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The Dillon Rotary Club announced the clock has fallen through the ice and the timer has stopped. The annual event is a way for the Rotary to raise funds that go to local scholarships and other projects. The winners are: 1st: Anna Cossel 2nd: Harvey Lake 3rd: Nathan Alexander

Dillon Volunteer Fire Department responded last night around 8 P.M. to a chimney fire 5 miles North on Highway 41. According to Fire Chief Klose there was no structural damage.

Montana’s first watercraft inspection stations are opening for the 2021 season. Inspection stations near Dillon and Ravalli opened earlier this month. The Anaconda station opened Saturday, March 20, and intercepted the first mussel fouled boat of the year. A used motorboat that had been recently purchased in Wisconsin was found with zebra mussels attached to the anchor. The Anaconda inspectors reported the mussels were dry and dead. The motorboat was en route to Sandpoint, Idaho. In addition to roadside watercraft inspection stations the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 1 office in Kalispell offers inspections from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Starting April 5, the Kalispell office will expand its availability with inspections offered on weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Watercraft inspection stations are Montana’s first line of defense to prevent the movement of aquatic invasive species (AIS) which can have devastating impacts on Montana waterways. Boat owners should ensure their watercraft, trailers and gear are clean, drained and dry before transporting and need to be aware of Montana’s inspection rules: All watercraft coming into Montana from out of state must be inspected prior to launching. All watercraft traveling west across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin must be inspected prior to launching. All watercraft launching anywhere within the Flathead Basin that were last launched on waters outside of the Flathead Basin must be inspected. Anyone transporting watercraft must stop at all open watercraft inspection stations they encounter. Snowbirds returning to Montana with a watercraft must seek out an inspection. Watercraft that have been used in mussel-infested waters in other states are of major concern. Boat owners coming to Montana must have their vessel inspected at a Montana watercraft inspection station prior to launch. To accommodate these rules, inspection stations are set up across Montana during the boating season. Additional inspection stations will open in April and May as the weather warms and boat traffic increases. Montana will accept inspections conducted in Idaho and Wyoming, too. Watercraft can also be inspected at some FWP offices. For a map and list of inspection stations, visit CleanDrainDryMT.com or call the FWP Aquatic Invasive Species Bureau at 406-444-2440.

On February 26th, local 2nd grader, Wyatt Storey competed in the State USA Swimming meet and came home with a cash of medals. Wyatt brought Home 3 Gold medals in the 50 meter butterfly, 50 meter breast stroke, and the 25 meter butterfly. 1 Silver in the 50 meter freestyle, and two bronze medals 25 meter back stroke and 25 meter freestyle.

Dan Cahill, local flight instructor, will speak to Rotarians and guests at noon Wednesday, March 24, 2021. He will provide information about the Dillon Airport. 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 Mike Blando at mikeblando0717@gmail.com or Tina Giem at tgiem@barretthospital.org .

St Patrick’s day in Dillon, and The Frontier Events Center was the place to be. With a little controversy swirling around the event, and a lot of hard work and last minute of pulling things together, they opened the doors to host the St Patrick’s Day Bash. With main headliners Tim Montana and Blistered Earth, it was sure to be a show no one would soon forget. Doors opened at 2 P.M. and with other bands playing throughout the night, this offered an array of different music choices suited to anyone’s taste. Talking with event promoter Ted Deshner of the Party Palace, he said he wanted to bring this to Dillon, with the help of helping the local economy, hotels and other service-based industries that have taken a hit from the pandemic. “Butte is still planning on having festivities, but I wanted to bring this here to this venue.” As many know, the Frontier Events Center was once the former Shop Ko building and an Alco store before that. Many had hoped a new chain would take it over, but after finding no one, owner Ron Johnson turned it into a place that could host larger crowds and events. In the past they have hosted the Mechanical Bull Riders, the NRA Banquet, and has been home to the Dillon Assembly Church. The building has potential, and as they improve the space bringing it fully up to code, it can turn into a great place to draw crowds and events to Dillon. Watching last night’s show, one can see the benefits of having the events center as a way to draw new business to Dillon.

Filmed on-location in Montana, the true-life crime thriller “Ted K” recently premiered at Berlinale, one of the top film festivals in the world. The film was largely shot in and around Lincoln, Montana, where producers held a local casting call when filming began in 2018. Film production infused more than $150,000 in wages and another $63,000 in local lodging revenue to the community. “Filming movies, television shows and commercials in Montana elevates awareness about our state and brings outside dollars into our local businesses, hotels, and communities,” Montana Film Commissioner Allison Whitmer said. “Montana has been growing as a home for independent cinema thanks to our spectacular, unspoiled nature, charming and vibrant towns and rural areas of our state, which allow us to facilitate authenticity in productions with all that Montana has to offer as the ultimate filming location.” The film received funding from the Big Sky Film Grant through the Montana Film Office, which is part of the Montana Department of Commerce. The Big Sky Film Grant builds partnerships with filmmakers and production companies by providing seed funding to enable the creation of jobs and economic impact related to filmmaking production, enhance the marketing of Montana’s tourism regions, people, history, overall quality of life and support Montana’s filmmaking industry. “Ted K” tells the story of the infamous Ted Kaczynski, known to the world as “The Unabomber,” who built and sent bombs through the mail and evaded police for almost two decades until his arrest at his small cabin near Lincoln in 1996. In addition to being invited to premiere on the international stage, “Ted K” is also receiving positive reviews from Hollywood critics . “We were committed to making this film as authentic as possible, so we knew there was no other place to shoot it other than in Lincoln, Montana,” said “Ted K” producer Matt Flanders. “We simply could not have succeeded without the breathtaking landscape, the unique locations, and the warmth and openness of the people of Lincoln. Having grown up in Helena, I was always aware of the helpful nature of Montanans, but we were completely overwhelmed by the support we received in the making of this film.” The film will be distributed by NEON and Super LTD, the team behind last year’s Academy Award winning film "Parasite ." A release date for "Ted K" has not yet been selected. Learn more about the Montana Film Office at MONTANAFILM.COM .

Thursday, March 18th at 12 Noon at The Den – Annual Meeting and Lunch n Learn – Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture is calling all Chamber members to join us for the Annual Meeting as well as Lunch n Learn with featured speaker Justin Haring of H&R Block discussing Changes in the Tax Code. All Chamber Members are encouraged to join us for this once-a-year meeting to hear updates on the Chamber and plans for Summer 2021! See the Chamber’s Facebook page for the menu, closer to the date. Cost: $18/pp.

Bears are emerging from dens with the onset of spring, and people are reminded to “Be Bear Aware.” Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded and bears are sometimes found in historic ranges beyond western Montana As bears begin foraging for food, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking residents to remove or secure food attractants such as garbage, bird feeders and pet food. The most common human-bear conflicts involve unsecured food attractants. People venturing into the outdoors should “Be Bear Aware” by following these precautionary steps: Carry and know how to use bear spray. Travel in groups whenever possible and plan to be out in the daylight hours. Stay on trails or rural roads. Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers. Watch for signs of bears such as bear scat, diggings, torn-up logs and turned over rocks, and partly consumed animal carcasses. Keep children and pets close. Make noise, especially near streams or in thick forest where hearing and visibility is impaired. This can be the key to avoiding encounters. Most bears will avoid humans when they know humans are present. Don't approach a bear. If you are camping in bear country, follow these guidelines: Camp away from areas where you see grizzly signs. Keep a clean camp at all times. Keep tents and sleeping bags free of food. Follow all food storage regulations. Contact the applicable land management agency to learn what food storage rules apply where you’re recreating. Hang all food, trash and other odorous items well away from camp and at least 10 feet above ground and 4 feet from any vertical support, or store in a bear-proof container. Livestock feed should be treated the same as human food. Anglers also need to practice safe behavior in bear country: Don't leave fish entrails on shorelines of lakes and streams. Sink entrails in deep water. If you don't properly dispose of entrails you increase danger to yourself and to the next person to use the area.

Dillon Volunteer Fire Department, along with Beaverhead County Sheriff’s office, responded to a roadside fire one mile north of Clark Canyon Dam. The fire was started by a State Highway Department brush mower clearing ditches. The fire was contained and extinguished with minimal damage to the area.

After careful consideration, Montana Western has decided to postpone our in-person spring community rodeo banquet event scheduled for spring 2021. Although we are anxious to thank our supporters in person and share the success of the fall rodeo season, we also feel this is the best decision based on the current recommendations for hosting large events. Our priority is keeping our students, campus, and community safe and healthy. However, we are planning to host a special “ THANK YOU BBQ ” event in September during the fall UMW Rodeo to thank everyone for supporting us during these difficult times. Community and alumni support has made an incredible difference for our team for over 50 years, and we are grateful for this continued support. The Montana Western Community Rodeo Banquet provides the vital resources to support the team annually. It is an exciting event that draws about 700 people to the UMW campus each spring for the much-anticipated prime rib dinner, silent and live auctions and live music and dancing. Last spring marked the 52nd annual banquet and we regrettably had to postpone the event due to the pandemic. On the docket this month is a mailing and phone campaign to assist our fundraising efforts this spring driven by our student-athletes. Our rodeo team members are looking forward to talking with all of our generous donors later this month and we are all excited to gather together again this fall. The Montana Western Rodeo team will begin their spring season April 8-11 at Montana State University. This year’s event will be held in the Bob Miller Pavilion west of the MSU campus. The entire rodeo will be televised and livestream information will be sent out closer to the event and posted on www.umwbulldogs.com . For more information, please contact UMW Foundation Director, Roxanne Engellant, ( roxanne.engellant@umwestern.edu or 406-683-7305) or UMW Head Rodeo Coach Kody Lahaye ( kody.lahaye@umwestern.edu or 406-683-7001).

Tammi Myer, owner of 406, will speak to Rotarians and guests at noon Wednesday, March 17, 2021. 406 is a new business in Dillon selling designs and goods. She will provide information on opening a new business and a preview of items she has for sale. 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 Mike Blando at mikeblando0717@gmail.com or Tina Giem at tgiem@barretthospital.org .

American agriculture is the foundation of our country. It’s the backbone of a healthy and prosperous nation that’s made possible by the hard work of America’s farms and farm families. The Agriculture Council of America is proud to celebrate the nutritious and plentiful contributions of our country’s farms on National Agriculture Day. You’re invited to join the celebration. Join us for Ag Day 2021. Thanks to American agriculture—Food Brings Everyone to the Table! Find out more about high-profile sponsorship opportunities from jennyp@nama.org. Ag Day Virtual event can be found here

Update from today's incident: A 2007 Chevrolet Suburban entered the southbound lane of MT Highway 91 S and hit a 1994 Toyota truck head-on. The two vehicles came to rest on opposite sides of the road. The sole occupant of the Toyota, a 25-year-old Dillon resident Chloe Lynn Worl, was pronounced dead on arrival. (updated 03/13/2021) The driver of the Suburban, a 33-year-old from Dillon, was transferred to a hospital and their condition is unknown. The suburban was also carrying a four year old and a one year old. As of now, their condition is unknown.

Firefighters responded to reports of a grass fire in a field off Webster Lane just pass Amber Lane at around 11:50 A.M. on Saturday, March 13. The start of the fire was started from burning ditches in preparation for the spring irrigation to start.

Montana Western opened the 2021 NAIA women's basketball tournament with a 81-36 rout of Benedictine University at Mesa, with four lady Dawgs scoring in double figures. Montana Western will be playing Westmont college at 1P.M.

Hey Dillon Peeple! It’s Peeps Diorama time! This year, we invite interested diorama artists to take their inspiration from: What is your “Ideal Peepcation” Your diorama could depict a possible happening or be a spoof or imagined event. Come visit us and we will be happy to help light the spark of creativity! Each diorama will be displayed on Southwestern Montana News and Dillon Public Library Facebook for the public to vote. At the end of the display time, the diorama that has collected the most votes will be awarded the coveted “Peeple’s Choice” award. RULES FOR ALL DIORAMAS 1. The most important rules are these: All main characters must be played by Peeps. All dioramas must be original. 2. It must be able to be carried by one person. Think of the space we would have available to display it. 3. Pay attention to: Details….the more you include, the better your diorama will be! Workmanship…….make it as neat as possible! 4. Give your diorama a title. This should be a play on words using the word “Peep.” (Example: “Peepza Hut” instead of “Pizza Hut.”) Have your title neatly and prominently displayed. Be creative! 5. Dioramas may be done by a single person or a group; there are no age restrictions or limits to the number of contributing artists. Please have the names of all who helped neatly displayed. All dioramas must be brought to the Southwestern Montana News (34 N. Idaho) by 7:30pm, Tuesday, March23rd to be photographed… The “Peeple’s Choice” winners will be announced Friday, April 2nd. Please call the library with any questions you may have. 683-4544

The Frontier Events Center along with the Party Palace of Butte will be hosting Blistered Earth and Tim Montana this St Patrick's Day. We sat down and talked with Tim about growing up in Butte and the experiences he has had since he left Butte to chase his dreams in music. You can listen to the interview on our SWMT News Podcast .

SWMT News has just been informed by Councilman Rich Wassall that he has turned in his resignation. Wassell's last day representing Ward 4 will be effective March 24, 2021. This seat has seen many changes in the last few years. SWMT News encourages any person in Ward 4 that would like to make a difference in their community to toss their hat in the ring to help fill this upcoming vacant seat.

Do you know the difference between a license and a permit or a general license and an Elk B license? You will after this class! We will also go over how to read the hunting regulations and where to find resources to help you navigate the license process! This will be a free virtual webinar series through Zoom. After you register a Zoom link will be sent to you by email the week of the class, and this link will be used for each presentation. Attend one or all, it’s up to you! If you already registered, you do not need to register again! Each presentation will be from 7pm-8pm. Dates below, so mark your calendars! Tuesday, March 16-Licenses, Permits, and Regulations Tuesday, April 13-Gear and Equipment Tuesday, May 11-The Hunt Tuesday, June 15-After the Hunt Click here to register: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XHFLLQ9 If you have any questions contact Sara at sarsmith@mt.gov