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.

A rematch was on everyone’s mind Friday night as the Dillon Beavers took on the Columbia Falls Wildcats at Vigilante Field. Last year’s State Championship came down to these two teams at Vigilante Field, and the Wildcats were looking for payback. Dillon would take the game 21-7. Five minutes into the game, Dillon’s Hank Hagenbarth scored a touchdown, and the board showed 7-0 until the fourth quarter. Hagenbarth would score another touchdown, and junior running back Jrney Mataafa would make a 20-yard touchdown as well. The Beavers came out on top 21-7 and will play next Friday on the road against the Frenchtown Broncs.

FIRE & ORDER COMMITTEE MEETING City Hall Council Chambers  September 17th,  2024 9:00 AM AGENDA     1.           Call Meeting to Order 2.           Discuss MOU with University 3.           Discuss Noise Ordinance 4.           Public Comment on Items of Significant Public Interest Not on the Agenda and Within Jurisdiction of the City 5.           Adjournment     Committee Members: Russ Schwandt - Chairperson Mary Jo O’Rourke Bill Shafer

125 N. Idaho St. City of Dillon, Montana 59725 CEMETERY COMMITTEE MEETING  September 17, 2024 4:00 P.M. AGENDA   1.            Call To Order 2.            Update on Hughes Monument 3.            Update on Cemetery Software 4.            Update on Cemetery Irrigation System 5.         Public Comment On Items Of Significant Public Interest Not On The Agenda And Within The Jurisdiction Of The City 6.         Adjournment   Committee Members: Diane Armstrong, Chairperson Mary Jo O’Rourke Anneliese Ripley

WEST YELLOWSTONE – A grizzly bear was killed Monday in an encounter with bowhunters in Tepee Creek, north of West Yellowstone. The two hunters reported being charged by a sow grizzly bear with two yearling cubs. Using handguns, the hunters shot and killed the sow. The yearling bears also charged at the hunters, who shot at and injured one of the yearlings. The hunters were not injured. Bear specialists, game wardens and a helicopter pilot with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, as well as law enforcement staff with the Custer Gallatin National Forest, visited the site on Wednesday. They confirmed the mortality of the adult bear, an older female. Officials found evidence of a yearling bear being injured, but they did not locate the yearling bears. No further management action by FWP is planned. This incident is still under investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who also provided assistance this week. Be bear aware Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year. This time of year is when bears are active for longer periods as they consume more food in preparation for hibernation. This period overlaps with hunting season and other fall recreation activities. Hunters have reported encounters with grizzly bears in other areas since the start of Montana’s archery season on Sept. 7. No hunters have reported injuries, and no other bears have been wounded or killed to date. Avoiding conflicts with bears is far better than dealing with such conflicts. Here are some precautions to help residents, recreationists and people who work outdoors avoid negative bear encounters: Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately. Make noise to alert bears to your presence and travel in groups. Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears. Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency. Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas. Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana. Some areas with dense concentrations of grizzly bears are very accessible to hunters, especially during the archery season. Keep these precautions in mind when hunting in grizzly country, which includes much of the western two-thirds of Montana: Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately. Watch for and be extra cautious around bear sign, creeks and areas with limited visibility. Most attacks happen in surprise, close encounters. Hunt with a group of people. This can help you make localized noise to alert bears to your presence, and it may also increase your chances of survival in the event of a bear attack. Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears. Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible. If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards. Upon your return, observe the meat with binoculars. Make noise while approaching the meat. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP. Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Services, and Native American tribes. This collaboration happens through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee . September is Bear Aware month in Montana. For information and education events on bear safety, click here .

BOZEMAN – Two grizzly bears were removed last month due to cattle depredations in southwestern Montana. One bear was killed in the Gravelly Mountains after several instances of sheep depredation. These conflicts happened despite multiple attempts to avoid them, including guard dogs, moving sheep to new areas, and hazing the bear. The second bear was killed on private land in the Paradise Valley south of Livingston after chronic cattle depredations. The landowner moved cows twice, but conflicts continued. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services removed both bears on Aug. 21 in consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Specialists with FWP and Wildlife Services work to help landowners, producers and communities avoid bear conflicts. Promptly reporting bear conflicts can make a difference for the health of the bear and the safety of communities. Some corrective management efforts, when applied early, can be effective in discouraging bears from being close to humans and livestock and reduce future conflicts. To report bear conflicts, contact your local bear specialist at the phone number listed on FWP’s website here . For more information on living, working and recreating in Montana’s bear country, click here .

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has released a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing potential environmental impacts from the statewide management of grizzly bears.  Issuing the final EIS is a key step in a process that started in December of 2022, when FWP originally released the draft EIS for two months of public comment. The draft EIS went out for an additional 30 days of public comment in February of this year to ensure partner agencies, affected county governments, and tribal agencies had a chance for review.  “We’ve been intentionally very thorough in our process and review of the impacts to the human environment of statewide grizzly bear management,” said FWP Director Dustin Temple. “This is a crucial process step that yet again shows the state and FWP are ready to take over grizzly bear management ensuring the future viability of grizzlies in Montana.”      FWP analyzed two alternatives in the final EIS. Alternative 1, the “no action” alternative, would represent the status quo. Under this alternative, managing the ever-increasing number of bears statewide, and particularly in areas outside identified recovery zones, would continue to lack a coordinated approach.   Under Alternative 2, FWP’s proposed alternative, FWP would adopt and implement the 2024 Statewide Grizzly Bear Management Plan, which would provide needed clarity about where grizzly bear presence is a management objective and address issues related to connectivity between core grizzly bear recovery zones. If approved, the statewide plan would guide grizzly bear management across Montana. This includes grizzly bears located in recovered ecosystems, grizzly bears in areas not yet recovered, and the places in between.  The final EIS addresses issues and concerns raised during the public comment period. All new information and analysis supplied during the comment period were used to prepare the final EIS and FWP’s response to comments received on the draft EIS.   To view the final EIS, please visit the FWP  grizzly bear management webpage .

405 N. IDAHO STREET DILLON, MT MEETING NOTICE TUESDAY September 17, 2024 5:00 PM AGENDA: I. Call to order II. Approval of Minutes from 8-20-2024 meeting Public Comment III. Approval of Warrants Public Comment IV. Old Business Discuss Resolution to establish fees & costs for responding to MVA’s Public Comment V. New Business Public Comment VI. Chiefs Report Public Comment VII. Public comment on subjects under the jurisdiction of Beaverhead Fire District #2 that is not on the agenda. VIII. Adjournment

Recently, a political campaign advertisement ran in our community that has raised concerns about closure of hospitals in Montana’s rural communities. These ads were not coordinated, approved or endorsed by Barrett Hospital & HealthCare, nor any other hospital named in the ad. It is important that residents understand that Barrett Hospital & HealthCare remains open and ready to provide vital healthcare services to our community. Our hospital is not facing immediate threat of closure. We recognize that community members may be concerned by the statements made in these ads. Elected leaders can and will make decisions that affect our ability to continue and improve access to healthcare in all the communities served by rural hospitals across the state. We invite you to learn more about where candidates stand on the healthcare policies that can affect you and your families. Like other Montana hospitals, Barrett Hospital & HealthCare faces many challenges, and we urge community members to continue to engage with us, ask questions and understand the challenges we face. We are committed to ensuring our community has accurate information about its local hospital. Nearly all the hospitals named in this political campaign ad are designated as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. The tax-exempt status of our hospital is critical to delivering healthcare services in the rural communities we serve. Nonprofit hospitals cannot and will not engage in any activity that would jeopardize this important benefit for our communities.

NORRIS – A hoot-owl fishing restriction on the lower Madison River will be lifted Wednesday thanks to recent cooler water temperatures. The restriction has been in place since July 10 for this reach of the river between the footbridge at the NorthWestern Energy powerhouse to the river’s confluence with the Jefferson River. That restriction will no longer be in effect starting Wednesday. Other fishing restrictions and closures may be in effect in other waterbodies. All fishing is prohibited during full fishing closures. Hoot-owl restrictions prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight daily. Fishing restrictions and closures like these are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when low flows and high water temperatures combine with other stressors, including catch-and-release fishing. Anglers can reduce stress on fish at all times of the year by getting fish to the net or in hand quickly, keeping them in the water, and reviving them prior to releasing them back into the river. Along with monitoring stream temperatures, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks also monitors stream flows, and in some streams, holds instream flow water rights. FWP’s water program can issue a call on junior water users, when appropriate, to contribute to stream flows through the late summer and early fall. For more information on FWP water rights, click here . For a list of current fishing restrictions and closures in Montana, click here .

Attention Dillon Community, Barrett Hospital & HealthCare would like to inform you about a recent spoofing scam occurring in our area. Scammers are posing as representatives from local healthcare providers and claiming to give out specific medical diagnoses over the phone. Please protect yourself and do not share any personal or sensitive information with these callers.   If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and do not engage. For any questions or concerns regarding your health, please contact the clinic directly at 406-683-1188.   Stay vigilant and safe. Christie S. Trapp Marketing and Communications Manager

Earlier last week Engine 18 received a large shipment of ground beef that was processed by producer partnership and generously donated by rancher Scott Anderson.   On Monday night Engine 18 was able to help local UMW athletes by having a ground beef handout. Students gathered at the new Engine 18 building and were able to get a bag full of ground beef to help them make ends meet. A little about Engine 18 and the Producers Partnership. Producer Partnership: “The Producer Partnership was founded in 2020 because of neighbors looking to help each other during Covid. The simple idea of donating local protein, has resulted in the first USDA federally inspected, nonprofit owned and operated processing facility in the United States.  “We are honored to be able to work with Engine 18 to process local beef donated by area ranchers in Beaverhead County for the Beef Handout Program. We are excited about this very generous donation from Scott Anderson, not only for this donation, but for future donations as well to provide access to beef for student athletes attending the University of Montana Western that are not living on campus” Matt Pierson, Founder and President Engine 18: Engine 18 is a tailgating fire engine built in 2017 by a group of University of Montana Western alumni and sports fans in Dillon, MT. Engine 18 was originally built to provide an ultimate tailgating experience, but quickly became a vehicle used for raising money for athletic scholarships at UMW. It was named Engine 18 in honor of UMW football player M.J. Simkins, whose life was tragically cut short. What started as an idea to build a tailgating vehicle to celebrate Bulldog athletics quickly became a means to raise funds for athletic scholarships and honor not only MJ’s life, but the lives of other Bulldog players and coaches past way too soon. Soon after, a beef handout program was started by the organization. Local ranchers who might have a cull cow or bull began donating the animal to Engine 18. In return the organization would pay to have the beef processed into hamburger and handed out to student athletes. Beef handouts typically take place once a month or if the need arises, arrangements can be made for other handout times. Mark Simkins, a member of the Engine 18 Board, says, “This relationship with Producer Partnership, who picks up the animals, processes them and delivers the hamburger back to us, creates a win-win for Engine 18 and the student athletes at UM Western! We should able to reduce our operating costs, which will free up more funds for scholarships.”

Lindsey Branch, UMW Sports Information BILLINGS, Mont. -  The Montana Western Cross Country teams continued with their season this afternoon with a trip out to Billings, Mont. After the Tony Banovich Invitational was canceled due to air quality, the Bulldogs made a quick schedule change and headed out to compete at the Yellowjacket/Battlin' Bears Riverfront Open. Five Bulldog women competed in the women's 5k race. Sophomore  Olivia Steadman  led the pack with a 16th place finish. She recorded a time of 20:42.09. Freshman  Ruby Smith  followed in 24th place with a time of 21:47.95. Sophomore  Justene Santi  paced herself just behind Smith, finishing in 25th with a time of 21:53.57. Freshmen Olivia Canney (27th, 22:36.42) and Destiny Vogl (29th, 24:24.23) rounded out the scoring five. In the men's 8k race, junior  Harrison Silverio  was the top finisher for the Bulldogs with a 19th place finish with a time of 28:26.50. Freshman Kreg Butler followed closely behind, coming in 20th with a time of 28:56.39. Freshman Noah Rovente finished third for the Bulldog men, placing 25th with a time of 30:03.97. Sophomores Kaden Hennessey (28th, 30:12.65) and Brody Henry (29th, 30:28.29) rounded out the scoring five. Freshman Bridger Wheeler also competed in the race, finishing in 31st with a time of 32:00.56. The Bulldogs will get back to racing on Sept. 20 at the UM Invite hosted by the University of Montana. The races are set to start at 6 p.m. that Friday evening.

Over the past thirty years, a diverse set of Montana colleges and universities have aligned their public service and student engagement work as the Montana Campus Compact. As a key part of the national Campus Compact movement, Montana Campus Compact has, over its history, successfully supported thousands of college student volunteers to serve in communities. This campus network has trained faculty in reciprocal community-engaged teaching, leveraged millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funding for students, supported scholarships and honored the contributions of hundreds of exceptional Montana students working closely with the Governor’s Office of Community Service, Reach Higher Montana and others. Following an intentional change to the organization’s structure with long-time national partner Campus Compact, Montana’s college presidents charged staff with a community needs assessment and planning process with stakeholders.   18 Montana Higher Education Campuses Form a New Network to Support Student Engagement   In early 2024, campus leaders from Montana’s private, state, and tribal colleges and universities engaged in a planning process to understand the intersections of their student and community needs, to better connect the two. The planning work resulted in a clear charge to launch a new campus network called the Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement. Led by campus CEOs and supported by campus staff and faculty, this statewide network’s mission is to educate college students for civic responsibility, and partner with communities to inspire, empower, and promote community service and civic engagement.   Executive Board Chair: John Cech, President, Carroll College Vice Chair: Stefani Hicswa, Chancellor, MSU Billings Past Chair: Jane Karas, President, Flathead Valley Community College Members: Seth Bodnar, President, University of Montana; Sean Chandler, President, Aaniiih Nakoda College; Waded Cruzado, President, Montana State University; Stephanie Erdman, Dean, Great Falls College MSU; and McCall Flynn, Executive Director, Montana Board of Public Education "Colleges and universities in Montana are a vibrant part of our local communities, contributing volunteers, time, energy and our physical spaces to the common good. Whether through Service Saturdays, food drives, or long-term partnerships with schools and nonprofits, we work hard to be part of the communities that host our institutions. The Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement, which comprises 18 higher education institutions in Montana, marks a fresh and vibrant re-launch and renewal of the work started over thirty years ago by visionary Montana college presidents like George Dennison (University of Montana) and Joe McDonald (Salish Kootenai College). "  -President John Cech, Carroll College   “Civic engagement on our campuses is as important now as it has ever been. We know that students who are involved in their campus communities do better in their classes and are retained and graduate at a higher rate. I am excited by the changes we are making and look forward to the opportunities it will bring for our students.” -Chancellor Stefani Hicswa, MSU Billings   PARTICIPATING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: ● Aaniiih Nakoda College, Fort Belknap, President Sean Chandler ● Blackfeet Community College, Browning, President Brad Hall ● Carroll College, Helena, President John Cech ● Chief Dull Knife College, Lame Deer, President Eva Flying ● Dawson Community College, Glendive, President Chad Knudson ● Flathead Valley Community College, Kalispell, President Jane Karas ● Fort Peck Community College, Poplar, President Craig Smith ● Great Falls College MSU, Great Falls, Dean Stephanie Erdman ● Helena College UM, Helena, Dean Sandra Bauman ● Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Interim President Neva Tall Bear ● Miles Community College, Miles City, President Ron Slinger ● Montana State University, Bozeman, President Waded Cruzado ● MSU Billings, Billings, Chancellor Stefani Hicswa ● MSU-Northern, Havre, Chancellor Greg Kegel ● Montana Technological University, Butte, Chancellor Les Cook ● Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, Interim President Michael Munson ● The University of Montana, Missoula, President Seth Bodnar ● The University of Montana Western, Dillon, Chancellor Michael Reid   OUR PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS -MCNCE VISTA Program -College Coaches AmeriCorps Program -Centering Indigenous Knowledge webinar series -Community Building Institute -George M. Dennison Civic Engagement Scholarship -Montana Athletes In Service Award -Student Volunteer Award -Youth Serve Montana Scholarship -The Western Region Continuums of Service Conference

125 N. Idaho St. City of Dillon, Montana WATER - SEWER COMMITTEE MEETING City Council Chambers September 11th, 2024 4:00 P.M.     1.          Call Meeting To Order   2.          Update on Lead & Copper Rule   3.          Update on Lift Station   4.          Discuss/Recommend PER and MCEP for East Side Water   5.          Discuss Information on Billing Policies with City Water Clerk   6.       Public Comment on Items of Significant Public Interest Not On the Agenda and Within the Jurisdiction of the City   7.       Adjournment     Committee Members: Bill Shafer (Chairperson), Russ Schwandt, Anneliese Ripley

DILLON, Mont. – After Montana Western Football's blowout home opening victory over the Eastern Oregon Mounties, two Bulldogs were named Frontier Conference Players of the Week. Palandri, a senior from Maple Valley, Washington, is the Offensive Player of the Week.  In Western's 59-21 victory, Palandri dominated for six touchdowns on the day, including three in the air and three on the ground. He was 18-of-25 passing for 320 total yards and zero interceptions. This is Palandri's third career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.  Tanioka, a sophomore from Kaneohe, Hawaii, was named the Special Teams Player of the Week.  Tanioka electrified the home crowd in Dillon with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in their 59-21 win over Eastern Oregon. Paired with two solid punt returns, Tanioka finished the day with 221 all-purpose yards, 121 yards on kickoff returns, 74 yards receiving, and 26 punt return yards. This is Tanioka's first career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.

The University of Montana Western’s Environmental Sciences Department is proud to present “Measuring Snow: New Methods and Technology” by Kori Mooney as part of the “On the Rocks” lecture series. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, September 25, at 3:30 p.m. in UMW’s Lucy Carson Library. Mooney, who earned her master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Wyoming in 2024 and graduated from Montana Western in 2022, is a hydrologist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Snow Survey in Salt Lake City, UT. She will share insights into the NRCS SNOTEL network, discussing the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to measure snow density, along with emerging technologies for snowpack measurement. This presentation is free and open to the public and will feature light refreshments. For more information, please contact UMW Associate Professor of Environmental Sustainability, Dr. Arica Crootof, at arica.crootof@umwestern.edu  or 406-683-7075.

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. 1. Montana Western Football came in at no. 9 in the poll. Montana Western enters the week at 1-0 after lighting up the newly built Bulldog Stadium with a 59-21 victory over Eastern Oregon. The historic afternoon featured a massive offensive showing, with the Bulldog offense rattling off 49 points in the first half alone behind the arm of Bulldog quarterback  Michael Palandri . The veteran quarterback led the offensive attack, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for another three. He threw for 320 yards of offense and rushed for another 15 yards. The Bulldogs are slated with a massive top 10 matchup this week, taking on the no. 3 ranked College of Idaho Yotes for their home Frontier opener this Saturday. FRONTIER IN THE TOP 25 No. 3 College of Idaho Yotes No. 9 Montana Western Bulldogs No. 15 Montana Tech Orediggers No. 23 Southern Oregon Raiders