The most recent food bank to be established in the Bitterroot Valley, the Darby Bread Box, has been open for business since January 4th. It is the fruition of a year-long effort by a core group of volunteers first mustered as part of the Horizon workshops held in Darby. As a part of the Horizons process, following a series of public meetings and polls, certain needs of the community were identified and prioritized. One of the prime needs identified was the need for a food bank to serve the south valley. A group of volunteers took up the challenge and after meeting, sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly, a year later, the Darby Bread Box opened its doors.

“The hardest part was finding a place,” said organizer and volunteer Mary Lockwood.

It was Jim Anderson, owner of Traveler’s Rest, who resolved that problem for the group, according to Lockwood. He made them an offer they couldn’t refuse: a three-year lease for a little yellow house on Tanner Street for free.

Lockwood is very pleased with the location. It is on a side street, off the highway. It is easily accessible on foot from most anywhere in town.

It is estimated that out of the 400 clients per month that have been visiting the Haven House, the food bank in Hamilton, 150 come from the south valley. A large portion of that group is expected to shift over to using the local food bank in Darby as time goes by. Lockwood said she was surprised at the number of people, almost 100, who have already come in for assistance. She expects that number to grow as more people become aware of the option.

The little yellow house needed some tender loving care, however, just to be usable. It also needed some remodeling and lots of shelving to suit the needs of its new tenant. Lockwood said that once the place was secured, many people and businesses in the community donated materials and labor to make those changes and improvements.

“The generosity of the community has been overwhelming,” said Lockwood. “Every day now someone comes in with a donation of food or with a check.”

The food bank is open three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. But it is also bustling on the off days as well as volunteers, mostly “the husbands,” according to Lockwood, work like Santa’s elves on the ongoing repairs, remodeling and installation of new shelves. All of it designed to maximize the use of space. All of it very sturdy, built to hold the weight of heavy groceries.

The two other food banks in the valley measure their food service in the tons. Haven House, in Hamilton, distributed about 216 tons of food to about 19,500 clients last year, about 6,000 boxes of food. Pantry Partners in Stevensville distributed about 101 tons of food last year, about 2,508 boxes, to about 7,255 clients. Luckily, right now, food and cash donations to both facilities are growing as fast as the demand is increasing, that is from 20 to 25 percent over last year.

According to Lockwood, both those food banks have been extraordinarily helpful in establishing the Darby Bread Box. They have not only donated food, they have donated lots of needed advice.

“We didn’t have to reinvent the wheel,” said Lockwood. She said that the other food banks in the county were very well established and have been functioning for a long time.

“It only made sense to use them as a model and to seek their advice,” said Lockwood. So the Darby Bread Box borrowed its by-laws basically from the Pantry Partners. She said it made sense in that it had served the Pantry Partners, a highly successful food bank, for the last twenty-five years.

But the Darby Bread Box has borrowed a bit from Haven House as well, according to Lockwood.

“Like the Haven House,” she said, “we allow our clients to make individual choices as to what goes into their basket. That way we hope to cut down on items possibly being discarded because they were not specifically desired in the first place.”

Lockwood said that about 40 people showed up at their first volunteer meeting and that about 35 still remain on the volunteer list. She said that the shelves are stocked, the freezers are full of meat, and the volunteers are ready to help.

“Now we just need to get the word out that we’re here,” said Lockwood.

So far the food has been donated or purchased with cash donations but next month the Darby Bread Box will begin working with the Montana Food Network and begin receiving some food donations from them as well.

“Our only expenses are for food and utilities,” said Lockwood. “All the labor is volunteer.”

The group currently has two large freezers and another is on the way. They have three refrigerators and need, perhaps, one more.

The efforts of the Darby community in establishing the food bank have already caught the attention of the Montana Commission on Community Service. The Darby Bread Box was nominated by Sharon Bladen for the Service Montana Award 2009. The award will be delivered at the Serve Montana Symposium held in Helena on February 10 and 11.

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Citizens critical of septage dump plan

DEQ presents sewage dump site info to packed house

By Michael Howell

Supervisor of the Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Solid Waste Section, Rick Thompson, and Renai Hill from the agency’s Septic Pumper program addressed about 90 concerned citizens at St. Mary’s Family Center in Stevensville last Wednesday night about the septage dump site proposed on land northwest of Stevensville.

It was the last day for commenting on the permit application by Brown’s Septic Services to dump up to 100,000 gallons of septage and grease trap waste mixed with lime on about 75 acres of land owned by local rancher Ed Cummings. Comments on the application were first solicited back in November 2009 and the deadline for commenting was extended twice during the process.

DEQ officials were seeking public comment on the Environmental Analysis of the proposed dump site. In both the initial EA and in the subsequent Supplemental EA, the agency itself recommends permitting the dump site.

Thompson explained that DEQ does not pick any dumps sites. He said that the septic pumper generally finds a willing landowner with what appears to be an acceptable site and makes an application. He said that the site is reviewed to see if it meets all state requirements and setbacks from water courses, wells, occupied buildings, etc. The agency also monitors and enforces any restrictions on the operation such as the proper mixture of lime with the sewage, proper application, and things such as litter control.

Hill explained how the agency examines the site in making its assessment of the site’s suitability: evaluating slopes, soil and geology, surface water, drainages, depth to ground water, set back requirements, topography, potential for runoff and crop nitrogen requirements

Hill said that with a maximum allowable application on the sites of 28,846 gallons per acre per year that the requested permit to dump about 100,000 gallons per year of septage would only require about 3.46 acres. She said that the application being considered includes two 30 to 35 acre sites. She said that dumping on those sites will be alternated between winter and summer and each site will be further divided into rotating sections for application.

Hill stated that mixing lime with the septage will reduce odors, and although there may be some odor during actual application of the septage, it will quickly dissipate. Thompson said that the frequency of application depends on the pumper and how much business he has.

“He could be applying it every day, or every other day, or once a week,” said Thompson.

Hill said that, contrary to some claims, no raw sewage was being dumped on the land. She said that the septic tanks are a treatment process and the septic pumpings being applied had been treated in the septic tanks before pumping. She also noted that lime was being mixed with the septage before application to kill pathogens. She said that the pumper is required to pick up all litter within six hours after application.

Both Hill and Thompson stressed that the DEQ monitors and enforces the regulations and restrictions. They each said that the agency had fined and even jailed pumpers who violated the regulations, although Thompson admitted that there were only a handful of officials to monitor activity at about 170 sites all over the state.

“We depend on the public to be our eyes,” said Thompson.

Hill stated that concerns about potential contamination of the site by pharmaceuticals were overblown. She said that only trace levels of such contaminants have been found in septage and it does not represent a threat. She said that historically adjacent land values are not devalued by adjacent septage dump sites. She said that if there is potential for runoff over frozen ground, a berm would be constricted to restrict the flow.

Local health officials at the Ravalli County Environmental Health Department have determined that the site meets state requirements and is a suitable site for dumping the septage.

Most of the people who responded at the meeting seemed unconvinced by the DEQ officials’ assurances.

“I pay taxes in this county and my property rights are being infringed on,” said Judy Kline. “I’m mad at Ed Cummings.”

“I didn’t move here to live next to a sewage dump,” said one resident who lives near the proposed site.

Judy Hoy recalled when a septage dumping site on Sunset Bench about a decade ago made the stream water in Willoughby Creek smell like sewage at least five miles below the site.

Asked why Brown’s Septic Services needed a site and where the company had been dumping previously, Hill said that the company had been using a site near Hamilton with several other septic pumping companies but that site had been shut down because it did not meet state requirements. Hill said she did not know where the other septic companies were now dumping.

One person was passing around a petition to consider construction of a sewage treatment facility in the valley to treat septage from the pumping companies. Thompson stated it was an option. He said that one was recently constructed in the Flathead Valley and cost about $3.2 million. He said it was an expensive option that must be supported by the taxpayers.

DEQ will make a final decision concerning the permit following review and analysis of the public comments.

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County urged to establish rental assistance fund

Gary Locke, a social worker for the Salvation Army in Hamilton, urged the County Commissioners last week to establish a Rental Assistance Fund.

Locke said that he was there to warn the commissioners about “a looming crisis.”

Locke told the Commissioners that the current economic downturn is leading to increased unemployment and decreased job opportunities. He said that more and more of the unemployed are failing to find jobs and their unemployment insurance benefits are running out. It is a downward cycle forcing many homeowners into foreclosure and many renters into eviction.

He said that currently there are Housing and Urban Development monies set aside for Homeless Prevention as part of the Stimulus Bill. But that program will sunset at the end of August 2010.

“Given the current economic and political climate,” said Locke, “there is no rock solid guarantee that the program will be reinstated.”

Basically the program assists renters with their rent in arrears following an eviction notice. It also helps on a declining basis with the next few rent payments. But recipients must prove that they will have the cash flow to be self-sustaining from that point forward. The home has to be “rent reasonable,” he said, and not exceed 75 percent of their income.

“It’s a ‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’,” said Locke.

Locke said that a growing number of people were finding themselves in this predicament. He said he sees many people in the Bitterroot spending up to 85 percent of their income on housing. He said it only takes a little automobile trouble to throw those people into an economic tailspin.

The other part of the program assists homeless people to get into an affordable home by covering the deposit and the first month’s rent as well as a declining balance partial payment on the next two months’ rent. The program can only be used once per year by participating households.

The Human Resource Council District 11 is currently operating the program. They have been distributing about $6,400 per month through the critical winter months in the valley from October to April. The estimated cost will be around $38,400 per year.

Locke urged the Commissioners to look ahead to the possible demise of this program and consider funding a similar rental assistance program with county funds.

“This is money that does not go to any particular social service agency,” said Locke. “It goes directly to the people in need.” He asked the Commissioners to consider dedicating one mill to such a program. One mill this year equals about $74,000, according to the county’s CFO Klarrysse Murphy.

Commission Chairman Greg Chilcott said, “The reality for us is we have to make budget.” He said that the reserves were at a real low of about 7 percent and also needed to go up.

Commissioner J.R. Iman said that if a mill is dedicated to a rental assistance fund it will mean taking it from somewhere else.

Commissioner Carlotta Grandstaff suggested that the proposal be added to a list of “hot button topics” to be considered in the 2011 budget discussions scheduled to begin in May.

“My whole idea here is to let you know there is a crisis looming,” said Locke.

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Ravalli Entrepreneurship Center holds grand opening

By Michael Howell

Although the doors of the Ravalli Entrepreneurship Center have been open for a while a grand opening ceremony was held last week to celebrate the new facility.

The 10,000-square-foot facility, located north of Hamilton on Old Corvallis Road, was designed by local architect Lee Kierig and sits on four acres of land donated by the Ravalli County Council on Aging. The $1.5 million building is not only the home of the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority, it also houses the Bitterroot Community College extension of the University of Montana and the Job Service. The REC is also home to the fledgling business Falcon Asset Management Group.

REC is more than just a landlord for entrepreneurial tenants. It also provides a range of business services to help “incubate” businesses. The objective of the REC is to provide technical assistance that will help local small businesses achieve higher productivity, thereby making them profitable earlier, while increasing sustainability.

Services provided in-house at the facility include business coaching, mentoring, advisory boards, networking opportunities, access to a variety of capital programs, timely and accurate market information and a quality space in which to conduct business and state of the art technology infrastructure.

The REC can also help connect businesses with other business services available from local consultants and state and national programs. Service provider lists are already being set up using the RCEDA’s Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) Program.

The list of those present at the grand opening reads like a Who’s Who of government economic development officials from around the region and the state.

Representative of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Agency John Rogers was on hand, so was Director of the Montana Department of Commerce Anthony Preite, Mike Cooney from the Montana Department of Labor, State Director of USDA Rural Development Matt Jones, and University of Montana Provost Royce Engstrom. The County Commissioners were there and so was the Mayor of Hamilton Jerry Steele. Representatives from the offices of Senator Max Baucus and Representative Denny Rehberg also spoke at the celebration.

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Star awarded county legal contract

The Ravalli County Commissioners awarded the contract for printing legal notices for the 2010 year to the Bitterroot Star newspaper, located in Stevensville.

The Star submitted the lowest bid at a rate of $7 per 100-word folio for the first insertion and $6 per folio for each subsequent insertion.

The only other bid, submitted by the Ravalli Republic, was at a rate of $9 for the first insertion and $7 for each subsequent insertion.

The Bitterroot Star has a larger circulation than the Ravalli Republic and the bid was lower, two major factors in the commissioners’ decision. Commissioner J.R. Iman cast the lone dissenting vote.

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Sheriff responds to developments in murder case

By Michael Howell

Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman and Undersheriff Perry Johnson responded recently to the news of a federal prosecutor’s motion, in United States District Court in Missoula, to dismiss the murder charges pending against Brian Weber relating to the Florence homicides of November 6, 2001, by stating that they remain committed to the ongoing investigation into these heinous crimes.

The Sheriff’s comments come on the heels of a recent motion filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thaggard to dismiss the murder charges against Weber. Thaggard states in the motion that based on the evidence as it now stands the government cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Weber committed the crimes he is accused of.

Initially both Weber and an alleged conspirator, Lincoln Benavides, were charged for drug-related crimes as well as the murder of Dorothy Harris, Brenda Patch and Cynthia Paulus at a Florence hair salon. But federal attorneys made a plea agreement with Benavides in which he pleaded guilty to the drug charges and the murder charges were dropped. Benavides was also going to testify against Weber in a murder trial scheduled for March 1.

According to the information filed in the motion to dismiss charges against Weber it had to do with the death of a witness and the submission of evidence undermining claims that Weber was in Montana at the time the murders were committed.

“This case is not closed and we remain committed to the families of our victims and our community to bring a successful resolution to the investigation. We will continue to apply the resources of this office to that end no matter how long it takes,” said Sheriff Hoffman.

“This investigation has always been about our victims, the families of our victims and our neighbors in our community. The focus and efforts of the Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue toward the apprehension and prosecution of the people responsible for the murders of Dorothy Harris, Brenda Patch and Cynthia Paulus. They won’t be forgotten,” said Undersheriff Johnson.

Sheriff Hoffman repeated, “The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners. We will continue to investigate all information that becomes available for further follow up. This case will remain open until it is resolved.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office at 375-4060.

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