The Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the 2021 Fishing Access Site (FAS) Annual Rule for public comment at its meeting on Feb. 5. The FAS rules govern fees and regulations related to camping, group use, facilities rental and special recreation permits. No changes to the existing rules or fees are proposed. Public comment will be taken through March 27, and then provided to the commission for consideration. Once given final approval by the commission, the rules will remain in effect for one year. To comment electronically and view the proposed rule, visit online ; to comment in writing, mail to FWP Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 200701, 1420 East 6th Avenue, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

Beaverhead County Public Health is taking appointments only for the following clinics. Please call: 406-683-3203 University of Montana Western Arena • Friday, March 5th University of Montana Western Arena • Friday, March 12th PHASE 1B RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: ● Persons aged 70 years old and older ● American Indians & other people of color who may be at elevated risk for COVID-19 complications ● Persons 18-69 with certain high-risk medical conditions (specific conditions found at https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/cdepi/diseases/coronavirusvaccine) ● Referred by a Healthcare Provider (must be referred!) Masks & Social Distancing Required for Entry

The City of Dillon Parks Committee is seeking input from people living in Mountain View Subdivision (Ibeyville), close to DAN IBEY MEMORIAL PARK- and all people living in Dillon who have an interest in our parks. If the Ibeyville Park is repaired and upgraded, what is your vision for the park in the future? Below is a link to a short survey. Please take a few moments to let us know your thoughts. We will be running the survey until March 15, 2021 and would greatly appreciate your ideas. DAN IBEY MEMORIAL PARK (located at the corner of Sunrise St. & Noble Ave). Please click the link below to answer a few questions about the future planning and renovation of the Dan Ibey Memorial Park - informally known as Ibeyville Park. Thank you, The Dillon Parks Committee https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LL6DLLJ

Staff from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and partnering organizations recently released 26 bighorn sheep into the Tendoy Mountains as part of a new effort to re-establish a wild sheep herd there. The sheep — 19 ewes, five rams and two lambs — were captured from Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake, where sheep numbers have grown past management objectives. Each of the sheep had healthy body conditions when they were successfully released on Feb. 19. During capture work, FWP staff outfitted the adult and yearling sheep with GPS collars. These collars will provide daily locations of the sheep that will help biologists monitor their movements, habitat use and survival in the Tendoys. Between 2021 and 2022, biologists hope to release a total of 60 sheep in the Tendoys to establish a self-sustaining bighorn population there. Bighorn sheep are native to the Tendoy Mountains and many other mountain ranges in southwest Montana. Native American pictographs in the Tendoys and Lima Peaks are evidence of historical sheep presence. By 1940, however, bighorn sheep were gone from the Tendoys, likely due to unrestricted hunting and disease. In 1985 and 1986, FWP released 53 bighorn sheep into the Tendoys, and the herd grew to include more than 150 animals. In 1993, the herd began experiencing pneumonia-related die-offs and chronically low lamb recruitment. In 2015, FWP initiated a plan to depopulate the Tendoys herd and restock it. This unique strategy involved removing sheep primarily via hunter harvest. Since then, there has been no evidence of bighorn sheep inhabiting the area, allowing the restocking effort to begin. Since bighorn sheep were initially reintroduced in the Tendoys in 1985, the potential for commingling with domestic sheep has been reduced significantly. The GPS collars will play an important role as biologists evaluate the restoration effort’s success, identify and respond to potential risks, and gain knowledge that will inform future reintroduction efforts. Wildlife managers hope to see the herd grow to about 150 sheep. Hunters will continue to play an important role in maintaining the population at relatively low densities to reduce the potential for disease transmission. Many organizations and agencies contributed to the success of this year’s sheep restoration efforts in the Tendoys. Funding was donated by the National Wild Sheep Foundation, the Montana Wild Sheep Foundation, and the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. The project was also supported by the Bureau of Land Management, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, sportsmen and private landowners. “We’re excited to once again have bighorn sheep in the Tendoys,” said FWP’s Dillon-area wildlife biologist Jesse Newby. “We’re grateful to our many partners for their collaboration, financial support and volunteerism.”

In anticipation of the new license year, which opens March 1, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks posted regulations for Dear/Elk/Antelope and Moose/Sheep/Goat online at fwp.mt.gov/hunt . The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Please verify your application prior to submission, as changes after submission will not be permitted. Permits will be printed and mailed to hunters after the drawing. When making license purchases online, please remember that licenses and carcass tags may be printed from your home printer on 8.5x11-inch paper, if you elect the print at home option. If the print-at-home option is selected, customers will receive an email at the conclusion of their online transaction that includes a weblink to print their licenses and tags. The link is valid for five days. Please be certain that your printer is functional prior to clicking the link in the email. Otherwise, customers may elect to have FWP print and mail their licenses and tags. License and permit purchases requiring a decal/clip will be mailed within 10 days of purchase or successfully drawing the license. License replacements/reprints are $5 each. The first replacement can be done at any license provider; subsequent replacements must be done at an FWP office.

During this tax season when many people are trying to stay safe at home, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers about ways to do their taxes for free online or with help from volunteers. Free File is easy, fast, safe and secure Taxpayers who want to prepare and file their tax returns electronically can use IRS Free File . IRS Free File offers brand-name tax software for taxpayers with an income of $72,000 or less in 2020. Taxpayers who earned more can use Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms. Taxpayers can get started at IRS.gov/freefile . IRS Free File also lets taxpayers get an automatic extension of time to file if they need it. Free File is also a way to get a refund fast. Filing electronically and using direct deposit is the fastest and most accurate way to file and get a refund. The IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in 21 days or less. Taxpayers filing on paper can also choose direct deposit, but paper returns take longer to process. Free File and e-file also help taxpayers who owe. When filing electronically, taxpayers can pay with electronic funds withdrawal for free. Another option is to pay with their bank account using Direct Pay . In addition to paying online, taxpayers who owe taxes can pay using the IRS2Go mobile app on a smartphone or other mobile device. Information about all payment options is available at IRS.gov/payments . Free options for the military and some veterans MilTax , Military OneSource's tax service, provides online software for eligible individuals to electronically file a federal return and up to three state returns for free. Military OneSource is a program funded by the Department of Defense that provides a range of free resources for military members, veterans and their families. More information about OneSource is available at MilitaryOneSource.mil . Get free tax help from volunteers in the community The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to individuals who generally make $57,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and individuals with limited English proficiency who need assistance in preparing their taxes. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program also offers free tax help to taxpayers, particularly those age 60 and older. For over 50 years, volunteers have prepared tax returns in communities across the country. Each filing season, tens of thousands of dedicated VITA/TCE volunteers prepare millions of federal and state returns. Last year, for example, over 70,000 volunteers prepared over 2.5 million federal tax returns. And this tax season, due to the ongoing pandemic, some volunteer sites will offer virtual help to taxpayers in place of face-to-face assistance. This allows volunteers to help taxpayers over the phone or online to complete their returns. While virtual tax prep will be an option this tax season, some VITA/TCE sites will still offer in-person free tax help. However, safety and social distancing will be emphasized. IRS-certified VITA and TCE volunteers are trained to help taxpayers claim the tax credits they are entitled to such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents . The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a significant tax credit for workers who earned $56,844 or less in 2020. The IRS estimates four out of five eligible taxpayers claim and get the EITC. Nationwide in 2020, around 25 million taxpayers received over $62 billion in EITC. The average EITC amount received was $2,461 per return. The EITC is worth as much as $6,660 for a family with three or more children or up to $538 for taxpayers who do not have a qualifying child. New this tax season, taxpayers can use their 2019 earned income to figure their 2020 EITC and the Additional Child Tax Credit if their 2019 earned income was more than their 2020 earned income. To qualify for EITC, people must have earned income, so this option may help workers who earned less in 2020, or received unemployment income instead of their regular wages, get bigger tax credits and larger refunds in the coming year. Also, any Economic Impact Payments received are not taxable or counted as income for purposes of claiming the EITC. Eligible individuals who did not receive the full amounts of both Economic Impact Payments may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax return. See IRS.gov/rrc for more information. The VITA and TCE programs can help answer many EITC questions and help taxpayers claim the credit if they qualify. Taxpayers may also use the IRS.gov EITC Assistant to help them determine their eligibility. To find the nearest VITA or TCE site, taxpayers can use the VITA and TCE locator tool available on IRS.gov, download the IRS mobile app IRS2Go , or call 800-906-9887 . Help in other languages – Chinese, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese – is also available at select locations across the country. The locator tool indicates where these services are offered. Please note that some VITA/TCE sites are not operating at full capacity this year and others are not opening. But the locator tool is updated throughout the tax season, so taxpayers can check back if they don't see a nearby site listed. Get more help Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and easy-to-use tools online at IRS.gov. No appointment required and no waiting on hold. This is part of a series called the Tax Time Guide , focused on helping people file a federal tax return accurately and efficiently. Additional help is available in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax .

Governor Greg Gianforte, pursuant to President Joe Biden’s proclamation honoring 500,000 Americans and more than 1,300 Montanans who have lost their lives to COVID-19, has ordered all flags flown in the State of Montana to be flown at half-staff until sunset on February 26. The Governor’s proclamation follows and can be found HERE : I hereby order all flags flown in the State of Montana to be flown at half-staff on Monday, February 22, 2021 until sunset on Friday, February 26, 2021 to honor the 500,000 Americans who have lost their lives to COVID-19. For almost a year, Montanans, and all Americans, have faced a public health and economic pandemic with great resiliency. Tragically, more than 500,000 Americans, including more than 1,300 Montanans, have lost their lives to COVID-19. We remember their lives and keep their loved ones close to our hearts.

Roxanne Engellant, Montana Western Foundation Executive Director and Director of University Development and Alumni Affairs, will speak to Rotarians and guests at noon Wednesday, February 24, 2021. She will provide an update on Foundation projects, the Chancellor search, and other information from the Western campus. 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 .

Yesterday Feb 17, 2021 an Avalanche at Center Mountain in the Big Hole occurred, observers from over a mile away witnessed the avalanche. No one was injured. This is safety awareness notification for our members. This is the second known avalanche to occur in our county. It's important we get the word out, our area has a weak base and the amount of new snow needs to be a concern. Snowtel data from Dark Horse shows 88 inches of snow in the area. http://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=436. The forest service will be making an announcement to the area this week, but we wanted to inform our members and the public asap as we head to the mountains. The avalanche occurred above 10,000’ elevation on an east aspect (180 degrees) on Center Mountian west of Jackson, MT. GPS coordinates of the slide are: N 45.2261, W 113.6435 Be safe out there and tell your friends. Remember you peeps, probes, and shovels.... Mel Rice- BVHD S&R Public Relations

Traffic is flowing again as crews finish up on a single vehicle accident. Earlier today police and first responders were called out to a single vehicle rollover. The accident took place on Highway 41 North around miler marker 10. This is a breaking story and we will update it as more information is released.

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed HB102 into law today (02/18/2021). The bill will remove restrictions on concealed firearms, allowing them to be carried in most places throughout the state. The bill will allow Montanan's to carry a concealed firearm without a permit in most places, including banks and bars. While some places, such as state and local government buildings, will still require a concealed weapons permit. The law will permit firearms to be carried on public universities and campuses if the gun owner follows certain training requirements and regulations laid out by the university systems board of regents. HB 102 can be found here

Last night the Dillon City Council started off with the approval of previous meetings minutes, then quickly moved along with Fire Chief Klose asking for the approval to appoint two new probationary firefighters, Shawn Horner and Marcus Osborne. With a unanimous vote, they were approved to the positions. Todd Hazelbaker, director of operations, began by giving his report of the city employees. He wanted to give credit to Christy Flintoff. Christy is the delivery driver for Meals on Wheels. This is a program that goes largely unnoticed in Dillon. They provide hot meals to 28 Dillon residents who may not be able to get a hot meal otherwise. Todd said in a recent delivery Christy came upon an elderly gentleman in need. She called 911 and stayed with the gentleman until help arrived. After doing this, she went on her way with the deliveries. Christy has also gone out of her way to provide food for residents out of her own expenses. Christy is one of those citizens that make Dillon such a great place to live. Next, Jim McIsaac and the Bicentennial Apartments donated money for the purchase of bulletproof vests to the Dillon Police Department. The vest wears down and deteriorates over time and the police had a couple that needed to be retired and replaced. During the Street and Alley Committee, the subject of a traffic study was brought up by Council Person O'Rourke, wanting to know if the traffic study will be done by the Chief of Police or by an Engineer. Council person Nye stated, "That the way I understand it, tickets that have been issued on Thompson Ave have been thrown out because there was no engineering study done; so there is no backbone to back up the ticket." From the discussion involving the council, the Chief of Police, and the City Attorney, the speed limit change on both Thompson Street, as well as Argenta street, were completed without the proper steps taken. To have a speed limit reduced, it would have to have a traffic study done by an engineer who is certified to do this type of work. In the past it was done by former Chief of Police Gutcheck, who did not have the power or authority to do this. The whole discussion begins at the 50 min mark of the video provided below.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will offer an online wolf trapping certification class on March 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. The class is required for trappers. To register for the class, please visit the FWP website follow the link “Wolf Trapper Education & Certification.” Because of current COVID-19 restrictions, the class will be online via Zoom. Students will be sent the Zoom address for the class after they register.

The new license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy your 2021 hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Applications for most species – deer, elk, antelope, deer B, elk B, antelope B, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey – can be made beginning March 1. Hunters and anglers can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website beginning at 5 a.m.; click on “Buy and Apply.” Most FWP offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The licensing call center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March 1 through April 1; after April 1, the hours will return to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The call center can be reached at 406-444-2950. Remember, if you’re applying for a special license or permit, you will need to have a valid email address.

The Beaverhead County Board of Health met today (02/17/2021) to follow up on the new directives issued by Governor Gianforte. The meeting started off with a public health update from Sue Hansen: Beaverhead County has six active cases. Most coming in over the weekend. All residents in long-term care facilities have been given the second dose of COVID vaccine. Tuesday at 1 P.M. they will be doing a community vaccine in Lima and Wisdom for those who fall in the proper guidelines. The February 26th clinic in Dillon will have 450 appointment slots, this will include 200 first dose appointments and 250 second doses. The next discussion was around the Governors order 2-2021 . Board member Charlotte Quist pointed out that the order does not mandate the wearing of mask but highly recommends it. This brought up the same debate on the effectiveness of mask and the problems that follow with enforcing a mask mandate. Before voting on the mandate they heard from public comments, some from concerned parents and others just wanting more clarification on what the vaccine does and why they still need to wear a mask after the vaccine. After the discussion the board voted unanimously to follow the Governors directive and not impose stricter regulations.

Join us for our Lunch n Learn: Featuring Ken Westman, CEO of Barrett's Hospital. Come and hear an update on how Beaverhead County has gotten through the pandemic and an update on various strains and vaccines. Get your questions answered! Great opportunity to reward your employees with a lunch out! Thursday, Feb. 18th at 12 noon at The Den. Menu: Baked Potato Hash! Baked potatoes w beef, peppers and onions in a rich beef gravy! Cost is $18/pp. RSVP at info@beaverheadchamber.org or click the link to pay via Square. See you there! https://checkout.square.site/merchant/9C524GER3KQXW/checkout/FISTPDEZG774SZW7KVA4QHCA

The University of Montana Western football team will opt out of the spring Frontier Conference schedule, Montana Western administration informed the conference on Tuesday. “As the pandemic has progressed, the health and safety of our student-athletes has always been our number one priority,” Montana Western Director of Athletics Bill Wilson said. “As each week has passed, it became increasingly clear to us that moving forward with the conference football schedule was going to be very difficult at best. With scheduled games taking place as early as March, we had to make this very difficult decision.” "The entire span of this pandemic has been extremely unpredictable and difficult in a myriad of ways,” head coach Ryan Nourse said. “My heart breaks for all of the seniors who did not get a full season to compete one last time before they move onto the next journey in their life. The current choice provides a clarity and flexibility to our players.” The fall 2020 football season was moved to the spring of 2021 in mid-August. As the winter progressed, the likelihood of practicing, let alone playing, proved to be increasingly difficult. “Geography, weather and facilities are not on our side at Western, Nourse said. “We have had a harsh winter here and to practice and play on a natural surface is not safe. Frozen synthetic turf is tough enough to play on, but not as challenging and potentially harmful as frozen dirt and grass.” Montana Western will still conduct a regular spring practice schedule. All the team's seniors will have the option to return next fall. “We have an opportunity to put together a consistent and effective training plan to prepare for the fall of 2021,” Nourse added. “This gives us the option to schedule potential scrimmages or exhibition games later in the spring if and when we can safely be prepared to play."

The Frontier Conference administrators have elected to keep the “NO Spectator Policy” at basketball contests in effect for the remainder of the season including the upcoming playoffs. The basketball regular season games concludes this weekend with final regular season games played Sunday afternoon Feb. 21. The Frontier Conference post-season playoffs begin with both men’s and women’s opening round basketball games on Thursday, Feb. 25. The women’s games begin at 5 p.m. MST and the men’s games begin at 7 p.m. The semifinal games for both men’s and women’s games will be Saturday, February 27 with same game times as the quarterfinal matchups. The women’s playoff championship game is Monday, March 1 at 7 p.m. and the men’s championship is Tuesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. In ALL post-season contests the higher seeded team will serve as the host site and home team. Any ties in the league standings will be broken via a conference tie-breaking system. The Frontier Conference league championship will be awarded to the team with the highest conference winning percentage and will receive the No. 1 seed for the post-season playoffs. The second place team will receive the No. 2 seed. The two top seeds receive a first round bye. The other teams will be seeded according to conference winning percentage with the No. 3 seed hosting the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosting the No. 5 seed in the opening round games. The bracket will be reseeded after each round with the No. 1 seed hosting the lowest remaining seed and the No. 2 seed hosting the highest remaining seed. The two winners of the semifinal games will play for the tournament championship at the site of the higher seed. At this time, volleyball conference play will also continue with the “NO Spectator Policy” in place with continuous review by the league’s administration as that sport’s season progresses. Match times will continue to be 7 p.m. MST on Friday evenings and 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon’s unless otherwise noted. Football games are set to begin on March 13 and league administration will continue to monitor and update spectator attendance for this sport as well. Kickoff times are scheduled for 1 p.m. local time unless otherwise noted. “The Frontier Conference wishes to thank everyone for their understanding and support of our teams, coaches and student- athletes during these times,” Frontier Conference Commissioner Kent Paulson said. “We know this pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone but please know that as a conference we are trying our very best to provide the student-athletes the safest and best experience possible.”

Max Clark of Montana Western was selected the Frontier Conference’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Clark is a 6-foot-4 senior guard from Lawrenceville, Ga. Montana Western went 2-0 for the week sweeping their road series at MSU- Northern. The Bulldogs won Saturday night 82-71 and 65-63 Sunday afternoon. For the week, Clark averaged 29 points, six rebounds and 8.5 assists. He was 25 of 37 (3 of 6, 3-point field goals) from the field and 5 of 6 from free throw line. His 39 points Friday night was a career high. Also nominated and listed in alphabetical order; Shamrock Campbell of Carroll College, Sindou Diallo of Montana Tech, Marcus Stephens of the University of Providence and Maxim Stephans of Rocky Mountain College.

(Links at the end of article will take you to the new directives in place.) Governor Greg Gianforte this morning issued two new directives and an executive order. The first directive rescinds and replaces all prior directives implementing Executive Order 2-2021, which the governor issued on January 13, 2021. Consistent with the governor’s announcement on February 10, the new directive allows the statewide mask mandate to expire. Local jurisdictions may still choose to implement their own mask requirements. “Since January 5th, I have provided a clear, consistent path to rescinding the mask mandate,” Governor Gianforte said. “First, we need to start getting the vaccine to our most vulnerable. Second, we need to protect businesses, nonprofits, places of worship, and health care providers from lawsuits if they make a good faith effort to protect individuals from the spread of coronavirus and follow clear public health guidelines. We have met both criteria, and the statewide mandate expires today.” Governor Gianforte emphasized how providing incentives and encouraging personal responsibility are more effective than imposing impractical, unenforceable government mandates. On February 10, Governor Gianforte signed S.B. 65 into law which provides a liability shield to businesses, nonprofits, and others who protect their workers, their customers, and their clients from the spread of COVID-19. “We will provide incentives to protect the health and safety of Montanans, and we will emphasize personal responsibility. Since we’re not out of the woods yet, I will continue wearing a mask and encourage all Montanans to do the same to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their neighbors,” Governor Gianforte said. As of this morning, Montanans have administered more than 167,000 doses, and nearly 47,000 Montanans are fully immunized. The state remains in Phase 1B of its vaccine distribution plan, which the governor updated on January 6 to protect the most vulnerable Montanans, including people 70 years of age and older, Montanans 16 years of age and older who have severe underlying medical conditions, and Native Americans and other persons of color who are at a heightened risk of severe COVID-19-related complications. In keeping with Governor Gianforte’s January 13 directive which removed restrictions on hours of service and capacity for businesses, today’s directive continues to encourage businesses to adopt industry best practices or public health guidance to protect their employees and customers. Today’s directive also continues to promote the use of telehealth services, protect vulnerable Montanans from eviction or foreclosure, ease licensing for health care professionals, and reduce regulatory burdens. The second directive repeals the election-related directive dated August 6, 2020. The governor also issued Executive Order 3-2021 which rescinds Executive Order 15-2018. “Our Constitution makes it plain as day: the Legislature makes our laws, not the governor and not the courts,” Governor Gianforte said. “It’s the responsibility of our Legislature to determine how Montana’s elections are conducted, and it’s the responsibility of our Legislature to determine whether an individual must disclose donations to a nonprofit group.” “These issues are up to the Legislature now, which is where they should have been decided all along,” Gianforte said. View the directive implementing Executive Order 2-2021 ; Executive Order 3-2021 , and directive repealing election-related August 6, 2020 directive HERE.