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Candidate forum set for Saturday, school/fire election May 6

by Dean Rhyneer
The Townsend Star

Next Tuesday, area voters will go to the polls for the local school and fire election. This comes just a month away from the Primary Election on June 3rd. With this year’s ballots foaming with more bubbles than a bathtub, voters are urged to investigate their choices and contemplate their decisions before stepping into the booth.
The Montana Multiple Use Association and Broadwater Farm Bureau will be hosting a candidate forum this Saturday in hopes of helping voters make educated decsions in the upcoming elections. The event is slated for 6 p.m. in the Townsend Elementary Multi-purpose Room. Candidates will introduce themselves, answer specific questions from facilitator Jack Mahon and hopefully field questions from the audience.
The school and fire election on May 6th will boast a ballot for two school board members, three rural fire board trustees and a proposed school mill levy. Voters will be asked if they want to approve a permanent annual mill levy in the amount of $85,000, which is approximately 8.79 mills, for the purpose of funding operation of the Townsend School District. This works out to approximate tax increases of $8.73 on a $50,000 property, $17.46 on a $100,000 property and $34.92 on a property worth $200,000.
That same ballot features four candidates running for two positions on the school board. Those candidates are Michael Dexter, Joan Eliel, Claudette Hohn and James Kevin McDonnell.
Looking to fill two three-year terms on the rural fire board are Leslie Heisey, John Rauser and Steve Ward. Also, the two candidates vying for a one-year term on the rural fire board are Jane Cazier and Robert Hossfeld.
The June election, in addition to national decisions, will feature choices for Broadwater County Commissioners, regional House District seats, a District Judge position and two county mill levies. The Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office and the county Road and Bridge Department will both be asking for tax increases to better fund their operations.
As Jim Hohn steps down from his District 1 Commissioner position, Laura Obert, Melissa Tuemler and Tim Ravndal will be vying for that position. The District 2 Commissioner position will be challenged by Elaine Gravely, Cal Janes and Mike Delger.
Challenging encumbent Scott Sales in HD68 will be Bob Brastrup and Debra Brown. Challenging Harry Klock for HD83 is Fred Froelicher.
Many of these candidates will be on hand at Saturday’s forum along with officials to explain the proposed mill levies. Community members are encouraged to attend, as well as vote in Tuesday’s election. There will be special machines available to those with disabilities. See below and right for more information.

Townsend hosts Montana Arbor Day Celebration
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by James Green

The Townsend Star

Friday, April 25th Kicked off The Townsend Tree Board’s Arbor day Festivities. And what is the best way to start an Arbor Day Celebration you might ask? Well to plant a tree with Mrs. Gilligan’s 5th grade class of course.
The students planted a tree right in front of the Elementary. Patrick Plantenberg then offered recognition to the winners of the Arbor day Poster Contest; Jayden Sparrow, Madison Robishon and Elizabeth Holland and presented to the Townsend School on their behalf, the poster they had created to forever be hanging on the walls of the School..
The festivities moved inside the multi purpose room in the High school from there. The 5th Grade choir had prepared a grand welcome for Lt. Governor John Bohlinger singing a wonderful rendition of this land is our land. Other entertainment included Bailey Fields on the Fiddle, Poetry from Starre Helm and Anne Trusdale, and more.
Superintendent, Brian Patrick spoke on the importance of Arbor day and some of the “green” movements the Townsend School had recently undertaken such as the One Day one School and the Bio Mass boiler.
Kevin Reardon, Helena National forest service Supervisor spoke on the USFS support for state and urban community forestry programs.
Mary Sexton, Director of DNRC spoke on the history of Arbor day, on the Importance of Arbor day, as well as covered the requirements to become “Tree City USA”. Those requirements include a commitment of two dollars per person in the city, thanks to the tree board’s commitment as well as other contribution totaling 15,000 averaging $7.50 per person making Townsend a Tree City Winner.
Lt. Governor John Bohlinger began his Arbor day presentations with a wonderful poem recital by Joyce Kilmer entitled “trees”. He then presented Patrick Plantenberg and Mayor Mary Alice Upton with the Tree City USA Growth Award, Congratulated them on five consecutive Tree City USA Awards as well as seven in total. He spoke of the benefits of trees and how they offer: a source of employment, Environmental benefits such as reducing urban heat, storm runnoff, air polution and reduction of energy costs. He then proceeded outside, Golden shovel in hand he threw in the first dirt on yet another tree, later to be named “Linda’s Linder Tree” in honor of Linda Southall’s work and commitment to Townsend’s Arbor community. The tree was planted between the library and the high school. You can easily spot it as it has a nice plaque near the base.
The Lt. Governor, called to business had to head back to the capital but the Arbor day festival continued.
The festival officially proceeded to Broadway where it lost some of its grandeur. Now when I say it lost some grandeur I should clarify, The crowds, children and Lt. Governor had left but the very important work of the Arborist’s continued.
As Patrick Plantenberg and his small army of helpers from both the tree board and the DNRC began planting trees in front of The Mint, five in total, the “celebration” began to look, smell, and feel alot like work as the crew began demolishing and removal of the large chunks of concrete the tree board had cut at an earlier time in preparation for this time. It was a wonderful opportunity to see how hard Arborist’s work to achieve their goals. I would strongly urge anyone who has not been involved in the Townsend Arbor Day Festival to at least take part in the celebration as it was quite the eye opener for me.
Montana Lieutenant Governor John Bollinger scoops a celebratory shovel of dirt onto the tree at the school as part of the State Arbor Day Celebration. Also shown below is Jayden Sparrow’s Arbor Day Poster that will be entered into the state contest.
Photo by James Green

DNRC, Tree Board working together

by James Green

The Townsend Star

After all of the Arbor day festivities I still didn’t quite have a thorough understanding of how the DNRC (Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) and the tree board all came to be working together, nor did I understand how the DNRC worked with Townsend.
Well I was fortunate enough to hook up with and have an excellent and enlightening conversation with Dan Rogers, Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator, Montana Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
The main job of the DNRC as far as their interaction with Townsend is to Provide Urban Habit for birds and other Urban wildlife, Provide a buffer from asphalt and concrete to nature. In order to achieve this the DNRC offers 1) Financial Assistance - in the form of challenge grants 2) Technical Assistance in the form of tree planting and removal, dangerous tree assessments etc. and lastly they offer 3) Information and education through Arborist training and pamphlets. This is handled by Fred Bicha in the eastern division and Jamie Kirby in the western division.
In working with Townsend’s Tree board, Mr. Rogers indicated “Townsend clearly understands the benefits of trees”. In working with the tree board the DNRC has the opportunity to accomplish their goals as well as form a relationship with the city members having a great impact on their goals.
He also commended Townsend on its winning of the $6,500 DNRC Urban Challenge Grant as well as their GIS City tree inventory and the integration of that program with the school curriculum.

7th annual Townsend Cowboy Entertainer Gathering to benefit local fire department

June 6th and 7th, at the Broadwater High School, we will host western entertainers from Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Utah and Nevada at a gathering of Cowboy Poets and Western singers and songwriters.
The Townsend Cowboy Entertainer Gathering has grown to be the second largest Cowboy Entertainer Gathering in Montana, attracting entertainers from all over the Northwest as well as audience from throughout Montana and from many other areas as well. Inquiries have come in about our Townsend Gathering from as far away as Washington, DC, Nashville and Branson.
Most of our local favorites, such as Wayne Nelson, Bill Chiles and John Westbrook will be back this year. Billy Rose, from Elko, will be back as well as Jamie Baker, from Alder, Montana, Jamie Parker-Frank from Wyoming and Sam Deleeau from Utah. The Academy of Western Artists DJ of the year, Dallas McChord, will be here from Oregon and the President of the Western Music Association will be here with the band STAMPEDE!, from Utah.
Day-shows will start Friday, June 6th, at noon and run until 5:00PM. The Night Show will open at 6:30PM and we expect to go until 10PM.
Saturday will begin with a Fire Department Pancake Breakfast at 7:30AM at the Fire Hall and we’ll start a special Day-Show from 8AM until 10AM. At 10AM Saturday the regular Open-mic Day-shows will start and run until 5PM. At 5PM on Saturday the 6th, the Fire Department will hold a Roast Pig dinner at the school. There is limited seating for the dinner, so tickets for that are pre-sale only!
Day-Shows are free admission. Friday and Saturday Night Shows are $8 admission for everyone 13 years and older. 12 and under are free admission. The dinner and show tickets on Saturday are $18 per person. Please contact Joann Shindoll or Larry Gibson at 266-3946 for Dinner or advance Night Show tickets.
The Christian Cowboy Balladeers will organize a Cowboy Church on Sunday morning, June 8th.
All activities will be at the Broadwater High School and all proceeds go to the Broadwater County Fire Department. This show has provided over $3000 per year to the Broadwater Rural Fire Department for the past four years. The Fire Department needs to upgrade its accident response efforts by purchasing new Jaws Of Life equipment at a cost of $100,000.00. All proceeds will be put towards this effort.

BHS thespians to perform spring play
Do you want to laugh until your sides hurt while getting a healthy dose of “culture?” Then you will want to attend Broadwater High School’s spring production of The Pirates of Penzance or The Slave of Duty (With Apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan).
Pirates invade the rocky coast of Cornwall, England, in this topsy-turvy tale of love and duty. What the actors lack in singing ability, they make up for in enthusiasm. And even those who shy away from musical performances will appreciate the clever lines and lyrics of this lively story. Mark this on your calendar, and we’ll see you there!
Performances will be Monday and Tuesday, May 12 and 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the BHS Stage Gym. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students
This event produced by arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc.