Dillon Volunteer Fire Department responded to 6 calls for service during the month of September 2022. 09/05 E Poindexter Smoke alarm (false alarm) 09/11 I-15 MM44 MVA 09/17 Thatcher Dr Vehicle Fire 09/18 Rebich Ln Power pole struck by lightning & on fire 09/25 N Montana St Smoke coming from ducting 09/30 S Atlantic St CO alarm (false alarm) The month of September was geared toward vehicle extrication & vehicle fires. We also trained on the new AED’s that we had been fortunate enough to received courtesy of a grant from the Helmsley foundation. We had firefighters attend a class on electric vehicle fires & safety. We practiced vehicle extrication & live vehicle fires.

The Bookstore is excited to be hosting local author Ray Marxer. Ray will be signing copies of his new book "Cowboy in a Corporate World: 37 years of life and lessons on Koch Industries Beaverhead Ranch on October 15th from 2:00-4:00 Ray began his career on the Matador in 1974. The 240,000 acre ranch had been owned by Koch Industries since 1951. For Marxer it was a job that was a dream come true. He went on to become the ranch manager, taking the Matador to new heights of environmental and economic excellence. Woven through out this memoir of family, faith and work you will find nuggets of wisdom and valuable secrets for anyone planning a career in ranching or corporate management. This book will appeal to lovers of the American West, history fans, ranchers and anyone who ever wanted to be a cowboy. It is all happening at the Bookstore located at 26 North Idaho Street on Oct. 15th. If you would like reserve copies of the book or have any questions please call 683-6807

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds landowners, watershed groups and others that this winter’s deadline to apply for Future Fisheries Improvement Program grants is Nov. 15. The goal of FWP’s Future Fisheries Program is to restore rivers, streams and lakes to improve Montana’s wild fish habitat. Entities can receive funding for qualifying projects that benefit Montana’s wild fish. Each project is assessed by an independent review panel and final funding decisions are made by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. To learn more about the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, and to download the grant application form, go to the FFIP website at https://fwp.mt.gov/ffip , email FWPFFIP@mt.gov or call the program manager at 406-444-2432. Completed Future Fisheries Improvement Program applications must be received on or before 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 15 and should be sent electronically to FWPFFIP@mt.gov . Paper applications can be sent to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Fisheries Habitat Bureau, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

The University of Montana Western will see four events this upcoming week, including three conference games and a conference cross country meet. VOLLEYBALL The UMW Volleyball team is back on the road this week after a two-day home stand last weekend. The Bulldogs are coming off of a win against the University of Providence 3-1 and a loss to MSU-Northern 3-0 on Saturday. The Bulldogs will be traveling to No. 19 ranked Montana Tech on Wednesday evening for a 7 PM MST game. The Bulldogs are currently sitting in fifth in the conference standings, second in the Frontier in kills per set averaging 11.94, and rank third in blocks averaging 2.13 at the net per set. The Orediggers are sitting in first place in the conference standings and they lead the conference in kills per set averaging 12.08, blocks per set averaging 2.59, and serving aces averaging 1.72. The Bulldogs beat Montana Tech on Sept. 16 in straight sets 3-0. The Bulldogs will also be squaring off with Rocky Mountain College on Friday at 7 PM MST in Billings, Mont. Rocky Mountain is currently sitting in third in the conference standings, fourth in kills per set averaging 11.64, first in digs per set averaging 19.97, and has a team hitting percentage of .159. The Bulldogs fell to Rocky Mountain in five sets last time they met on Sept. 17. Wednesday @ Montana Tech 7 PM MST Friday @ Rocky Mountain 7 PM MST WATCH VS MONTANA TECH: Watch UMW Volleyball WATCH VS ROCKY MOUNTAIN: Watch UMW Volleyball STATS MT GAME : Live Stat Link VS MT STATS RMC GAME : Live Stat Link VS RMC CROSS COUNTRY The Montana Western cross-country teams are back in action this week after the Conference Preview Meet last week. The Bulldog women's team came out of the race in fourth place and the Men's team placed third overall. This week, the Bulldogs travel to Butte for the Montana Tech Invitational that will be held at the Highland View Golf Course. The women will be running a 5k at 11:30 AM and the men will be running an 8k at 12:00 PM MST. Results will be posted here when race is complete: Results FOOTBALL The Bulldog football team (3-3) is on the road this week to Ashland, Ore. as they will be taking on the Southern Oregon Raiders (2-3). Western comes into the matchup after falling to Rocky Mountain College last week 26-41. SOU comes into the contest after a 42-14 rout of Eastern Oregon. A win for the Bulldogs would give them their fourth win of the season and their first win on record in Ashland. The Bulldogs are sitting in fifth overall in the conference standings. The Bulldogs rank fifth in the conference for points per game with 28.6, fifth in yards per game with 367.6, and are in second for rushing yards per game with 187.6. Southern Oregon sits one spot below the Bulldogs in the conference rankings, rank second in the conference for passing yards per game with 225.0, fourth for total yards per game with 372.4, and are top in the conference for tackles per game with 77.0. Saturday @ Southern Oregon 2 PM MST WATCH: Watch UMW Football STATS: UMW Football Live Stats Link (XML)

The City of Dillon will be sweeping South Idaho and South Washington Streets between Reeder and Orr Streets Friday, October 7 th in the morning. If possible, could the residents living in this area park their cars off the street to allow our sweepers easier access to the streets. We plan on being done by 10:00 a.m. Please be careful when driving in this area during this time Friday morning. Thank You!

Press release from the City of Dillon Idaho Street is going to be closed Wednesday, October 5th, for the painting of the street and curbs. The paint is here and the weather is going to be nice!

BUSINESS MEETING SCHEDULED FOR ROTARY CLUB OF DILLON The Dillon Rotarians will conduct their monthly business meeting on Wednesday, October 5th at noon. Visitors are welcome to attend, and anyone interested in learning more about the Rotary organization is invited to be a guest for lunch. The Rotary Club meets in the Guild Hall of St. James Episcopal Church, located at 203 East Glendale Street. For more information about the Rotary Club, email Matthew Fullerton at matthewfullerton@me.com .

First responders were called out Monday morning around 8 A.M. to a single vehicle crash on I-15 Northbound mile marker 49. A large box truck ran off the road, overcorrected as they came back onto the road, rolled onto its side then slid down the highway. The driver of the vehicle suffered injuries and life flight was requested for transport , the passenger received minor injuries.

The UMW Bulldogs dropped their second game this homecoming weekend at Vigilante Field. They lost 26-41 against Rocky Mountain College. The dogs struggled in the first half as rain fell and made playing conditions less than desirable. Rocky scored first with a 39 yard-touchdown pass by Rockies quarterback George Tribble. The Bulldogs defense began to step it up later in the first quarter as Rocky fumbled the ball, and the Bulldogs were able to score before the end of the first half. The second half the Bulldogs allowed the Bears to score 34 points. Reese Neville would score off a 75-yard rushing touchdown. The next drive you would see the Bulldogs give up a 31-yard touchdown pass that would put the momentum back to Rocky and they would finish the game with a 41-26 victory over the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs take on the Southern Oregon Raiders next Saturday on the road.

UMW Sports Press Release: The Montana Western Bulldog volleyball team defeated the University of Providence tonight 3-1 by scores of 25-16, 15-25, 25-16, and 25-8. "The girls played really well tonight through some moments of adversity. I feel the confidence of overcoming those is what gave us good momentum in the fourth set. It was great to finally play at home and in front of our fans. Thanks to everyone who took time out to support and cheer us on." head coach Katie Lovett said after the win. How it Happened The Bulldogs came out on fire for their first home game of the season this evening. Despite losing the second set of the game, the Bulldogs were able to come back and win the third set of the game which then fueled a massive victory in the fourth set, only allowing Providence to score eight points. KayLee Kopp led the attack with 14 kills and eight digs on the game. Danyel Martin followed with eight kills and five total blocks in the game. Kaylee Fritz had an impressive 30 assists. Jazi Smith led in the back row as she picked up a career high of four aces and 22 digs. "It was a good game today and we played full-heartedly as we all wanted it together. We all went out there giving full effort everywhere. We saw one hustle play and everyone followed. It was a good team win today and we are finally gelling together. It is fun to go out and play with a team who loves each other on and off the court. We are going to bring this momentum into tomorrow." Kopp said after the game. Notables The Bulldogs defeated Providence in the fourth set by the largest margin of victory seen this season. They only allowed the Argos to score eight points. With this victory, the Bulldogs are 2-0 over the Argos this season and picked up their first win of conference play. Jazi Smith led in the back row as she picked up a career high of four aces and 22 digs. Martin tallied five blocks in the game, three of which were solo blocks. Up Next The Bulldogs will be back on the court tomorrow at 12 p.m. MT to take on the MSU-Northern Skylights for a homecoming matchup. The Bulldogs defeated MSU-N in straight sets on Sept. 17 in Billings, Mont. by scores of 25-23, 25-17, and 25-22.

The Dillon Beavers Football took on the Butte Central Maroons Friday night at Vigilante field. Central received the ball in the opening quarter and held onto it for over half of the quarter. This would end when Dillon's Treyton Graham intercepted the ball at the Dillon 5-yard line for a 25-yard run. This would be followed up by Christensen throwing an 11-yard pass to Graham and putting the Beavers on the board 6 to 0. In the second quarter Central's quarterback would connect with Eric Loos for a 6-yard touchdown pass, with Ethan Andersch scoring the field goal giving the Maroons a 7 to 6 lead. Beavers Cooper Anderson would break away on a 63-yard run that would put the beavers in a prime spot to score. Dillon would then score a 13-yard touchdown by Christiansen and retake the lead. The Beavers defense would hold Butte scoreless until late in the fourth quarter. The Beavers would go on to a 47 to 14 homecoming win. The Beavers take on Stevensville next Friday at Vigilante Field. (Click on image for full size)

The Montana Hospital Association announced the winners of its top honors for 2022. Patti Mitchell of Barrett Hospital & HealthCare was named Healthcare Trustee of the Year. The MHA established the Healthcare Trustee of the Year Award to honor individuals who have demonstrated noteworthy contributions to their institution and/or the Montana healthcare community. “The Montana Hospital Association and its members rely on the dedication and hard work of trustees around the state who commit their time, talents and resources to improving the healthcare of their neighbors,” said Rich Rasmussen, Montana Hospital Association CEO. “We’re grateful for all of Patti’s contributions and are proud to award her with this well-earned recognition.” In 1994, Patti Mitchell joined the Barrett Hospital & HealthCare Board, serving as President since 2009. Additionally, she served eighteen years on the Barrett Hospital Foundation Board. Mitchell has a longstanding commitment to community service. Born and raised in Beaverhead County, she comes from a long line of family pharmacists. In addition to having a doctorate in pharmacy, Mitchell enjoys a rewarding career in retail pharmacy and is a member of the Barrett Hospital & HealthCare pharmacy team. As a pharmacist, Mitchell plays an important role in improving patient outcomes as medication adherence and compliance are some of the many patient outcomes pharmacists impact. During her tenure at Barrett Hospital & HealthCare, Mitchell led the development of the first strategic plan that transformed Barrett Hospital & HealthCare from a community hospital focused solely on Dillon into a regional medical center serving southwest Montana. As a result of Mitchell’s effective and insightful leadership, Barrett Hospital & HealthCare has been named one of the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) for the eleventh time and one of the Top 20 Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) for the fifth time. A Top 20 CAH is an incredible accomplishment achieved by less than 1.5% percent of hospitals nationwide each year, which means that Barrett Hospital & HealthCare’s system is stronger than ever, and that Barrett continues to provide outstanding health care to southwest Montana residents and visitors. “I am humbled by the honor of being named Healthcare Trustee of the Year by the Montana Hospital Association,” said Patti Mitchell, Barrett Hospital & HealthCare Board President. “This award would not be possible without my fellow board members: Nate Finch, Shane Puyear, Lawrence Morrisroe and Susan Davis Briggs, who work together to keep Barrett Hospital & HealthCare at the forefront; the outstanding leadership, providers, and staff at the hospital and clinic embracing the strategic plan; and my family who have always supported and encouraged me as a hospital trustee to better serve the community we live in.” About Barrett Hospital & HealthCare: Established in 1922, Barrett Hospital & HealthCare is a non-profit Critical Access Hospital (CAH) and medical clinic provider in Dillon, Montana. Based on The Chartis Center’s Rural Hospital Performance Index, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) has recognized Barrett Hospital & HealthCare as a Top 20 CAH five times, including in 2022. For more information, visit www.barretthospital.org About Montana Hospital Association: The Montana Hospital Association (MHA) is the principal advocate for the interests of members in their efforts to improve the health status of the communities they serve. MHA, in partnership with our communities, will make Montana a “Top 10 Healthy State.”

The Beaverhead Animal Shelter will be holding a volunteer orientation and training event on October 13th at 7 P.M. for those who are interested in volunteering at the shelter. Please call 406-683-8119 to RSVP.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus was detected in wild birds and domestic poultry in Montana earlier this year. While HPAI cases in wild birds did appear to decline over the summer, there are detections of new cases in parts of the U.S., including Montana this fall. HPAI viruses are extremely infectious and fatal to poultry and some species of wild birds. Some scientists have been concerned that the U.S. would see a resurgence of the virus during the fall migration. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is monitoring the situation by testing wild birds that display symptoms consistent with HPAI infection. While HPAI is considered a potentially zoonotic disease, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to consider the risk to people from wild birds to be low. Since it was first detected in the eastern United States in January 2022, it has spread to all four bird migration flyways, including the Central and Pacific flyways which include parts of Montana. Human infections with bird flu viruses are rare but can occur, usually after close contact with infected birds. The current risk to the general public from bird flu viruses is low; however, it is important to remember that risk depends on exposure, and people with more exposure might have a greater risk of infection. Although the CDC considers risk of HPAI spread to humans to be very low, Montanans should take precautions when handling game birds or any sick or dead bird they find. Whenever possible, avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife. Even if a bird is not suspected to have died from a contagious disease, gloves should always be worn if a dead animal must be handled for disposal. Raptors are susceptible to HPAI and are typically exposed via eating infected birds. The general recommendation for falconers is to avoid hunting and/or feeding wild birds, particularly waterfowl, during the outbreak. Enhanced biosecurity practices with enhanced cleaning and limiting contact with wild birds or birds from other facilities is also warranted. Sick falcons should be promptly reported to a veterinarian and be quarantined from other birds in the facility. Bird hunters should follow these simple precautions when processing or handling wild game: Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead. Wear disposable latex or rubber gloves while cleaning game or cleaning bird feeders. Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game. People and equipment that have been in contact with wild game birds should avoid contact with back yard poultry flocks. Wash hands with soap and water or alcohol wipes immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. Wash tools and work surfaces used to clean game birds with soap and water, then disinfect with a 10 percent solution of chlorine bleach—one part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water. Separate raw meat, and anything it touches, from cooked or ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination. Cook game meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. Do not keep bird feeders near domestic poultry. For more information on AI in wild birds, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/diseases/avian-influenza , or visit the USGS website at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/avian-influenza-surveillance .

The fishing closure on the section of the Big Hole River between Maiden Rock Fishing Access Site (FAS) and Tony Schoonen FAS has been lifted. Full fishing closures remain in effect on these sections of the Big Hole River: Dickie Bridge to the confluence with North Fork Big Hole River Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadow Road to the North Fork Big Hole River Tony Schoonen FAS to the confluence of the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers. Fishing restrictions, such as hoot owl restrictions and full closures, are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when conditions, such as low flows and high water temperatures, combine with other stressors, including catch-and-release fishing. Anglers can find a statewide list of current restrictions at fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions . All stress to fish during warmer months is cumulative, and anglers should consider fishing in cooler waters during times of low flows and high water temperatures in rivers. Anglers can help reduce stress for fish by following these practices when catching and releasing fish where fishing is allowed, though fish mortality may still occur: Fish during the coolest times of day, where permitted. Land the fish quickly. Wet your hands before handling the fish. Keep the fish in water as much as possible. Remove the hook gently. Using artificial lures with single and barbless hooks can make hook removal faster and easier. If the fish is hooked deeply, you may have to cut the line at the fish’s mouth or consider keeping it if regulations allow. Let the fish recover before releasing it.

The Division of Education at the University of Montana Western is hosting an accreditation visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on October 23-25, 2022. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the evaluation team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the party’s relationship to the provider (e.g., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). We invite you to submit written testimony to: CAEP 1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036 Or by email to: callforcomments@caepnet.org Such comments must be submitted no later than October 23, 2022, and must be based on the core tenets of CAEP accreditation standards of excellence, which recognize that: In CAEP’s performance-based system, accreditation is based on evidence that demonstrates that teacher candidates know the subject matter and can teach it effectively so that students learn. In the CAEP system, EPPs must prove that candidates can connect theory to practice and be effective in an actual P-12 classroom. A professional education provider that is accredited by CAEP is expected to be involved in ongoing planning and evaluation; engaged in continuous assessment and development; ensure that faculty and programs reflect new knowledge, practice, and technologies; and be involved in continuous development in response to the evolving world of education and educational reform. Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the respondent’s relationship, if any, to the institution (e.g., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). Copies of all correspondence received will be sent to the university for comment prior to the review .

UMW Sports Press Release: The Montana Western men's and women's cross-country teams competed today at the rescheduled Frontier Conference Preview Meet in Helena, Mont. The Men's team placed third overall and the women's team placed fourth overall. "We had a much better team performance this time out. Morgan had an awesome day, it was a breakthrough for her to get seventh in the conference at our preview. It was really encouraging and I think that with the women's team overall, there was a ton of positives and the women ran with a lot of confidence. On the men's side, we had steady improvement in comparison to last race." coach Dylan Zitzer said. Morgan Baseley led the way for the Bulldogs, placing seventh overall with a time of 20:29.65. Araceli Ramirez followed, placing 19th with a time of 21:39.88. Freshman Cecily Eagleton came in 22nd with a time of 21:53.32. Liz Varner followed just behind with a 21:56.03 to place 23rd. Tahja Hunt rounded out the group with a 26:59.34 and coming in 41st. Mason Baseley ran hard, sitting in fourth for much of the race, but was unable to finish despite giving her best effort. Jonathan Harrison led the Bulldog men's team on the day with a fourth-place finish and a time of 27:03.90. Brant Heiner came in next in tenth overall with a 27:47.88. Harrison Silverio came in 13th with a time of 28:18.74. Joe Lamb (15th, 28:24.06) and Luke Lutz (18th, 28:47.84) rounded out the scoring five. Coming in just behind were Will Hyatt (29:09.11), Jesse McMurtrey (33:10.22), and Isaiah Powell (37:54.31). Up Next The Bulldogs will be taking some time to prepare for their next meet. They will be competing at the Montana Tech Invitational in Butte, Mont. on Friday Oct. 7.