Search Results

Notice is hereby given that Monday, March 11, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., is the final date for filing Declarations of Nomination for all offices for the 2024 Federal Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2024   Dated this 4th day of March, 2024.   Stacey Reynolds Election Administrator Beaverhead County, MT

March 6th, 2024 7:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA     PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE   A.           MINUTES 1.         Approve February 21st, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes   B.           PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1.         Montana Municipal Institute May 7th-9th, 2024   C.        MAYOR’S REPORT 1.         Discuss/Approve Guza Attorney Contract 2.         Resolution to Sale and/or Transfer Personal Property of the City 3.         Award Drying Bed Expansion Project Bid and Give the Mayor the Authority to Sign the Notice of Award  and Contract 4.         Resolution #1456 To Set Public Hearing for Title 17 Changes 5.         Discuss/Approve City-County Health Board Amended MOU 6.         Discuss/Approve HB355 Funding Project List   D.        REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND BOARDS OF THE CITY 1.         Library Board - Diane Armstrong, Council Member; Lori Canady, Library Director                         a.         Accept January 30th, 2024 Meeting Minutes 2.         Planning Board  - Dan Nye, Bill Shafer 3.         Zoning Commission -  Raymond Graham, Russ Schwandt                         a.         Accept January 23rd, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes                         b.         Accept February 13th Public Hearing Transcript                                4.         Board of Adjustments - Diane Armstrong, Jolene Schultz 5.         Director of Operations – Kristina Abbey 6.         Police Department – Police Chief Jeremy Alvarez                         a.         Accept February 2024 Activity Report 7.         Fire Department -- Fire Chief BJ Klose                         a.         Accept February 2024 Incident Activity Report                         b.         Approve City Clerk Report for Fire Hall for February 2024                         c.         Approve Budget vs. Expenditures Report for Fire Hall for February 2024 8.         City Court – Judge Bill Knox                         a.         Accept February Court Report 9.         Treasurer – Karen Kipp 10.       Tree Board – Mary Jo O’Rourke                         E.         REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL 1.         Judiciary Committee – Dan Nye, Chair; Raymond Graham, Diane Armstrong                         a.  Approve February 13th, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes 2.         Finance Committee – Russ Schwandt, Chair; Dan Nye, Anneliese Ripley                         a.         Approve February 29th, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes                                     i.          Approve Line Item Budget Report                                     ii.          Approve Fund Summary for Claims for February 2024                                     iii.         Approve Claims by Vendor Report for February 2024                                     iv.        Approve Budget vs. Actual Report for February 2024 3.         Fire and Order Committee – Russ Schwandt, Chair; Bill Shafer, Mary Jo O’Rourke 4.         Health and Welfare – Bill Shafer, Chair; Diane Armstrong, Joleen Schultz 5.         Cemetery Committee – Diane Armstrong, Chair; Mary Jo O’Rourke, Anneliese Ripley                         a.         Approve February 20th, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes 6.         Parks Committee – Raymond Graham, Chair; Diane Armstrong, Joleen Schultz                            a.         Approve February 21st, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes i.          Discuss/Approve Resolution Authorizing Application for Land & Water Conservation Fund Assistance 7.         City Hall Committee – Raymond Graham, Chair; Dan Nye, Mary Jo O’Rourke                         a.         Approve February 15th, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes 8.         Street and Alley Committee – Dan Nye, Chair; Russ Schwandt, Joleen Schultz 9.          Water and Sewer Committee – Bill Shafer, Chair; Russ Schwandt, Anneliese Ripley                            F.         PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST NOT ON THE  AGENDA AND WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY   G.        ADJOURNMENT   PLEASE NOTE: The City of Dillon understands that citizens have the right under the Montana Constitution to observe and participate in local governmental affairs by personally attending all public meetings of the Dillon City Council and other City boards and committees. This meeting is open to the public as normal. Join the meeting with Zoom ID: 770-316-6528, allowing permission for microphone and camera (if using a computer go to https://zoom.us/j/7703166528 ) and use Passcode 4245. Please mute your microphone until you desire to comment. Any problems or questions, call City Hall at 683-4245.

Beaverhead County graduating Seniors:  The Grasshopper Valley Ladies Club will be awarding two $1000 scholarships to students going on to higher education.  Get the application from your school counselor or email grasshoppervalleyladiesclub@gmail.com .  Deadline is April 30

Monday morning police and first responders were called out to a vehicle accident involving a Ford truck and Chevy SUV. The Ford truck was traveling eastbound on Helena Street when it struck the white SUV that was travelling southbound on Washington St, The white SUV came to a rest on the corner of the law office building's parking lot. We will have more information if it becomes available.

"Update: Due to weather conditions, the anticipated conclusion date of the aerial geophysical survey being conducted by Barrick has been moved from February 29, 2024 to March 11, 2024. The survey is being conducted in the Argenta region via a helicopter trailed by a large loop which will be refueling at the Dillon Airport. The exact date(s) of flights between now and March 11, 2024 will depend on weather conditions. On days when aerial surveys are conducted, flights will only occur between the hours of 07:00 AM - 6:00 PM. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Glenn Asch at gasch@barrick.com or by calling 801-386-4200."

HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce will celebrate 40 years of its Made in Montana Program at the annual Made in Montana Tradeshow for Food and Gifts, March 8 and 9 at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena. This two-day event offers an opportunity for businesses to market their products to wholesale buyers and also gives the public a chance to shop for locally made goods.  “Commerce’s Made in Montana Program helps grow and expand Montana’s economy by providing a unique platform for local businesses to forge relationships and build success,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “For forty years, this program has featured the best foods and gifts produced or grown in Montana; we’re looking forward to another show filled with unique, high-quality products.”  For 26 years, the Tradeshow has been a premiere and much-anticipated selling opportunity for Made in Montana companies through its Wholesale Day and a public Retail Day.   Friday, March 8 is reserved for wholesale buyers . The exhibit floor is open for buyers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and provides a one-stop marketplace for Made in Montana food and gift producers to meet and sell their products to store buyers for resale. This day is an opportunity for new and growing small businesses to learn the basics of the wholesale marketplace.    Saturday, March 9 is open to the public to shop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the latest in Made in Montana food, gifts and other products.  Exhibitors will sell directly to the public at retail prices while building brand awareness and gaining new customers.  During the show, a selection committee will evaluate all of the attending Made in Montana members and products and will judge businesses who represent the best of the Made in Montana brand for food and gift markets. The awards recognize exhibitors’ efforts to use their booths as part of their marketing strategies. The awards will include Best in Show, Best in Show - New Exhibitor, Best in Show - Honorable Mention and the Retailer of the Year.  There are more than 2,700 Made in Montana members. For more information about the Made in Montana program, visit madeinmontanausa.com .

Don't forget Daylight Savings will start at 2 A.M. on Sunday March 10th. Along with Daylight Savings the Beaverhead County Landfill will begin different hours. They will be open an extra day on Sunday from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M.

HELENA –  Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several draft environmental assessments (EA) related to grant funding for the Future Fisheries and Community Ponds programs. For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the links provided or visit  fwp.mt.gov/public-notices   .   Fifer Gulch Stream Restoration FWP is proposing to fund a stream restoration project on Fifer Gulch (near Anaconda) through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program (FFIP). The purpose of this project is to restore and enhance aquatic and riparian conditions in Fifer Gulch. The project would restore connectivity between the channel and adjacent floodplain, resulting in more than 1,000 feet of restored stream and the establishment of 5 acres of wetlands. Fifer Gulch and a nearby spring creek are tributaries to Warm Springs Creek, a prominent native and sport fish stronghold in the Clark Fork. By restoring the area, angling opportunities would increase but natural stream function would be restored and the fishery would benefit. Comments due March 16 Flathead Creek Streambank Restoration FWP is proposing to fund a stream restoration project on Flathead Creek (near Wilsall) through the FFIP. The purpose of this project is to reduce channel erosion, increase riparian vegetation along eroding streambanks, reslope the streambanks as needed, and construct composite‐wood treatments and bankfull benches to restore the site to a naturally functioning system. The benefits are expected to be increased watershed resilience and floodplain function and improved water quality through reduced erosion. Improvement to wild and native fish habitat is expected to result from reduced sediment inputs and increased riparian vegetation and instream habitat complexity. Comments due March 16. Grasshopper Creek Mine Tailings Bank Stabilization FWP is proposing to fund a bank stabilization project on Grasshopper Creek (near Bannack State Park) through the FFIP. This project would re-armor the mine tailings along the streambank, while removing tailings from the opposite side of the stream to allow for stream movement. Failing mine tailings would be addressed to prevent a massive failure. Vegetation would be incorporated within the riprap with the intention to create some shading and reduce water velocities. The goal is to reduce current sediment and waste inputs from the failing tailings pile and to prevent a massive failure event that would release sediment and toxic mine waste. The benefits are to reduce current sediment inputs and improve current fish habitat while protecting the fishery in Grasshopper Creek and the Beaverhead River. Comments due March 16. Miller Creek Restoration (Leik) FWP is proposing to fund a stream restoration project on Miller Creek (near Lolo) through the FFIP. This project would build upon 2 miles of stream restoration in Miller Creek and diversify the channel plan form and realign it away from eroding banks, add grade and elevation controls to increase floodplain connectivity, use large wood/debris matrix structures to increase instream habitat complexity, and employ large scale riparian planting to facilitate recovery of the riparian community. The goals are to reduce sediment delivery to the stream, promote riparian recovery, increase floodplain connectivity, and increase habitat complexity to improve fish habitat. Comments due March 16. Nevada Creek Restoration (Phase 7) FWP is proposing to fund a stream restoration project on Nevada Creek (near Helmville) through the FFIP. This project is phase 7 of the entire project and would continue the restoration completed in upstream phases. Goals are to restore of natural stream and riparian function by reducing sediment loading and improving trout habitat with channel restoration, bank treatments, floodplain connectivity, wetland restoration, and aquatic habitat complexity. The project would incorporate side channel and meander activation, streambank treatments to address eroding banks, and floodplain grading. The goal is to improve instream, riparian, and upland habitat within a working landscape to benefit aquatic species.   Comments due March 16. Harry’s Pond Improvement FWP is proposing to fund a project to enhance angler amenities on Harry’s Pond (near Chinook) through the Community Pond Program. Harry’s Pond was recently constructed by a landowner, who is partnering with FWP to develop a public fishing opportunity in Chinook. This grant funding would be used for basic amenities including temporary latrine rental, pond aeration, parking area development, and walking path development. The goal is to provide better access and a quality angling experience at the project location. Comments due March 16. Paulo Reservoir Restoration FWP is proposing to fund a project to enhance angler amenities on Paulo Reservoir (near Glasgow) through the Community Pond Program. Grant funding would be used to install two fishing docks that will be handicap-accessible, improve the dike for the vault toilet, and purchase compost/seed for restoration of the site. This project will complement other restoration activities that are intended to improve the fish habitat in Paulo Reservoir. Comments due March 16

GREAT FALLS, Mont. –  The Montana Western women's basketball team (17-13, 8-7) lost in tonight's Frontier Conference tournament semifinal matchup against the No. 14 ranked University of Providence by a final score of 79-68. After trailing just one point at the halfway point, the Bulldogs were outshot 62.5 percent to 41.3 percent from the field. The Argos knocked down five key threes down the stretch to push them ahead. How it Happened Jordan Sweeney and Joelnell Momberg connected on back-to-back threes to give Western the early edge in the ball game. With another triple from Sweeney, the Bulldogs took an 11-5 advantage in the first three minutes of the game. UP's Maddy Dixon tied the game at 11 and Keanna Salave'a added to the lead to get UP on top at 19-13. With just a few seconds remaining in the first, Momberg hit from the arc and brought the ballgame back within three heading into the second quarter. With 7:52 left until the end of the second half, Shainy Mack hit a triple and tied the game at 21 and the two teams would continue to battle for position through the half with the Argos taking a narrow 35-34 lead into the break. Kyla Momberg started the second half out on a strong note after she made a contested layup and hit the and one to reclaim the lead for Western. The Argos got back out to a six-point lead when Ashlee Maldonado hit for three with five minutes on the clock. Sweeney swung right back and led in a 5-0 run. Joelnell Momberg followed with her third three-pointer of the contest and UMW tied the game at 52. The Argos created space heading into the fourth quarter following a 7-0 run and took a 61-54 lead that kept them out in front for the remainder of the game. The Argos went on to hit three of seven from the arc in the final minutes and take the game 79-68. Notables The Bulldog women were two free throws shy of a perfect night at the charity stripe. They went 13-15 from the line, compared to the Argos who missed nine free throw attempts. UMW totaled just nine turnovers in the game and they were able to pick up 14 points off of Argo turnovers. Sweeney led all scorers with 26 points, an impressive five assists, and three rebounds. She also added a pair of steals. Joelnell Momberg followed with 14 points with a three for five performance from the arc, four rebounds, and two assists. Mack was also a key in tonight's game after she scored 10 points and had an assist. Final Notes The Bulldogs cap their tournament run with a final record of 17-13 and a conference record of 8-7 after a tremendous tournament effort.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information photo credit Terri Haverfield GREAT FALLS, Mont. –  The Montana Western men's basketball team (14-16, 6-9) battled with the No. 8 ranked Montana Tech Orediggers to the final buzzer, falling by a final score of 83-82. UMW put up one of their strongest second halves this season, outscoring the Orediggers 49-42 in the second frame. Despite the advantage, the Orediggers utilized an 18-6 scoring advantage at the end of the first half to take an early edge. How it Happened Western jumped out to an early lead, riding behind back-to-back threes from Michael Haverfield and Jalyn Stepney to take an early 12-6 lead in the first five minutes of the matchup. Quincy Taylor's triple with 10 minutes on the clock pushed the Bulldog lead to 18-13. Montana Tech answered, finding success behind a pair of threes to take the lead at 23-18. Haverfield capped a short 9-0 run with six minutes to play to bring the score back to 27-23. Despite the lead, momentum shifted and the Orediggers were able to force four Bulldogs turnovers and outscore Western 18-6 down the stretch to take a 41-33 lead at the half. Jacob Ankeny and Kevin Bethel combined for 10 in a 16-1 run that flipped the lead back in favor of the Bulldogs at the start of the second half. The game of runs continued down the stretch, with both teams battling for position. Taylor hit a late three and added a pair of free throws with under two minutes to go, but favor fell on the Orediggers' Ifeanyi Okeke tipped a missed shot in with six seconds remaining to take the final lead at 83-32. Notables The Bulldogs outshot the Orediggers across the game 56.6 to 51.7 percent from the field. They also hit 11 three-pointers and hit 61.1 percent from the arc. Despite the positive shooting performance, Western racked up 18 turnovers in the game after the Orediggers grabbed a total of 13 steals. Haverfield led the Bulldogs with 22 points on a 4-6 performance from the arc and a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe. He also added three rebounds and a pair of steals. Abi Adedo totaled 14 points and eight boards with a pair of blocks. Taylor followed with 13 points on a 3-5 three-point performance and added a pair of rebounds. Final Notes The Bulldogs close their season with a final record of 14-16 and a conference record of 6-9. Four Bulldogs averaged over 10 points per game this season with Jalyn Stepney leading with 16.2 points per game.

DVFD responded to 16 calls for service during the month of February 2024.    2-05                 White Ln                                 Ambulance Assist 2-06                 N Oregon                                Ambulance Assist 2-06                 Meadowlark                            Ambulance Assist 2-06                 E Morse                                 Ambulance Assist 2-07                 I-15 MM 40                            Vehicle Accident 2-07                 I-15 MM 41                            Public Service Assist 2-07                 I-15 MM 40                            LE Assist        2-07                 I-15 MM 57                            Vehicle Accident 2-08                 Birch Creek                             Search & Rescue 2-13                 S Montana                               Alarm Activation 2-13                 S Atlantic                                Ambulance Assist 2-13                 S Montana                               Alarm Activation 2-13                 Hwy 91 S                                Ambulance Assist 2-14                 S Atlantic                                Gas Odor 2-23                 Hwy 91 S                                MVA   2-28                 N Oregon St                            Stove Fire   February monthly training Vigilante Electric and Northwest Energy came to the firehall for a multi-agency electricity safety training.  We also had members attend the Advanced Crisis Intervention training. The Montana DNRC hosted an Aviation training for our firefighters.  Firefighters visited the Hand n Hand Preschool and discussed fire safety & showed the children around Engine 1. Our annual DVFD Banquet & awards ceremony.  The Rookie of the year was Chris Feathers, Firefighter of the year was Ryan Bolduc and the Officer of the year was Jack Bergeson.  Thanks to all of our firefighters & officers for their continued dedication to the City of Dillon & Beaverhead Fire District #2  Thank you for your continued support of the Dillon Volunteer Fire Department.   Please be safe & take extra time while traveling this time of year as the road conditions can become dangerous without warning.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information photo credit Terri Haverfield GREAT FALLS, Mont. –  The Montana Western women's basketball team (17-12, 8-7) overcame a slow start to take down the Montana Tech Orediggers by a final score of 69-47. After scoring just six points in the first quarter and falling to a 26-21 halftime deficit, the Bulldogs were able to turn it around in the second half and ride a combined 48 points to a comeback win. "Our ladies did a great job of overcoming a slow start. We locked in on defense and used that to carry our offense," Head Coach Britt Cooper said. How it Happened After a four-minute stretch of neither team finding the basket, the Orediggers were the first to capitalize. MT ran on an 8-0 run to kick off the game and held the Bulldogs to just six points in the first quarter. Jordan Sweeney connected with the net on a three-pointer to start the second quarter and woke the Western offense up. UMW would go on to outscore the Diggers 15-8 in the second frame and trail 26-21 at the half. The halftime break was enough to get Western fired up as Shainy Mack hit a triple from the start of the third quarter. Sweeney followed with a layup and Joelnell Momberg utilized an and one opportunity to tie the game up at 29. Western remained electric, riding a 16-0 scoring run to take a 56-36 lead into the final six minutes of the game. The lead was enough to keep the Bulldogs out in front for the remainder of the matchup. Freshman Ava Bellach made a layup and capped scoring in the game as the Bulldogs finish on top by a final score of 69-47. Notables After hitting just seven for 24 in the first half, the Bulldogs came out with a vengeance in the second half and shot 62 percent from the field. On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs forced 19 turnovers and put up 19 points on them. Sweeney led this evening with 21 points, six rebounds, and an assist. Momberg followed with 18 points after she hit three of six from the three-point line. She also added eight rebounds and two steals. Mack put up 11 points and grabbed five steals in the effort. Up Next The Bulldogs move on to the Frontier Conference semifinal to be played tomorrow evening at 7:00pm. The Bulldogs are set to take on the No. 14 ranked University of Providence. To view tournament information, click here.

Late Thursday night the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office released a video showing heavy snow and heavy winds causing white out conditions on Monida Pass. Later that evening the Sheriff’s department was called out to a crash on I-15 Mile Marker 3. A semi-truck had slid off the road and could not get back on to the road. The semi had sustained damage, but no injuries were reported. According to Sheriff Wendt with the conditions for Monida he was amazed they only had one wreck reported.   Photo Beaverhead County Sherriff

The University of Montana Western's Education Department and Alumni office, in partnership with Stockman Bank, present the 11th Annual Night of Stars Education Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 20, 2024. The evening will begin with the induction ceremony at 6:00 p.m. in the Beier Auditorium, followed by a post-ceremony reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres at 8:00 p.m. in the Lewis and Clark Room, located in Mathews Hall. The celebration will induct five Montana Western alumni into the Education Hall of Fame in recognition of their phenomenal dedication to education and will honor twelve current education students as Outstanding Teacher Candidates. This year’s class of inductees include: Percy Craddock, Cindy Farmer, Mark Clark, Patricia Haynes Gibson, and Jackie Sproul Taylor. The Outstanding Teacher Candidates include: Alexis Cannon, Kailynn Field, Jordan Sweeney, Pralie Duffin, Riley Henderson, John Gamble, Ruby Stenberg, Leona Colvin, Loran Murphy, Bailey Schuchard, and Garret Yeager. UMW Professor of Education, Dr. Laura Straus, will be presented with the William C. Bagley Education Faculty Award for her service and leadership to the Education Division.    Admission to the Night of Stars induction ceremony is complimentary. Tickets for the reception can be purchased by contacting Kelly Allen at 406-683-7306 or online by visiting tinyurl.com/NightofStars2024 . For additional information, please contact UMW Alumni Coordinator, Jolene Robbins: 406-683-7303 or jjolene.robbins@umwestern.edu . Education Hall of Fame Inductees Percy Craddock: Legacy Award Honoree Percy Craddock, a cherished and longtime resident of Butte, MT, left behind a legacy of dedication, service, and a profound impact on the community he held dear. Born and raised in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Butte, Percy’s formative years were deeply influenced by the time spent at his grandpa’s ranch in Ramsay, MT. It was there that he developed a lasting appreciation for hard work, a value that would shape his character and guide him throughout his life. Percy graduated from Butte High School in 1954, the beginning of a journey marked by service to his country and a commitment to education. In January of 1963, Percy married Lois Carveth, and together, they embarked on a series of adventures that took them from the California coast, where Percy served in the Army during the Vietnam War, to settling in Seaside, CA. The couple eventually returned to Butte to start a family. After his military service, Percy pursued higher education at Western Montana College (now UMW), majoring in industrial arts and education. He later went on to get a Master’s degree from WMC. From 1972 to 1998 he dedicated the majority of his teaching career to Butte High, where he taught carpentry and later became an instructor for adult education classes.  Percy’s professional journey was marked by a profound commitment to education. From teaching woodshop at Butte High, and pioneering the school-to-work program, he left an indelible mark on the institutions he served. Post-retirement, Percy continued his dedication to education by playing a pivotal role in launching the carpentry program at Reintegrating Youthful Offenders (RYO). He served as the VICA advisor, coaching students to national competitions. As a founding member of the Montana Woodcarvers Association, Percy shared his passion by teaching woodcarving at Belmont Senior Center, amassing an impressive 50 years of teaching woodcarving by the age of 84. Beyond his professional achievements, Percy found joy in various hobbies, including card games, horseshoes, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Drawing from his own experiences as a high school hockey player, he also coached basketball and hockey, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of the young athletes he mentored. Percy’s legacy of dedication, service, and passion for education will be remembered with fondness and gratitude by all who had the privilege of knowing him.  Cindy Farmer Cindy Farmer grew up in Superior, MT where she was a standout athlete. It was no surprise when Cindy was recruited by Coach Corr to play basketball for the Lady Bulldogs at Western Montana College. Cindy graduated magna cum laude in 1985 with a double major in PE Health Enhancement K-12 and Business 5-12 and went on to get a Master’s in Education Technology. While at WMC, Cindy earned academic All-Conference honors and was the sports editor for the campus newspaper, the Wescolite.  Her teaching career began in Poplar, MT where she was the middle school PE teacher and coached basketball and track. After three years at Poplar, Cindy moved to Belfry, MT where she taught business and coached girls and boys basketball, volleyball, and track. She also served as the athletic director for a short time. After 10 years at Belfry High School, Cindy moved to Hardin, MT where she has taught and coached since 1998. She currently teaches high school business classes including marketing, street law, business math, and business cooperative. Cindy also coaches the Hardin Bulldogs in cross country, girls basketball, and track. She currently serves as the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) club advisor and runs the DECA store. DECA prepares emerging student leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.  Throughout her time at Hardin High School, Cindy’s teams have won several Class A State Championship titles in track, one in girls basketball, and she has coached numerous individual state champions in track. She has been selected as Montana Coach of the year six times in cross country and one time in basketball. Cindy has been a member of the Montana High School Association Rules Committee for the past six years and the Montana Coaches Association Class A Director for four years.  Cindy expresses that her time at Western has not only resulted in lifelong friendships both on the court and in the classroom, but has also been enriched by top-notch and fulfilling instruction and guidance from her professors. Mark Clark Mark Clark, from Carson City, NV, is a 1992 graduate of Western Montana College. Graduating magna cum laude, he earned a BS in Secondary Education with a major in history and a minor in reading K-12. During his time at WMC, Mark’s commitment to education was evident as he became a member of the Kappa Pi National Education Honorary Fraternity and served as President of the Associated Students. Mark’s journey post-graduation took various turns, offering him a range of experiences that shaped his professional path. Mark would eventually become a correctional officer and serve at several facilities across the country including Miami, FL, Forrest City, AR, and Tucson, AZ, where he would use his teaching experiences and skills he gained from WMC. In Forrest City, Mark served as an instructor in several topics including GED, English-As-Second Language, Literacy, Self-Defense, Diversity, and went on to become an Assistant Supervisor of Education and was the Forrest City Employee of the Month. At the Federal Correctional Complex in Tucson, he earned the title of Supervisor of the Quarter three times. His dedication and impact were further recognized with the prestigious Federal Bureau of Prisons Golden Apple Award for the Western Region. His passion for creating opportunities led to valuable partnerships, such as collaborating with the University of Arizona’s Extension Office and the Alternative to Violence Project.  Volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America as a Webelo’s Den Leader and being appointed the Committee Chair for Boy Scout Troop 770 has allowed Mark to connect with school-aged students. He also volunteers at the Vail Food Bank and currently works at the Arizona State Museum as a part-time security guard. Patricia Haynes Gibson A Fairfield, MT native, Patricia Haynes Gibson attended Western Montana College from 1971-1975. In 1975, she successfully earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and music. Throughout her time at WMC, Patricia actively engaged in various organizations, showcasing her commitment to both academic and extracurricular pursuits. Her involvement included roles such as Spurs Junior Advisor, student body vice president, student body secretary, and senior class president. Patricia was also recognized in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Additionally, her passion for music led her to participate in Choraliers, a traveling music group. Patricia was also a member of the Blue-Ribbon Committee and was homecoming queen.  Following her graduation from WMC, Patricia began a dedicated teaching career, leaving an impact across various elementary schools in Montana. Her teaching journey included positions in Kevin, Lewistown, and Belfry, MT, and Colville, WA. Notably, she dedicated 27 years to Wenatchee, WA, where she served as a PE teacher for grades K-5.  During her time in Wenatchee, Patricia demonstrated leadership by serving as a teacher leader for a school-wide behavior program affiliated with the University of Washington. In addition to her primary teaching role, she contributed as a principal substitute and initiated an after school running club, involving both students and parents during the fall and spring season. Patricia actively participated in Parent Teacher Association, and took on the role of school drama director. She also played a pivotal role as physical education curriculum developer for the district and developed district-wide field days. Outside of the school setting, Patricia demonstrates a strong sense of community involvement by singing in the Hurricane Community Choir, volunteering for the Senior Games in St. George, UT, and actively works to secure school clothes and books for students in need.  Jackie Sproul Taylor Jackie Sproul Taylor is a proud WMC alumna hailing from Columbia Falls, MT. Jackie graduated from Western Montana College in 1998 with a BS in Elementary Education and an AS in Early Childhood. Her commitment to academic excellence was evident through achievements such as graduating magna cum laude and consistently making the Dean’s List. Jackie was also a volleyball player for the Lady Bulldogs in the fall of 1993.  Jackie and her husband, Willis, moved to Newburgh, NY in December of 1998 where she worked as a substitute teacher. Her passion for education led her to Children’s Country Day School in Windsor, NY, where she quickly became an integral part of the school community and taught fourth and fifth grade while also teaching Spanish for grades first through sixth. Jackie’s leadership qualities were recognized quickly and she was promoted to Interim Head of the Children’s Country Day School.     In the summer of 2001, Jackie and Willis relocated to Portland, OR where Jackie assumed a teaching position at The Gardner School in Vancouver, WA. Over the span of 18 years, Jackie demonstrated her versatility by teaching students across various grade levels. During her tenure at TGS, Jackie made significant contributions, including presenting at an international conference in Iceland on the multiple intelligences theory. She also held the role of Curriculum Director for an impressive 20 years. Outside the classroom, Jackie volunteered as a soccer coach, mentored new teachers, and led several community events. Her impact also extended to designing and implementing thematic-based integrated studies. Jackie reached another milestone in her educational journey by earning a Master’s Degree in Teacher Leadership in 2015. In 2019, with the support of several teachers and families, she founded the Lupine Experiential School in Vancouver. Over the past five years, Lupine has flourished and has grown from 33 students to 78. In addition to teaching in the fourth and fifth grade class, Jackie is also head of the school.  Jackie’s experiences at WMC were filled with cherished moments, including her participation in the National Childhood Conference in Toronto, Canada.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information photo credit Terri Haverfield GREAT FALLS, Mont. –  The Montana Western men's basketball team (14-15, 6-9) put up a strong defensive front and downed the MSU-Northern Lights by a final score of 63-45. The Bulldogs held the Lights to just 13 points in the second half and an 18.5 shooting percentage from the field. "Really proud of the defensive effort from our guys, especially in the second half. We got some really big rebounds down the stretch," Head Coach Patrick Jensen said. "To hold them to only 13 points and only give up five threes in the game was huge." How it Happened Abi Adedo got the Bulldogs on the board first right from the start of the game. Despite the early score, UMW was slow to get back in motion. MSU-Northern's offense propelled them forward to take an 11-4 lead in the first five minutes of the game. It was Adedo who got the Bulldogs back on track, hitting a on back-to-back attempts with eight minutes to play in the half. Quincy Taylor followed with a triple to tie the game at 20 all. After trading pairs down the stretch, the two teams were primed to enter the half tied up at 29. MSU-Northern's Dae'Kwon Watson threw up a long three at the buzzer to put the Lights up three at 32-29 heading into the half. The second half saw the Bulldogs put together a strong defensive front and hold the Lights from the start. MSU-N held their final lead of the game with 15:16 on the clock. Jalyn Stepney connected on a jumper and Christian Pitcher followed with a layup to flip the lead back in favor of the Bulldogs. The Lights hit their final bucket of the game with 7:43 left on the clock and the Bulldogs ran away with the game following a 16-0 run to cap the game on top 63-45. Notables The Bulldog men combined to shoot 49.0 percent from the field and a team 86.7 from the free throw line. Down the stretch, the Bulldogs held the Lights to just 13 points in the second half and forced six turnovers. UMW was led in scoring by Adedo with 23 points, three blocks, four rebounds, and a steal. Stepney followed with 14 points and three rebounds. Pitcher was another key component in the win, totaling 14 points, six rebounds and a steal in the game. Up Next The Bulldogs move on to the Frontier Conference semifinal to be played tomorrow afternoon at 1:00pm. The Bulldogs are set to take on the No. 8 ranked and regular season champion Montana Tech. To view tournament information, click here.

Friday, February 10, The Frontier Events Center was the place to be in Dillon as NXT Gen Entertainment held the Last Frontier Valentines Weekend Fight Night in front of a crowd of over 800 boxing fans. The crowd was standing room only as people came in to watch fighters from Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming take on one another in the 11 matches scheduled. With nonstop action to keep the crowd entertained up first where Jaxon Whitmire in the red corner vs Darius Kelly in the blue corner. The two amateur youngsters both made their boxing debut and put on a great show. In the end Jaxon Whitmire came out as the winner. Next up was Quirt Crafton in the red corner vs Maverick Staley in the blue corner. They would go toe to toe for three rounds with Maverick Staley being declared the winner. Trevor Piece in the red corner would take on Colton Ritzinger in the blue corner with Colton being declared the winner. Up next was Cody West out of the red corner vs Shawn Kline in the blue corner. Not breaking the blue corners streak of wins Shawn would take the win again in that match. Fans would get a quick intermission to grab a drink or some food before the matches would resume. Up next was Chad Funk in the red corner vs Cody Wright in the blue corner again the win would go to the blue corner and Cody. Jack Griswold vs Michael Marceau would see another win for the blue corner when Micheal was declared the winner of that match. Next on deck was Tyler Smook vs Jacob Fridley with Jacob taking the win another for the blue corner. Gerald Wood vs Armand Dissante would see boxers give it their all as they went toe to toe and Gerald was declared the winner for the red corner. Fans would get another intermission as ring girls threw out T-shirts to the crowd before the Co-Main Event was to take place. Up first in the co-main event was Marnic Mann vs Justine Beltran, the only ladies fighting for the night. Mann is an MMA fighter making her debut in the boxing ring. She did not disappoint and kept the wins coming for the red corner. The next fight between Thomas Allison vs Chandler Hall would see the night's only TKO as Allison bested Hall in this fight. The main event featured Dillon boxer Erik Lights Out Lopez vs Logan Lunceford the match would go five rounds as both boxers laid it all on the line. Both bleeding and exhausted at the end of the fifth round, Lopez would be declared the winner in front of his hometown crowd. Check out the full picture gallery below as well as the video. Click on image for full size

Saturday night the Frontier Event Center hosted The Final Frontier boxing matches. With a handful of local talent stepping in the ring to show off their impressive skills. Seven matches were scheduled for the night, the final match being local gym owner Eric "Lights Out" Lopez. Eric and his opponent would put on a show and go all four rounds with the decision going to Lopez. The full list of matches and opponents are as follows. ( Winner in bold.) Drake Peirce VS Dre Jenkins TKO Richard Fritias VS Kyrin Allen TKO Mike Antonich VS Ryan Smotherman TKO Zayden Clark VS From Butte, MT (Name Unknown will update) Andrew Huckeby VS Damien Nesbitt TKO Kolin Gifford VS Seth Wallace 4th Round Judges decision Eric Lopez VS Kyrin Allen 4th Round Judges decision Click on image for full size

This Saturday night boxing came back to Dillon in a highly attended charged event called The Last frontier. Hosted by NXT Gem Entertainment and the Frontier Events Center, it did not disappoint. Ron Johnson, owner of the Frontier Events Center said he had 450 seats and not one was empty. Tickets ranged from $20 in advance to a table of eight for $400, and the price to entertainment ratio was well worth one's money. The event featured eight fights along with intermissions and an after party. The main fight of the night was hometown favorite Erik Lopez VS C.J. Morris from Kalispell, MT. The fight did not disappoint as they went five well fought rounds. The crowd chanting light's out Lopez, to help the local favorite win the match. We have the list of fighters below but have yet to get the official results of each match. We will update the article as they become available. Click on image for full size

HELENA—The Montana open burning season begins March 1 . While burning is allowed year-round, there are different restrictions and requirements throughout the seasons. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reminds Montanans to comply with air quality rules, use good burning practices to minimize smoke and use good judgment to prevent wildfires. To burn March 1 through Aug, 31, please follow the below steps: Obtain a permit from your local fire control authority.  Check with your local air quality program for restrictions in Missoula, Cascade, Yellowstone, Lincoln and Flathead counties.  On the day of your burn, activate your county permit.  Be aware of local conditions and burn smart.   Check back on Sept. 1 for fall burning restrictions.  To obtain a permit, go to:  https://app.egovmt.com/burnpermit  If your county is not listed on the website, call your local fire control authority to obtain one.  While approval from DEQ is not required during open burn season, contact local fire control authorities prior to burning to get permission and information on local fire safety-related requirements. DEQ also recommends contacting your county health department to determine whether any county level air quality requirements exist. Open burning must comply with local regulations.  Only clean, untreated wood and plant material can be burned. Do not burn: food wastes, plastics, wood that has been coated, painted, stained, or treated, dead animals or animal droppings, rubber materials, chemicals, asphalt shingles, tar paper, hazardous wastes or structures containing these materials. A full list of prohibited materials can be found on DEQ’s open burning website at:  https://deq.mt.gov/air/Programs/burning Open burning season will end on Aug. 31. For more information on air quality related open burning rules, prohibited materials, frequently asked questions and state permit requirements, please visit DEQ’s open burning webpage at:   https://deq.mt.gov/air/Programs/burning  or call 406-444-3490.