Volume XX, Number 52

Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Valley News at a Glance

Stage I Fire restrictions to be implemented

Bitterroot Pawn open for business

North Valley Library update

Stevensville Notes

Three Mile/Ambrose Creek community meeting

Angus breeder recognized

Grant funding available for watershed projects

Births

Obituaries

Stage I Fire restrictions to be implemented

Stage I fire restrictions will go into effect at one minute past midnight on Friday, July 29 in southwest and west central Montana, announced fire management officials in the Southwest Montana Zone. Stage I fire restrictions apply to campfires and smoking.

Specifically, at Stage I, campfires and use of charcoal briquettes will only be allowed in developed recreation sites or campgrounds, and only in the metal or concrete fire rings provided at the site. Fires within rock fire rings are not permitted. The public can continue to use gas stoves fueled solely by liquid fuel or LPG fuels outside of developed recreation sites during Stage I restrictions.

In addition to the campfire restrictions, smoking is prohibited except within buildings, vehicles, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials for at least three feet in diameter.

These restrictions apply to any lands outside of designated city limits, regardless of ownership. The restrictions will remain in effect until there is a significant long-term change in fire danger.

These restrictions apply to all state, federal, and private lands within the following counties: Mineral, Missoula County south of Summit Lake, Powell, Ravalli, Granite, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Butte-Silver Bow, a portion of Sanders County outside the Kootenai National Forest, and those portions of Flathead and Lake Counties Iying within the Flathead Indian Reservation. These restrictions also apply to forested lands administered by the Lolo National Forest, Bitterroot National Forest, portions of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest within the Southwest Montana Fire Restrictions Area, Bureau of Land Management, Montana DNRC Southwestern Land Office, Montana DNRC Northwestern Land Office (Plains Unit), Flathead Indian Reservation, Region 2 of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (National Bison Range and Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge).

Although firewood cutting has not yet been restricted, the public is asked to limit firewood cutting and chainsaw use to the morning hours, when the temperature is cooler and the humidity is up.

Fire danger across western Montana is above average for this time of year. Forests at all elevations are dry. Fire management officials are hopeful that by initiating Stage I fire restrictions there will be fewer preventable person-caused wildland fires. The SW Zone managers will continue to monitor fire conditions to determine if - or when - Stage ll fire restrictions are necessary.

For more information regarding wildland fire safety, campfires, and fire restrictions on Montana's forested lands in southwest and west central Montana, contact your local DNRC, Forest Service, Tribal, fire department, law enforcement, or FWP office. For more information about fire restrictions go to the web, at: www.fs.fed.us/r1/fire/nrca/restrictions/index.htm.

After a year of school at Western in Dillon and three years working at the Missoula County Detention Center, Denny Tipps decided to return to his hometown and open up his own business. He did so in June of this year. It's called Bitterroot Pawn and is located on Highway 93 north of the Stevensville junction next to Marie's Italian Restaurant.

Denny prides himself on keeping a clean store. It is stocked with rifles, pistols, ammunition, and re-loading equipment, about which young Denny knows quite a bit, after having grown up under the tutelage of his father, also named Denny Tipps, founder and current owner of Tipps on Guns, a longstanding business in the area. Some opticals such as scopes and binoculars can also be found at the store as well as an array of knives, bows and arrows.

Bitterroot Pawn also carries some fine jewelry, fishing equipment, videos, video games, and DVDs, as well as an assortment of other odds and ends.

These are some of the many new books available at the North Valley Public Library in Stevensville:

My Sister's Keeper/ Jodi Picoult
The Right Madness/ James Crumley
At the Mercy of the River/ Peter Stark
His Brother's Keeper- A Story From the Edge of Medicine/ Jonathan Weiner
In the Wake of the Joman - Stone Age Mariners and a Voyage Across the Pacific/ Jon Turk
More Book Lust/ Nancy Pearl
The Ice Queen/ Alice Hoffman
Lord Byron's Novel/ John Crowley
At Home in Mitford/ Jan Karon
Winslow in Love/ Kevin Canty
Dear Zoe/ Philip Beard
Rococo/ Adriana Trigiani
The Geographer's Library/ Jon Fasman

The following local students joined the largest graduating class in Whitworth College's history in celebrating the school's 115th commencement exercises May 14 in Spokane:

- Annemarie Kay Webber of Hamilton (59840). Webber was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in English, Cum Laude.
- Lacey K Jones of Stevensville (59870). Jones was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Magna Cum Laude.

Located in Spokane, WA, Whitworth is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The college enrolls 2,200 students in more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs.

Cole Hoeg, son of Linda Larsen and Todd Hoeg of Stevensville, graduated June 24 from one of the nation's premier technical training schools, WyoTech. WyoTech has locations from coast to coast and is nationally recognized for excellence in Automotive, Diesel, and Collision/Refinishing training. Cole, who graduated with an Automotive Tech diploma, has accepted a job position with Lithia Auto Center and started July 1.

The Friends of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, along with the Tri-State Water Quality Council, will sponsor a public meeting Tuesday, August 2 at 7 p.m. at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge's visitor's center, to continue a "community conversation" about conditions in the Three Mile/Ambrose Creek watershed affecting water quality and possible options for voluntary actions to improve water quality and fish and wildlife habitat conditions.

The meeting will focus on opportunities for local landowners, residents and other interested persons to take actions to improve stream and watershed habitat conditions. Options for individual landowners, as well as group efforts will be discussed. It will also be an opportunity to voice issues and concerns to be considered in developing local community-based priorities and goals for a voluntary watershed improvement program. Some of the recent and current improvement implementation projects will also be presented.

The meeting will also provide presentation and discussion of the results of watershed assessment efforts conducted from 2002 to 2004. Suggested goals, objectives, and priorities for water quality and habitat improvements are included. Data gathered for Three Mile, Ambrose, Wheelbarrow, Gray Horse, and Spring Gulch creeks will be available, including nutrient water quality and fisheries sampling.

The watershed assessment effort was sponsored by Montana Department of Environmental Quality grants, along with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service's Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee, and was administered through a collaboration of local residents, the Bitter Root Water Forum and the Tri-State Water Quality Council.

Information gathered from the assessment and the community is being used to better understand the role and importance of local creeks in the community, as well as how the community feels about taking actions to maintain or improve water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat conditions, as the area's population continues to grow and change. If you have any questions or comments regarding the watershed effort or the August 2 meeting, call Jim Rokosch at 777-2511.

Cara P. and Thomas W. Ayres, Stevensville, own one bull listed in the 2005 Fall "Sire Evaluation Report" published by the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Issued in both the spring and fall, the new report features the latest performance information available on 6,653 sires, and is currently accessible at www.angussiresearch.com.

"This report provides both Angus breeders and commercial cattle producers using Angus genetics with accurate, predictable selection tools for improving their herd," says Bill Bowman, American Angus Association director of performance programs. Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) are generated from the performance database of the American Angus Association, which includes information submitted by more than 8,400 Angus breeders this past year through the Association's Beef Improvement Records (BIR) program.

EPDs are available for 19 traits and 5 dollar value selection indexes. The dollar values are designed to assist commercial producers in simplifying the genetic selection process.

The semi-annual analysis for the Sire Evaluation Report contains more than 13 million measures used to generate genetic predictions for the Angus breed.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is issuing a "Call for Grant Applications" under Section 319(h) of the Federal Clean Water Act.

The DEQ is the lead Montana agency for the NPS program and for the Clean Water Act section 319 grant program.

The 2006 grant cycle will focus on: watershed restoration and/or groundwater projects with approved water quality restoration plans, source water protection areas and waterbodies on the 1996 or 2004 303(d) lists of impaired waters that have an approved or developing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Projects must be directed towards the control of nonpoint source pollution and have cooperative sponsors that demonstrate a willingness to implement best management practices.

The applications received will be prioritized to fund those projects that best implement the Montana Nonpoint Source (NPS) program. Applications addressing impaired waterbodies with an approved TMDL will receive top funding priority.

More information about the grants, including the official call and application materials, can be found at the DEQ web site at www.deq.mt.gov. The deadline for draft applications is October 21, 2005. All final applications will be due on December 16, 2005.

For more information contact Robin Rung, DEQ Water Quality Planning Bureau at (406) 444-6756 or by e-mail at rrung@mt.gov.

Births at Marcus Daly Hospital, Hamilton

7-12-05
Boy, 8 lbs., 12 oz., 21 inches, to Tony and Wendi Planty, Florence

7-14-05
Boy, 7 lbs., 15 oz., 20 inches, to Daniel and Sara Cox, Darby
Boy, 7 lbs., 4 oz., 19-3/4 inches, to Samuel Brown and Summer Stanley of Victor

7-19-05
Boy, 8 lbs., 12 oz., 20-1/2 inches, to Jacob and Lisa Pintok, Hamilton.

Benjamin and Joan Good

Benjamin James Good, born February 14, 1924, died January 13, 2005 and Joan (Wood) Good, born August 28, 1926, died May 2, 2005.

Ben and Jo grew up in Stevensville, where they met as children and were married on February 13, 1947. They lived in Missoula most of their lives, where they raised their three children. They retired in South Bend, WA, where they were residing at the time of their deaths. Ben was a journeyman baker and Jo was a secretary with the city of Missoula for the offices of the building inspector and the city engineer. She was also secretary for Missoula's Board of Adjustment and Zoning. Ben and Jo both excelled at their professions. Ben loved to play cards, dance and bake. Jo loved her pets and could grow anything, and together they loved to travel. They enjoyed many long drives, and could tell you where to find the best soup and pie in all of Washington and Montana.

They were preceded in death by their son, Richard Lee Good.

They are survived by their son Reginald James Good, their daughter Robin Ann Mahaffey, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Also surviving are Ben's sisters Berniece Helm and Betty Rose Hentzen.

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church, 402 Church Street, Stevensville, Friday, August 5, at 11 a.m. with reception and interment to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the Bitter Root Humane Shelter.

Carl Arnoldus

Carl Jesse Arnoldus, 66, of Stevensville died at his home on Friday, July 15, 2005.

He was born on March 21, 1939 at Murray, Utah and was the son of Vern and Eind (Halam) Arnoldus.

Carl was in the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, camping and socializing with friends. He was a loving and caring man and will be missed.

His wife Suzette preceded him.

Carl is survived by children: Nerine Marryweather, Vincent Conder, Joy (Eric) Nelson, Michelle (Warren) Harris, Valerie (Victor) Clark, Brent (Danyaile) Arnoldus, Nicole (Todd) Olson; 23 grandchildren and three great grandchildren; brother Wayne (Carolyn) Arnoldus and sisters Lynne (Jack) Trellinger and Debbie (Blaine) Murrie.

Memorial services were held at Carl's home on Saturday, July 23.

The Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville was in charge of cremation arrangements.

Editor's Note: This obituary has been corrected from one that first appeared on July 20.

Albert Joseph Besaw

Albert Joseph Besaw, Jr., 67, of Stevensville died at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on Thursday, July 21, 2005.

He was born on April 17, 1938, at Orange, New Jersey.

He entered the U.S. Navy, February 1956 and was discharged in 1961. He was a golfer and member of USGA.

Albert is survived by a sister, Audrey Besaw of Stevensville, and four nephews and cousins.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, July 26, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Stevensville with Father Michael Smith officiating. Cremation took place following the service.

The Whitesitt Funeral Home of Stevensville is in charge of arrangements.