Bitterroot Star

At its last meeting in September, the Hamilton City Council approved increases to the monthly base rate charge and usage charge for both water and wastewater. Each will increase by 2.4%. The new rates became effective on September 25. Public Works Director Donny Ramer stated in a memo that small incremental increases in the water […]

A few citizen scientist volunteers were out collecting data along Highway 93 in the Bitterroot last week documenting the number and kinds of animals that could be found killed on or beside the road between Hamilton and Florence. Making the ride through the Bitterroot last Thursday, were local cyclist Heather Hicks and Spokane wildlife enthusiast […]

The regular voter registration deadline passed on October 7 for the Municipal General Election. Eligible people can still vote, however, but will need to appear in person at the Election Office in Hamilton. Ballots will be mailed out on October 18, 2019 and be due by Election Day, November 5.   CITY OF HAMILTON A […]

With cold and flu season here, it’s important to make health a top priority. Ravalli County Public Health is helping communities prepare for the upcoming flu season by offering flu vaccines to children, adults, and seniors. The Centers for Disease Control recommends vaccination against influenza for all people over 6 months of age by the […]

  October is Colors of Cancer month in the Bitterroot and it began in earnest last Tuesday at the Colors of Cancer “Food Truck” Lunch held in the Emergency Department parking lot at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital. Proceeds generated from this Food Truck Lunch and all other Colors of Cancer events during October are donated […]

Ravalli County and Ravalli County Deputy Sterling Maus are among three counties and several law enforcement personnel named in a federal lawsuit filed by Paul Jenkins and his children Kenneth Jenkins and Crystal Combs. Jenkins, who served over 23 years in prison under two concurrent life sentences and a concurrent 40-year sentence for burglary with […]

The Ravalli County Commissioners held a meeting recently to discuss opening a gate on Hayes Creek Road that landowners in the area had begun locking to exclude the general public from using the road. The commissioners are bound by law to remove obstructions from the public right of way on a road immediately upon being […]

Last month Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks discovered an established population of New Zealand mud snails at a private commercial fish hatchery south of Hamilton.  This discovery marks the first time New Zealand mud snails have been found west of the Continental Divide in Montana, but populations are known to exist in Idaho, Washington, Oregon […]

Last week Stevensville High School Principal Brian Gum handed out the first Stevi Rocks – Award of Excellence to special education teacher Kelby Thomas. Kelby has been the special education teacher at Stevensville for the past six years. “Throughout her time at Stevensville High School, she has single handedly revamped our Special Olympics program and […]

The Bitterroot Audubon Society publishes a calendar every year featuring high quality photographs of local birds taken by local photographers. It is the organization’s only fund raiser, so a lot of effort goes into its production. The result is not only a calendar full of stunning photographs, it also serves as a useful tool for […]

A petition is circulating to place the establishment of a local independent community college in the Bitterroot on the May 2020 ballot. Candy Lubansky, President of the Bitterroot College Advisory Council, said, “We are asking the community whether they would like us to pursue legislative establishment as a fully qualified, independent community college.” Lubansky said […]

The Bitterroot National Forest has issued a Draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Canyon Lake Dam Access for Repair Project. The decision would authorize the Canyon Creek Irrigation District (CCID) to access the dam by helicopter, making approximately 32 round trip helicopter flights and to airlift motorized equipment and heavy, […]

The Stevensville Town Council made a few changes to Mayor Brandon Dewey’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year at its last meeting.  Right out of the gate Councilor Steve Gibson made a motion to reduce the town’s water and sewer rates by 3% rather than make the 3% hike that the mayor was requesting. […]