614-adac-5d58-85f5-9637af85ed1d.html
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Learning takes root: Seventh-graders participate in annual Mt. Helena Project
C.R. Anderson seventh-grader Bradon Burke measures the diameter of a tree on Thursday as part of the Mt. Helena Project.
A fire. A pandemic. If those can’t stop the Mt. Helena Project, perhaps nothing can.
The 2022 Mt. Helena Project took place on Thursday with around 100 seventh-grade C.R. Anderson Middle School science students and nearly 25 volunteers in tow.
“Coming out of COVID, so much of what we had to do was isolate from each other, so much of what we had to do was on a screen,” said Liz Burke, forest conservation education specialist with the Helena National Forest. “You just cannot replace the experience you have with the extra effort it takes to get up to some of these spots and to be able to touch these trees and to measure these trees, see with your own eyes the three-dimensional world of what forestry looks like and what forest management looks like on Mount Helena.”
This program with C.R. Anderson has been running for around 20 years, but during COVID-19, the students did not partake in the inventorying because Zoom and nature don’t mix well.
The volunteers came from Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, the Society of American Foresters, the Montana Discovery Foundation and some parents of the students. They all had diverse job backgrounds such as forestry, superfund managing, city work, etc., which helps expose the students to possible career avenues.
“I hope that a lot of students who haven’t even had the chance to come to Mount Helena, even though they go to school a couple hundred yards away, that they will come away with an appreciation for what an amazing resource this public land is,” said Burke. “I think that kids who have this experience are always going to remember their time up here, how hard it was to get to the site, maybe. Sometimes those challenges make you appreciate places like this a lot more.”
The students walked from C.R. Anderson to Tubbs Trailhead around 8:30 a.m. Before starting the hike, Burke presented an award to Sam Gilbert, the program originator for the Society of American Foresters, and Leslie Hagengruber, a seventh-grade life science teacher at C.R. Anderson, for the hard work they’ve put into the program for years now.
Sam Gilbert and Leslie Hagengruber receive awards on Thursday as part of the Mt. Helena Project.
Gilbert spent 35 years working for the U.S. Forest Service in Montana and Northern Idaho before retiring. In 2002, Gilbert set about educating kids on the forests around them in Helena. He and Burke spend days preparing for the field trip each year to make sure the plots are ready for students' inventorying.
Hagengruber has helped organize the academic side of the program for the students since 2009. On the first day of school, she’s preparing her students for the Mt. Helena Project by teaching them about trees and how to read them, local vegetation, research projects, nature documentaries and more.
“There’s good people who give up this day every year to spend it with our seventh-graders,” said Hagengruber. “Getting kids out of the classroom and into the real world where they collect real data with real equipment, that makes it real. They’re a part of something that’s real.”
After the day on the mountain, Burke and Gilbert bring the data along with past years' data to the classes to look at and compare. The data is also sent to the city of Helena.
This was the first year that a grant covered the expenses. A $9,500 Greening Stem Grant was given through the Forest Service and the Montana Discovery Foundation. The extra money funded more students’ attendance, substitute teacher coverage, new equipment and new resources for Hagengruber’s classroom.
There were 20 groups made up of four or five students, and each group was assigned their own plot to collect data from. Each group was assigned a GPS with pre-programmed coordinates of their plot.
Burke and her four students trekked up Mount Helena to Backside Trail. Because of the sheer number of plots on the mountain, Burke mentioned they cycle plots, and about every five to six years, data will be taken from the same plot. Once groups arrived at their assigned spots, their volunteers guided them through activities that real forest managers do.
Students take a break to check out the burn piles while hiking up Mount Helena on Thursday.
Burke’s group located the tree with an orange stripe marking their assigned plot. They found the center of the plot, marked by a metal pole in the ground spray-painted orange.
A student measured out almost 17 feet and marked a circle with red tape at various points around the center. Inside the circle, the group counted the total number of seedlings and saplings. The main young tree present in this plot was our state tree, the Ponderosa Pine. The Ponderosa Pine sheds its pine needles about every three years or so.
Burke and the students used a clinometer to measure the height of the mature trees that had previous tagging on them. They also looked at tree diameter, the facing of the slope, amount of shade, bugs, weeds, scat and dead trees in the plot.
The last thing the group did before heading out to try and beat the afternoon rain was increment boring a tree to see its age. To do this, a student turned a borer bit into the bark until they were about half way into the tree. Then, the extractor tray was placed into the hollowed out bit and some more turning was done. Once it was ready, the extractor tray was removed with a string of wood from inside. Burke’s group determined that their tree was around 45 years old.
Ryan Driscoll and Liz Burke increment bore a tree on Thursday as part of the Mt. Helena Project.
Around 1 p.m., on the way down the mountain, students were taken to see the burn scar from the Aug. 28 Mount Helena fire.
“Think about how this place has changed. We’ve had 20 years of us taking pictures and collecting data,” said Burke. “When we revisit these students in the coming weeks and compare maybe 2002 data to 2022, what I hope they come away with is just the fact that things change over time, and that if you want to be able to keep this beautiful places open for recreation, to keep our wildland urban interface safe, it’s going to require lots of decisions as far as how its been managed… I’m so much more appreciative of Mount Helena every time I come here, and I feel proud to be a partner along with the City of Helena and all the other organizations who work so hard to keep this place open for us.”
C.r. Anderson Middle School
Liz Burke
Sam Gilbert
Leslie Hagengruber
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2022-09-30T03:20:10Z
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helenair.com
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Learning takes root: Seventh-graders participate in annual Mt. Helena Project
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https://helenair.com/news/local/learning-takes-root-seventh-graders-participate-in-annual-mt-helena-project/article_22ff477f-80ff-5f4a-a6a9-08e4a2decf04.html
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https://helenair.com/news/local/learning-takes-root-seventh-graders-participate-in-annual-mt-helena-project/article_22ff477f-80ff-5f4a-a6a9-08e4a2decf04.html
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Big games await Helena area high school football teams
Chris Peterson Independent Record
Missoula Sentinel's Karsen Beitz, left, tackles Helena's Manu Melo on Friday at Missoula County Stadium.
One of the hardest things to do in sports is handle success and after a 28-point upset over No. 1 Missoula Sentinel last week, Helena High, ranked No. 2 now in the 406mtsports.com poll, will have to prove it can do that.
So far, it has. Helena, after losing its season-opener against Great Falls High, has now won four in a row. In the Western AA, Helena has led by at least 20 points in all three wins, even though the Bengals only ended up beating Butte by six.
The win over Sentinel means that Helena High, along with Capital, are the only teams in the Western AA that control their own destiny for the top seed. If the Bengals win against Glacier, they will be in an even better position.
Here's a look ahead to that matchup, as well as other high school football games in the area.
Cade Holland is also averaging more than 100 total yards per game and has 91 per game on the ground for the Bengals, who have also gotten plenty of production from first-year starting quarterback Carter Kraft, who is averaging 201 yards per game through the air, as well as 48 on the ground to go along with 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
"Those guys have to been big for us (Manu Melo and Cade Holland)," Helena High head coach Dane Broadhead said. "So we have to keep them going no doubt."
Much of that starts in the running game with Holland. However, with the emergence of Carson Anderson, who just committed to Montana Tech this past week, at wide receiver, Helena's offense seems like an explosive play waiting to happen, sort of like Glacier's.
"If we can run the ball well, that just opens things up so much," Broadhead said. "And it's really just about consistency. We feel good anytime we have Manu or Carson matched-up on the outside, then it's just about giving Carter (Kraft) the time to do his thing."
However, after facing Jace Stenson of Butte, Connor Dick of Hellgate, and Riley Allen of Sentinel, the Bengals are familiar with mobile quarterbacks. That doesn't mean it's any less of a challenge though.
"You have to try and keep him in the pocket," Broadhead said. "You have to find a way to get a pass rush and those guys are going to have to get home. We can't sit back and hope to cover them for four or five seconds. He's too good. He's got too many weapons and as a thrower, he's got every club in the bag."
This will be the Bulldogs’ second trip to Helena this season. Their first was a 41-35 loss at the hands of Helena High, but since then, Butte has won two in a row and is now just one game behind the Bruins and Bengals for first in the Western AA.
Jace Stenson is still the driving force behind the Bulldogs’ offense and is averaging 330 yards of total offense including 274 through the air. Capital is averaging 426 yards per game and has a balanced attack led by quarterback Joey Michelotti and a slew of playmakers including Nick Michelotti, Tom Carter, Dylan Graham, Hayden Opitz, and Tyler Kovick.
Graham has continued to emerge in the running game and went over 100 yards on the ground in Capital's win over Glacier last week. Tom Carter also continues to be a threat as a runner and receiver. He scored a touchdown last week, while also catching a long pass to set up another.
"Dylan Graham has come along just as we hoped," Capital head coach Kyle Mihelish said. "We wanted to ease him into things and take care of Dylan and make sure he was ready for later in the season. But he's really come on. Tom Carter has been running the ball really well too and there isn't much drop-off between either. We are lucky to have them."
Both scored touchdowns on the ground last week for the Bruins in the second half, yet a key for Mihelish, is a faster start for CHS on Friday night.
"The message to the team was that we need to be ready to go," Capital's head coach said. "Give credit to Glacier. They were ready last week and we weren't and if that continues to happen, we are going to have a tough second half of the season."
One player who helped turn the tide last week was defensive lineman Talon Marsh, who finished with four sacks. Capital still hasn't allowed a team to score 30 points in a game and has allowed just 75 total (15 per game) which is second only to Gallatin. Marsh is one of the reasons for that and the Montana State commit has 13 sacks, 25 solo tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 10 hurries.
Yet, many of the same weapons on offense, are also impact defenders. Nick Michelotti picked off two passes last week, while Carter is another key member of the secondary, not to mention Optiz at linebacker, along with the highly productive (linebacker) Joey Lauerman.
But, just like last week, a mobile quarterback will test the Bruins.
"It's going to be the same thing we saw last week," Mihelish said. "(Stenson) can really throw the ball but if you give him the chance, he can run too. That makes you do some things as a coach, especially on the back end, that you don't want to do. So we need to keep him in the pocket and get pressure on him."
It's a recipe that worked for the The Bruins last week. We'll see how things play out on Friday night as Capital, the last undefeated team in Class AA, puts that record on the line against Butte.
Class B Action
Townsend jumped up to No. 2 in the 406mtsports.com poll after last week after a double-digit win over Jefferson and now, Whitehall comes to town and the Trojans only loss is to...Jefferson.
Ryan Racht will lead the way for the Bulldogs, along with running back Dawson Sweat and a stingy defense that allows just a shade over 16 points per game.
The Panthers will also be at home Friday night in a big matchup against No. 8 Big Timber. Jefferson does have two losses but only one of them was in conference play. Luke Oxarart will play a vital role for Jefferson as the quarterback and leading rusher. However, Dylan Root has also been very effective as a ball-carrier too.
Homecoming for East Helena
East Helena was on the losing side of a 35-0 contest at Whitefish. However, they won their first game two weeks ago against Browning and are looking for win No. 2. Kaeben Bushnell has been a consistent contributor for East Helena, along with Jack Taylor, Cole Richmond, Hayden Wright and Braden Howell. It's also going to be homecoming for East Helena and kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
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2022-09-30T04:52:06Z
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helenair.com
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Big games await Helena area high school football teams
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https://helenair.com/sports/high-school/football/big-games-await-helena-area-high-school-football-teams/article_8813ee96-0a1e-515d-8f80-7571ebe04171.html
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https://helenair.com/sports/high-school/football/big-games-await-helena-area-high-school-football-teams/article_8813ee96-0a1e-515d-8f80-7571ebe04171.html
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