BUSINESS MEETING SCHEDULED FOR DILLON ROTARY WEDNESDAY The Dillon Rotarians will conduct their business meeting on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. Visitors are welcome. Anyone interested in learning more about Rotary should come at noon to be a guest for lunch. The Club meets in the Guild Hall of St. James Episcopal Church, 203 East Glendale St. For more information, email John O’Brien at john@highpeaksfcu.com or Tina Giem at tgiem@barretthospital.org .

An early morning wreck on highway 41 MM 15 along with slick driving conditions are leading to traffic delays on Highway 41. A vehicle is on its side and in the ditch right past the bridge over the Beaverhead River on MM 15. First responders are on scene and have only one lane open to allow them to work on the accident. Montana highway patrol is showing this as a non injury crash. When passing over the Beaverhead River near MM15 use caution as the bridge is ice covered and slick.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Infrastructure Advisory Commission is pleased to announce the opening of the ARPA Irrigation Grants. There is a total of $10 million available for eligible projects, with a maximum award amount of $500,000 per project. Applications are due January 14, 2022. On Friday, November 12th, DNRC will host a training on the ARPA Irrigation Grants from 1:00-3:00pm, registration required. Topics include eligible projects, application tips, ranking, and how to understand nonpoint source pollution. This training will be recorded and made available after November 12. For more information, please visit the DNRC Irrigation Grant Program page.

Dillon Volunteer Fire Department responded to 15 calls during the month of September. 10-05 Grass Fire Chestnut St 10-07 MVA I-15 MM 41 10-08 Motorhome Fire Gateway Travel Plaza 10-11 Vehicle stuck on RR tracks 10-12 MVA False Alarm 10-14 Smoke Alarm W Center St 10-17 Mutual Aid with Law Enforcement E Cornell St 10-19 Smoke Alarm S. Idaho St 10-19 Gas odor S Atlantic St 10-19 CO call Fairway Dr 10-19 MVA Birch Ck Rd 10-20 Gas odor N Montana St 10-26 MVA I-15 MM 80 10-30 Chimney Fire Highland Ave 10-31 Smoke Alarm N Idaho St October was Fire Safety Month. Firefighters visited schools & daycares in the city of Dillon as well as some rural schools. We also led tours of the firehall with the first grade classes from Parkview Elementary School. We trained on SCBA’s, Ladder Truck Training at our training facility & also trained on chimney fires. Grasshopper fire utilized our training facility 2 times during the month.

In a social media post from The Beaverhead Maze and Pumpkin Patch on Halloween night between 8-9:30 P.M. a person or persons was responsible for destroying every single animatronics and also assaulting the scare actors. The full post reads below. Looking for information in regards to the person or persons who came thru the haunted maze between 8-9:30pm this evening and damaged/destroyed every single animatronics in our maze and intentionally hit/kicked our scare actors . TIA If you have any information and or may have seen these individuals please contact Nicole Hull at 406-579-7955. Update The individuals responsible have been identified.

Halloween weekend was a very busy couple of days in Dillon, MT. On Saturday the Beaverhead County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, held the Halloween Party on Idaho Street. The chamber handed out 440 tickets for the costume contest. With a rough estimation of 600 plus people taking in the days festivities. The local witches coven met up to hold their annual Halloween eve ride through town. DRM Motors parking lot saw their second annual trunk or treat. They reported a great turn out. On Sunday the Dillon Assembly Church held Sugarfest at the Frontier Events Center with a large turnout. Houses around town also reported large numbers of Trick or Treaters.

Looking to minimize the possibility of non-target capture of lynx and grizzly bears, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission made some changes to wolf trapping and snaring regulations for the 2021 season at its meeting Thursday. The changes more clearly identify occupied grizzly bear habitat and adjust season dates for wolf trapping and snaring in these areas. The default opening day in areas likely to have grizzly bears will be Dec. 31. However, this date could move earlier if the department determines most grizzly bears are denned for the winter. Outside of these areas the wolf trapping and snaring season will begin Nov. 29, the earliest date identified in state law for wolf trapping seasons. Additionally, the commission gave the department the flexibility to adjust the opening of wolf trapping and snaring by wolf management unit (WMU), or an aggregation of WMUs, based on conditions on the ground. The commission also closed snaring for wolves on public land within Lynx Protection Zones. These zones have long been established in Montana trapping regulations and are generally in the greater Yellowstone area and northwest Montana. Grizzly bears and lynx in Montana are both federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. All other parts of the wolf hunting and trapping regulations approved by the commission in August remain in place. This includes the wolf harvest thresholds set by FWP administrative region and totaling 450 statewide. The thresholds are intended to allow the commission opportunity to potentially adjust regulations during the season based on wolf harvest by hunters and trappers. The changes will be reflected in the online version of the wolf hunting and trapping regulations soon.

Montana Western Athletics and Bulldog Volleyball will be hosting a fundraising activities for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Montana tonight. Last week Bulldog Basketball Coach Mike Larsen and his wife Kati were supported by the Ronald McDonald House while their baby Blaine was hospitalized with a severe case of RSV. During a stressful and scary time, the Bulldog Athletics Family was so thankful Kati and Mike were being well cared for at the Ronald McDonald House. Bulldog Volleyball decided to celebrate Blaine's recovery through a night designated to give back to a charity that has helped so many local families with hospitalized children. Some of the fun things to look forward to: 50/50 raffle, mummy contest, costume contest, and pumpkin race!! Prizes courtesy of ASUMW and McDonalds of Dillon.

It's the final week of October and that means it's the scariest week of the year. Hopefully everyone has decided what they want to be for Halloween and they have their costume ready to go. With that being said we have found all the events happening in and around Southwestern Montana and we have put them in one convenient place. The Halloween Rundown. Wednesday, 10/27/2021 UMW's Second Annual Trunk-or-Treat Event Date: October 27, 2021 Time: 7-8:30pm Location: BARC Parking Lot and the Tundra Community members can park on campus or the street and walk to the BARC parking lot to attend the event. Creatively decorated cars LOTS of candy Games and activities We HIGHLY encourage kids to come in costume! Contact Residence Life at 406-683-7565 or email bonita.bontrager@umwestern.edu with questions or for more information. . Thursday 10/28/2021 Beaverhead Maze & Pumpkin Patch regular hours from Noon to 8 PM Cemetery Stroll through Mount Moriah Join Archives staff, Aubrey Jaap and Lindsay Mulcahy, on a stroll through Mount Moriah Cemetery. Learn about the people of Butte's past that are now laid to rest in this cemetery. Meet at the gate of Mount Moriah at 11:00a.m. Please park on Montana Street. For questions, please call (406)782-3280 or email bsbarchives@bsb.mt.gov. Haunted Underground The Zombies are back and they are HUNGRY. After being in hiding for 2020, they cannot wait to eat you. Tours will start at the World Museum of Mining and will descend every 8 - 10 minutes. Last tour will descend at 7:45. Tour lasts 15-20 minutes or possibly for an eternity. Purchases your tickets in advance at https://www.miningmuseum.org. Must be at least 8 years of age. Close toed shoes required. Face masks HIGHLY recommended. The Haunted Underground is a joint fundraiser with Montana Tech student groups. Friday 10/29/2021 Murderers Row Bare Knuckle Boxing Returns to Butte, this time with a Halloween Twist to it. BMF Champion Timmy Mason defends his title against Kaos Kelly in the Main Event, Eric Lopez faces off against Travis Karpinnen in the Co-Main. Butte Native Nikkie Starcevich will make her debut against Billie Gwin. Candy will be given out to any kids in attendance. After party held at the Butte Depot, and $500 in prize money given away to the top costume. For VIP TABLES go to https://www.eventbrite.com/.../murderers-row-tickets Murder Mystery Dinner Murder. Dinner. Gambling. Silent Auction. Fun! LIVE MUSIC w/ Taylor Bayne Originally from Wyoming, Taylor Bayne plays with a whole lot of love and a little bit of sass. Covering songs from Simon & Garfunkel to Miranda Lamber, you'll be sure to hear something that you like. TREAT STREET 2021 Join us for a free trick-or-treat event on Friday, October 29th from 1pm-4pm or until candy runs out @ World Museum of Mining. This is one event you don't want to miss. This event is put on by KGLM, KBOW & KOPR radio stations. Halloween Archery Bash Come down to the shop for an hour of Halloween Archery fun. Spooky targets that pop up and down oh my! Games and prizes and fun for all ages. Space is limited please sign in advance for a guaranteed time slot. Times available are Friday, October 29th 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm and 6:00pm Saturday, October 30th 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm. Additional times may be added if there is enough demand. Please message me on Facebook, sign ip at the shop or send me a text 406-880-0889z send me your preferred time and how many will be with you. Cost is $12 per person or $30 max per family. Bow rentals available for an additional $10 per person. Live at Ruby Valley Brew! Saddle up friends and fans, as Trent Brooks makes his return to Ruby Valley Brew in Sheridan, Montana! Make plans to spend an evening kicking back with friends, and a brew or two, and listening to some of Montana's finest original music with Trent Brooks! It's about to get a little western in Sheridan, at Ruby Valley Brew! First chord drops at 7pm! Scary Skate @ Butte Community Ice Center Join us for games & skating! $5 without skate rental $8 with skate rental $5 bowl of chili or pizza with chips and bottle of water Saturday 10/30/2021 Halloween Archery Bash Come down to the shop for an hour of Halloween Archery fun. Spooky targets that pop up and down oh my! Games and prizes and fun for all ages. Space is limited please sign in advance for a guaranteed time slot. Times available are Friday, October 29th 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm and 6:00pm Saturday, October 30th 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm. Additional times may be added if there is enough demand. Please message me on Facebook, sign ip at the shop or send me a text 406-880-0889z send me your preferred time and how many will be with you. Cost is $12 per person or $30 max per family. Bow rentals available for an additional $10 per person. Run The Boo 10K, 5k, Kids Race https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Dillon/RunTheBoo10K5KKidsRace Trunk or Treat with Performance Truck & Auto Candy and Lil Beav Sodas for the kids and All Day Happy Hour for dressed up adults! Dillon's Halloween Party|Trunk or Treat Join us for this fun annual event. Idaho Street will be closed and vendors set up btwn Glendale and Center Streets. Adjacent streets and Montana Street businesses will be participating. Kid's games, treats, food and fun! Don't forget the DRM Motors Trunk or Treat and Metlen Hotel Kid's Haunted Tours of 1st and 2nd floors! Start at insection of Idaho and Glendale Streets Halloween Carnival Kid's Halloween Games Adult Games at downstairs bar! Pumpkin Decorating Spooky Snacks Costume Contest @ 6:00pm with prizes for Best Adult and Best Kid costumes FREE ENTRY Tickets needed for game play, activities, & food Tickets: 25 cents each or 20 for $5.00 Mac's Halloween Party Join us for our Halloween Party! Time for some Karaoke! 2021 Moose Bar Halloween Party Shake off the cobwebs from your costumes and come on down for a Scary Good time!! we will have Jello shots, Costume contest, THE best decorations and of course a howling good time with all of our favorite Ghouls and Goblins! Nightmare in Thompson Park Please feel free to join BOB and the gang for another scary night of riding through Thompson Park!! We will meet at the Herman Gulch TH at 6:00pm. Costumes are not required but highly suggested!! Hotdogs and buns will be provided. BYOB. Don't forget to charge your headlamps and get your bike decorated up!! Danse Macabre Masquerade From the Creators of The Original Nightmare, comes an all new Haunted Halloween Experience: Danse Macabre Masquerade A Masquerade Ball Fundraiser for the Orphan Girl Children's Theatre Music by Maiah Wynne October 30th, 2021 Ages 21+ Only Tickets: $20 Advance | $25 Day of Show Hard tickets on sale starting 10/8/2021 at Headframe Spirits, Collective Elevation Butte or the Knights of Columbus BUY TICKETS NOW ONLINE: https://theticketing.co/events/dansemacabre **There will be a kids open house from 4-8pm on Halloween, Sunday, October 31st. Suggested donation strongly encouraged. Also, the Halloween parade will take place from 6:30-7pm October 31st** Halloween Costume Contest at Ruby Valley Brew 6PM to 8 PM Sunday 10/31/2021 Trick or Treat with OGCT Join us on October 31st between 4 to 8 pm for a family friendly open house! Bring over your kiddos to the Knights of Columbus building in Uptown Butte and let them trick or treat, while also taking in the amazing creations of Sam DeBree and the team from the Original Nightmare! This event is FREE but donations are accepted in support of Orphan Girl Children's Theatre! Danse Macabre Masquerade From the Creators of The Original Nightmare, comes an all new Haunted Halloween Experience: Danse Macabre Masquerade A Masquerade Ball Fundraiser for the Orphan Girl Children's Theatre Music by Maiah Wynne October 30th, 2021 Ages 21+ Only Tickets: $20 Advance | $25 Day of Show Hard tickets on sale starting 10/8/2021 at Headframe Spirits, Collective Elevation Butte or the Knights of Columbus BUY TICKETS NOW ONLINE: https://theticketing.co/events/dansemacabre **There will be a kids open house from 4-8pm on Halloween, Sunday, October 31st. Suggested donation strongly encouraged. Also, the Halloween parade will take place from 6:30-7pm October 31st** Butte Halloween Parade The Butte America Foundation & KBMF 102.5 FM are proud to present The Butte Halloween Parade, on Sunday, October 31st in Uptown Butte. As Butte's only night time themed parade, it features a stunning variety of costumes and lights. Parade begins at sunset, around 6:30 PM and will begin at the Lexington Gardens, on the corner of Granite & Arizona street, and will proceed West on Granite down to Main Street. Parade then heads South on Main Street down to Park Street where the parade will then head East back to the finish line at Arizona street. Register here: https://www.butteamericafoundation.org/halloween2021 If you have an event that is not on here email us at southwesternmtnews@gmail.com and we will ad it. Have a safe and fun Halloween.

ARPA COMMITTEE MEETING City Council Chambers November 1, 2021 6:00 PM ~ AGENDA ~ 1. Call to Order 2. Review Proposed Projects 3. Public Comment On Items Of Significant Public Interest Not On The Agenda And Within The Jurisdiction Of The City 4. Adjournment Committee Members: Russ Schwandt John McGinley John Garry Lindsay Buhr Geri Godecke 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 (pre-virus). Any who would like to physically attend, are asked to please wear a face covering and practice 6- ft social distancing at the meeting. For those who are cautious about physically attending, 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. Please mute your mic until you desire to comment. Any problems or questions, call City Hall at 683-4245. Thank you, Michael L. Klakken, Mayor

Governor Greg Gianforte late yesterday provided guidance to Montanans on President Biden’s recent executive order mandating vaccines for federal contractors. The president’s executive order has raised concerns and created confusion for Montana employers and employees. Issued September 9, Pres. Biden’s Executive Order 14042 directs new or renewed federal contracts to require COVID-19 vaccination for contractor or subcontractor employees. Biden’s executive order violates Montana law prohibiting discrimination based on a person’s vaccination status. In a letter accompanying the new guidance, the governor wrote, “As outlined in concurrent guidance from my administration, President Biden’s executive order violates Montana law. COVID-19 vaccine mandates, including as a condition of employment, are illegal in Montana, and state law makes clear that contract terms that violate Montana public policy are unenforceable. As such, President Biden’s order is unenforceable.” The governor also wrote, “While I encourage Montanans to consult with their health care provider and get vaccinated, doing so is voluntary and no individual should face discrimination based on their vaccination status.” The governor’s guidance clarifies to whom the president’s executive order applies, as well as the effect of the executive order on new or renewed contracts. It also outlines reasonable accommodations for health care facilities and special rules for licensed nursing homes and long-term care and assisted living facilities. The governor’s letter and guidance on the legality of President Biden’s executive order mandating vaccines for federal contractors may be viewed here .

Governor Greg Gianforte today reiterated his request to President Biden that he immediately halt Afghan resettlements in Montana until the Biden administration guarantees its refugee vetting system is reformed. Referring to an Afghan humanitarian evacuee who recently was charged with felony rape in Missoula, Gov. Gianforte wrote in a letter to Pres. Biden, “Tragic events over the last few weeks, including one in Montana, have brought to the front issues with your vetting system. The system requires a careful, immediate reevaluation. He continued, “As governor, the safety, security, and wellbeing of Montanans is my top priority. Therefore, I request an immediate halt to Afghan resettlements in Montana until your administration satisfactorily responds, in writing, to the following requests already communicated to the White House and guarantees that its refugee vetting system will be reformed.” The requests are as follows: Explain how the federal government vetted the Afghan national now charged with felony rape in Missoula, Montana, and what was missed during the process; Detail reforms that will be made to the Biden administration’s refugee vetting system to ensure that future Afghans placed in Montana are properly and fully vetted; and Commit that the federal government will assume all costs associated with the accused individual’s prosecution, incarceration, and potential deportation.

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY PLANNING BOARD WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10 TH , 2021 COMMISSIONER’S CHAMBERS, COUNTY COURTHOUSE 1:00 PM REGULAR MEETING AGENDA **All times are approximate** 1:00 P.M. Minutes and Reports  Minutes of October 14th regular meeting  Planning Board Member Reports  Planner’s Report  Public Comments & Questions 1:30 P.M. Circle 3 Ranch Conservation Easement  Discussion and Action on Conservation Easement 2:00 P.M Discussion on County Growth Policy 3:00 P.M. Public Comments & Questions of Non-Agenda Items Adjourn

A 64-year old New Mexico woman has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging that she called in a bomb threat during a Montana Trappers Association banquet in May at the Frontier Events Center. Dora Sandra Gomez, of Albuquerque, entered the plea to the charges of issuing false information and hoaxes in U.S. District Court in Missoula on Oct. 14, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Charging documents do not indicate how the FBI identified Gomez or how she was arrested and brought into custody. Gomez has been released pending further proceedings. A trial date has been set for December 20 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen in Missoula. If convicted, Gomez faces a maximum five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Big game hunting season in west-central Montana got off to a good start over the weekend with steady hunter traffic through the region’s four hunter check stations and a harvest on track with last year’s opener. Hunter traffic through the check stations was 35 percent higher than the first weekend in 2020. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) biologists tallied 2,340 hunters through the Anaconda, Bonner, Darby and Fish Creek check stations combined. Hunters checked 54 elk, 23 mule deer, 59 white-tailed deer, and two black bears The elk harvest of 31 at the Darby Check Station was 39 percent lower than the 2020 opening weekend, due in part to rainy weather and a lack of snow in the upper elevations. “In my experience, most elk hunters don’t do well in this weather,” said FWP Bitterroot biologist, Rebecca Mowry. “Elk have no reason to move and hunters have a tough time finding them and don’t spend as much time hiking in pursuit of elk in wet weather like this.” While elk harvest was low overall, check station attendants saw an increase in deer harvest, with totals of 23 mule deer and 59 white-tailed deer across Western Montana. All-in-all, hunter check stations sample a small portion of the effort and harvests across the region, but they do record important trends and biological information. “Check stations are the key way for us to see how harvest is shaping up compared to historical averages, and they are really important for gathering information on wildlife age, health and other observations from the field,” said Mike Thompson, FWP Region Missoula-based Wildlife Manager. Hunters must stop at all check stations that they pass, even if they have not harvested any animals. The general big game season runs through Sunday, Nov. 28.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ~ AGENDA ~ Thursday, October 28, 2021 2:00 P.M. 1. Approval of October 2021 Claims 2. Public Comment on Items of Significant Public Interest Not on The Agenda And Within The Jurisdiction of The City 3. Adjournment Committee Members: Don Hand, Chairperson Dan Nye Russ Schwandt