In the coming weeks, anglers will have several opportunities to comment on fishing regulation proposals for the 2023/24 regulation booklet. These proposals were developed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff after working with the public on identifying what changes were needed in the current regulations. In all, 42 proposals for the 2023/2024 Montana Fishing Regulations will be out for public comment through Sept. 22. The proposals can be reviewed online at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities . Final commission action on the upcoming fishing regulations will occur at the Oct. 20 meeting. Comments can be submitted online at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities , emailed to fwpfishcomments@mt.gov , or sent to FWP Fishing Regulations, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620. Fisheries staff will be hosting open houses around the state to discuss the proposals and gather additional feedback from the public. The schedule is as follows: Statewide Zoom: Sept. 13, 6 p.m., details to be announced Region 1: Sept. 14, 4 p.m., Region 1 Headquarters in Kalispell, 490 North Meridian Road Region 2: Sept. 15, 6 p.m., Region 2 Headquarters in Missoula, 3201 Spurgin Road Region 3: Sept. 8, 7 p.m., DNRC Building in Dillon, 840 North Montana St. Region 3: Sept. 19, 6 p.m., Region 3 Headquarters in Bozeman, 1400 South 19th St. Region 4: Sept. 7, 7 p.m., Region 4 Headquarters in Great Falls, 4600 Giant Springs Road Region 5: Sept. 14, 4:30 p.m., Region 5 Headquarters, 2300 Lake Elmo Dr. Region 6: Sept. 20, 5 p.m., Region 6 Headquarters Quonset Building, 2165 Hwy 2 East Region 7: Sept. 7, 7 p.m., Miles Community College in Miles City, 2715 Dickinson St., Room 106 FWP recently adopted a new fishing regulation process, moving from a four-year cycle to a two-year cycle. As part of the new process, FWP solicited ideas from the public on what regulation changes to consider. The 42 proposals cover a broad range of regulations. Including a proposal for mandatory catch-and-keep for northern pike on Lake Mary Ronan near Polson. Northern pike were illegally introduced into Lake Mary Ronan and there are concerns that they could adversely impact the other sport fish in the lake as well as the state’s broodstock for kokanee salmon. The proposals also include the addition of a bowfishing season for chinook salmon on Fort Peck Reservoir, this change would increase diversity of opportunity on Fort Peck. There are proposals addressing both the transfer and use of crayfish as bait, including one proposal that would limit the transport of live crayfish within the Western Fishing District. For the Beaverhead River and the Big Hole River there are proposals to protect the sport fish in these waters with the proposed changes being part of a plan for adaptive management. All of the 42 proposals are available at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities in detail along with the rational for each proposal. As part of the two-year cycle, fishing regulation booklets will be printed every other year. A photo and art contest continues for the front and back covers of the 2023/2024 booklets. Submissions can be emailed to fwpphotocontest@mt.gov ; the deadline is Oct. 15. For more information, click here .

Growth Through Agriculture Program Accepting Applications Until September 12th Technical Assistance Call Scheduled for Monday, August 29th Helena, Mont. – The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding folks that the Growth Through Agriculture program (GTA) is accepting applications for this year’s funding cycle. The application deadline is September 12th at 5:00 pm. MDA staff will hold a technical assistance call for interested parties on Monday, August 29th at 12:00 pm. Those interested in joining the call may do so by visiting the Department’s website at: https://agr.mt.gov/GTA. The GTA program was established by the legislature to strengthen and diversify Montana’s agriculture industry by developing new agricultural products and processes. GTA grants and loans are awarded by the Agriculture Development Council, a seven member committee appointed by the Governor. GTA funding requires the investment of at least $1 in matching funds for every $1 in grant or loan assistance received. The Montana Department of Agriculture is serving Montana Agriculture and growing prosperity under the Big Sky. For more information on department programs and services, visit agr.mt.gov .

The University of Montana Western football team is set to kick off their 2022 campaign on the road. The NAIA no. 17 ranked and Frontier Conference early favorites look to defend their 2021 Frontier Conference Title this weekend in Helena, Mont. They begin their season in a face-off with the Carroll College Saints that has kickoff set for 1 p.m. Saturday Aug 27 at Nelson Stadium. 2022 Season Outlook Offense: The Bulldogs offense in 2021 led the Frontier Conference with 4,675 total offensive yards, averaging 467.5 yards per game. With the return of their leader and redshirt senior quarterback Jon Jund , the Bulldogs look to repeat with another year of standout offensive performances. Jund was named the 2021 Frontier Conference offensive player of the year after completing 233 of 391 pass attempts for 3,055 yards to lead the conference with 254.6 passing yards per game. He also ran for 533 yards and tallied nine rushing touchdowns. Look for Jund to continue to be the biggest offensive threat in the conference. The Bulldogs will continue to put forth a strong run game behind redshirt senior Reese Neville and sophomore Colten McPhee . Neville was named first team all-conference in 2021 after he found himself second in the conference in total rushing yards (955), rushing yards per game (86.8), yards per rush (5.3), and rushing touchdowns (10). McPhee also made the conference leaderboards tying Jund for third in rushing touchdowns with a total of nine. He had a total of 602 rushing yards on the season with an average of 49.17 yards per game. The Bulldogs will continue to utilize Neville and McPhee in handling the bulk of the carries this season. The Bulldogs graduated four receivers and will seek to fill the void left behind from senior receivers Nate Simkins and Jamison Hermanson . Both Simkins and Hermanson led the team and topped the conference leaderboards in receiving yards. The Bulldogs added all-conference receiver and transfer Jacob Carbajal out of Ventura College to this season's squad. Also, look for returning redshirt seniors Trey Mounts (43 rec. 436 yards, 8 TD) and Nate Masterson (4 rec. 26 yards) to lead as returners in the receiving corps. Three starters return to the Bulldogs offensive line. Redshirt senior Noah Danielson (6-4, 295) returns as a leader and was a 2021 first team all-conference offense selection. Sophomores Marcus Lombard (6-1, 290) and Rocco Beccari (6-2, 265) will also be returning to the Bulldog offensive line. They will help to bring the leadership, physicality, work ethic, and energy to the line and to the rest of the team. Defense: The Bulldogs defense in 2021 totaled 824 total tackles, giving them an average of 68.7 tackles per game. The Bulldogs return 10 key players from last season's team that finished seventh in the Frontier in points allowed with 350 points total and averaged 2.58 sacks a game. The Bulldogs will need to fill the shoes of Joe Caicedo (99 tot. tackles) and Kyle Schulte (63 tot. tackles), who both made the all-conference defense team. Senior Latrell McCutcheon was named to the first team all-conference team with a total of 44 tackles, 19 pass breakups, and had 3.5 tackles for loss for eight yards. Sophomore defensive back Braden Swank (65 total tackles) and junior linebacker Kameron Rauser (60 total tackles) both return to the Bulldog defense and will make a significant impact this season. The Bulldogs added transfer Hirkley Latu to the roster this season. Originally from Kahuku, Hawaii, Latu is a 6-3 250-pound linebacker who transferred from the University of Central Florida who will bring size, speed, and edge rush ability to the Bulldog defense. Derek Rauch-Edwards will also be returning to the field this season. He provides explosive speed and instincts as a safety. The defensive line brings back four starting players, including standouts Tanner Harrell and Reese Artz . Harrell made second team all-conference defense and averaged almost four tackles per game. He had 3.5 sacks for 22 yards and 10.5 tackles for loss of 45 yards. Artz played in all 12 games last season tallying 55 total tackles, 6 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. Special Teams: The Bulldogs special teams return first team all-conference senior Trey Mounts . Mounts recorded 535 total yards on kick returns last season with an average of 18.4 yards per return. He also averages 14.4 yards on punt returns for a total of 216 yards total on the season. Sophomore John Mears will also be returning for the 2022 season as the Bulldog's go-to kicker and punter. Last season, he made a total of 50 extra points and averaged 6.2 points per game.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: On Wednesday, August 24 at 16:44, the Madison County Communications Center received a report of possible unexploded ordnance near mile marker 23 on Montana Highway 41 South near Twin Bridges. The original call described three pieces of what the reporting party believed to be dynamite. The dynamite was found in an outbuilding that was set to be demolished. Madison County deputies responded to the residence. At great risk to themselves, two deputies entered the building and confirmed the pieces to be unexploded ordnance and other possible materials were located at the scene. The two deputies, one with prior military experience in explosive materials, documented the ordnance and exited the building. The United States Air Force 341st Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls was informed of the situation and responded to the scene. In cooperation with multiple agencies and resources, the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the USAF EOD team destroyed the explosives after being safely transported away from the residence onto state owned land. The EOD team identified the explosives as highly unstable and responded as such. Montana Highway 41 South was closed for a brief period to mitigate the risk to the public. Ruby Valley EMS and the Twin Bridges Volunteer Fire Department were also on scene during the incident to provide any needed aid. This incident is not only an example of the bravery of America's service members, law enforcement, emergency medical services and firefighters, but also demonstrates the danger of holding onto unexploded ordnance. Please do not allow situations like this to repeat themselves. The reporting party did the correct thing by immediately notifying law enforcement. A sweep of the property was performed and no more ordnance was located. A big thank you goes out to the United States Air Force, Ruby Valley EMS, Twin Bridges Volunteer Fire Department, and the Madison County Communications Center for their assistance in this incident.

The Dillon Jaycee parade route will have a slight change this year. The parade will start on Atlantic Street, head north, turn west onto Helena St, at the high school, turn South onto Montana St, then East onto Reeder St and head back to Atlantic St.

Press Release On August 22, 2022, at approximately 1721, a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper initiated a traffic stop on the north interchange of I-15 at Montana Street on a dark blue Ford pickup bearing an Idaho plate. The trucked ran the stop light at the interchange of Ramshorn Street and Montana Street headed into the Ibey Ville neighborhood, of Dillon. The truck failed to stop while the Troopers lights and sirens were activated, initiating the pursuit. The suspect hit speeds at 100 MPH on I-15 southbound, at this time Beaverhead County Deputies & Dillon Police Officers responded to assist. The suspect is in custody pending charges from Montana Highway Patrol. Jeremy Alvarez Chief of Police, Dillon Police Department

Email from Mungas Construction: So plans for the week are, prepping for curb on ID street today. Curb pouring will begin tomorrow and they are planning on finishing on Thursdayish. The entire stretch of ID St will be closed for the week. The new curb will need time to cure before we can kick traffic back on to it. The rest of the week will be spent doing cleanup and punch list items around town. Pavement prep next week.

To the Dillon Community and surrounding areas, The University of Montana Western Biology Department is excited to announce a new seminar series that will begin this week and continue through the academic year: Life: Inside and Out . This series will be held in addition to the On the Rocks seminar series. Please join us for the first social and seminar of the fall semester featuring two guest lecturers, this Thursday, August 25 at 3:30 p.m. in Block Hall 311 : Dr. Scott Carver, Associate Professor School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia Title: “Management of Sarcoptic Mange in Wombats” Dr. Tamika Lunn, Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas Title: “Hendry Virus in Australian Flying Foxes" For more information, please contact Dr. Bradley Wood, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology: bradley.wood@umwestern.edu or 406-683-7397.

First responders were called out to a single vehicle accident on I-15 Monday morning. A vehicle heading southbound near mile marker 50 suffered what is to be believed a blowout on the driver's side front tire. The vehicle pulled to the left crossed through the meridian and across the Northbound I-15 lane. Before running through the fence and rolling on to the High Bridge Road. The vehicle then became entangled in the willows which stopped it from going into the river. The passenger of the vehicle did suffer some injuries and was transported to Barret Hospital for treatment via an ambulance.

Yellowstone National Park officials are investigating after a park employee spotted part of a foot, in a shoe, floating in a hot spring in the southern part of the park, officials said Thursday. Tuesday's discovery at Abyss Pool led to the temporary closure of the West Thumb Geyser Basin and its parking lot. The area has since reopened. The park did not have any other information about the investigation to make public on Thursday, park spokesperson Morgan Warthin said. Abyss Pool, located west of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, is 53 feet (16 meters) deep and the temperature is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 Celsius), park officials said. It is on the south side of the southern loop through the park. In such hot springs, superheated water cools as it reaches the surface, sinks and is replaced by hotter water from below. The circulation prevents the water from reaching the temperature needed to set off an eruption like happens with geysers in the park, according to the park's website. Update: Yellowstone National Park Facebook Page Yellowstone National Park incident at Abyss Pool in West Thumb Geyser Basin. Visitors: For your own safety, always stay on boardwalks and trails in thermal areas. - On Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, an employee found part of a foot, in a shoe, floating in Abyss Pool, located in the West Thumb Geyser Basin in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. - An investigation by Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers is ongoing. - Evidence from the investigation thus far suggests that an incident involving one individual likely occurred on the morning of July 31, 2022, at Abyss Pool. Currently, the park believes there was no foul play. The investigation is continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. - The West Thumb Geyser Basin and parking lot were temporarily closed to visitors due to the discovery but have since reopened. - Abyss Pool has a depth of more than 50 feet and is one of the deepest hot springs in the park. Its temperature is approximately 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). - Visitors are reminded to stay on boardwalks and trails in thermal areas and exercise extreme caution around thermal features. The ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Learn more about safety in thermal areas at go.nps.gov/yellsafety . - There are no photos of this incident. More info: go.nps.gov/220819

The annual application period for the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP), a grant funding program administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, will open Sept. 1. The purpose of WHIP is to accomplish large-scale restoration of private and publicly owned high-priority wildlife habitats through noxious weed management. Grant expenditures are limited to herbicide, mechanical, biocontrol and re-seeding treatments, specifically to restore wildlife habitat functions. Grazing management improvements may also be funded through the program to restore native wildlife habitats and reduce susceptibility to noxious weed invasion. Grant awards are based on eligibility and competitive ranking. To qualify for funding, projects must: enhance ecologically important wildlife habitat through management of noxious weeds that directly threaten habitat functions use a landscape scale approach have a reasonable probability of treatment effectiveness include a minimum 25% non-federal cash match In addition to considering eligibility factors, ranking criteria includes: number of funding partners and amount of contributions number of landowners involved accessibility of participating lands for public hunting Awarded grants can be structured to provide funding for up to five years. Total available funding is up to $2 million annually; no single grant request can exceed this amount. WHIP is accepting grant applications online through WebGrants. Starting Sept. 1, grant applicants can find the FWP Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program Grant Cycle 2023 funding opportunity at https://funding.mt.gov . Applicants new to WebGrants must register prior to accessing the application forms. For more information about the WHIP Program and grant application instructions, visit the WHIP webpage at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/grant-programs/wildlife-habitat-improvement . WHIP applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m., Nov. 23, to be considered for funding in 2023. If you have questions about applying for a WHIP grant or accessing the application forms, contact Smith Wells, WHIP coordinator, at smith.wells@mt.gov or 406-444-7291.

Thursday afternoon a fire burning in high grass prompted multiple fire agencies to respond. The fire was burning near the Sweetwater road on the Madison County side. Fire agencies from Beaverhead, Twin Bridges, Sheridan, Virginia City, and the DNRC are on scene. According to wildcad.net the fire is listed as contained at 6:40 P.M.

Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton announced today an $18 million investment to fund 31 child care innovation grants across the state. “For too long, Montana’s working families faced a shortage of child care providers, putting them between a rock and a hard place,” Gov. Gianforte said. “To increase access to sustainable, quality child care and address this longstanding problem, we’re investing in quality providers who operate in child care deserts throughout our state.” Recommended to the governor by the ARPA Health Advisory Commission, the funding will increase child care capacity by opening new, or significantly expanding current, child care facilities. Funding award amounts ranged from $142,000 to $1 million. Specifically, the funding targets areas with significant observed shortages of child care capacity, also known as child care deserts. The project is intended to create capacity based on each community’s specific needs by leveraging resources, organizations, and plans unique to that community. “We look forward to these numerous projects moving forward to meet existing needs,” Director Brereton said. “We appreciate the careful thought and planning that went into the applications that we believe will make a tremendous difference in Montana.” For example, Browning Public Schools (BPS) cited in their application two main primary needs for the funding: the current severe shortage of child care providers in the community and the increasing teacher shortage. Officials said they are hopeful this funding will help address both of those needs by increasing more child care slots, and by attracting more qualified teachers to the district. BPS requested and received a grant for $207,000. Family Promise of the Gallatin Valley noted in their application the lack of affordable child care options in the area, especially for low income, homeless, and other vulnerable families. They also noted child care waitlists are extensive throughout the Bozeman community and plan to expand the Rising Stars Early Learning Center through a grant of nearly $1 million. The applications were required to address a demonstrated community need, affordability of child care, increased access to childcare in underserved communities, quality child care for children, and sustainability of a high quality child care workforce and programming. In addition, the projects were also required to address one or more of the following areas, including: Community partnerships such as public-private partnerships; partnerships with business, including employer-supported child care; or community collaboration models. New or expanded services for infants, toddlers, and children from vulnerable populations. Care offered during non-traditional hours between 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and/or weekends. Collaborative approaches such as, but not limited to, child care hubs or shared space models. The list of counties the award recipients serve include Glacier, Gallatin, Missoula, Mineral, Ravalli, Lewis and Clark, Beaverhead, Carter, Flathead, Granite, Yellowstone, Jefferson, Carbon, Deer Lodge, Sweet Grass, Fergus, Judith Basin, Petroleum, and Cascade. The full list of recipients can be found here .  Background: At the governor’s direction, DPHHS last year made more than $61 million in federal funding available to stabilize Montana’s child care Currently, 66% of that funding has been obligated. To date, the program has contracted with 551 child care providers serving just over 15,000 Montana kids.   In May, DPHHS announced a $7 million investment in workforce incentive funding for child care providers and staff. The funding is being distributed in two rounds. The intent of the funding was to provide an incentive for those currently working in child care, and then provide additional incentives for those who remain working in child care later this year. DPHHS is partnering with Zero to Five Montana to launch statewide targeted child care business specialized training, consultation, professional development and individualized technical support for child care business stabilization and expansion. This project is part of a larger continuum of support for the child care industry in Montana aimed at strengthening business practices for child care businesses and enhancing the availability, affordability, and accessibility of high-quality child care for children and families in Montana.