The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reached a settlement with Volkswagen (VW) for air quality penalties related to devices, known as “defeat devices,” that were designed to cheat emissions tests and were installed in a range of vehicle models—including VW Jetta, Audi A3 and Porsche Cayenne Diesel cars—from 2009-2016 before the cars were sold. The defeat devices allowed the vehicles to pass emissions tests, while they were actually producing emissions five to 40 times the federal emission limit for nitrogen oxides (NOx). After installing the devices pre-sale, Volkswagen also sent software upgrades that unknowing Montana car dealerships downloaded to cars during maintenance. The software updates made the defeat devices worse, by detecting when the steering wheel of a car moved—indicating that it was being used on the road rather than being tested—and then turning off the emissions controls when it was driven on the road. Montana owners of the vehicles were not aware of the devices in their vehicles or the subsequent software downloads that disabled the emission controls. Volkswagen has agreed to pay DEQ a total of $357,280, or $280 per car for the 1,276 cars that were sold in Montana and that received the software update. This settlement is in addition to past state and federal settlements and criminal plea agreements with Volkswagen, which have funded projects throughout the state including transit buses and electric vehicle charging stations. “DEQ takes our mission to champion a healthy environment seriously and through this settlement, Volkswagen is held accountable for violating Montana’s air quality laws,” said DEQ Director Chris Dorrington.

Press release from UMW The University of Montana Western’s Theatre students are pleased to announce Montana Western’s 19th Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival to be held October 7-11 as part of the Bank of Commerce Performing Arts Series. The performances will begin at 7:33 p.m. each night in the Small Auditorium (room 314) in Main Hall on the University of Montana Western campus. Over twenty students and faculty will perform as cast, crew and directors for the twelve plays presented. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Our Diversity” and will feature original plays written by students, professors, and community members. Every nights’ program is different, since four plays will be presented each night. At the end of the first four nights’ performances, the audience will vote for their two favorite shows, with the winners performing again for the final night of performance. The overall winners will be chosen on the final night by the audience. The directors all come from the Play Production Class taught on the campus this semester block by adjunct professor Larry Brazill. Tickets are $10 for Adults, $5 for Youth, and Montana Western students are admitted free of charge. The tickets are good for admission to all four nights of the festival. BOC Series season tickets ($35 adults, $25 – Youth) cover the admission for this and five other wonderful shows this year. For more information about the Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival, please contact Judy Ulrich by calling 683-7422

City of Dillon, Montana City Council Chambers October 6, 2021 7:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE A. MINUTES 1. Approve September 15, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes B. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1. John Buhrman Discussion on Recreational Marijuana for City of Dillon – Assign to Committee 2. Local Government Center Offer for City Officials Six Week Training 3. Kevin Johnson of DOWL on Status of Waterline Crossing Project C. MAYOR’S REPORT 1. Approve Change Order #2 for Waterline Crossing Project 2. Approve Appointment of Debbie Pierce to Area V Board of Directors 3. Approve 1st Reading of Chapter 8.16 – Public Nuisances Ordinance 4. Approve Appointment of ARPA Committee Members D. REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND BOARDS OF THE CITY 1. Library Board – John McGinley, Council Member; Lori Canady, Library Director a. Accept August 25, 2021 Meeting Minutes 2. Attorney – James Dolan 3. Planning Board- Don Hand; Bill Shafer 4. Zoning Commission – Raymond Graham; Russ Schwandt 5. Director of Operations - Todd Hazelbaker 6. Police Department – Chief Don Guiberson 7. Fire Department - Fire Chief, BJ Klose a. Approve August 2021 Activity Report 8. City Court – Judge Kaylan Minor 9. Treasurer – Karen Kipp a. Approve Cash Summary Report for August 2021 b. Approve Cash Bank Reconciliation Report for August 2021 c. Approve Collateral Report – Stockman Bank 10. Tree Board – Mary Jo O’Rourke E. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL 1. Judiciary Committee – Dan Nye, Chair; Mary Jo O’Rourke, Raymond Graham a. Approve September 21, 2021 Meeting Minutes 2. Finance Committee – Don Hand, Chair; Russ Schwandt; Dan Nye a. Approve September 30, 2021 Committee Meeting Minutes i. Approve Line Item Budget Report for September 2021 ii. Approve Fund Summary for Claims for September 2021 iii. Approve Claims by Vendor Report for September 2021 iv. Approve Budget vs Actual Report for September 2021 3. Fire and Order Committee – Bill Shafer, Chair; Russ Schwandt; Raymond Graham 4. Health and Welfare – John McGinley, Chair; Mary Jo O’Rourke; Diane Armstrong 5. Cemetery Committee - Diane Armstrong, Chair; Bill Shafer; Don Hand 6. Parks Committee – Mary Jo O’Rourke, Chair; Bill Shafer; John McGinley a. Approve September 22, 2021 Meeting Minutes 7. City Hall Committee – Raymond Graham, Chair; Dan Nye, John McGinley a. Approve September 16, 2021 Meeting Minutes i. Approve Amending Council Rules of Procedure for Setting Public Time Limits, Rules for Council Committees, and Procedure for Councilmember Removal or Censure 8. Street and Alley Committee – Dan Nye, Chair; Don Hand, Russ Schwandt 9. Water and Sewer Committee – Don Hand, Chair; Russ Schwandt, Raymond Graham F. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST NOT ON THE AGENDA AND WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY G. 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 (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

Dillon Volunteer Fire Department responded to 12 calls during the month of September. 09-01 Gas Odor 135 S. Atlantic st 09-08 MVA I 15 MM 79 09-13 Haystack Fire 7400 Hwy 41 N false alarm 09-13 Vehicle Smoking I15 MM62 false alarm 09-16 Gas odor 5 S. Railroad 09-18 Grass Fire 1225 Hwy 91 N 09-18 Tree fire Blacktail Rd 09-19 MVA I15 MM 59 09-20 Smoke Alarm 30 Hwy 91 S 09-22 Structure fire 11810 Hwy 324 09-24 Gas odor 570 N Montana St 09-27 MVA HWY 41 MM 7 During the month of September, we were fortunate enough to have 2 instructors from the Montana Fire Service Training School for TIMS training, which is Traffic management & apparatus placement at Motor Vehicle Accident scenes. We also worked with our new traffic sign board that we were able to purchase with donations from Beaverhead DUI Task Force, Beaverhead County Sheriff Department, Beaverhead Ambulance Service, Pioneer Federal Savings & Loan , along with contributions from Beaverhead Fire Dist. # 2 and Dillon Volunteer Fire Department. This sign board will alert motorists of an emergency scene ahead & instruct them on what they need to do, in an effort keep our first responders safe. THANK YOU for your continued support.

TRAIL CREEK FIRE | Start Date: July 8, 2021 | Cause: Lightning | 61,990 acres | 67% complete: With warmer temperatures, lower humidity’s, and higher winds, expect more active fire behavior in areas still holding heat, including Smithy, May, and Nugget creeks. If conditions are right, interior pockets may burn together but the perimeter should hold. Suppression repair work has begun in most areas of the fire including some road grading. Firefighters continue to monitor Nez Perce Creek and around Morgan Jones Lake where little heat remains. Yesterday, a Type 1 Chinook helicopter supported efforts in Nugget Creek, dropping approximately 60,000 gallons of water throughout the day. On the southeastern side, crews are pulling hose off the ridge and emptying water tanks. ALDER CREEK FIRE | Start Date: July 8, 2021 | Cause: Lightning | 36,905 acres | 43% complete: The Alder Creek Fire may see increased fire behavior in areas still holding heat, including Christiansen and Osborne creeks. With the critical fire weather conditions today and tomorrow, the Osborne spot fires have the potential to burn back into the black of the main fire and smoke columns may become visible. Otherwise not much growth is expected. Crews will pull out and monitor the fire in Tucker Creek due to the increased winds and dangerous snags in the area. In the areas north and south of Sawlog, and the eastern perimeter, crews are patrolling, doing suppression repair, and putting in water bars where needed. SAND LAKE FIRE | Start Date: September 1, 2021 | Cause: Unknown | 228 acres: Fire growth and activity on the Sand Lake Fire has been minimal and is being monitored by air. WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: Monday, temperatures will be in the low-70’s, humidity’s will drop into the single digits or low-teens, and southwest winds will increase to 10-15 mph with gusts 30-35 mph, bringing critical fire weather conditions. Fire activity will pick up in areas still holding heat. Wednesday, an unsettled weather pattern will bring colder, more humid weather with chances of precipitation. EVACUATIONS & SAFETY: Gibbonsville, Idaho, remains in “Ready” evacuation status. U.S. Route 93, Highway 43 (Chief Joseph Pass to Wise River), and the Pioneer Scenic Byway are OPEN to through traffic. The Beaverhead County Sheriff has lifted all stages of evacuations in the Alder Creek Fire area. Please be careful of fire crews working in the area. For the safety of aerial resources and firefighters on the ground, please do not fly unmanned aircraft (drones) in the fire vicinities. If you fly, we can’t. CLOSURES: • The Big Hole National Battlefield visitor center will reopen on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. The lower parking lot, trails, and picnic area remain closed for public safety and resource protection. • Gibbonsville Road is closed at FS Road 944 (Big Moosehorn Creek Road) coming from the east, all the way to Dahlonega. Big Hole Pass is also closed. • Portions of the Continental Divide Trail remain closed. • May Creek Campground and Steel Creek Campground are closed. • Closure orders remain in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest ( www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices ), the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ( www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices ), and the Bureau of Land Management.

Many have seen the white posters around town with the black writing and scribbled out paper titled "This Gift I Still Have". It's easy to glance at this and see it's an art exhibit at the college. But this exhibit is more than just that. This Gift I Still Have artwork is from Youth Homes, inmates of the Missoula County Juvenile Detention Center, Billings Juvenile Detention Center, Ted Lechner Youth Services Center, and Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility. The pieces of art were produced from April of 2020 thru May of 2021, as these inmates were dealing with not only the personnel problems that landed them in the detention centers but also the pandemic. The subjects and use of bold lines and color help show the observer what these artists have been going through during these trying times. Tonight from 6-8 PM there will be a public viewing of this exhibit. The event will feature Zoomed-in video of the students performing raps they've written on the inside. Staff from Free Verse and Youth Homes will be in attendance, food and drinks will be provided by Sweetwater Coffee, and DJ AURA will be spinning sweet beats throughout the evening. This will be a must see for any art enthusiast. If you miss tonight's event the exhibit will run through the month of October.

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY PLANNING BOARD THURSDAY OCTOBER 14 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 July 14 th regular meeting Planning Board Member Reports Planner’s Report Public Comments & Questions 1:30 P.M. Jessica Murray, Beaverhead Co. Extension Agent Discussion on the Safe Stocking Rate Public Comments and Questions 2:00 P.M Discussion on County Growth Policy 3:00 P.M. Public Comments & Questions of Non-Agenda Items Adjourn

The weekend is upon us and it's officially fall. October is here and we do have a few events happening this weekend. Friday 10/01/2021 This Gift I Still Have: An Exhibition of Art & Poetry by Incarcerated Youth and Teens at Youth Homes Join us October 1st for an exhibit featuring artwork and poetry from our Free Verse students and the students of Youth Homes Montana. The event will feature a DJ and refreshments, and the art and poetry will be on display at the University of Montana Western’s Fine Arts Gallery located in Main Hall. Participants will also get the opportunity to hear recordings of incredible raps created by the students. The exhibit will be up for viewing the entire month of October. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more about Free Verse at freeverseproject.org or for more information about the exhibition, please contact Gallery Coordinator Nathaniel Freeman at nathaniel.freeman@umwestern.edu or call 406-683-7059. Live Music at Willie's Distillery We will be back playing at Willies on Friday Oct. 1st from 5:30 to 7:30. Hope to see you there. Come on out, order up some Honey Moonshine, grab hold of the saddle horn and hang on for some great fun.. Of course we don't want you to miss our show but if you get a chance, drop by Willie's anytime. Willie's has great décor and of course it's always fun to sample their moonshine and other spirits! BCHS Beavers VS Butte Central 7 PM at Butte. UMW Rodeo Beaverhead County Fairgrounds 6 PM Sheridan vs Ennis High-School Football Sheridan vs Ennis High-School Football Panthers 3-0 Mustangs 0-3 Click Link For Watching : https://tween.gagahsport.com/hsfootball.php The Ennis (MT) varsity football team has a home conference game vs. Sheridan (MT) on Friday, October 1 @ 7p. Like and Share, Thank you Have a good time watching...! Comedy Show at the Orphan Girl Theatre Live Stand Up Comedy featuring Kaiser Leib, Patrick Sugar Bush, Alex Kaufman, Ben Blake, Thomas Blake for an evening of laughter good for the soul. They’ve performed in world-class comedy clubs, tiny coffee shops, and everywhere in between, and now they’re coming to Butte, America! Tickets are $15 Saturday 10/02/2021 Oktoberfest Dillon Tap House 4 PM German Themed, pull out those lederhosen and let the fun begin. Multiple Games, Prizes, and the Das Boot!! NPLD Cave Cleaning Contact Zack Story at zack.story@mt.gov if you are interested in participating. It's time for some post-season cave cleaning! In this volunteer event you'll get the chance to see the caverns up close and personal as we reduce some of the impact of our presence in the cave. The caverns need a bath. Over the course of the season, algae, lint and dust have built up with the thousands of visitors who have come to experience the cave, so it's important to periodically give the formations a good scrub so that they can continue to grow and change! In honor of National Public Lands Day, participants will help restore parts of the cave that have the most human impact. Never cleaned a cave before? No problem! Everyone will meet for an orientation at 9am on Saturday Oct 2nd at the main (lower) visitor center and then we will continue on to the cave, toothbrushes in hand. We ask that all volunteers bring a mask, clean gloves (these can be gardening gloves), a water bottle, a headlamp, and clothing that has never been worn in another cave or mine (due to White Nose Syndrome). If you have a helmet or kneepads, we encourage you to bring these as well. All cleaning supplies will be provided. If you would like to participate, please contact Zack Story at your earliest convenience, as there is a limit to the amount of people we can take into the cave this year. Please email him at zack.story@mt.gov before September 25th with your name, the number of people you would like to bring, and the equipment you will be bringing for yourself/may need us to supply. Butte's Bacon and Brew Fest 2021 It's back and BIGGER than ever! Join us for food, beer and fun courtesy of Thriftway Super Stops, Zip Beverage, The Butte Depot, Butte Auto, Butte Civic Center and Cherry Creek Media/KMBR! UMW Football VS Rocky Mountain College Game starts at 1 PM watch live here . UMW Rodeo Slack HOME Beaverhead County Fairgrounds 9 a.m. & 6 PM Stargazing Event at The Andrus Hotel We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting family-friendly stargazing events in our Donna Jones Rooftop Garden at The Andrus Hotel. These events are hosted by Joe Witherspoon who is a renowned local astronomer and Vice President of the Southwest Montana Astronomical Society. Our Rooftop Garden allows for unobstructed 360° views of the expansive Southwest Montana night sky. We hope you'll join us as Joe shares details about the constellations and stargazing tips for beginners. These events will be magical! All dates are *weather permitting*. Please be sure to follow us on Social Media for updates about the events. A few details: • All events are weather permitting - follow us on Social Media to stay up to date. • Please bring a light jacket or sweater (even in the summer months). • Bring a beverage and snack if you wish. Please bring your questions! Joe loves questions. • 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱. (𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱) • $20 for adults 18+ / $10 for children Don't forget the Beaverhead Maze & Pumpkin patch is open Thursday thru Sunday 12 to 8 PM Well that is all we could find for this weekend. As always if you have an event send us an email to southwesternmtnews@gmail.com.

STREET & ALLEY COMMITTEE MEETING ~ AGENDA ~ Monday, October 4th, 2021 1:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order 2. Discuss/Recommend Leasing Parking Lots to Businesses 3. Discuss/Recommend Title 10 Chapter 76 – Load Limits 4. Discuss/Recommend Abandonment of Portion of Normal Street Between the 800 and 900 Blocks of South Pacific Street. 5. Public Comment on Items Not Agenda but Within The Jurisdiction of The City 6. Adjournment Committee Members Dan Nye, Chair Don Hand Russ Schwandt 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

FWP regional staff will hold virtual meetings across the state to discuss potential hunting regulation changes for 2022 and 2023. These meetings will be held via Zoom and allow the public to hear directly from FWP staff and ask questions about the proposed changes. The potential hunting regulation changes are available online for the public to review. The potential changes are coming now during the normal biennial season setting year to help make Montana’s hunting regulations simpler and easier to understand. Over the last several weeks, FWP biologists have worked on these potential changes with a sharp focus on the science behind the regulations. The potential changes focus primarily on deer and elk regulations; some regions have included regulations for other species as well. The potential changes include a reduction in the number of hunting districts (i.e., making them larger) and simplification of license structures. To see the potential changes and make comment, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/hunting-reg-changes . Public comment will be taken through Oct. 20. Virtual open houses are scheduled as follows and will run from 6 to 8 p.m. with the exception noted below: Region 1: Oct. 14 Region 2: Oct. 5 Region 3: Oct. 13 Region 4: Oct. 7 Region 5: Oct. 6 Region 6: Oct. 12 (5:30 to 7 p.m.) Region 7: Oct. 12 (7:30 to 9 p.m.) Zoom sign-in information will be posted on the FWP website closer to the meeting date. After Oct. 20, FWP biologists and other staff will sort through the public feedback collected and develop proposals for all game species for the Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting on Dec. 14. Following this meeting, a second 30-day public comment opportunity will begin on the commission-approved proposals for all hunting regulations for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. This public comment period will also include regional FWP Citizen Advisory Council meetings. The commission will adopt final hunting regulations at their meeting in early February.

Press release from UMW Dr. Robert Thomas is a Regents Professor of Geology in the Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Montana Western and co-author of “Roadside Geology of Montana”. The publication has been awarded the 2021 High Plains Book Award in the Medicine & Science category. The High Plains Book Award was established in 2006 by the Billings Public Library Board to recognize regional literary works which examine and reflect life on the High Plains, including the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The 2021 winner in the Medicine & Science category, “Roadside Geology of Montana”, is a complete guide to the geological history of Montana designed to be utilized from the state’s many roadways by professionals and amateurs alike. “A person could spend hours poring over the wonderful illustrations and diagrams in this book. This is definitely a book that you come back to again and again as you journey across Montana,” said a High Plains judge. The publication is a completely revised second edition of the original “Roadside Geology of Montana” authored by Don Hyndman and Dave Alt in 1986. Hyndman is a retired Professor of Geology at the University of Montana and taught Thomas when he earned his master’s degree in the late ’80s. Hyndman approached Thomas about being a co-author for the updated second edition due to the quality of his work on the Roadside Geology of Yellowstone Country book published in 2011. “Roadside Geology books are a very important point of access for the layperson to understand the history and processes that formed their planetary home,” said Thomas. “To have been asked by Don Hyndman, my former professor, to create an entirely new version of his landmark book with Dave Alt was a great honor.” The project took Hyndman and Thomas five years to complete and required traveling to almost every corner of the state gathering data, taking photos, creating illustrations, and researching literature to confirm that the geology was correct and up to date. Thomas’s focus was on his backyard of southwest Montana, but he has traveled from the Yaak in the northwest to Alzada in the southeast, filling in new road guides and other gaps in the book. Thomas says that even though it is technically a second edition, everything is new and is an entirely different book. The update was successfully launched by John Rimel and Mountain Press Publishing in Missoula in 2020. “The accessibility is really what sets this book and the Roadside series apart. Not only does it inform, but it also inspires the average individual that wants to learn more about the place that they live,” said Mountain Press CEO John Rimel. “And there couldn’t be better ambassadors of geology in the state of Montana than Rob Thomas and Don Hyndman.” Thomas would like to extend special thanks to Rimel, editor Jennifer Carey, and illustrator Chelsea McRaven Feeney for making the project possible. The Roadside Geology series originated in 1972 with “Roadside Geology of the Northern Rockies.” Now, nearly every state and one Canadian province has a book of their own. “Of the more than 75 peer-reviewed publications in my career at Western, I am most proud of this book. The most valuable contribution I can make in my academic career is to help all people understand and be excited about how the Earth works. ‘Roadside Geology of Montana’ is that contribution for my friends and neighbors in Big Sky Country!” said Thomas. Thomas hopes to tour the book this fall at local bookstores for signing events and presentations on Montana geology. For more information, please contact Robert Thomas at Rob.Thomas@umwestern.edu. To purchase a signed copy of the “Roadside Geology of Montana,” call The Bookstore in Dillon, Montana at 406-683-6807 or you can visit mountain-press.com.

One Montana’s Master Hunter Program (MHP) is accepting applications from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30 for the 2022 program. Class locations include Missoula (March), Helena (April), Big Timber (April) and Havre (May). Each class will consist of two three-day consecutive weekends (Friday – Sunday). A two-day weekend rendezvous in June is also required for qualifications, field exercises and the final exam. The MHP is an advanced education program for hunters who want to continue to add to their knowledge and skills. A primary goal of the program is to build trust and relationships between landowners and sportsmen and sportswomen. Secondly, the program seeks to help landowners and the state with their wildlife management goals. By creating opportunities for landowners and sportsmen to connect to each other, the MHP allows for discussion that leads to better understanding and collective solutions. By working with landowners, the MHP also helps to change false perceptions about both hunting and agriculture, and ultimately works to increase access opportunities for future generations. To date, 232 hunters have successfully completed the program. Graduates belong to a network of ethical and effective hunters stretching from Whitefish to Miles City who hunt together, keep each other informed and are knowledgeable voices on issues affecting sportsmen across Montana. “This class and all the information I gained has already changed my life,” said one graduate. “I can't wait to see what great work we can do together with this excellent group of individuals." The program covers wildlife management, history of conservation, hunting culture and ethics, private land stewardship, shooting accuracy and precision, lead-free ammunition, hunting and other topics. The instructors have a wide diversity of knowledge and perspectives and include ranchers, farmers, university faculty, professional shooting instructors, wildlife managers, wildlife biologists, FWP personnel and others. The program is led by One Montana (1MT), a nonprofit working to sustain a vibrant Montana by connecting urban and rural communities. The program is supported financially by private foundations, nonprofit organizations, trade associations and industry partners such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Bass Pro Shop’s and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Montana Stockgrowers Association, Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana’s Outdoor Legacy Foundation, Mystery Ranch, Sitka Gear, Weyerhaeuser Company and others. For information about the application process, class dates and eligibility requirements, visit www.mtmasterhunter.com . Contact: Sarah Tilt, Executive Director, One Montana , saraht@onemontana.org

Open House: Thursday, September 30, from 6 pm to 7 pm at the Wise River Community Center, Wise River, Montana. Incident personnel will be on hand to brief community members and answer questions regarding the Trail Creek, Alder Creek, and Sand Lake fires. Due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, we encourage everyone to adhere to current CDC guidelines regarding use of masks, social distancing, and handwashing. Important! For the safety of aerial resources and firefighters on the ground, please do not fly unmanned aircraft (drones) in the fire vicinities. If you fly, we can’t. TRAIL CREEK FIRE [Start Date: July 8, 2021 | Cause: Lightning | 57,325 acres | 75% contained]: Yesterday’s colder temperatures and some rain and snow in the fire area helped with mop-up and containment efforts along the south and west sides of the fire perimeter. Firefighters will monitor and patrol fireline east of Big Hole Pass, from Gibbonsville Road north to Rabbit Creek and to the dozer line west of Morgan Jones Lake. Crews will establish a hose lay along Nez Perce Ridge to Lookout Point. On the west edge, firefighters will seek opportunities to construct direct line through the head of Cabinet Creek drainage to tie the line into existing black. They will continue to use direct and indirect fireline to secure fire in the head of Smithy Creek drainage and connect to the containment line on Anderson Ridge Road. North of Highway 43, crews are engaged in suppression repair work and backhauling equipment no longer needed. ALDER CREEK FIRE [Start Date: July 8, 2021 | Cause: Lightning | 36,538 acres | 45% contained]: With cooler weather, quieter fire behavior was seen yesterday and is expected across the fire area today. Firefighters will continue to secure line along the west flank of the spot fire near Sawlog Creek. Engine and hand crews will monitor and patrol fireline southwest from Bryant Creek Road to Sawlog Creek and continue structure protection where needed. Crews and heavy equipment operators are working on suppression repair activities along the eastern perimeter. The repair group will continue to process and stack logs from the previously constructed fuel breaks. SAND LAKE FIRE [Start Date: September 1, 2021 | Cause: Unknown | 228 acres]: Fire growth and activity on the Sand Lake Fire has been minimal and is being monitored by air. WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: Cool and dry conditions are expected today, with clouds along the mountains that will clear up by this afternoon. Temperatures will see highs in the 40s at higher elevations and mid-50s in the valleys, with lows in the 8-to-15-degree range. The moisture brought by the cold front increased relative humidity values, reducing fire activity to minimal creeping and smoldering in heavy fuels. Cooler temperatures and moderate humidity levels are expected through Thursday morning, followed by a slow warming trend. SAFETY: Gibbonsville, Idaho, remains in “Ready” evacuation status. U.S. Route 93, Highway 43 (Chief Joseph Pass to Wise River), and the Pioneer Scenic Byway are OPEN to through traffic. Please be careful of fire crews working in these areas and watch for trees, rocks, and animals. CLOSURES: • Portions of the Continental Divide Trail remain closed. • The Big Hole National Battlefield is closed until further notice. • May Creek Campground and Steel Creek Campground are closed. • Closure orders remain in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest ( www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices ), the Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest ( www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices ), and the Bureau of Land Management. FIRE RESTRICTIONS : Public lands in southwest Montana and central Idaho are in varying stages of fire restrictions. Check www.mtfireinfo.org and www.idahofireinfo.com for the latest information.

PSA Starting Immediately through September 30th, 2021 The City of Dillon and Mungus Construction are doing a waterline repair on our west water mainline today and tomorrow. You may have less water pressure and your water may appear to be cloudy. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. We will be working as quickly as we can to complete the repair and have the water running at full pressure with clear water. If you have any questions please contact Todd Hazelbaker, Director of Operations for the City of Dillon at 683-4245.

This week, we will open the Montana Western Fine Arts Gallery with “This Gift I Still Have”, an exhibition of art, poetry, and hip-hop by Montana’s incarcerated youth and the teens of Youth Homes with a special multimedia extravaganza this Friday, October 1st, from 6 - 8 p.m. The poetry and artwork in the exhibition was produced from April 2020 through May 2021 by youth at Youth Homes and students of Free Verse in the Missoula County Juvenile Detention Center, Billings Juvenile Detention Center, Ted Lechner Youth Services Center, and Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility. The series contains a multitude of voices and experiences that reflect on place, home, identity, and experiences of isolation. The event will feature Zoomed-in video of the students performing raps they've written on the inside. Staff from Free Verse and Youth Homes will be in attendance, food and drinks will be provided by Sweetwater Coffee , and DJ AURA will be spinning sweet beats throughout the evening. For more information, please contact Assistant Professor of Art and Design and Fine Arts Gallery Director, Nathaniel Freeman ( nathaniel.freeman@umwestern.edu or 406-683-7059).

If you’re a small-scale farmer, food processor or distributor, or farmers market and have been financially impacted by Covid-19, you may be able to access up to $20,000 to recover costs related to the pandemic. The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is helping food producers access these dollars through the USDA’s Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program . Applications will open in early October. Producers should get prepared for the application period now. If you operate a small farm producing specialty crops whose annual revenue is less than $1 million, run a farmers market, food hub, community supported agriculture (CSA) farm, a small food processing business or food manufacturing operation, you may be eligible for grant funding. “Food producers provide an essential service for our communities, and these small-scale producers have continued to operate during the pandemic to make sure all of us are fed,” NCAT Executive Director Steve Thompson said. “ NCAT is here to help food producers, processors and farmers markets access dollars to keep their doors open.” According to the USDA, the pandemic-related costs that are recoverable through this grant program relate to the following areas: Workplace Safety : Implementing workplace safety measures to protect against COVID-19 such as providing personal protective equipment, thermometers, cleaning supplies, sanitizers, hand washing stations, installation and purchase of air filters or new signage. Market Pivots : Implementing market pivots to protect against COVID–19. Though not exactly well-defined market pivot are related to cost of changing how you had to operate your enterprise to make it more COVID-19 safe including the staff time to implement these changes. For example, a farmers’ market may have had to restructure their layout to ensure one-way traffic and improve social distancing. Retrofitting Facilities : Retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID–19 such as installation and purchase of protective barriers, walk up windows, heat lamps/heaters, fans, tents, propane, weights, tables chairs and lighting. Transportation : Providing additional transportation options to maintain social distancing and worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID-19 such as securing additional transportation services for workers or establishing new delivery routed or distribution services. For instance, a food hub might have had to shift to delivering food directly to consumers rather than just having to have common distribution point. Worker Housing : Providing additional worker housing resources or services to maintain social distancing or to allow for quarantining of new or exposed employees. Medical : Providing health services to protect workers against COVID-19 including offering or enabling vaccinations, testing, or healthcare treatment of infected employees, including paid leave. This is not a competitive grant program; grants will be awarded based on eligibility. Funding is not awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis, and the 45-day application period is anticipated to open in early October. To be ready for the application, all applicants should obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number. This DUNS number will be required to receive this grant. More information on how to obtain a DUNS number, plus full eligibility criteria can be found at the USDA’s website: https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda . You can also ask further questions about this program by emailing usda.ams.prs@grantsolutions.gov or call 301-238-5550. NCAT’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program will provide additional support related to accessing this new grant program. Check our website at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG or sign up for our weekly e-newsletter for updates.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ~ AGENDA ~ Thursday, September 30, 2021 2:00 P.M. 1. Approval of September 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

• Open House: Tuesday, September 28, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the Gibbonsville Community Center, Gibbonsville, Idaho. • Open House: Thursday, September 30, from 6 pm to 7 pm at the Wise River Community Center, Wise River, Montana. Incident personnel will be on hand to brief community members and answer questions regarding the Trail Creek, Alder Creek, and Sand Lake fires. Due to the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, we encourage everyone to adhere to current CDC guidelines regarding use of masks, social distancing, and handwashing. Fire behavior increased due to several days of warmer temperatures, lower humidity values, and stronger winds. This resulted in more smoke; however, smoke is also coming into the area from other fires across the West. Fire activity is expected to moderate with the incoming cold front and precipitation. TRAIL CREEK FIRE [Start Date: July 8, 2021 | Cause: Lightning | 57,325 acres | 75% contained]: Firefighters have begun suppression repair efforts in the northern areas of the fire where the perimeter is contained. Hand crews are digging out culverts along Trail Creek Road in anticipation of grading. Crews are tying in line on the eastern edge from the intersection of Hwy 43/Foothills Road south to the northwest edge of the Morgan Jones Lake area. Helicopters continue to support operations with water drops in the May Creek and Nez Perce Creek drainages. Yesterday’s strategic firing operations from Smithy Creek to Anderson Mountain were successful and crews are camped/spiked out there to begin mop up operations early Tuesday. In Gibbonsville, crews drained hoses and winterized water equipment in anticipation of below freezing temperatures. ALDER CREEK FIRE [Start Date: July 8, 2021 | Cause: Lightning | 39,474 acres | 45% contained]: Yesterday, the Alder Creek Fire was more active on the northern perimeter after multiple days of warmer temperatures and higher winds. Crews completed and secured line along the edge of Saturday’s spot fire from Tucker Creek to Calvert Loop Road. Ground operations had heavy air support. Tomorrow, firefighters will continue to clean up and further strengthen containment lines. On the southern edge, fire behavior was quiet as it crept into the Pattengail Creek burn scar and rock scree fields. Engine and hand crews will monitor and patrol fireline southwest from Bryant Creek Road to Sawlog Creek and continue structure protection where needed. Crews are working on suppression repair activities along the eastern perimeter. SAND LAKE FIRE [Start Date: September 1, 2021 | Cause: Unknown | 228 acres]: Fire growth and activity on the Sand Lake Fire has been minimal and is being monitored by air. WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: A cold front will pass through the region Tuesday morning, bringing gusty west to northwest winds and some precipitation. Temperatures will be in the high-30s at higher elevations and low-50s in the valley. Cooler temperatures and moderate humidity levels are expected Wednesday through Thursday morning, followed by a slow warming trend. SAFETY: Gibbonsville, Idaho, remains in “Ready” evacuation status. U.S. Route 93, Highway 43 (Chief Joseph Pass to Wise River), and the Pioneer Scenic Byway are OPEN to through traffic. Please be careful of fire crews working in these areas and watch for trees, rocks, and animals. CLOSURES: • Portions of the Continental Divide Trail remain closed. • The Big Hole National Battlefield is closed until further notice. • May Creek Campground and Steel Creek Campground are closed. • Closure orders remain in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forest ( www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/scnf/alerts-notices ), the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest ( www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices ), and the Bureau of Land Management. FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Public lands in southwest Montana and central Idaho are in varying stages of fire restrictions. Check www.mtfireinfo.org and www.idahofireinfo.com for the latest information.