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School Board candidate forum scheduled for April 29th

by Dean Rhyneer
The Townsend Star

Townsend Schools will be holding a school election on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. There are two positions on the school board up for vote, which are being vacated by Al Bodle and Mark McGinley. These are three-year terms. Also on the ballot will be the proposal for a $85,000 mill levy for the operation of the school district.
Polls will be open for the annual school election in the Library Community Room, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. All registered Broadwater County voters residing in the school district are eligible to participate in the election. Eligible registered voters that are unable to make it to the polls on the day of the election may request an absentee ballot from the election administrator’s office, located in the courthouse at 515 Broadway in Townsend.
The candidates that have filed for the school board positions are Mike Dexter, Joan Eliel, Claudette Hohn and Kevin McDonnell. These four have been asked to participate in a candidate forum at 7 p.m. in the Library Community Room on Tuesday, April 29th. The forum, sponsored by the Townsend Education Association, will allow the candidates to introduce themselves, answer questions presented by a moderator and then field questions from the public. The forum is expected to last approximately one hour.
Issues of policy, programs and personnel have dominated the past school year, and the Townsend Education Association encourages voters to attend the forum to help them decide who will best advocate for Townsend Schools’ students, teachers, policies and on-going programs. They also encourage all eligible voters to participate in the election on May 6th.
The Broadwater County Fire Department Election will also take place on May 6th at the same polling place. However, the scheduled hospital election will not take place because there are the same number of candidates for the hospital board as there are openings. Therefore, those positions will be filled by acclamation. Look for more information on these elections in upcoming issues of the Townsend Star.

Elkelope spotted near Winston (or The Ugly Antelopling)
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by James Green

The Townsend Star

Were it a different time, oh say 1844, and we had the crafty writing style, wit and imagination of one Hans Christian Andersen here in the small town of Townsend, Montana. I am certain the story of The Ugly Duckling would likely never have came to fruition, having seen what I have seen. Instead the title would have been something like The Ugly Elk-ling or antelop-ling or something of that nature.
Maybe instead of his fairy tale beginning; “It was a lovely summer weather in the country”, he would have began instead; The seemingly endless cold months of winter in the Lake country... I don’t want to try to draw attention from one of the greats so I will just tell the story.
Recently I heard rumor of an elk calf that had decided it was an antelope and had taken up with a local herd.
In an attempt to confirm the story I loaded up the Star’s fancy camera and headed out at daybreak every morning to try to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
Well needless to say this new breed of elk proved to be very elusive. I saw plenty of antelope, plenty of elk, but never the elusive “elkelope.”
After a week or so I was wondering if it was a prank. My children, in the mean time, had named the animal “Waldo” from the “Where’s Waldo” books and the name kind of seemed fitting.
I had nearly given up on getting the story when all of the sudden on a trip back from Helena we saw a herd of antelope off of Galzagory Rd. and went to have a look, sure enough there he was, big as an elk in an antelope herd. But as you know getting a photo of a Yetty or something as elusive as an Elkelope is not an easy task, wouldn’t you know I had left the camera at home so it wouldn’t get stolen in Helena.
Now if you are to go looking for Waldo you will quickly be able to spot him, he’s easily a foot taller than any of his siblings and does not have the tale tale white markings of the other antelope. He wanders with the herd, sleeps with them and so on.
I am not sure what the antelope have to say about young Waldo but they do appear to have taken a liking to him. I would like to hear their jokes about him crawling under the fences though {wink}.
If you get a chance and feel lucky, check out the herds as you pass Galzagory Road and you may have your very own siting of Waldo. Good luck.
“Waldo” the elk calf has taken up residency over the past several months with a local herd of antelope, near Winston. Apparently abandoned by his original herd during a cross-prairie venture, he found a home with the “locals.”
Photo provided by Luci Christiansen

First Time Homebuyers’ Workshop offered in Townsend

The first time homebuyers’ workshop teaches you everything you will want to know as you buy your first home. You will meet the professionals in Broadwater and Meagher Counties you would interact with in the home buying process with NO sales pitches and no pressure. Learn how owning a home effects your taxes, how to choose a loan officer, realtor and lending institution that is right for you. Find out the difference between home inspectors and home appraisers and what they do. Discover insurance options you will have. Talk to builders to learn what it takes to build your own home. Learn about credit reports and the steps it takes to clean up credit, how to set a goal and become a better saver, and about the special programs available to help you buy your first home.
The workshop is over two Saturdays May 3 and May 10 at the Ambulance Room in the 400 block of Broadway, Townsend; from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with an hour break for lunch. Cost for the workshop is $15 for one person and $20 for two people (couples, friends, neighbors). Local sponsors for the workshop are American federal Savings Bank, Broadwater Realty. Farm Bureau Insurance, Harvey Realty, Inspect It First Home Inspection, Montana Brokers Real Estate, Northwestern Energy, Pillar to Post Home Inspections, Appraiser Swede Schock, State Bank of Townsend, Surety Title, Tri-rivers Carpentry & Construction, Vogl’s General Construction and Ward Realty. Their sponsorships help to keep the cost of the workshops affordable.
At the end of the workshop you will have earned the First Time Homebuyers certificate which is needed to qualify for many of the First Time Homebuyers programs which can save you hundreds in fees, qualify you for lower interest rates and/or grants towards your down payment or closing costs. For more information or to register for the class call Billi Jo or Reggie at 266-3176. Register as soon as possible to ensure you get a seat. Workshop leader is Beki Brandborg with the Helena Area Housing Task Force 442-2265.

Townsend Schools purchases new activities bus

The Townsend School District has finally recieved their long awaited new travel bus. The bus, a 2009 IC RE Commercial Bus was odered approximately one year ago. The bus was expected to arrive in December but did not arrive until April 11th.
The new bus preliminary cost ranges up at a whopping $145,044 before the logos and other paint additions.
The bus should make the long road trips much more comfortable. It comes equipped with comfortable seating and portable DVD players which were paid for with a $10,000 donation from the booster club.
The funding for the bus breaks down as follows; $129,718 was budgeted from the bus depreciation fund which is set up to replace, remodel or convert busses. $10,000 came from the Bulldog Booster Club, and the remaining $10,000 or so is expected to come from the use of the metal mines fund (contributed in part to by the Diamond Hill Mine). The bus is expected to be fully paid for by the close of the fiscal year (no additional levies will be required for the purchase)
It is a good looking bus and hopefully it will offer the kids the advantage of being well rested and offer a bit less bus lag for all up and coming sporting and activity events.
Bus driver Dana Rauser stands next to the Townsend Schools’ new activities bus that will be used to haul local students around the region.

Rod & Gun Club holds annual banquet
by Dean Rhyneer

The Townsend Star
The Broadwater Rod & Gun Club held its annual fundraiser banquet on April 12th. The event is the club’s only source of operating costs for the year. They will probably make it another year, with grossing between $15,000 and $17,000 at this year’s banquet. While total expenses and net income will not be known for another couple weeks, organizers proudly deemed the evening a success.
The club maintains an indoor pistol range and trap range on Canton Lane, as well as a large outdoor range on Indian Creek Road. They are dedicated to hunting and fishing education for local youth, as well as host and sponsor local 4-H trap shooting and archery programs. In fact, the local 4-H archers placed first in state this year. The club is also preparing for its annual Walleye Fishing Tournament, scheduled for July 19, 2008. They hold monthly meetings that include interesting speakers, potluck dinners and lots of fun.
This year’s banquet sold out of its 200+ tickets a week before the event, so the club has already scheduled next year’s banquet for the second Saturday in April and recommends people purchase their tickets early.
For more information about the Broadwater Rod & Gun Club or its facilities, call President Virgil Binkley at 266-3812, Vice-President Steve Leatherman at 266-3929 or Membership Chair Harley Hankins at 266-4144, or stop by the Bent Willow on Front Street in Townsend.
Marilyn Hedberg shows off the two shotguns that she won at the R&G Club Banquet.

Photo by Paul Updike