Not many organizations can claim over a century of service in the Bitterroot. One that can is the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce, which will hold its 112th Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, February 3 at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. The annual dinner and awards celebration, with its raffles and auction, is always […]
Judge rules on ownership of Three Mile Irrigation System
Ravalli County District Court Judge James Haynes decided a long and somewhat bitter dispute last month in favor of the Bitter Root Irrigation District. The District was sued in October of 2015 by the group Citizens for Fair Water (CFW) over the question of ownership and operation and maintenance of the Three Mile Gravity Irrigation […]
Marcus Daly Hospital launches $15 million expansion project
Work has already begun on a $15 million expansion project at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital involving the construction of a brand new set of operating rooms for general surgical services and the addition of an operating room dedicated to caesarian sections adjoining the Birthing Center. The new ORs are being built on the north end […]
Plans change for Hamilton school, athletic complex
Hamilton School District Superintendent Tom Korst said that the two projects on the drawing board, the renovation and expansion of Daly Elementary School and the construction of a new track and field at the High School, were moving forward despite some significant challenges. Both projects are being financed by a voter approved $9.75 million bond. […]
Friends of Metcalf Refuge supports Montana Natural History Center
Friends of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge has donated once again to the Montana Natural History Center (MNHC). The $10,000 check recently turned over to the MNHC will further that organization’s mission which is to foster a meaningful sense of understanding and stewardship of nature through education. “The Refuge has proven to be a […]
Grief and how to handle it
Just as grief itself can manifest in so many different ways, so too does the therapy, the counseling, and the support. A new form of bereavement support in a group setting is now being offered by Marcus Daly Hospice. Social worker Michelle Meyer, who is heading up the program, said that she loved having the […]
County moving forward on airport land acquisition
The Ravalli County Commissioners voted on December 27, 2017 to move forward with the process of obtaining an appraisal for purposes of establishing the fair market value of the properties adjacent to the Ravalli County Airport. The acquisition of these lands would be required to complete the current plans for improvement and extension of the […]
Plan in the works to restore fishing access at Stevi bridge
According to Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 2 Supervisor Randy Arnold, serious talks have been initiated with Myla Yahraus, the new owner of Fort Owen Ranch, that could lead to the re-opening of the historical fishing access on ranch land right next to the bridge prior to the upcoming fishing season. “We […]
New leadership in municipalities
Three new mayors were sworn in and have begun serving in Hamilton, Stevensville and Darby. Dominic Farrenkopf took the oath of office as Mayor of Hamilton a bit early, actually being sworn in by City Court Judge Michael Reardon on Thursday, December 21, 2017 in order to avoid a vacancy in the office due to […]
Hamilton attorney disbarred
Hamilton attorney Robert Myers has been disbarred from the practice of law in the state of Montana. The Montana Supreme Court, in a set of three unanimous Orders of Discipline issued on December 28, 2017, accepted and adopted the recommendations for disciplinary action made by the Commission on Practice. Applied consecutively, the orders will prohibit […]
Thomas named Stevensville’s Public Works Director
The Town of Stevensville’s public works used to be run by a couple of “twin” directors. One was Ed Sutherlin, usually referred to as Streets, Alleys and Parks Supervisor. The other was George Thomas, usually referred to as the Water and Sewer Supervisor. They were both generally present at any significant project whether it was […]
Commissioners cancel discussion of condemnation for airport expansion
Controversy over potential expansion at the Ravalli County Airport is decades old. Things appeared to be moving forward in January of 2016 when the Ravalli County Commissioners approved an Environmental Assessment that presented a preferred option for construction of a 5,200 foot long, 75 foot wide runway extending 1,550 feet further to the north of […]