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LIMA, Mont. — In the early morning hours of January 31, 2026, Lima Fire / Ambulance and the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Peat Street in Lima. Upon arrival, responders confirmed that the sole occupant of the home had safely exited the residence and sustained minor injuries. Fire crews were able to mostly contain the blaze; however, suppression efforts were complicated by the home having four layers of roofing, with fire burning between the layers. A local contractor assisted by bringing a telehandler to the scene, allowing firefighters to lift and separate the roofing layers so water could be applied directly to the concealed fire. Crews remained on scene for several hours to fully extinguish hot spots before clearing the incident. Photo credit: Beaverhead County Sheriff

DILLON, Mont. — The Beaverhead County 4-H Building will host the 2026 Beaverhead County Spelling Bee on Tuesday, February 10, at 1:30 p.m. Elementary and middle school students from across Beaverhead County will compete for a chance to advance to the Treasure State Spelling Bee, scheduled for March 21 in Bozeman. Participants will include students from all county grade schools, Dillon Middle School, Lima schools, and local homeschool programs. Beaverhead County Superintendent of Schools Mike Miller is serving as director for this year’s contest. “The six rural schools, Lima’s Elementary School, the area homeschoolers, and the schools here in Dillon have all been invited to send spellers to challenge for a trip to Bozeman in March,” Miller said. “We may have as many as 30 area spellers entered in the contest this year, although some schools may choose not to take part.” Trophies will be awarded to the top two spellers, with certificates presented to all participants at the conclusion of the event. Local financial institutions have also provided donations to help offset travel costs for students advancing to the state competition. Four local judges — Jamie Flynn, Deborah McCabe, Kristi Borge, and Dr. Katrina Kennett — have volunteered their time for the event. Deb Sporich, known to many as “Debbie from The Bookstore,” will serve as the official pronouncer. Parents, family members, and community supporters are invited to attend and cheer on the competitors. Now in its 61st year, the Treasure State Spelling Bee follows the official rules and word lists of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Each county is guaranteed at least one participant at the state level, with larger counties eligible to send additional spellers. Approximately 60 students from across Montana are expected to compete this year at Montana State University, where the event will be held in the Strand Ballroom. Only students from schools enrolled in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program are eligible to participate at the state level, though enrollment is not required to compete in the county bee. Sponsored by the Montana Television Network, the Treasure State Spelling Bee determines Montana’s representatives to the national competition in Washington, D.C. Contestants and their families attending the state event will be provided a complimentary lunch and reception.

Airport Appeals Board Meeting Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Courthouse Dillon, Montana     AGENDA   Ä  Reorganization of Board   Ä  Action on February 12, 2025 Minutes   Ä  Administrator’s Report   Ä  Update on Dillon Airport FBO   Ä  Unfinished Business/Other Topics of Discussion   Ä  Public Comments   Ä  Adjourn

When Kyle Mann was a high school student in Billings, he found himself trying to decide if college was right for him, and if so, what he would major in. Montana Technological University’s Tech Day made a difference. “I really enjoyed the environmental engineering session and the department,” he said. “I also liked the small size of Montana Tech. Going to Tech Day and doing the tours and everything really helped me settle on which college I wanted to attend and my major.” Montana Technological University, Montana’s STEM university, is inviting students who want to make a difference through careers in science, technology, engineering and math to Spring Tech Day on Friday, March 6, 2026. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Spring Tech Day is a one-of-a-kind, hands-on college visit designed for prospective students who want to experience Montana Tech’s programs up close. Participants will spend the day on the university’s historic Uptown Butte campus, exploring academic areas of interest through interactive lab sessions, campus tours, and conversations with faculty and current students. Sessions offered will include seven engineering sessions, three healthcare sessions, one occupational safety and health session, one business session, and one session focused on certificate, associate degree, trade, and workforce programs at Highlands College. A full descriptive list and link to the sign-up page is included at the end of this press release. “Definitely try it out,” Mann said. “I was still at the point of figuring out if college was the right fit for me, but Tech Day worked out great. I loved it, and it was a lot of fun.” Now a sophomore, Mann is vice president of the Environmental Engineering Club and has a summer internship at Spring Creek Mine outside of Decker, Montana under his belt. He hasn’t decided yet what type of environmental engineering he wants to pursue, but he is encouraged by Montana Tech’s excellent placement rates and the wide range of jobs available. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes the median pay for environmental engineers in 2024 was $104,170, and the industry is projected to grow 4% over the next decade. “There is a huge spectrum of what you can do after you graduate,” Mann said. Dr. Raja Nagisetty, head of the Environmental Engineering Department, will lead one of the sessions. Montana Tech’s Environmental Engineering Department structures its session around a central theme. “The question that we try to answer is ‘What do environmental engineers do?’” he said. To answer that question, the department sets up three workstations. Students first learn how cutting-edge drone-based remote sensing is used to collect water, soil, and air quality data. Nagisetty explains how he and his students use drones to map cold water patches in the Upper Clark Fork River, providing data valuable for fish habitat improvement projects. A second station introduces students to a drinking water treatment system design and living filtration membranes grown by brewing kombucha. “They talk about the challenges and need for low-cost, sustainable drinking water treatment systems and experience how everyday things can be engineered to solve global problems,” Nagisetty said. The third station highlights resource recovery. “They talk about phytomining, extracting critical minerals from mine tailings,” Nagisetty said. Director of Admissions Kelly Horsley says Tech Day is a great place for students like Mann who are trying to find their path. “Tech Day is perfect for students who aren’t quite sure what they want to study, deciding between a couple of different majors, or want to learn more about their chosen major,” Horsley said. “Plus, it’s a free event and we provide lunch for students and their guests.” Students can tailor their day by choosing from a variety of immersive breakout sessions, including: Business and Information Technology (BIT): Learn how to use Microsoft Power BI, one of the world’s leading business intelligence apps, and win prizes playing BIT-themed Jeopardy. Cadaver Dissection Lab: Witness and interact with human cadavers and participate in a hands-on exploration of cadaveric organs and tissues. Learn more about the Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Exercise and Health Science programs from current student ambassadors. Limited to 24 students. Computer Science and Software Engineering: See how a classic game leads to discussion of advanced games, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and ethical and moral dilemmas related to AI applications. Electrical Engineering: Learn binary code and program a robot to follow a line on the floor. Students interested in electrical engineering, robotics, and computer science are encouraged to join. Environmental Engineering: Explore drone-based remote sensing, advanced wastewater treatment, and phytomining for critical mineral extraction. Exercise and Health Science: Observe and participate in exercise electrocardiograms (EKGs). Led by current EHS students with discussion and Q&A afterward. Limited to 20 students. Geological Engineering: Discover activities involved in engineering the earth, including groundwater resources, contamination, rock strength for construction, and mineral and oil exploration. Drone technology will be showcased. Mechanical Engineering: Participate in activities and demonstrations in mechanical testing, fluid mechanics, and more to understand how mechanical engineers build equipment for performing work. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering: Learn how materials are manipulated through casting and thermite welding demonstrations, plus a steel forging competition. Mining Engineering: Experience what happens when chemical energy is released and learn about mining safety through a virtual reality experience. Nursing Simulation: Visit the simulated hospital environment and observe a nursing simulation scenario, then interact with high-fidelity manikins. Limited to 30 students. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH): Explore the diverse world of OSH technology, a highly employable health science field with jobs worldwide. Limited to 20 students. Petroleum Engineering: Tour state-of-the-art laboratories with demonstrations. Highlands College Campus Tour: Explore associate and certificate program lab spaces at Highlands College. Attendees must provide their own transportation to 25 Basin Creek Road. Parents and guests will not be allowed into Nursing and Cadaver Lab sessions due to space limitations. Montana Tech will also host sessions for students interested in its other academic programs. For questions, contact the Admissions Office at admissions@mtech.edu or (406) 496-4754. To sign up, click here.

GREENWOOD, Ind. –  Western football players Jace Fitzgerald , Eli Nourse , and Jacob Westberry were named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-Americans, the organization announced Tuesday. The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined achievements on the field and in the classroom. Honorees are selected across four divisions: NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA. To qualify for nomination, student-athletes must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher and be a starter or key reserve on their respective team. 2025-26 CSC Academic All-Americans Jace Fitzgerald – LB (Dillon, Mont., R-SR) The redshirt-senior linebacker boasts a 3.95 GPA and was a key member of the Bulldog defense in 2025. He tallied 66 total tackles, including 30 solo efforts and also posted one interception and one fumble recovery. Fitzgerald was named a Victory Sports Network (VSN) All-American Honorable Mention and earned Frontier First Team All-Conference honors. He Picked up Frontier Academic All-Conference, CSC Academic All-District, and NAIA Daktronics Scholar Athlete recognition. Eli Nourse – WR (Dillon, Mont., JR) The wide receiver earned a 3.76 GPA while leading the Bulldogs with 78 receptions. He tallied 1,192 receiving yards and averaged 119.2 receiving yards per game (15.3 yards per reception). Nourse caught 10 touchdowns in 2025. He broke the school record in career receptions (256 and counting) and career receiving yards (3,583 and counting). The junior received Frontier Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference honors and was named to the AP All-American Second Team, AFCA All-American Second Team, and VSN All-American First Team. He also picked up Frontier Academic All-Conference, CSC Academic All-District, and NAIA Daktronics Scholar Athlete honors. Jacob Westberry – LS (Hamilton, Mont., R-SO) The redshirt-sophomore long snapper posted a 3.58 GPA. Appeared as a long snapper in every game this season while also tallying three tackles. Westberry received Frontier Conference West Long Snapper of the Year honors and was named to the AFCA All-American First Team. He earned Frontier Academic All-conference, CSC Academic All-District, and NAIA Daktronics Scholar Athlete recognition.

DILLON, Mont. — The Dillon Public Library will host a free community presentation, “Healthy Parents, Healthy Children – Mindfulness for Families,” on Saturday, February 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The presentation will be led by Margaret Kachadurian, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in teaching mindfulness skills that help individuals and families build lasting inner strengths. This event is part of the Strengthening Families, Safeguarding Futures: A Community-Based Approach to Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect grant. The grant was awarded by the Montana Children’s Trust Fund to Xuan Li of the University of Montana Western, Dillon Friends of the Library, and the Dillon Public Library. Presentations in this series will continue through fall of 2026, and everyone is welcome to attend. About the Presenter Margaret Kachadurian is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Montana Mindfulness Project, whose mission is to foster mental health and well-being in Montana communities and schools by helping grow a healthier, kinder world. What the 90-Minute Presentation Will Cover: What mindfulness is and is not, and the benefits of practicing mindfulness skills Using everyday activities—breathing, sitting, moving, eating, talking, and relating—as mindfulness practices How slowing down and engaging the five senses can reduce frustration, anxiety, and depression Replacing negative emotions and behaviors with positive ones Mindful parenting techniques that support parents’ well-being so they can be more present with their children As Kachadurian explains, “If the parent is healthy, strong, and happy, the child is healthy, strong, and happy — and family life becomes a warm heart-place where love flows, no matter what’s happening.” Additional Opportunity A free, six-week online Mindful Parenting course will begin Wednesday, February 11, and will run weekly from 7:00–8:00 p.m. Participants may sign up for one or more weeks. More information and free recorded mindfulness practices are available at mtmindfulness.org on the Resources page.

Madeline Bradbury, Class of 2025, has been accepted into both the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the University of Washington School of Medicine. She has chosen to begin her medical training at UW in July 2026 and is interested in pursuing OB-GYN/maternal-fetal medicine, emergency medicine, or surgery (possibly trauma, orthopedics, or plastic surgery), while remaining open to other specialties. A native of Washington, Madeline initially came to Montana Western to study art education but always planned to pursue medical school. Her undergraduate pathway as a Biology major in the Pre-Professional Medical and Veterinary Sciences option area allowed her to complete all required and recommended coursework prescribed by the UW School of Medicine. These courses—offered at Montana Western through its distinctive Experience One format—included genetics, bioethics, developmental biology, microbiology, medical physiology, and developmental psychology. When asked which course she considered especially influential in her path to medical school, she stated, “The most impactful course I took was Human Anatomy, taught by Dr. Wood and Dr. Handlos.” She later added, “Despite sleepless nights and exhaustion, I realized I wanted to be there, pushing myself and growing as a scholar. By meeting the demands of anatomy, I discovered what I could accomplish.” Maintaining her interest in the arts, Madeline also completed a minor in Glass and spent countless hours fabricating in the UMW Emerick Art Studio. Madeline conducted original undergraduate research in microbiology with Dr. Michael Morrow and in anatomy with Dr. Bradley Wood. Her work led to presentations at two national meetings of the American Association for Anatomy in 2024 (Toronto, Canada) and 2025 (Portland, Oregon). In addition to opportunities at Montana Western, Madeline participated in the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) and the Neuroscience Summer Student Program, both hosted by the UW School of Medicine. A licensed EMT, Madeline reflects that her experiences at Montana Western “made me a more confident person, enabling me to present at international research meetings and serve as an EMT in a challenging rural environment.” In recognition of her academic achievements, she also received the Zella K. Flores Top Female Student Award for 2025, an award presented annually to the top female student in the graduating class at the University of Montana Western. As she prepares to begin medical school, Madeline feels well prepared for the rigor and pacing of professional coursework thanks to UMW’s block schedule and Experience One approach. “Medical school is a very different beast, but they use a similar block schedule in the foundations phase (Years 1 and 2). I believe that my time studying in the UMW block schedule will help me adjust quickly to the fast-paced, intense medical school curriculum.” Madeline’s advice to students currently on the medical path is, “Don’t compare your path to medicine with others. I know this is hard, but there is no perfect pre-medical student or application. Pursue activities that you are interested in and passionate about. You will find your unique path to medicine.” To learn more about pre-med and pre-vet pathways or other health career options for undergraduates at UMW, please contact Dr. Michael Morrow, Chair of the Biology Department, at  michael.morrow@umwestern.edu , or Dr. Bradley Wood, Chair of the Health Careers Advisory Committee, at  bradley.wood@umwestern.edu .

125 N. Idaho St. City of Dillon, Montana Tuesday, January 27th, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. ZONING COMMISSION Regular Meeting Agenda   1.    Call To Order   2.    Review and Approval of November 18 th , 2025 Minutes   3.    Organization of Zoning Commission/Election of Officers   4.    Director of Operations Report             5.  Applications for Zoning Compliance Certificates for Review: 2025-049                 Todd                           304 N Walnut St                  Duplex 2025-050                 Todd                           308 N Walnut St                  Duplex           2025-051                 Todd                           312 N Walnut St                  Duplex 2026-01                      Jessop                       18 Thomas Drive                 Single Family             6.  Update of CUP-003 Scheffel Garage and Set Public Hearing Date   7.    Review/Discussion of Zoning Commission By-Laws   8.    Review Example Zoning Application   9.    Discuss/Approve Changes to Title 17.48 - Parking Due to HB 492   10. Discuss Changes to Title 17.60 – Residential Districts Due to HB 492   11.  Public Comment on Items of Significant Public Interest Not on the Agenda                  and Within the Jurisdiction of the Zoning Commission.   12.  Adjournment               PLEASE NOTE : A Zoom link is available. Join the meeting with Zoom ID: 770-316-6528,   allowing permission for mic and camera (if using a computer go to            https://zoom.us/j/7703166528 ) and use Passcode 4245 .   z oning Commission Members:   Joleen Schultz, Mike Brumbaugh, Mike Watson, Kevin Boileau

Excuse our mess! Installation of the new Wheelchair Lift is happening, beginning Monday - January 26, 2026. Library services and programs will still continue as usual. Thank you to the Community and Friends of the Library for making this Lift replacement happen!   January 28 - Chris La Tray at the Museum's Depot Theatre, doors open at 6 p.m. presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.: The Bookstore, Dillon Public Library, the Friends of the Library and the Beaverhead County Museum will have the Montana's Poet Laureate (2023-2024),  Chris La Tray, as a special presenter on January 28th, 2026. This is part of One Book Montana: The state of Montana is coming together, to read the book “Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home” by Chris La Tray. This memoir is La Tray’s third book. The book is centered on the efforts of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana to become federally recognized in 2019. The tribe, made of Ojibwe, Métis, and Cree people in Montana, does not have a reservation and members live throughout the state. Chris La Tray was appointed as Montana Poet Laureate in 2023. One Book Montana, hosted by Humanities Montana, has purchased over 200 online copies, so listening through the Libby app is easy. Dillon Public Library has a number of copies available to check out and Debbie at The Bookstore has ordered copies for purchase.   Books & Babies - Every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. - January 28 theme is: "Shelfie Day"   January 28 - National Library Shelfie Day - stop by and get your'shelf', and your favorite book photographed and be entered in a drawing   Blind Date Books - each purchase of a Blind Date book for $3.00 gets an entry into the "21 and over" Blind Date Basket - drawing February 13, 2026   February - 3, 10, 17, 24 - Fly Tying class with Joe Aanes at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ongoing classes with a limit of 10 spots   Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness workshops continue in 2026. The first program was January 24 and we have numerous presenters coming up. Watch for the February schedule with more presentations. This is through a grant received through Montana Children's Trust Fund. Xuan Li of the University of Montana-Western, Debbie Sporich from the Bookstore, the Friends of the Library, and the Dillon Public Library will be offering programs, workshops and presenters concerning Child Abuse and Neglect.

125 N. Idaho St. City of Dillon, Montana City Council Chambers January 27, 2026 4:45 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA     PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE   1.          Discuss/Approve Council Subcommittee Assignments   2.         PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST NOT ON THE  AGENDA AND WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY   3.         ADJOURNMENT   PLEASE NOTE : The City of Dillon understands that citizens have the right under the Montana Constitution to observe and participate in local governmental affairs by personally attending all public meetings of the Dillon City Council and other City boards and committees.  This meeting is open to the public as normal. Join the meeting with Zoom ID: 770-316-6528 , allowing permission for mic and camera (if using a computer go to https://zoom.us/j/7703166528 ) and use Passcode 4245 .  Please mute your mic until you desire to comment.  Any problems or questions, call City Hall at 683-4245.

HELENA  – Due to outdated equipment and the need to allow for more flexibility for businesses looking to sell hunting and fishing licenses, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving to a new License Ambassador program this spring. The program is a partnership between FWP and local businesses around Montana who want to offer hunting and fishing license sales services to their customers. By moving to a modern, web-based system, the License Ambassador program allows more retailers to offer licensing services without the need for specialized, outdated hardware. “This change will ultimately provide more businesses where hunters and anglers who like to buy or apply for licenses in person, can go for help,” said FWP Director Christy Clark.   For the past several months, FWP has worked with existing license providers on transitioning to the new License Ambassador program. FWP has created a License Ambassador kit that will include signage options, regulations, and other information for customers and to allow License Ambassadors to promote this additional customer service.   FWP has already signed up new outlets to sell licenses with the new License Ambassador program and will be shipping out License Ambassador kits to local businesses in the coming months.  Why the change? The transition replaces an aging provider system that relied on proprietary equipment that is no longer repairable or replaceable. By using FWP’s secure online portal, License Ambassadors can now serve customers using standard internet-connected devices. “This change is necessary because we are simply unable to keep the old system going with outdated license provider equipment that we can’t fix when it breaks or replace when it’s unusable,” said Emily Cooper, FWP Licensing Bureau Chief.   Hunters and anglers can also go online to buy or apply for licenses and permits. The online licensing system used by the public will be the same system used by License Ambassadors to sell licenses to customers in their stores.

DILLON, Mont. –  The Frontier Conference has released its 2026 football schedule, the league office announced Thursday. The conference will continue its two-division format, which began last year. Both the East and West divisions of the FC will be granted one automatic qualifying berth to the NAIA Football Championship Series, as well as a chance to earn one or more at-large berths. The teams with the best record against Division opponents will win the automatic bid. 2026 Bulldog Football Schedule Sept. 5           MSU-Northern          Havre, Mont. Sept. 12         Montana Tech         Dillon, Mont. Sept. 19         Rocky Mountain     Dillon, Mont. Sept. 26         Dickinson State        Dickinson, N.D. Oct. 3             Southern Oregon*  Dillon, Mont. Oct. 10           Carroll *                    Helena, Mont. Oct. 17           College of Idaho*   Dillon, Mont. Oct. 24           Simpson*                Dillon, Mont. Oct. 31           Eastern Oregon*      La Grande, Ore. Nov. 7             Arizona Christian*   Glendale, Ariz. Bold designated home contest *Division matchup

SOLID WASTE BOARD MEETING Monday, January 26, 2026 3:00 PM COURTHOUSE, COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING ROOM AGENDA Ø Establish a quorum Ø Review and Action on November 5, 2025 meeting minutes Ø Landfill Manager’s Report Ø Discussion- Update from Dillon Disposal Re Madison County Ø Public Comment or other business Ø Next Meeting date – April 20, 2026 Ø Adjourn

BOZEMAN, MT - Last week, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper submitted a letter to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in response to its call for public comment on the 2022-2024 Draft Water Quality Integrated Report and data and surface water assessment requests. The Integrated Report is the state’s mechanism, required by the federal Clean Water Act to be published biannually, for gathering all science on water quality, identifying waterways that are unhealthy and failing to attain their designated uses at law, and where impairment is found, triggering necessary clean-up and restoration plans. Impairment determinations are based on assessment of local conditions against water quality standards. Integrated Reports over the last dozen years have consistently identified nutrient pollution as the cause of nearly 20% of all waterway impairments on all assessed waters.  Relevant to the draft 2022-24 Integrated Report, Montana recently removed the water quality goalposts for nutrient pollution control by repealing numeric nutrient standards , contrary to a well-supported body of science demonstrating how application of numeric nutrient criteria protect local water quality in countless Montana streams and rivers across the state.  Waterkeeper’s comments identified the agency’s express refusal to analyze and make impairment decisions concerning nutrient pollution and harmful dissolved oxygen concentrations, two pollutant parameters directly linked to protection of aquatic life and Montana’s world-class trout fisheries. The letter also served as a resubmission of its Petition for Nutrient Impairment Designation on the Big Hole River, and included all nutrient and water quality data, photo/video evidence of algal blooms, and a macroinvertebrate study to support the request. “DEQ has a mandatory duty under federal law to identify unhealthy waters based on available data,” said Guy Alsentzer, Executive Director of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper. “Instead of using existing, undisputed science to identify problems and initiate restoration planning for degraded waterways, the agency is pretending very real nutrient pollution problems don’t exist. There is zero discretion to delay use of best-available science; doing so isn’t just bad policy, it’s unlawful.” Waterkeeper originally petitioned the department to declare the Big Hole River as impaired in February 2025 based on five years of sampling data, but the department denied the request and refused to assess numeric nutrient data demonstrating sections of the river are failing to support designated uses based on Senate Bill 358 from the 2021 Legislative Session. EPA, however, struck down Senate Bill 358’s attempt to eliminate numeric nutrient criteria in a series of disapproval letters sent to DEQ in May 2022.  Because an Integrated Report is a primary mechanism for identifying unhealthy waterways, Waterkeeper is again formally requesting the Department fulfill its mandatory duty under the Clean Water Act to identify impaired waters, such as the Big Hole River (and other qualifying waterbody segments), based on all available data, including evidence of widespread algal blooms fueled by excessive nitrogen, phosphorus, high temperatures, and low dissolved oxygen concentrations.  In October 2025, the EPA approved the State’s repeal of numeric nutrient criteria in part based on the premise that DEQ would instead use response-variable data, such as dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and ammonia. However, those assessment methods have not been finalized in rule or submitted to EPA for approval, and in practice, DEQ is not using the data it already has in front of it - including substantial scientific evidence regarding harmful nutrient and dissolved oxygen conditions submitted by Waterkeeper - in the combined 2022-24 Integrated Report.  In its comments, Waterkeeper raised three key issues: Montana's mandatory duty to assess the evidence presented and identify the Big Hole and other qualifying waters as impaired by nutrients; The Department’s rationale for declining to assess available nutrient evidence or list waters that evidence demonstrates are nutrient impaired is not legally or technically valid; DEQ’s speculative, future nutrient translator(s) or similar narrative nutrient assessment methodologies does not free the State from its duty to evaluate available evidence and make a determination of attainment or nonattainment. “When the State fails to assess available science and make impaired waters decisions, the consequences are very real in Southwest Montana, a place where clean rivers are the backbone of our recreation, agriculture, and tourism economies and critical to the health and survival of our world-class wildlife,” concluded Alsentzer. “ As a practical matter, delaying analysis of available science can be devastating for river conservation and shovel-ready projects. Once impairments are identified, it regularly takes DEQ years - and in the case of the Missouri mainstem, decades - to develop pollution clean up and restoration plans. Delay on the back of more delay means deserving waterways won’t receive the protections and restoration plans Congress intended in enacting the Clean Water Act over fifty years ago.”

NOTICE BEAVERHEAD / JACKSON WATER & SEWER DISTRICT PUBLIC MEETING Thursday, January 22, 2026 6:00 P.M. At the LDS Church in Jackson   PURPOSE: In accordance with Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requirements, this public hearing will present the findings and recommendations of a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) regarding the proposed wastewater system improvements. The discussion at the public meeting will include a presentation of the project purpose and need, a summary oof the alternatives considered, the recommended preferred alternative, and a review of potential funding sources and cost scenarios.  Public input will be solicited regarding the proposed improvements, anticipated environmental impacts, and rate implications.  The Project Engineer from WWC Engineering will be attending the meeting by phone.

Community members are invited to take part in a full day of ideas, conversation, and connection at TEDx University of Montana Western, to be held Saturday, March 21, 2026, on the University of Montana Western campus. Designed with rural communities in mind, the event will explore how resilience can be built around complex and challenging topics through talks, workshops, and shared experiences. Attendance is open to the public, with tickets available while space allows. Hosted by Montana Western’s Theatre and Environmental Sciences departments, TEDx University of Montana Western will feature eight filmed TEDx talks that will later premiere on YouTube, giving attendees the opportunity to be part of a live studio audience. In addition to the talks, participants will have opportunities to engage directly with speakers, attend interactive workshops, enjoy live performances, and take part in a provided lunch during the day-long conference. TEDx University of Montana Western aims to strengthen academic culture on campus, encourage critical thinking, and promote collaboration across disciplines. Sponsored by the Fund for Experience One, the event provides a multidisciplinary forum for sharing ideas that reflect Montana Western’s mission and values while fostering dialogue between the university and the broader community. Speakers selected for the event are either connected to the local community or address topics that support the university’s academic focus. Together, they represent a range of perspectives and lived experiences that highlight the importance of adaptability, innovation, and collaboration in rural settings. TEDx is a program of local, independently organized events created in the spirit of TED’s mission of spreading ideas. While TED provides general guidelines for the TEDx program, each event is independently organized and reflects the community in which it takes place. Scheduled speakers include: Beth Bennett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology, Idaho State University Lori G. Byron, MD, MS, Board Chair, Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate Cody Ferguson, Ph.D., AICP Candidate, New Market Lead, Houseal Lavigne Nicole Jarvis, MS, Founder, Bee Haven Gardens Matthew Madsen, MPH, CHES, Research Associate II, Western Transportation Institute Abigale McClaflin, BS, Environmental Sciences Pedro Marques, Executive Director, Big Hole Watershed Committee Ted Montalvo, BS, Environmental Sustainability For more information about the event, including speaker details, the schedule, and how to attend, visit the  TEDx University of Montana Western webpage  or contact Stephen Seder, Assistant Professor of Theatre, at stephen.seder@umwestern.edu .