Bitterroot Star

by Sarah Glass Opioid overdoses and related emergency room visits are common statistics shared in the telling of the story of the nation’s opioid crisis. Sapphire Community Health (SCH), a community-based primary and behavioral health center in Hamilton, focuses on the number of people in treatment working to recover from addiction. Over 400 patients utilize […]

by John Dowd Stevensville has seen a lot of turnover recently regarding council members. Over the last couple of months, three new council members have taken a seat. Melissa Bailey took over Stacie Barker’s seat in the last Stevensville election, and with two council persons having stepped down, two more seats needed to be filled. […]

The public is invited to join the annual Flower Power Fundraiser benefiting the GFWC Bitterroot Woman’s Club. This special event is a chance to brighten the home and community with beautiful flowers while supporting local service projects and outreach programs. Participating is easy with this online fundraiser. Those interested can check out all the beautiful […]

The Lone Rock School District is asking community members to vote on a $100,000 Technology Levy in addition to the district’s existing $19,650 perpetual technology levy, which has remained unchanged since 2004. The goal of this levy is simple: to keep students safe while maintaining the technology systems that support learning and daily school operations. […]

The Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot is a group of followers of Jesus Christ who have served in the military. If you area believer in Jesus Christ, then you have a place in this group. The motto is “giveback with love,” and the group’s goal is to help fellow veterans, their families and the local […]

by John Dowd For several years, the Stevensville Police Department has held their annual Chili Cook-Off as a fundraiser for department equipment. This year’s event, according to Stevensville Police Chief John Boe, is set to be the biggest ever. According to Boe, they have gathered over 20 contestants, the most the event has ever seen. […]

by John Dowd Rodeo is a Western tradition, and the Darby Rodeo Association wants to keep it that way. However, according to Cal Ruark, president of the organization, there are some serious pitfalls in the way of young people that want to get into the sport.  “It’s really hard for kids to get into rodeo […]

by Michael Howell After working its way through the court for over six years and following a six-day trial, a jury in Federal District Court in Missoula decided in only a few hours of deliberation in favor of Ravalli County in a case challenging the legality of the county’s Jail Diversion Program.  The lawsuit, first […]

The Ravalli County Fair Parade has long been one of the most loved traditions of fair week. Each year, families gather along the streets to watch floats, horses, community groups, and local organizations come together to celebrate our community. It’s a highlight of the fair and something many people look forward to. What many don’t […]

by Sarah Glass The Bitterroot Star is more than print media and headlines; it ties together our community’s shared narrative. Individual and group efforts, opinions, and forms of expression are reflected there, effectively archiving local history and the cultural components that intertwine to define the regional zeitgeist. It is my privilege to accept the general […]

Changing course on the ‘atmospheric river’ by Victoria Howell, (former) Publisher Monday, March 16 was my last official day at the Bitterroot Star. If someone had told me in 1985 that I would spend almost my entire adult life in the journalism business and be the publisher of a community newspaper in 2026, it would have […]

by Sarah Glass Over 50 business owners and community stakeholders gathered to share lunch and hear the Hamilton Downtown Association (HDA) present its 2025 Annual Report at Hamilton City Hall on Thursday, March 12. Executive Director Matthew Zwicker elaborated on the nonprofit’s mission tenets – design, economic vitality, organization, and promotion – and how its […]

The Bitter Root Land Trust (BRLT), a nonprofit conservation organization that partners with voluntary private landowners to conserve Bitterroot open lands for future generations, has completed a conservation easement on the Durland family’s historic 183-acre ranch in Darby. Situated at the corner of Highway 93 and Old Darby Road, the newly conserved ranch adds to […]

by Chuck Stranahan In some parts of the country flyfishers still talk about the willow fly hatch. Depending on where you are and who’s doing the talking, they could be referring to the early brown or gray stoneflies that come off when snow might still be crusted along the streambanks, or their larger cousins that […]

On Saturday, March 14, Ravalli County Recycling (RCR) will be holding its first event of 2026 at the North parking lot at Ravalli County Fairgrounds in Hamilton. Gates open at 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. Donations will be collected to cover the costs of getting your glass and batteries to sites elsewhere in the U.S. […]