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The University of Montana Western will celebrate its 124th Annual Commencement Ceremony in-person and online on Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, 2021. 346 Montana Western graduates will be awarded at least 388 degrees by the end of the 2020-21 academic year. Of the 346 students, 42 have completed two or more degrees, and 65% of the graduates are receiving honors by achieving a GPA of 3.33 or higher. To ensure the health and safety of the community and guests, this year’s Commencement will be divided into three ceremonies that will be held over April 30 and May 1. A graduate’s ceremony is designated by their degree and major. Commencement ceremonies are scheduled for the following days and times: Ceremony I: Friday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m.- Business, Health and Human Performance/Kinesiology, and Natural Horsemanship/Equine Studies majors Ceremony II: Saturday, May 1 at 10:00 a.m.- Education majors Ceremony III: Saturday, May 1 at 3:00 p.m.- Modern History, Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology, English, Visual Arts, Interdisciplinary Social Science, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Environmental Interpretation, Environmental Sustainability, Biology, Ecology, and Associate of Arts/Science majors In-person attendance is limited to four pre-invited guests per graduate, but all are invited to watch the live stream of each ceremony by visiting the Southwestern Montana News Facebook page. Visit the link below on the day of the ceremony to watch the live stream: https://www.facebook.com/Southwesternmtnews Or YouTube The Chief Marshals for Ceremonies I, II, and III will be as follows: Kevin Engellant, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Business, Laura Straus, Ph.D., Professor of Education, and Alan Weltzien, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of English. Each ceremony this year will feature a different Commencement Speaker. Ceremony I: Mike Ferretti Mike Ferretti is the CEO and Chairman of Great Harvest Franchising based in Dillon, Mont. Under Ferretti’s leadership, Great Harvest has grown to approximately 200 locations and over $100 million in sales nationwide. One of Ferretti’s proudest achievements is the institution and expansion of “Charity Bake Days.” Stemming from post 9-11 relief efforts, all new Great Harvest franchisees work in the Dillon Great Harvest with proceeds going to local charities. Over the course of their 19 years, these bake days have produced close to $1 million for the Dillon community. Ceremony II: Dr. David Yarlott Dr. David Yarlott, currently President of Little Big Horn College, is Korean and Crow and grew up in Crow Agency, Mont., before attending college as a first-generation student in the early 1980’s. Yarlott went on to earn three degrees from the University of Montana. While attending graduate school at MSU, Yarlott was offered an opportunity to teach at Little Big Horn College and went on to become the college’s president in 2002. Priorities of his tenure as president included expansion of infrastructure, while emphasizing green technology, consistent with his value of “being kinder to the earth.” Yarlott was a founder of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Athletic Commission, on the board of the World Indigenous Games, Chair of the Governing Board of Trustees for the American Indian College Fund, and Commissioner for the Northwest Commission on College and University Accreditation. Ceremony III: Joe Morstein Joe Morstein is a 1962 graduate of Western Montana College. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and spent his first years in education at Dillon Middle School before purchasing his own business in 1967. In 1982, Morstein was inducted into the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame for his efforts with Bulldog Football. Joe was the NAIA leading punter nationally in 1960 and received bids from the NFL but instead chose a career in Christian youth work and ownership of the Dillon Disposal Service which he ran for 50 years. Morstein was awarded the Montana Western Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 2002 for his dedication and service to Montana Western and the Dillon community. “This is a real milestone in the lives of our graduates and their families. It is gratifying to see the culmination of the hard work on the part of our students, faculty and staff,” Chancellor Beth Weatherby said. For more information about Commencement, please contact the Montana Western Registrar’s Office by calling 406-683-7371.

Multiple agencies responded to a house fire today (04/12/2021) on Chreston Lane. The fire started in a wood burning stove inside the house. Witnesses say they saw the house on fire and were able to help get the occupants out of the house, but some pets did not make it. The fire spread to a nearby truck, and first responders were worried it could continue to spread across the dry hillside as well. This prompted the fire department to bring out the vehicles set up for wildland firefighting as well. As more info becomes available, we will update this story. A GoFundMe has been set up for the family

Beaverhead County Sheriff, Montana Highway Patrol, as well as the Dillon Volunteer Fire Department, responded early this morning to a wreck on Southbound I-15 MM 47. A white Ford Ranger on its side was reported. The MHP website does show an Injury involved with the crash. As of now, conditions on I-15 south are slick and slushy. Use caution when traveling and move over for emergency vehicles.

The wait is over as the deer and elk permit drawing is complete, just 12 days after the application deadline. With the new online application process adopted over the past two years, FWP can complete the drawing much faster than in years past. The wait used to take more than two months. Now it takes less than two weeks. “I thank our customers for adapting and working with us. We know the change has presented challenges to some,” said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks director Hank Worsech. “You can now start the fun of the planning process with your family and friends!” This year, hunters came out in record numbers to apply for permits and purchase licenses in advance of the April 1 deadline. More than 82,384 residents and 16,650 nonresidents applied for elk and deer permits. That’s a 12.48 percent and 29.52 percent increase over last year, respectively. And even though this year’s wait time was much shorter than in years past, the new ExploreMT licensing system slated to be online in 2022 will allow for the application process to be even more customer friendly, and the drawing even quicker. “Making sure people had a good experience was a huge team effort from our staff across the state,” Worsech said. “We’re investing a lot of time and effort in customer service. This year was a great example, and we look to improve even more.” The growth in license sales and applicants also shows the value Montanans and visitors to our state place on hunting opportunities and the abundant wildlife resource FWP manages. “The people who buy licenses and come here to hunt are important partners in managing and protecting these resources,” Worsech said. “Without them, we can’t do all the work we do.” There are a few ways to get your drawing results. Visit fwp.mt.gov , click on “MyFWP Login” in the upper righthand corner, then click on “Lookup Draw Results, Register for Lists” tab on the left-hand menu, or login to your MyFWP account. You may also sign up for an account at fwp.mt.gov/MyFWP . Applicants may also call any FWP regional office or the licensing office at 406-444-2950 . Deadline reminders: The deadline to apply for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bison is Saturday, May 1; the deadline to apply for elk B, deer B, and antelope is Tuesday, June 1. All applications must be completed online or at an FWP office. Most FWP offices with license sales are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5p.m.

The spring black bear hunting season starts April 15. Hunters need to be aware that black bears must be presented for in-person inspection and tagging within 10 days of harvest. The hide and skull must be presented in a condition that allows full inspection and tooth collection (i.e. unfrozen). For local tagging information, contact the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office nearest to you. Three Black Bear Management Units have quotas and mandatory 48-hour reporting: Units 510, 520, and 700. When the quota is reached or approached in each of these districts, the black bear season in that district will close. It's important to know the difference between grizzly bears and black bears. Black bear hunters in Montana are required to pass the Bear Identification test to obtain a black bear license. Montana's Bear Identification Program is intended to prevent the killing of grizzly bears as a result of mistaken identity by hunters. For more information on black bear hunting, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations/black-bear .

Montana’s watercraft inspectors have intercepted six mussel-fouled boats; the latest boat was stopped at the Anaconda watercraft inspection station on Saturday, April 10. Inspectors found dry and dead mussels on a used pontoon boat that had been purchased in Minnesota and was destined for Washington state. Inspectors conducted a hot water decontamination before releasing the boat and notifying officials in Idaho and Washington. In the last two weeks mussels have been found on watercraft returning to Montana from Lake Mohave, Lake Powell and Lake Havasu. These waterbodies are known to be infested with invasive mussels. “In just one day mussels can enter a live-well or attach to a boat’s hull or transom,” said AIS Bureau Chief Tom Woolf. “Always to be sure your boat is clean, drained and dry when leaving the water. “ All watercraft (motorized and non-motorized) coming into Montana from out of state must be inspected. This includes Montana residents returning from a fishing or boating excursion out of state. Failure to stop at inspection stations could result in a fine of up to $500. Watercraft inspection stations are Montana’s first line of defense to prevent the movement of aquatic invasive species, which can have devastating impacts on Montana waterways. Boaters must stop at all watercraft inspections stations they encounter. Learn more at CleanDrainDryMT.com or call the FWP Aquatic Invasive Species Bureau at 406-444-2440.

Today we sat down with Tiffany Mcwilliams and discussed how she became involved in the sport of snowmobile hill climb events and racing. Tiffany said at 4 months old her mom would sit her on the seat of her snowmobile and take her for a ride in the backcountry. For fun they would go to the races in Jackson Hole, after a couple years of watching them, she decided that is what she wanted to do. This year she was able to make that dream a reality she placed 6th in the woman's stock class, 2nd in the woman's improved class. She is currently sitting third in the overall points class for the season and hopes to clinch the title this weekend at the RMSHA National Championship at Lost Trail. She stands out among the other ladies racing as she rides for Artic Cat; she is the only female RMSHA racer who is sponsored by them. Her other sponsors include: Power of Touch , The 3-D , Papa, Mom, Gussie's Welding, Hull Trucking, Klim , Hicktown Performance , White Powersports , Russell's Motorsports , and mechanic Jason Nethercott. You can see the full interview in the video below.

Frontier Conference Commissioner Kent Paulson announced the 2020-21 Frontier Conference All-Conference volleyball team, the All Freshman team, individual award winners as well as each team’s NAIA Champions of Character recipient. Regular season champion and tournament champion University of Providence and Rocky Mountain each placed four players on the first team. Providence head coach Arunas Duda was named Coach of the Year. Providence junior setter Cydney Finberg Roberts was named Player of the Year and Setter of the Year. Rocky Mountain College sophomore libero Ayla Embry was named Defensive Player of the Year. Rocky Mountain junior Weiying Wu was named Newcomer of the Year and University of Providence outside hitter/middle blocker Sadie Lott was named Freshman of the Year. University of Providence assistant coach Drew Choules was selected Assistant Coach of the Year. 2020-21 Frontier Conference All-Conference Volleyball First Team Taelyr Krantz, Carroll College, 6-0, Jr., MB; Helena, Mont. Lexi Mikkelsen, Carroll College, 6-2, Jr., OH; Nine Mile Falls, Wash. Maureen Jessop, Montana Tech, 6-1, So., OH; Corvallis, Mont. Karina Mickelson Montana Tech, 6-0, Sr., OH; Laguna Niguel, Calif. Morgan Allen, Rocky Mountain College, 6-0, Jr., MB; Three Forks, Mont. Ayla Embry, Rocky Mountain College, 5-4, So., L; Bozeman, Mont. Natalie Hilderman, Rocky Mountain College, 6-1, Sr., S; Red Lodge, Mont. Weiyling Wu, Rocky Mountain College, 6-2, Jr, MB; Bejing, China Renae Davis, University of Providence, 5-8, Sr., MB; Pleasant View, Utah Cydney Roberts-Finberg, University of Providence, 5-11, Jr.,S; Columbia Falls, Mont. Sacha Legros, University of Providence, 5-9, Sr., L; Verviers, Belgium Sadie Lott, University of Providence, 5-9, Fr., OH/MB; Idaho Falls, Idaho 2020-21 Frontier Conference All-Conference Volleyball Second Team Julia Carr, Carroll College, 5-7, Fr., L; Portland, Ore. Ali Williams, Carroll College, 6-1, Sr., S; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Rylee Burmester, MSU-Northern, 5-10, Sr., OH; Star Valley, Wyo. Cady Siemion, Montana Western, 5-10, Sr., OH; Huntley, Mont. Kyra Oakland, Rocky Mountain College, 5-10, So., OH; Miles City, Mont. Jensyn Turner, University of Providence, 5-10, Sr., RS; Payson, Utah 2020-21 Frontier Conference All-Conference Volleyball All-Freshmen Team Julia Carr, Carroll College, 5-7, L; Portland, Ore. Lexie Gleasman, Carroll College, 5-10, OH; Chelan, Wash. Alana Graves, MSU-Northern, 5-11, MB; Ballantine, Mont. Emily Feller, MSU-Northern, 5-9, S; Helena, Mont. Taylor Christensen, University of Providence, 5-7, DS; Belgrade, Mont. Sadie Lott, University of Providence, 5-9, OH/MB; Idaho Falls, Idaho 2020-21 Volleyball C hampions of Character Madi Quick, Carroll College, 5-3, Sr., DS; Helena, Mont. Shania Neubauer, MSU-Northern, 5-9, Sr., DS/L; Belgrade, Mont. Emma Carvo, Montana Tech, 5-4, So., S; Idaho Falls, Idaho McKenna Fink, Montana Western, 5-8, Sr., S; Highland, Calif. Morgan Allen, Rocky Mountain College, 6-0, Jr., MB; Three Forks, Mont. Cydney Roberts-Finberg, University of Providence, 5-11, Jr.,S; Columbia Falls, Mont.

Today we sat down with Kellie Brewer, co-owner of The Gyros Wagon. We discussed what they will be offering on the menu and how the new restaurant came to be. The Gyros Wagon, located in the old Badass Coffee building on 135 S. Atlantic street, will have seating for ten inside, as well as seating outside. They will also offer a drive thru service. Due to some unforeseen technical glitches, they will not have it available right away but soon they will also offer online ordering. The menu will consist of Gyros, salad, soup, along with warmed pitas you can dip into a soup or hummus dip. Their hours will be Tuesday thru Saturday 11:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. They will be offering specials to law enforcement and active-duty military members on the first Wednesday and Thursday of the month with half off on a Gyro or Salad. Ribbon cutting ceremony will be Thursday, April 15th.

Big Hole River Retreat was the place to be today if you are an archer. The Beaverhead Archers held their annual Spring Fling 3-D fun shoot. With this being more for fun and less of a competition, it suited archers of any skill level. Cost was $15 for adults, $10 for youths, and 6 and under were free. The courses consisted of both an A and B course, each one broken down into 15 targets. The targets ranged any where from 15 yards out to around 60 yards. This course was sure to test your skills, while providing a fun way to spend a nice spring Saturday. If you missed this event, be sure to follow the Badger Archery Facebook page for more upcoming archery events.

The Montana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network is offering application assistance to small businesses in the live venue industry for federal grants available through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDCs have hired additional staff to assist businesses looking to apply for federal assistance through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, which opens today. “The Montana Small Business Development Center network is adding to our portfolio of specialized, no-cost business assistance for the live venue-related industry businesses in Montana,” said Chad Moore, Montana SBDC State Director. “We encourage any business looking to apply for this help to reach out to us and get started now to receive this federal aid if needed.” Eligible businesses must have been in operation as of February 29, 2020 and may include: Live venue operators or promoters Theatrical producers Live performing arts organization operators Relevant museum operators, zoos, and aquariums that meet specific criteria Motion picture theater operators Talent representatives Interested businesses can reach out to Shannon Clancy, the Montana SBDC’s System for Award Management (SAM) registration specialist, for no-cost assistance to register in the federal System for Award Management ( SAM.GOV ), which is used to do business with the federal government. Shannon can be reached by email: sclancy@growgreatfalls.org or by phone: 406.590.1184. The Montana SBDC network can also assist small businesses applying for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and other federal and state resources. The Montana SBDC network supports 10 regional centers across the state, focusing on free one-on-one counseling and low-cost training in financial analysis, business planning, strategic planning, loan packaging, financial projections, and market research. The Montana SBDC is funded in-part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Montana Department of Commerce. For more information or to find your regional SBDC, visit SBDC.MT.GOV .

Logan Mize will headline the Dillon Jaycees Summer Kick-off Concert. The concert will be Saturday, June 5th, Gates open at 7:30pm. Tickets will be available online at www.dillonjaycees .com or at the following local businesses(Stockman Bank, The Mini, The Tap House, 3D, Napa, Bank of Commerce, Carquest and Womacks) Check out our website or Facebook page for more information.

On Wednesday, April 7th, the Beaverhead Search and Rescue held its monthly meeting. The meeting was called to order by Commander Lawrence Morrisroe at 7:00 P.M. There were 19 members who attended in person and 6 that participated by zoom. First order of business was the acceptance of John Hopper’s resignation. John was one of the original members of the Beaverhead Search and Rescue. He has been an outstanding asset to the organization participating in many of the searches/rescues, trainings, and other S&R events during his 45+ years of active service. He has always been one to volunteer for whatever needed to be done. John has always been one of those quiet get ‘er done type guys when it came to the fish derby, auction, or searches throughout Beaverhead County. He definitely knows his way around the county. John, thank you for your many years of service to the unit. Your knowledge, hard work and dedication will be greatly missed. If you see John out and about, please thank him for his dedicated service. During the past month there was one call out to critique. On April 1st the unit received a call about a stranded dog on a cliff at Red Butte. The unit had 9 individuals respond: Tara Remely, Trent Cottom, Jason Erickson, Dan Cahill, Mark Smith, Marc Sanders, Chuck Maddox, Cole Cottom, and Dalton Tamcke. Cole and Dalton, being residents in the area, were the first on scene and were able to rescue Mutt (dog’s name) from the ledge before other members got very far out of town. There were two training opportunities during the past month and each were discussed during the meeting. The first was a joint training with Madison County. Tara Remely and Tom McKnight drove to Sheridan to participate in an evening training with the Montana Civil Air Patrol. Members of the Air Patrol explained what they can do in response to searches that occur across the state. They also explained the procedures for activating them in the event of a search. There were three members who drove to Silver Star on Wednesday April 7th to participate in jet boat exercises with Madison County. Mel Rice, Chuck Maddox, and Ray Gross met with Madison County S&R member, David Welch to observe and participate in an exercise with their river jet boat on the Jefferson River. Two and a half hours were spent on the river giving them an opportunity to see firsthand the usefulness of such a boat in river and possibly lake rescue situations. The last item of business discussed was whether or not to have the annual auction. After much discussion, it was decided to once again have the auction. However, the format is going to be completely different. The S&R has 4 huge storage units full of precious items that have been waiting to be sold for two years now. Rather than having an item-by-item auction, it was decided to auction off the entire contents of each storage shed, one at a time. There are so many things to sell it would take three days to get through everything. Bidders will be given the opportunity to go through each unit probably the day before the auction. Stay tuned for more particulars. Beaverhead Search and Rescue wants to remind everyone, we do live in Montana where “If you don’t like the weather wait 5 minutes and it’ll change ”!! Be safe out there.. Enjoy our great outdoors but be prepared for the most unexpected to occur. “In The Business of Saving Lives”, Your Beaverhead Search and Rescue… Submitted by: Mel Rice, Public Relations

The University of Montana Western men's and women's rodeo teams will resume action this weekend at the Montana State Spring Rodeos. After the winter break, the Bulldogs will get back in the saddle to compete in two rodeos this weekend at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds hosted by Montana State. The men's team currently sits in second place in the Big Sky Region with 2,090.5 points. Montana State leads the region with 2,681 points and Northwest College is breathing down the Bulldogs neck with 1,942 points. The women's team is also in second place with 1,449.83 points, trailing the Montana State Bobcats who have 2,778.33 points. Individually, several Bulldogs are in contention for the top three spots in the region and a trip to Casper Wyo. for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR). Brody Smith leads the region in the Bareback Riding with 725 points and ninth in the team roping with teammate Jake Cerini at 120 points. In the timed events, Ethan Stensrud sits sixth in the Tie-Down Roping with 181 points. Bryce Harrison is fifth in the Steer Wrestling (245.5 points). Alonzo Skunkcap is third in the Team Roping with 320 points. Also in the team roping, Wesley Parker and Kyler Erickson sit in eighth place with 133 points. RylandLufkin is second in the Breakaway Roping with 326 points, sitting just a point and a half behind first. Mikayla Witter is fourth in the breakaway with 242 points. Emmy Ilgen is second in the Goat Tying with 438.5 points and Kaycee Rogers is in sixth with 192 points. The first rodeo starts Thursday, April 8 with a 6 p.m. performance. Slack will take place on Friday, April 9 at 10 a.m. with the short go later in the evening at 6 p.m. The second rodeo gets underway Saturday, April 10 with a 10 a.m. slack followed by a 6 p.m. performance. The short go is slated for 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 11. There are a limited number of tickets available for sale at the gate. For those unable to attend all performances and slacks will be live-streamed HERE . Draw sheets and other links can be found HERE

This year the library held the peeps diorama contest in a sort of virtual state. With COVID concerns still looming, they decided to post pictures of each entry online. That way people could vote for their favorite without having to leave home. After all the votes were tallied and counted Revington Moore came away the winner. Revington’s diorama was titled Out Of This Peeping World. Congratulations on a job well done. (Pictures courtesy of Dillon Public Library)

Governor Greg Gianforte today announced that the Montana Emergency Rental Assistance program is taking applications from Montanans who have lost income and are at risk of housing instability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The last year has brought real, serious challenges to hardworking Montana families through no fault of their own,” Governor Greg Gianforte said. “Emergency rental assistance will help Montanans, who have struggled financially through this pandemic, get back on their feet and remain secure in their homes.” Funded through the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and appropriated by the Montana Legislature, this emergency rental assistance will help an estimated 8,000 Montana renters stay in their homes. “So many Montanans have been hit hard financially by the economic fallout of the pandemic,” said Montana Department of Commerce Director Scott Osterman. “Now, assistance is here for individuals and families who have lost income because of COVID-19 and are at risk of losing their homes.” Renters can receive a monthly maximum of $2,200 for past due and future rent payments, up to $300 for past due and future utilities including gas and electric, and $50 per month for internet. Households can access assistance dating back to April 1, 2020. Household gross income cannot exceed 80 percent of the Area Median Income. For example, a family of four in Cascade County, the household income cannot exceed $56,800 . For a two-person household in Flathead County, income cannot exceed $45,450 . Renters will not be required to provide a co-pay, and landlords are able to apply on behalf of their renters. Payments will be made directly to landlords and utility providers. Montanans can check their eligibility and apply now for Emergency Rental Assistance at HOUSING.MT.GOV .

After exhibiting mild symptoms on Sunday and out of an abundance of caution, Governor Greg Gianforte today was tested for COVID-19 and received a positive result. The first lady, who has exhibited no symptoms, has been tested and is awaiting her results. Following his doctor's instructions and public health guidance, the governor is isolating for 10 days. The governor has notified all individuals with whom he may have had close contact. All of the governor's in-person events have been canceled until further notice, and the governor will continue to conduct his duties and manage the state's business from his home in Bozeman. As a precautionary measure, the governor's staff will be tested early Tuesday morning. The governor and his staff have been tested regularly since he was sworn into office in January. Update 04/06/2021 Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office says the governor’s wife, Susan Gianforte, tested positive for COVID-19, but says she is asymptomatic.

The University of Montana Western Chancellor Search Advisory Committee is pleased to announce that four finalists will be visiting campus on April 14-15 and April 20-23. The four finalists inlclude Michael Reid, Jill Thorngren, Debbie Storrs, and Jeff Elwell. You can find more detailed information and the campus visit schedules for each of the finalists on the search webpage: https://www.mus.edu/hr/umw/finalists.html We invite the community to participate in any of the public forums in person or over Zoom. The forums will be held on The University of Montana Western Campus in the Swysgood Technology Center Great Room. To register to attend via Zoom, please visit the link above. For assistance, please call 406-683-7151.

The University of Montana Western and The Bank of Commerce is pleased to announce its spring virtual performance festival, Mythfest. This online presentation is a collection of performances of new work featuring the stories and songs of homesteaders, ancestors, troubadours, and mystics. The festival features performances by UMW students and faculty under the direction of guest artist Miranda Zent. Although theaters closed this year, our collective need for human connection became more urgent. UMW Theater staged its series of virtual performances throughout the year acknowledging that creating brings us together in powerful ways. “Mythfest” performers are students who have had the heroic spirit and energy to create in spite of the challenges of the past year. Working with tools on hand, students filmed themselves with computers and phones, lit scenes with ring lights and desk lamps, found their own costumes and converted their living spaces into virtual stages for weeks of rehearsals and filming for this event. Their performances celebrate the creative and innovative spirit of UMW students. The performances feature new work by UMW faculty and students, and a story by guest playwright Oscar Giner (Arizona State University). Watch “Mythfest” free-of-charge April 14-28 at https://www.umwestern.edu/section/montana-western-bank-of-commerce-performing-arts-series/ . Performers The Troubadour: Jeshua Stradley performs original music for a metal version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and a folk singer waxing nostalgic in an Arizona bordello The Dreamer, The Horse Rider: Tatum Higginbotham performs new work about the death of Billy the Kid and her original poetry celebrating her powerful bond with horses The Mystic: Annmarie Downey performs a poetic vision inspired by the life of a Victorian medium, Cora Hatch The Homesteader: Samantha Gregg performs as a homesteader waiting out a plains blizzard in 1856 The Archivist: Judy Ulrich writes and performs stories about her homesteading ancestor “Mythfest” is part of the UMW Fine Arts Department’s Bank of Commerce Performing Arts series, with additional support by ASUMW/Student Senate. Please contact miranda.zent@umwestern.edu for additional information.

The Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce is holding its April Board meeting, Thursday, April 8th at 8:30am at 4B’s Restaurant. Public is welcome to join us!