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More frequent wildfires in the West can turn hiking through beautiful, high-elevation country into a dangerous game for hikers. In July, seven friends from Idaho, Colorado, Washington and Montana took off for a week of backpacking in southwestern Montana. Everything went off without a hitch their first night. A rainstorm passed through but it wasn't a big deal. But when they woke up, they saw a plume of smoke rising into the sky. Darren Wilson had anticipated something like this, even before the...
As you drive over bridges this time of year, take a moment to look down at the streams and rivers and appreciate just how much water is flowing down there. I know: Late summer is when water levels in streams and rivers are at their lowest. By now, crops have been irrigated for several months, snowpack is gone, and it seems like a long time since we last saw a decent rain. But Montana’s water flows could be a lot worse. Here at FWP, we talk a lot about the contributions that agriculture makes to wildlife habitat—rotational grazing that kee...
For more than 50 years, generations of passionate, persistent citizens worked hard to ensure the Gallatin and Madison Ranges continue providing vital wildlife habitat, clean water and wild places for people to find adventure and solace. Today’s debate about the future of these mountains stands on this legacy, and for that we are deeply grateful. These mountains are among the wildest places left in the lower 48. As veterans of earlier efforts to protect the Gallatin and Madison Ranges, we support the Greater Yellowstone Conservation and R...
Whenever our household budget has gotten tight over the near decade of living in Montana, one topic that always seems to come up is getting rid of our satellite service and finding a different and cheaper way to watch television. Our bill would keep growing, and we would call them to say we’d like to cancel. They’d end up giving us a discount for a few months, only to have the high prices return after it ended. It was a never-ending cycle. I still think I’m still trying to recover financially from the year we thought it would be a good idea to...
For many Montanans, our state’s attraction is its abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities, especially hunting and fishing. These resources have traditionally been managed according to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which holds that wildlife is a public resource held in trust by the state, should be allocated democratically, and should not be commercially exploited. These principles have allowed Montanans of ordinary means to enjoy our outdoors. Now the scales have started to tip in favor of wealthy out of state inter...
The summer before my sixth-grade year, I would grab my football and make the short walk from my house to Yellowstone School. Sometimes, enough kids would gather, and we would have an impromptu game. We would have some of the best days trying to emulate the Air Force Academy wishbone offense. One time I managed to get a rare touchdown and ran right into a teether ball poll and it knocked me out cold. I still get teased about it to this day. When nobody was around, I would spend an hour or two practicing punting. I was not blessed with much athle...
In a few months, we will celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Three Forks Voice. It has been a wonderful journey, and we would like to thank all the people who pick up a paper around town or have a subscription. We appreciate all of you so much. We also want to give a huge thanks to our amazing advertisers, many of whom have been with us since the beginning. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts; without you, we wouldn’t have a paper. The same thank you can be said for all those who read and advertise in our sister paper, the Lewis and C...
Even before I met a cat, my mom told me I was allergic. While I had plenty of dogs growing up, I didn't know much about cats, and whenever I saw one, it freaked me out because I just didn't understand them. Years later, while living on a Reservation in Washington state, I noticed a little kitten wandering outside my house. I instantly started to worry about the kitten. Nervousness about a cat or being allergic was not part of my thought process; I just wanted to give the kitten a safe place to...
Over the years, one of the most asked questions I get from entrepreneurs is what grants are available for new businesses and how do I get a business loan. Securing business capital can be frustrating and defeating for many individuals that have had the dream of turning their unique idea into a new small business. Grants are mostly non-existent for most startups unless your local community organizations or government agencies offer financial incentives. To help reduce barriers for startups, the...
While I was growing up in a modest-sized, hard-working city in Wyoming, my dad happened to live about a two—or three-minute walk from a cemetery. Whenever I was staying with my dad, I would join the neighborhood kids at night as we would make the short walk to go and explore. As a kid, it would always freak me out, and I wanted nothing to do with it, but sometimes, I just wanted to feel like I was part of the group and begrudgingly joined in on the mischief. It was also the first place my dad took me when I was around 14 to try and teach me t...
We call Montana "The Last Best Place" for good reason. Millions of visitors come to share in our state's breathtaking landscapes and vibrant communities each year, supporting nearly 50,000 Montana jobs and bringing at least $5 billion to our state annually, according to a study by the University of Montana. This revenue fueled our post-pandemic recovery, providing a lifeline to our hotels, local restaurants, and countless small businesses. I know how crucial these visitors are to our state's eco...
I’m the type of person who can’t entirely function appropriately without a to-do list. The lists come in very handy for work. I usually have a list of things I need to complete for the upcoming edition of the newspaper and a master story list that constantly evolves as the year goes by. I also utilize lists in my personal life. My “personal” list recently needed some updating, with getting in much better shape skyrocketing to the top of the list. Sometimes, it gets a bit out of hand when I start making lists of lists that I need to make. While... Full story
As Montanans face more economic challenges due to inflation, it can weigh heavily on our most vulnerable populations, including senior citizens. Housing costs are soaring across the nation, thanks in part due to a lack of supply keeping up with demand. While many Montana seniors own their own homes and have little or no remaining mortgage debt, they struggle to make ends meet on fixed incomes. Montana’s seniors deserve to age with dignity and to live safely and independently at home throughout their golden years. Through the Montana Board of H...
By JACK H. SMITH Three Forks Voice I’m sure most people probably have a friend or family member who gets a little too caught up in the political landscape. Whether sitting around the Thanksgiving dinner table or nonstop posting on social media, their lives seem consumed by the colors blue and red. I have a good friend from my hometown who fits the bill perfectly. A few years ago, he started to post about politics occasionally, and now, that is all he does. I’m unsure how he’s gotten any work done in the last few weeks because it has been nonst...
To say the Headwaters Trail System is a boon for the Three Forks area would be an understatement. Throughout the year, the 12-mile trail system is utilized by both area residents and visitors to the area. It’s a big deal for Three Forks. This weekend, the annual Headwaters Bank Run on Saturday, July 27, will be an excellent opportunity to give back to the trail system. Throughout the year, Trail System Director Gene Townsend and others work hard to obtain government grants for both maintenance and expansion. There have been plenty of recent s... Full story
We are the Area IV Governing Board and Advisory Council, which oversees older adult services in Broadwater, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Meagher, and Park Counties. We write to implore Governor Gianforte’s administration to prioritize improved resources to deliver Older Americans Act services in our six counties. Montana’s Medicaid unwinding process has largely ended and we are concerned about significant harm and unintended consequences on elders across the state. Specifically, many older Montanans should never have lost their ben...
Summer was always quite the adventure as a kid. While there was certainly plenty of time spent watching awful daytime television or Atlanta Braves baseball, there were countless hours spent outside. I vividly remember how much fun it was to be outside until the streetlights came on, playing all sorts of different night games. I'm not sure if it's because kids don't get outside as much, or my neighborhood is older, or perhaps a combination of both, but the younger generation is really missing... Full story
What fun: You’re going on a guided outdoor trip. As you get ready, here are some tips from actual guides about what to expect, as these patient men and women have experienced a few trips that did not go well. First, follow the packing list. Do not leave your raingear at home because your brother tells you it never rains in the desert. If it is 100 degrees in the shade at your house and the list recommends a down parka: bring it. It can and will snow at 10,000 feet in midsummer. If the guide goes through your pack removing extraneous objects and...
n my line of work, I cover many different community events. It’s always great to get out during Rodeo week in Three Forks to visit with people and take in the wonderful sense of community the event brings. I’m far less social when not working; sometimes, I want as little human interaction as possible. It’s certainly not every day, but sometimes I don’t handle people well. It’s nothing against anyone these days; I want to get in and out of where I’m going as quickly as possible. Over the past nine years, I’ve gotten to know quite a few people in... Full story
This column was originally published at https://dailymontanan.com. The upcoming property tax year could be a little easier on homeowners and renters than last year. The operative word in that sentence is could. Here’s why this year could be easier, not a slam-dunk “will be easier.” Three policy-generated numbers mathematically merge in a complex equation to determine what you pay in property taxes: 1) the state’s assessed value of your property; 2) the state’s tax rate applied to your property; and 3) every city and county’s total ask in taxe...
June went by too fast for me. While I was lucky enough to have some family come and visit, I didn't get out of the house nearly as much as I told myself I was going to. I must really change that in July and August. Even if it's just a day trip or a short overnight one somewhere, I need to get out of the house and explore. Once I get through the stress of planning a trip and finding affordable options, I get very nervous before going anywhere. It's a strange feeling to get so much anxiety for... Full story
Checkboard landownership has created challenges for private and public land management since the railroad grants in the 1880s. One hundred and forty years later, the problems remain. The current checkerboard of private and public land creates problems for wildlife, recreation, public and private stewardship and livestock management. Simply put, habitat fragmentation is bad for both wildlife and resource functionality. The Crazy Mountains pose a distinctive challenge due to the current mix of private and public lands. Checkerboard ownership disr...
This month's Lewis and Clark Journal has a special section previewing the upcoming Three Forks NRA Rodeo and Rodeo Dayz celebration. The section in our sister publication is an excellent opportunity to read more about upcoming events and highlight many outstanding businesses in the Three Forks area. With the popular event scheduled to take place later this month, it is also important to remember all the people who volunteer. Without all the hard-working volunteers, events like this could not hap... Full story
While researching a recent column, I decided to go online and search for the prices of a hotel that my family used to stay at years ago in Jackson, Wyoming. I knew the prices would be high enough to put me in a foul mood, and I was not wrong. Many people could afford a $ 500-a-night hotel, but I’m certainly not one of them. I’d rather sleep in the car than pay that much money. A few hours later, I logged onto Facebook, and my feed became inundated with ads for the hotel. I did not like this at all. All it took was one simple online search, and... Full story
The Fourth of July is always a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to get together to celebrate, and setting off fireworks has become synonymous with the holiday commemorating America's birthday. While our kids are older now, it was always such a fun time to take them to the local fireworks stand and to see the joy they would get later in the evening. It's also always great to go to the local stands that help raise money for local youth programs like wrestling. As fun of a time as so ma... Full story
