The Covid-19 pandemic is surging across the nation. According to National Public Radio, last week alone one million new cases of COVID-19 were reported nationwide, averaging 1,000 deaths a day. There have been over 240,000 Covid-related deaths reported nationwide. The rate of increase in active cases is stressing hospitals everywhere in the country, many having […]
Stevensville council moves on
Prior to the resignations submitted by council members Bob Michalson and Robin Holcomb, the Stevensville Town Council had been considering Mr. Michalson’s conduct as well as the town’s policies concerning council member conduct which were adopted following Michalson’s previous resignation. They contemplated removing him from office, or censuring him and removing him from the presidency. […]
Bitterroot Library interested in expanding into fire hall
Bitterroot Public Library Building Director Mark Wetherington told the Hamilton City Council members at their last Committee of the Whole meeting last week that, after hearing the Hamilton Fire Department might be moving out of its current location in the adjacent Fire Hall in a few years, they wondered about the possibility of expanding the […]
Stevensville mayor survives recall, two council members resign
Stevensville Mayor Brandon Dewey survived the recent recall election against him with a vote of 584 (52%) in favor of keeping him in office and 535 (48%) voting to oust him. The recall petition accused the mayor of violating the law and his oath of office by hiring an IT company without council approval. Following […]
Bench at Skalkaho Bend Park dedicated to Wayne Hedman
Wayne Hedman, who passed away last December, will be remembered by a whole lot of people for the many things he did for them and for this community over the years. He built a pharmacy business based on genuine compassion and consideration for his customers, every one of whom he saw as a potential friend. […]
COVID-19 cases still going up, three more deaths
On Saturday, November 7, Ravalli County Public Health officials announced the deaths of three Ravalli County residents due to complications of COVID-19. This makes a total of eight deaths in the county so far related to COVID-19. The newest deaths included a female in her 80’s, a male in his 80’s and a male in […]
Republicans sweep local, state elections
Ravalli County Election Results Voter turnout was heavy in this election. Statewide, out of 752,551 registered voters, 608,934 or 80.92% cast ballots in the 2020 general election. In Ravalli County, with 33,739 registered voters, 28,828 cast votes in the 2020 general election for an even higher voter turnout of 85.44% Ravalli County voters voted overwhelmingly […]
Noteworthy artifacts found in Fort Owen survey
The initial archeological survey of the grounds that will be covered over by a proposed parking lot at the entrance to historical Fort Owen State Park in Stevensville has already yielded one small artifact that lead archeologist at the site, Dan Hall of Western Cultural, Inc., called “significant.” The item has been identified as a […]
Hamilton considers Skalkaho Bend Park revegetation project
Last week Hamilton residents got a chance to weigh in on a large revegetation project planned for installation along the river in Skalkaho Bend Park. Although the project only recently came before the City of Hamilton for review by the Committee of the Whole it has been in the development stage for quite some time, […]
Bitterroot Forest Travel Plan ruling upheld on appeal
In a memorandum filed on October 27, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the 2018 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christianson upholding the Bitterroot National Forest Travel Plan against a challenge from the Bitterroot Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club and other motorized and mechanized users. The six recreation groups argued in their lawsuit […]
Stevensville town council examines council president’s conduct
The Stevensville Town Council held a “workshop” at its regular council meeting on October 22 in which it considered Council President Bob Michalson’s conduct in relation to the Town Council’s Code of Conduct. Mayor Brandon Dewey produced a memorandum for the Town Council in September outlining “a pattern of unprofessional and disruptive behavior” by Michalson, […]
Youth Expo receives memorial grant
Last Thursday at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, representatives of the Bitterroot Youth Conservation & Education Expo, a community sponsored program which introduces young people to the wonders of nature and the value of exploring the great outdoors, accepted a $2,000 donation from the Friends of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. The gift […]