Governor Greg Gianforte today announced efforts to improve Montana drought and water supply planning. This planning effort was discussed during today’s Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Committee meeting. Approved in 1995, the existing Montana Drought Management Plan is slated to be updated with support from a new federal grant. “With every region of Montana facing severe to extreme drought conditions, this is the time to plan for the future and increase our preparedness statewide,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Drought is having an impact on everyone – from anglers to foresters to agricultural producers.” Over the next two years, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) will update the Montana Drought Management Plan. The new plan will increase preparedness to meet current and future drought-related challenges across a wide range of water users in the state. The most recent plan was approved in 1995 and requires modernization. The new plan will improve and formalize the state’s drought preparedness, monitoring, and response. It will also help identify and prioritize drought vulnerabilities and recommend proactive adaptation strategies to reduce the severity and lessen the impacts of drought across communities and individual users in Montana. “We’re eager to get going on updating the Drought Management Plan so we can respond more swiftly in the future and identify measures to further ease the burden on our communities and industries across the state,” said DNRC Director Amanda Kaster. The Bureau of Reclamation awarded DNRC a $200,000 grant to support the planning and updating efforts. The grant will be matched with $100,000 in one-time-only funds provided by the Montana Legislature as well as in-kind DNRC staff time. The Planning Section within the Water Management Bureau is coordinating the resources, stakeholders, and collaboration required to complete the update. The planning effort will involve substantial input and direction from stakeholders, including agency leadership, technical experts, impacted water users, and members of the public. The Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Committee, composed of agency leadership, will participate in the update of the Drought Management Plan and provide general oversight during the planning process. A new website is being developed to share updates and information about the planning process and to provide an avenue for public comment.

"This Gift I Still Have", an exhibition of art and poetry, will hold a gallery reception on October 1, 2021 at the University of Montana Western’s Fine Arts Gallery located in Main Hall at 6 p.m. These pieces were first published as a Zine series in collaboration with Free Verse and Youth Homes. They were scrawled, painted, and drawn during the pandemic by teenagers living in therapeutic group homes, jails, and prisons across Montana. The Zines feature poetry and artwork 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. For fifty years, Youth Homes has provided safety, a sense of belonging, and a place to call home for children in crisis in Montana. Youth Homes is a non-profit organization that cares for children of all ages who are facing abuse, neglect, emotional trauma, and substance abuse problems. It provides programs and counseling services to support these kids through their healing journey. Free Verse empowers incarcerated youth across Montana to gain agency over their own narrative and to discover their capacity for creativity, empathy, and engagement in the classroom through lessons in literature and creative writing. To learn more about Youth Homes and the children and families they serve, please visit youthhomesmt.org or follow them on Facebook @youthhomes . To read more about Free Verse and engage with more student work, visit their website at www.freeverseproject.org or follow on Facebook at @Freeversewritingproject and Instagram @free_verse_writingproject . The reception is free for all to attend and will feature light refreshments and Hors d’oeuvres. The gallery will be open for viewing from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about the exhibition, please contact Gallery Coordinator Nathaniel Freeman at nathaniel.freeman@umwestern.edu or call 406-683-7059. Press Release from UMW

Beaverhead County first responders were called out to assist in a wreck on I-15 Wednesday afternoon. The wreck occurred around mm 79. The driver of a pickup truck was headed south bound and crossed the meridian and crashed into the northbound barrier. This is a developing story and will be updated if more info becomes available.

MONTANA WESTERN ATHLETICS SCHEDULE Friday, Sept. 10 Volleyball vs. Valley City State Dickinson, N.D. 3 p.m. Volleyball at Dickinson State Dickinson, N.D. 5 p.m. Saturday Sept. 11 Volleyball at Dickinson State Dickinson, N.D. 9 a.m. Volleyball vs. Valley City State Dickinson, N.D. 1 p.m. Football at #11 Dickinson State Dickinson, N.D. 1 p.m. (Radio: KDBM) Monday Sept. 13 Cross Country HOME Beaverhead County Golf Course Men's 8k 9:30 a.m. Women's 5k 10:15 a.m. please check www.umwbulldogs.com for links to watch and live sats

TRAIL CREEK FIRE: Size 44,254 Acres 58% Containment A Red Flag Warning is expected today. Extreme fire behavior with large group tree torching and long-range spotting is expected. Winds are predicted to be 30+ mph along with record high temperatures and low humidity will create difficult conditions for firefighters. Crews continued to improve containment lines yesterday, in preparations of todays weather event. Crews along with heavy air tankers used direct attack methods to combat the blaze, holding the fire near Gibbonsville road. Log hauling operations continued on the northwest side of the fire as well as the relocation of interior log decks. ALDER CREEK FIRE: Size 30,875 Acres 24% Containment The Alder Creek and Christensen fires have merged and will now be reported as the Alder Creek Fire. Additional resources have been ordered. Like the Trail Creek fire, a Red Flag Warning is expected today. This will create difficult conditions for firefighters and aircraft. Additional surge resources have been brought in to support the operations for the weather event. Ground crews along with support from bucket drops continue to create and improve containment lines along the southeast side of the fire. While most of the heat remains interior, heat and activity increase to the western side of the fire, near Highway 43. The fire has made it up Bryant Creek Road, near the intersection at the Calvert Loop. Crews are working to secure the line along Bryant Creek road, focusing on keeping the fire south of the road and establish contingency lines. SAND LAKE FIRE: Size 154 Acres 0% Containment The fire is established and active, growth is minimal, moving slowly along the side of the mountain. Crews will continue to monitor the fire and evaluate values at risk. WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: Red Flag Warnings are expected on Wednesday. Extreme fire behavior with large group tree torching and long-range spotting greater than 1 mile are predicted. Winds will be 30+ mph from the southwest/west combined near record temps and low humidity’s are expected. Fire will continue to back towards Anderson Creek and Gibbonsville. SAFETY: Highway 43 and the Pioneer Scenic Byway are open to through traffic. Watch for increased traffic, school has started in the local communities and hunting season is ongoing. CLOSURES: Portions of the Continental Divide Trail remain closed. The Big Hole National Battlefield is closed until further notice. May Creek Campground is closed. Closure orders remain in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forests, the Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management. View the updated closure orders on the respective agency websites and the fires' Inciweb pages.

The results from the Labor Day Parade are as follows: Best Use of Theme: 1st – Pink Heals 2nd- Horseman’s Club 3rd- Beaverhead Little League Comic or Novelty: 1st – Bannack Clowns Adult Organization: 1st- Shriners 2nd- Engine 18 3rd- Dillon Baptist Church Adult Horse: 1st- Ramblin’ Rose Drill Team Commercial: 1st- Rocky Mountain Supply 2nd- Vigilante Electric 3rd- Beaverhead Maze

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Gary Haverfield, Superintendent/Principal of Beaverhead County High School, will speak to Rotarians and guests at noon Wednesday, September 8, 2021. He will provide information about the new school year. 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

TRAIL CREEK FIRE: Weather conditions yesterday caused fire activity to increase. The fire made a push towards Gibbonsville area. Ground and air resources shifted to help create containment lines and improve fuel breaks. Additional resources have been ordered. The fire continues to push along the ridgeline between Three Mile Creek and Smithy Creek. Fixed wing aircraft created a retardant line along the ridge to help reinforce the fuel break. Salix Creek and the area south of Highway 43 saw an increase in fire activity. Weather conditions are expected to improve today, but high winds, high temperatures and low relative humidity are expected to return Wednesday. Size 44,254 Acres Containment 58% ALDER CREEK FIRE: The Alder Creek and Christensen fires have merged and will now be reported as the Alder Creek Fire. Additional resources have been ordered. The fire burned active yesterday, driven by high winds and dry conditions. Winds are expected to lighten today but return to critical levels Wednesday and through the rest of the week. Fire activity will moderate today, but weather conditions the rest of the week will create extreme fire behavior and fire growth is expected. Size 28,360 Acres Containment 24% SAND LAKE FIRE: An Infrared Mapping Flight happened over the fire area early this morning, giving fire managers a good idea of the size and most active sections of this incident. While the fire is more established and active, growth is minimal, moving slowly along the side of the mountain. Crews will continue to monitor the fire and evaluate values at risk. Size 154 Acres Containment 0%

Day two of the Dillon Jaycee PRCA rodeo is in the books. The crowd may not have been the size of last nights, but the combined two day total made it the largest crowds they have had. Today's events kicked off by giving thanks and recognition to local law enforcement. Followed by the National Anthem and then some of rodeos best competing to bring home the win. Non official results below along with todays photo gallery. Bareback riding leaders: 1. Zachariah Phillips 79.50 2. Tucker Zingg 78 3. George R Gillespie IV 77 4. Calder Peterson 74.50 Steer wrestling leaders: 1. Caden Camp 4.0 2. Tyler Waguespack 4.2 3. Newt Novich 4.4 4. Don Payne 4.7 Team roping leaders: 1. Kesler/Hendrix 4.3 2. Fuller/Teller 4.7 3. Snow/Thorp 4.9 4. Peterson/Nielson 5.1 Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Tanner Butner 86 2. Kolby Wanchuck 80 3. Chase Brooks 76.50 4. Q Taylor 75 Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Cody Darnell 7.7 2. Marcos Costa 8.1 3. Chance Oftedahl 8.3 4. Britt Bedke 8.4 Barrel racing leaders: 1. Britney Barnett 17.22 2. Tammy Carpenter 17.73 3. Abigail Knight 17.84 4. Ashley Day 17.84 Bull riding leaders: 1. Preston Louis 83.50 2. Cole Wagner 83 3. Payton Fitzpatrick 79 4. Coby Johnson 76

TRAIL CREEK Location: 20 miles West of Wisdom Start date:July 8, 2021 Size: 40,736 acres (*IR mapping- 9/4) Percent Complete: 58% Cause: Lightning Total personnel: 158 TRAIL CREEK FIRE: A Red Flag warning has been issued over the fire area for high southwest winds and low relative humidity. This will cause fire activity to increase as the inversion lifts and the temperatures rise. Fire activity will remain active along the ridgeline between Three Mile Creek and Smithy Creek. Helicopters will continue to support ground crews with bucket drops. The hose lay and sprinkler system remains in place along Forest Service Road #808 in the Three Mile Creek and crews are pre-wetting vegetation in the area. Crews continue to implement the suppression repair plan, in consultation with agency resource advisors. Saylor Creek and the area south of Highway 43 saw an increase in fire activity. That is expected to continue today, although fire behavior is expected to remain moderate. In addition, the fire activity in the Salix Creek and Rabbit Creek areas will remain the same- slowly moving towards the south. Impact to values at risk is not expected. ALDER CREEK Location: 7 miles west of Wise River Start date: July 8, 2021 Size: 14,334 acres (*IR mapping- 9 /4) Percent Complete: 24% Cause: Lightning Total personnel: 97 CHRISTENSEN Location: 12 miles west of Wise River Start date: July 16, 2021 Size: 11,987 acres (*IR mapping- 9 /4) Percent Complete:20% Cause: Lightning Total personnel: 1 ALDER CREEK/CHRISTENSEN FIRE: A majority of the heat and fire activity is located in the area between the Alder Creek fire and the Christensen fire. Fire managers can confirm that the two fires have connected between Turtle Rock and Bryant Creek. The fire will remain most active in the area between the two, and it is expected that they will full connect. Crews continue to implement suppression repair and monitor the large fuels smoldering in the interior of the fire. Resources are also assisting with operations on the Christensen fire. SANDLAKE FIRE: The team will continue to monitor fire activity on the Sandlake fire and updates will be posted as more information becomes available. WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: A Red Flag Warning has been issued over the fire area today for high winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures. The high-pressure ridge building over the area will flatten out on Sunday allowing for increasing westerly winds with gust in higher terrain potentially up to 25 mph. Conditions will be very dry with poor overnight relative humidity recoveries each day. These conditions will cause the fires to become more activate and fire growth is expected. SAFETY: Highway 43 and the Pioneer Scenic Byway are open to through traffic. Watch for increased traffic with the holiday weekend and hunting season. CLOSURES: Portions of the Continental Divide Trail remain closed. The Big Hole National Battlefieldis closed until further notice. May Creek Campground is closed. Closure orders remain in effect on the Salmon-Challis National Forests, the Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management. View the updated closure orders on the respective agency websites and the fires' Inciweb pages.

The Dillon Jaycee's held their first half of the Labor Day Weekend Rodeo last night to the largest crowd ever. With standing room only fans were able to watch contestants compete in both traditional as well as some nontraditional rodeo events. First Days Results: Bareback riding leaders 1. Zachariah Phillips, 79.5 2. Morgan Wilde, 72 no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling leaders: 1. Bart Slaney, 5.2 seconds 2. Trevin Baumann, 5.4 3. Ty Erickson, 10.6 Team roping leaders: 1. Jade Stoddard/Cole Wilson, 5.9 2. Nolan Conway/Shawn Bird, 6.1 3. J.R. Winter/Jake Plaggemeyer, 13.2 Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Kolt Ferguson, 72 points 2. Ross Griffin, 70 3. Grant Finkbeiner, 61 4. Keenan Reinhardt, 54 Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Trevin Baumann, 8.6 seconds 2. Dakota Felton, 8.8 3. Cy Eames, 9.0 4. Ryley Fontenot, 18.2 Barrel racing leaders: 1. (tie) Ashley Day and Abigail Knight, 17.84 seconds each 3. Shai McDonald, 17.86 4. Ashley Schad, 17.92 5. Sharon Harrell, 18.02 6. Tracy Matz, 18.28. Bull riding leaders: 1. Preston Louis, 83.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics' Slingshot 2. Payton Fitzpatrick, 79 Total payoff: $62,839. Stock contractor: Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics.

Areas closed near the Alder Creek and Christensen Fires The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (BDNF) have closures due to the Alder Creek and Christensen Fires. BLM lands south of Highway 43 are closed in the Dickey Bridge area. The BDNF closure area follows the Forest boundary line on the west, north and east. To the south, the area east of FS Road is closed past Forest Service Road 70663 (near Harriett Lou Creek). Meadow Creek Trail (road 2033) and the area north of it is closed. The Pioneer Loop National Recreation Trail is open but the area north of it is closed. The closure was implemented due to fire activity and fire equipment in the area. Areas closed near the Trail Creek Fire The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (BDNF) and The Salmon-Challis National Forest (SCNF) both have area closures in place due to the Trail Creek Fire. The SCNF closure in Idaho is south of the junction of Highway 93 and Highway 43. The area is closed west of Anderson Road and the Continental Divide to Highway 93 in the west. The southern boundary of the closure is Lick Creek Road. The BDNF closure includes the Continental Divide to the west and Gibbonsville Road and Foothills Road to the southeast. Tie Creek Road and Placer Creek Road are both open, but the area south and east of those roads is closed. Highway 43 is open, but the area south of the Highway is closed from the eastern Forest boundary to the Continental Divide. Trail Creek Road is open from Highway 43 to Elk Creek. Hogan Creek Trail and Elk Creek trail are both closed.

Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Board Meeting at the UMW Center for Horsemanship, South HWY 91 Thursday, September 9th at 8:30am Please join us!

Wolf hunting regulations and furbearer trapping regulations for 2021-2022 are now available on Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ website. Print versions will be available at FWP offices and other outlets in a few weeks. Wolf season dates are: Archery: Sept. 4 - Sept. 14 General: Sept. 15 - March 15, 2022 Trapping: Nov. 29 - March 15, 2022* * These dates do not apply to the federally designated Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones in Montana. For these zones, the trapping season will start on Dec. 15 unless otherwise determined by FWP due to evidence the majority of bears in these areas have begun hibernation. Trappers should be aware that grizzly bears exist in much of the western half of Montana and should always be prepared to encounter a grizzly bear while trapping. Furbearer season dates are: Trapping Districts 1, 2 & 3 Beaver: Nov. 1 - Apr. 15, 2022 Bobcat: Dec. 1 - Feb. 15, 2022* Trapping Districts 4, 5, 6 & 7 Beaver: Sept. 1 - May 31, 2022 Bobcat: Dec. 1 - March 1, 2022* Portion of Trapping District 6 Swift Fox: Nov. 1 - Jan. 15, 2022* Fisher, Marten Where open: Dec. 1 - Feb. 15, 2022* Mink, Muskrat, Otter Nov. 1 - Apr. 15, 2022* *May close earlier when the quota is reached. For more information, visit fwp.mt.gov .

The Beavers played the Hamilton Broncs last night under the lights of Vigilante Field. The Broncs took an early lead, and constantly added to the scoreboard. Final score 48 to 6 Hamilton for the win. The Beavers will travel to Corvallis on the 10th for their next game.

TRAIL CREEK Location: 20 miles West of Wisdom Star t date: July 8, 2021 Size: 40,459 acres (IR mapping-9/3) Percent Complete: 58% Cause: Lightning Total personnel: 161 TRAIL CREEK FIRE: The fire continues to actively burn along the ridgeline between Three Mile Creek and Smithy Creek. Three helicopters assisted with bucket drops and crews "plumbed" the area with water-handling equipment to further secure the line. Hose lays and a sprinkler system are in place along Forest Service Road #080; crews will extend the sprinkler system as needed. Heavy equipment continues to process and haul material on the northwest side of the fire. Crews continue to implement the suppression repair plan, in consultation with agency resource advisors. An excavator will finish suppression repair work along Tie Creek Road. Other areas of heat (Nez Perce Creek, Salix Creek, and Gory Creek) remain active as large fuels continue to burn. The Salix Creek area has filled in most of the unburned interior, creating a continuous edge. Fire activity in the Nez Perce Creek area is expected to slow, as the fire reaches lower, sheltered elevations. A small column of smoke was visible in the Gory Creek area yesterday. ALDER CREEK Location: 7 miles west of Wise River Star t date: July 8, 2021 Size: 14,234 acres (IR mapping-9/2) Percent Complete: 24% Cause: Lightning Total personnel: 109 ALDER CREEK FIRE: Smoke remains in the Teddy Creek area, as large fuels continue to smolder and burn out. Heavy equipment is working on road repair in the Teddy Creek area. While no significant fire movement is expected under the current conditions, crews continue to monitor the area and check the functionality of pre-positioned water-handling equipment. Crews continue to implement suppression repair and monitor the large fuels smoldering in the interior of the fire. CHRISTENSEN Location:12 miles west of Wise River Star t date: July 16, 2021 Size: 11,354 acres (IR mapping-9/2) Percent Complete: 20% Cause: Lightning Total personnel: 1 CHRISTENSEN FIRE: The west side of upper Bryant Creek is currently the most active section of the fire, with dry heavy fuels driving fire movement. Crews are monitoring the area and preparing for a possible strategic burn operation, if the fire continues to move towards existing fireline. Northern progression of the fire into the Bryant Creek drainage is expected to slow due to a lack of fuel continuity and has a high amount of young lodgepole pine. WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: There has been no measurable precipitation in the fire areas for 11 days, the longest amount of time without moisture in over a month. The dry conditions, poor relative humidity recoveries overnight, and the evening wind shifts from southwest to northwest have resulted in an increase in fire activity. The fires have potential to progress about a half mile a day in receptive fuels. With recent fire activity in the Bryant Creek area, the Christensen and Alder Creek Fires may join together in the coming days. Where the fire finds dry and receptive fuels, it continues to creep around. Weather conditions are expected to be similar as the past few days. Temperatures will remain in the low 70s with mostly light west winds, switching to north/northwest winds in the evening. Overnight relative humidity recoveries will likely remain in the 30s, which may result in a longer burn period. SAFETY: Highway 43 and the Pioneer Scenic Byway are open to through traffic. Slow down and stay alert for firefighting equipment and vehicles, smoke, and downed trees. Motorists should also watch for bicyclists, hikers, and vehicles operating at slower speeds. CLOSURES: Portions of the Continental Divide Trail remain closed. The Big Hole National Battlefield is closed until further notice. May Creek Campground is closed. Closure orders remain in effect. The Salmon-Challis National Forests modified their closure area for the Trail Creek Fire earlier this week. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has modified their closure areas for all three fires, reducing the amount of Forest area closed to public access due to safety issues and firefighting operations. The Bureau of Land Management also reduced their closure area in association with the Alder Creek fire. Read the updated closure orders and view area maps on the respective agency websites and the fires' Inciweb pages.

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY PLANNING BOARD THURSDAY September 16TH, 2021 COMMISSIONER’S CHAMBERS, COUNTY COURTHOUSE 1:00 PM REGULAR MEETING AGENDA **All times are approximate** 11:00 A.M. Field Trip to RTKC Major Sub. 12:00 P.M. Lunch 1:00 P.M. Minutes and Reports • Minutes of August 12th regular meeting • Planning Board Member Reports • Planner’s Report • Public Comments & Questions 1:30 P.M. RTKC Ranch Major Subdivision • Discussion and Action on the preliminary plat • Public Comments and Questions 2:15 P.M. Discussion on County Growth Policy – Preliminary Draft 3:00 P.M. Public Comments & Questions of Non-Agenda Items Adjourn

STREET & ALLEY COMMITTEE MEETING ~ AGENDA ~ Tuesday, September 7th, 2021 4:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order 2. Discuss/Recommend Assigning Two 30 Minute Parking Spots In Front of New Medical Center (old Davis, Warren, and Hritsco Building) 3. Discuss/Recommend Leasing Parking Lots to Businesses 4. Discuss/Recommend Title 10 and State Law – Does State Law Restrict the Maximum Time Allowed for Vehicle Parked for Over 5 days 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