Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information KANSAS CITY, Mo. –  The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the results of the NAIA Volleyball Coaches Top 25 Poll No. 3. Montana Western Volleyball remained in the no. 13 slot. This week's poll features two Frontier teams in the top 25 with two more teams knocking at the door with receiving votes nationally. The Bulldogs are currently 9-2 this season and are 1-0 in Frontier Conference play thus far after defeating the MSU-Northern Skylights last week in their home conference opener. Bulldog middle blocker  Peyton Vogl  tallied a career-high 22 kills with a .313 hitting percentage in the game, in addition to adding six blocks on the defensive side of the ball. This week, UMW has a pair of conference matchups with two schools featured on this list, kicking off the weekend with a road matchup in Helena with the RV Carroll College Fighting Saints. The following day, the Bulldogs will continue their road trip to Great Falls where UMW will take on the no. 15 ranked University of Providence Argos.  FRONTIER IN THE TOP 25 No. 13 Montana Western Bulldogs No. 15 University of Providence Argos OUTSIDE THE POLL RV Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears RV Carroll College Fighting Saints

Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 - 5:00 PM @ City Hall 1. Call to Order - Roll call of Board members 2. Disposition of minutes from regular board meeting August 27th, 2024 3. Financial reports/matters 4. Committee Reports Search Committee 5. Director's Report 6. Communications. Anything received by library 7. Unfinished business 8. New business Banned book Week is September 22-28th. Outdoor display When does Pay raise goes in effect? Elevator door knob Refrigerator 9. Public discussion *Public comment on items of significant public interest not on the agenda and within the jurisdiction of the Dillon Public Library Board of Trustees. 10. Set date of next meeting: October 29th, 2024

HELENA, Mont. – The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that $900,000 of federal grant funding is available to help small Montana businesses accelerate and grow international sales. The U.S. Small Business Administration funding is administered through Commerce’s State Trade Expansion Program. “Commerce’s STEP grant makes world-wide markets more accessible to Montana’s small businesses,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Since 2011, Commerce’s efforts through the STEP grant have produced a return on investment to Montana of $1.2 billion.” The STEP grant will be used to support foreign trade missions, Montana pavilions at international trade shows and other international marketing projects. Since 2011, Montana has received $6.6 million in STEP grant funding from the SBA, matched it with $2.2 million in state funds, and awarded over 1,000 grants supporting 1,800 jobs for a return on investment of $1.2 billion. Eligible Montana exporters can apply for 50 percent reimbursement of up to $10,000 for eligible marketing activities, like trade show exhibition, market research and U.S. commercial service programs and foreign language translation. Other eligible marketing activities include international compliance testing, intellectual property protection, digital marketing and travel stipends. Eligible applicants may receive up to $30,000 in STEP awards per year. “Many Montana companies have tried out new international markets or implemented new export marketing plans because of the STEP grant,” said Angelyn DeYoung, International Trade Manager of Commerce’s Export MT Program. “When Montana companies export, they bring in new money to the state, increase their sales and diversify their markets.” In 2023, Montana exported $3.3 billion of products, including the top-exported products such as cereals, mineral fuel, inorganic chemicals, meat and industrial machinery. The top countries that Montana companies export to are Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan and China. Earlier this year, Golden Helix, a biotechnology company in Bozeman, received STEP grant funds to participate in international trade shows and trade missions, at which they promoted their healthcare software, resulting in sales to new international markets and increased exports. “This was a great way to test the waters of a show we had not been to before to see how it will impact our sales and brand internationally. Every assistance program offered has been valuable,” said Andreas Scherer, President and CEO of Golden Helix. The current amount of available grant funding, the fourth highest amount in the nation, is expected to assist an estimated 216 exporters with international sales activities and training and contribute approximately $10.3 million in total export sales. In October, Commerce’s Export MT team will offer a “Grants for International Sales” training webinar on the STEP grant and international marketing activities. For more information about Montana’s STEP Program, visit exportmontana.com . To apply for STEP funding, visit the application site .

HELENA –  Young hunters can get a jump start this weekend on the pheasant and waterfowl seasons during the annual Youth Pheasant and Waterfowl Weekend, Sept. 21 and 22.  FWP releases pheasants that have been raised by Montana Correctional Enterprises on state-owned lands with suitable pheasant habitat. This week, in advance of the youth weekend, FWP is releasing nearly 3,000 birds at wildlife management areas (WMAs) and on suitable state land around Montana. The purpose of the  pheasant release program  is to give youth hunters an opportunity to experience hunting success, encouraging their future participation.  In addition to pheasants, licensed hunters, 15 and under, will be able to hunt ducks, mergansers, geese and coots statewide on these two days.  The two-day youth hunt is open to:  legally licensed 12- to 15-year-olds who have completed hunter education and who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age;  and properly certified and legally licensed apprentice hunters 10-15 years of age who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult "mentor" at least 21 years of age.  All  regulations  apply. The Canyon Ferry WMA hours differ from the regulations for youth waterfowl weekend. They will be one-half hour before sunrise to noon.  For more information about the youth weekend, go to  fwp.mt.gov/youth-hunt .

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks would like to hear from the public about their river recreation experience. A survey is available on the FWP website on the River Recreation Advisory Council page .  The rising popularity of river activities in certain areas has led to challenges, such as conflicts among users and different types of recreation. Additionally, FWP has received feedback about congestion on waterways and at access sites. While most agree on the importance of protecting aquatic and terrestrial resources, opinions vary on the best methods for managing river recreation.  Input from this survey, along with feedback received during public workshops earlier this month, will be used by the newly appointed River Recreation Advisory Council (RRAC). The RRAC will hold discussions on managing river recreation opportunities and use information gathered during these discussions to help develop strategies to ensure high-quality experiences for all river users across Montana.  Members of the RRAC were recently selected by FWP Director Dustin Temple. They are Derek Young of Lakeside, Todd Frank of Missoula, Ben Schmidt of Missoula, Abbey Thomas of Gardiner, Andrew Bennett of Dillon, Scott Vollmer of Bozeman, Robert Ray of Helena, Samuel Schmidt of Great Falls, Ross Johnson of Great Falls, Dante Bonanini of Saint Xavier, Jeremy Gilbertson of Billings and Marcus Strange of Helena.  The council will meet in person for a three-day workshop Oct. 16-18. Additional virtual meetings in October may occur if necessary. The RRAC’s final recommendations will be presented at a virtual meeting in early November. All meetings will be open to the public; information about how to join will be posted on the RRAC webpage at a later date.

Author Juliana Hoolihan Clayton will be signing copies of her books at The Bookstore on Saturday, September 21st from 1:00-3:00.  Clayton is an indigenous author (First Nations Plains Cree). Having been adopted by a white family and raised on a cattle ranch in Wyoming, she has lived and worked with Native Americans and cowboys throughout the West.  With a degree in history and inspired by her work as a research consultant, she has created a series of books that honor the Native tradition of teaching through story by way of factual narratives pertaining to the history of the American West and its consequences for American Indian peoples. There are four books (to date)in the the Discretion Series: Commendable Discretion (A Detective Novel of the Old West), With Great Discretion (A Novel of Factual History about Heroism & the Cheyenne People), Small Light of Discretion ( a novel of factual history regarding Treachery and the Expulsion of the Utes) and Discretion is Valor (A Novel of Factual and Grievous History Pertaining to the Chihenne & Mescalero Apache). Two books in the series have been finalists in the High Plains Book Awards.  Through painstaking and accurate research the reader will become completely engrossed in the 19th century American West. The author brings the reader into every scene through rock solid history, cultural competence and suspense.  If you have any questions or would like to reserve copies of these books please call 683-6807

From Gallatin County Sheriff's Office In the afternoon hours of Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office along with the Bozeman Police Department investigated a fatal incident involving three individuals in a garage. The location was near the 3000 block of North 27th Avenue in Bozeman. Two females and a male were found deceased in a garage that contained a motor vehicle. The decedents were identified as 29-year-old Tomas Rosales, 31-year-old Heidy Noj-Lopez, and 26-year-old Dora Perez-Cujcuj. All the decedents resided in Bozeman. Cause of death was determined to be acute carbon monoxide intoxication, and the manner is accidental. Sheriff Dan Springer wishes to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Rosales, Noj-Lopez, and Perez-Cujcuj during this time.

125 N. Idaho St. City of Dillon, Montana City Council Chambers  September 18th, 2024 7:00 P.M. REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA     PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE     A.        PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA   B.        MINUTES 1.         Approve September 4, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes   C.        PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1.         Nominate Ex Officio member of Government Study Commission before October 16th, 2024.            D.        MAYOR’S REPORT 1.         Notice of No Meeting on October 2, 2024 2.         Letter of Funding Commitment 3.         Univision Manage Service Contract   E.         REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND BOARDS OF THE CITY 1.         Library Board - Diane Armstrong, Council Member; (vacant), Library Director 2.         Planning Board - Bill Shafer                         a.         Accept August 5, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes 3.         Zoning Commission -  Raymond Graham, Russ Schwandt                         a.         Accept August 27, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes                         b.         Accept September 3, 2024 Special Meeting Minutes 4.         Board of Adjustments - Diane Armstrong, Joleen Schultz 5.         Director of Operations – Kristina Abbey 6.         Police Department – Police Chief Jeremy Alvarez                         a.         Accept August 2024 Incident Report                         b.         Accept Labor Day Weekend Combined Entities Report                         c.         Accept Confirmation of Officer Logan Benson as Full Time Officer from Probationary Officer   7.         Fire Department -- Fire Chief BJ Klose                         a.         Accept the August 2024 Activity Report                         b.         Approve the City Clerk Report for Fire Hall for August, 2024                         c.          Approve the Budget vs. Expenditures for Fire Hall for August, 2024 8.         City Court – Judge Bill Knox                         a.         Accept August 2024 Court Report 9.         Treasurer – Karen Kipp                                                 F.         REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL 1.         Judiciary Committee – Raymond Graham, Diane Armstrong                         a.         Approve September 10, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes                                     i.          First Reading Ord #481 Ordinance Enacting the Dillon Municipal Code, Chapter 8.20 - Vegetation 2.         Finance Committee – Russ Schwandt, Chair; Anneliese Ripley, Diane Armstrong 3.         Fire and Order Committee – Russ Schwandt, Chair; Bill Shafer, Mary Jo O’Rourke 4.         Health and Welfare – Bill Shafer, Chair; Joleen Schultz 5.         Cemetery Committee – Diane Armstrong, Chair; Mary Jo O’Rourke, Anneliese Ripley                         a.         Approve Second Reading of Amended Ordinance 480 – Title 11 6.         Parks Committee – Raymond Graham, Chair; Diane Armstrong, Joleen Schultz 7.         City Hall Committee – Raymond Graham, Chair; Mary Jo O’Rourke 8.         Street and Alley Committee – Russ Schwandt, Joleen Schultz                         a.         Approve September 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes 9.          Water and Sewer Committee – Bill Shafer, Chair; Russ Schwandt, Anneliese Ripley                         a.         Approve September 11, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes                         b.         Discuss/Approve MCEP for Eastside PER Resolution #1476                                                   G.        PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST NOT ON THE  AGENDA AND WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY   H.        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.

The latest state football rankings were released earlier today, and the Dillon Beavers have secured the #3 spot in the state with an impressive 2-0 record. Hot on Bigfork's heels is Frenchtown, currently ranked #2 with a matching record of 2-0, while Bigfork holds the top position at #1 with an undefeated record of 3-0. The Beavers are set to face Frenchtown this Friday in what promises to be an exciting matchup. Fans are eager to see if Dillon can maintain their winning streak against a formidable opponent.

The University of Montana Western has received a generous $500,000 donation from AgWest Farm Credit to help fund the development of a Farm and Ranch Management degree. This significant contribution marks the first step toward creating the program, which will support future generations of agricultural professionals in the region. UMW’s new Farm and Ranch Management degree is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s evolving agricultural landscape. The program aims to address the growing need for well-trained farm and ranch managers and industry leaders by providing students with hands-on experience and instruction in sustainable practices, financial management, and innovative technologies. The University of Montana Western currently offers a Farm and Ranch Operations minor under its Business Administration major. Since its launch in 2019, the minor has seen a notable increase in both interest and enrollment. Given this growing demand, along with Beaverhead County’s status as one of Montana’s largest agricultural producers, UMW is confident in the success of the new Farm and Ranch Management major. The program will be a crucial addition to UMW’s offerings and to the State of Montana. Megan Shroyer, AgWest Farm Credit’s Montana President, emphasized the importance of attracting students from small, rural communities who have a passion for agriculture and developing them into future leaders. “The future of Montana’s agriculture depends on educating, developing, and inspiring today’s youth. We want to help the next generation develop leadership skills and agricultural knowledge, so they can champion Montana agriculture in a multitude of roles for years to come,” she said. The program will serve as a vital pipeline for local and regional agriculture, supplying the industry with qualified leaders prepared to tackle the challenges of modern farming and ranching. “The launch of our new Farm and Ranch Management degree is a significant step forward for the University of Montana Western and the region we serve. Agriculture is at the heart of our community, and this program aligns perfectly with both the needs of the industry and the academic aspirations of our students,” said UMW Chancellor Michael Reid. “AgWest’s generous $500,000 gift allows us to build a strong foundation for this program, and we are excited to partner with them as we work toward establishing a $2 million endowment for faculty, ensuring long-term success and regional impact.” To lead this exciting new program, UMW is actively searching for an Assistant or Associate Professor with expertise in agricultural sciences to head the Farm and Ranch Management degree. This role will be critical in shaping the curriculum, building industry partnerships, and ensuring the program’s academic success. The university hopes to secure the additional $1.5 million by the end of 2024 to fully endow the professorship position. The University of Montana Western expresses its sincere gratitude to AgWest Farm Credit for their generous contribution, which has helped turn the vision for this new program into a reality. As a leading financial institution serving agricultural and farming businesses, AgWest Farm Credit has a longstanding commitment to supporting U.S. agriculture and rural communities, and Montana Western is proud to partner with them on this exciting opportunity. With additional funding still needed, the UMW Foundation invites other potential donors, industry partners, and community members to join in supporting the creation of this program. For more information on how to contribute, visit  https://www.umwfoundation.org  or contact Roxanne Engellant, Executive Director of the UMW Foundation, at 406-683-7305 or  roxanne.engellant@umwestern.edu .

125 North Idaho City of Dillon, Montana PARKS COMMITTEE MEETING City Council Chambers  Wednesday September 18th, 2024 4:00 P.M. AGENDA   1.           Call Meeting to Order 2.           BetheChange406 Update 3.           Discuss/Review Power Bills for Parks 4.           Discuss Beaverpride Walking Path Landscaping 5.           Public Comment on Items of Significant Public Interest not on the Agenda and Within the Jurisdiction of the City. 6.           Adjourn                Parks Committee Members:                   Raymond Graham (Chair); Diane Armstrong, Joleen Schultz

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information DILLON, Mont. –  After taking down the no. 3 ranked College of Idaho, the Montana Western Football team earned two Frontier Conference Player of the Week for the second straight week. In addition, Michael Palandri of Montana Western has been named the NAIA Football Offensive Player of the Week. Palandri is the third football player to earn this honor under head coach Ryan Nourse . Palandri, a redshirt junior from Maple Valley, Wash., threw for 416 passing yards, four touchdowns in the air, and two more on the ground in the upset win over the then no. 3 ranked College of Idaho Yotes. He went 19-for-28 with a 67.9 completion percentage and added another 23 rushing yards. Muffich, a sophomore from Butte, Mont. was named the Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week.  Muffich lit up the Yotes, totaling 12 tackles with seven solo tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss of a total of five yards. This is Muffich's second career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information KANSAS CITY, Mo. –  The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the results of the NAIA Football GoRout Top 25 Poll No. 2. Montana Western Football skyrocketed to no. 4 in the poll after last week's upset win over College of Idaho. Montana Western enters the week at 2-0 after racking up an impressive 541 total yards of offense in a 42-25 upset of the then no. 3 ranked College of Idaho Yotes (2-1). Bulldog quarterback  Michael Palandri  put on a show, throwing for a career-high 416 passing yards with four passing touchdowns and rushed for two on the ground. His performance earned him NAIA Offensive Player of the Week honors and a Frontier Conference Offensive Player of the Week selection. The Bulldogs will hit the road for a three-game road stand over the coming weeks. They will first travel to Portland, Ore. next week where they will take on NCAA Division III opponent Lewis & Clark College (Ore.). The game is set for 2 p.m. Saturday Sept. 21. FRONTIER IN THE TOP 25 No. 4 Montana Western Bulldogs No. 9 College of Idaho Yotes No. 12 Montana Tech Orediggers No. 20 Southern Oregon Raiders

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information DILLON, Mont. –  The no. 13 ranked Montana Western volleyball team opened their 2024 Frontier Conference slate this evening with a 3-1 victory over the MSU-Northern Skylights. Bulldog middle blocker Peyton Vogl tallied a career-high 22 kills with a .313 hitting percentage in the game, in addition to adding six blocks on the defensive side of the ball. "I think we played really well for our first conference game tonight. We knew going into the game that Northern is a very scrappy team that stays around and has very good defense," Vogl said. "We had a slow start but once we found our momentum we took it and ran. Our offense did a really good job staying aggressive and mixing up shots, while our defense did really well staying scrappy. Overall, I think we are happy to come out with our first conference win, but not satisfied and are ready to get to more conference games next week." How It Happened After falling to an early 12-9 deficit in the game, the Bulldogs battled point for point and tied the game at 18 following a solo block from Dani Brown . A block from Vogl and Jordan Olson paired with a kill from Vogl kept UMW tied at 20 with the Skylights, but the Bulldogs were unable to stay up and fell in the first set 25-23 to MSUN. Kelsey Goddard got UMW back on track early in the second set, serving UMW to a 4-0 lead. Jazi Smith added to the lead with back-to-back service aces. MSU-Northern did not lay down and fought their way back into the set with a 8-1 scoring run to take an 18-15 lead. After falling to a 20-17 deficit, a well-timed timeout flipped momentum and the Bulldogs went on to win the set 26-24. Five kills from Vogl got UMW on track in the third set. Up 9-8, UMW rode behind a 7-0 scoring run to a 16-8 lead. The Skylights battled back, but it was too late as the Bulldogs ran on to a 25-21 set three win. UMW closed out the match with an easy 25-12 victory in set four. They went on to hit .310 across the set with just two hitting errors and 11 kills. Notables Vogl led the Bulldogs on the day with an impressive 22 kills and six blocks. She surpassed her previous career kills mark of 18 kills that was set two seasons ago against Carroll College. Smith followed with 24 digs and 11 kills for a double-double on the night. She also added four aces at the service line. As a team, the Bulldogs totaled nine aces in the match, the most in a game so far this season. Megan Hardman led the Bulldogs with 27 assists and added 13 digs to tonight's tally.   Up Next The Bulldogs move to 9-2 this season and will face off with RV Carroll College next week on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. in Helena, Mont. The Fighting Saints enter the matchup at 10-2 overall following a 3-0 loss to the University of Providence this evening.

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information GLENDIVE, Mont. —  The Montana Western men's and women's rodeo teams traveled out to compete in the Dawson Community College rodeo this past weekend. Tynell Mclnenly won the women's all-around buckle for the weekend after she placed in both goat tying and breakaway roping. The Bulldog men finished in third for the weekend with the women finishing in fourth in the team standings. Top Performers Chase Martin led the weekend in Saddle Bronc riding, combining for a 127 on the weekend. Team Ropers Cole Trexler and Kyler Erickson continued to shine for a second week in a row, finishing in the top spot with a 20.7. Tavy Leno was impressive in goat tying, recording a 14.6 to take the top spot in the average on the weekend. Bull rider Gavin Knutson topped the weekend with a 153 in the average. Knutson and his team roping partner Carson Klingler also placed sixth in the team roping average with a 12.2/1. After recording a 22.1 in the average, Jade Ramon finished in second overall in Tie Down Roping. Brooke Richey finished in third overall in goat tying with a 15.2. Bareback rider Jeremy Kay finished in third in the average standings with a 72 in one ride on the weekend. Team ropers Everitt Mauler an Jake Miller claimed fourth in the team roping average with an 11.0/1 this weekend. Cooper Olaveson placed fourth in the bareback average standings with a 53 in one ride. Mclnenly finished in fourth overall in breakaway roping with a 2.6/1. Jhet Murphy finished in fifth overall in steer wrestling with a 17.5. Up Next The Bulldogs will now take a rare week off from fall competition and will begin preparation for their final rodeo of the fall season. The Montana Western Home Rodeo will be held Sept. 27-28 at the Beaverhead County Fairgrounds.

On Friday, September 13th, the Election Office mailed out new “Voter Confirmation Cards” to the registered voters in Beaverhead County. With the redistricting that took place in 2023, the House District changed from number 72 to 70 and the Senate District changed from 34 to 35. The confirmation cards that you receive in the mail will reflect those changes. *Please note that these are the same districts that you voted on in the 2024 Primary Election. The changes to the house and senate districts were made prior to the primary election. If you have any questions, please call the Election Office at 683-3720. Stacey Reynolds Beaverhead County Election Administrator

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information DILLON, Mont. –  The no. 9 ranked Montana Western football team racked up an impressive 541 total yards of offense in a 42-25 upset of the no. 3 ranked College of Idaho Yotes (2-1). Bulldog quarterback Michael Palandri put on a show, throwing for 416 passing yards with four passing touchdowns and rushed for two on the ground. "Just really proud of the guys and their focus and preparation going into the week. Offensively to be able to run the football proficiently and to stretch these guys and beat them vertically was a big part of the game plan. We were fortunate for that to happen," Head Coach Ryan Nourse said. "For our defensive guys to stop the run and to force them to throw every down and to step up and make plays with some big third and fourth down stops was excellent. I am glad we could get a victory. We made a lot of mistakes but we have a really good football team that is focused on making improvements and we will do that this week." How It Happened The Bulldogs were the first to light the scoreboard up in today's matchup, rattling off 21 unanswered points across the first quarter stretching early into the second quarter. The first touchdown of the game would come following an explosive opening drive that saw the Bulldog offense march 76 yards down the field and score on a 36-yard Palandri touchdown pass to Eli Nourse . After the Bulldog defense stopped the Yotes on fourth and six, the Bulldog offense marched down once more on an eight play and 91-yard drive that saw Palandri rush it in for a touchdown from the 1-yard line. Leading 14-0 with 1:40 left in the first quarter, UMW's defense once again proved they were ready for a battle and forced a three and out that fueled another Bulldog scoring drive. Palandri tossed up a 44-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Shipley to push UMW to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Yotes started to find some momentum on offense and added seven to the scoreboard with 9:37 left in the half. Riding behind a 7 play, 80-yard drive, Palandri hit Nourse once more for another touchdown on a 44-yard touchdown pass with just under two minutes to play in the half. A quick three and out forced by the Bulldog defense gave the Bulldog offense the ball back on their own 38-yard line. After the Yotes picked off Palandri's second pass of the drive, they would score in three plays to close scoring out for the half at 28-10. The Yotes closed the scoring gap to 28-17 with 5:36 remaining in the third, but the Bulldogs answered once again on the following drive and scored on a 66-yard toss to Jon Kirkley to bring the score to 35-17. Western would score their final touchdown of the game within the first three minutes of the fourth after Palandri crossed the goal line after a two-yard rush. The Yotes would add one more score before closing the game out with the Bulldogs up by a final score of 42-25. Notables Today's win breaks the stalemate in the series with the Yotes that dates back to 2014, leading the series 8-7.   Today's game was one of just five games in the series history decided by more than one score. Two Bulldog receivers handled business on the receiving end with both Nourse and Shipley totaling more than 100 receiving yards. Shipley led with 179 yards and Nourse added 127 yards with two receiving touchdowns. UMW linebacker Keegen Muffich lit up the Yotes, totaling 12 tackles with seven solo tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss of a total of five yards. John Mears went six for six on PATs and added another 347 yards on kickoffs in the game. Up Next No. 9 ranked Montana Western moves to 2-0 this season and will hit the road for a three-game road stand over the coming weeks. They will first travel to Portland, Ore. next week where they will take on NCAA Division III opponent Lewis & Clark College (Ore.). The game is set for 2 p.m. next Saturday Sept. 21.

The Montana Highway Patrol is reporting a tragic two-vehicle collision that occurred Saturday evening around 9:12 P.M. on Montana Highway 43 at mile marker 41. The crash involved a Ford F-150 traveling westbound on a slight curve and a Toyota Tacoma heading eastbound. In a devastating turn of events, the Ford crossed the center line and collided head-on with the Toyota. Both vehicles became fully engulfed in flames in the aftermath of the collision. Sadly, both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, and their identities have not yet been confirmed. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing.

On Friday afternoon, first responders were called to Highway 43 for a single-vehicle wreck. According to the Montana Highway Patrol, a 24-year-old male driving a Toyota Rav4 veered off the road. The driver overcorrected while attempting to reenter the roadway, causing the vehicle to veer again to the right. It then left the road and overturned, ultimately coming to rest on its roof. Tragically, the driver was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

First responders are on the scene of a single-vehicle wreck at the corner of Sawmill Road and Highway 278. A Ford F-150 failed to make the turn onto Sawmill Road, went off the roadway into the borrow pit, and through a fence, coming to rest just inside the mobile home park. The Montana Highway Patrol is reporting no injuries.