JUST Montana News!!!

Try the Townsend Star Montana News Search engine!!!

Broadwater County voters choose their favorite partisan candidates, deny mill levies

by Dean Rhyneer
The Townsend Star

Broadwater County voters went to polls this week to choose their favorite candidates in each political party, narrow the field in some non-partisan races and decide whether or not to approve mill levies for the Sheriff and Road Departments. Local voters agreed with the majorities in all national and state races, but varied from the majority in the regional District Judge campaign.
Local Democrats followed suit with most of the rest of the country by favoring Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. Also on the Democratic ballot, Max Baucus was uncontested as U.S. Senator, John Driscoll was favored for the U.S. Representative candidate, and Schweitzer and Bohlinger were favored to represent them as Governor and Lieutenant Governor candidates. Linda McCullough was uncontested as their choice for Secretary of State. Steve Bullock beat out John Parker and Mike Wheat as the local favorite for Democratic candidate for Attorney General. Monica Lindeen was uncontested as the State Auditor candidate for the Democrats. In the Democratic race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Denise Juneau was the local favorite. John Vincent was the party’s only choice for Public Service Commissioner. The Democrats had no candidates for Senate District 34, and offered as their uncontested choices, Bob Brastrup for House District 68 and Fred Froelicher for House District 83.
On the Republican ballot, John McCain beat out Ron Paul as the local favorite Presidential candidate. Bob Kelleher was the county’s choice to represent the party in the U.S. Senator race. Denny Rehberg was the Republicans only choice for U.S. Representative. Local Republicans favored Roy Brown and Steve Daines as the candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Brad Johnson was the party’s only choice for Secretary of State. Broadwater County favored Tim Fox as the Republican candidate for Attorney General. Uncontested on the Republican ballot were Duane Grimes for State Auditor, Elaine Sollie Herman for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Alan Olson for Public Service Commissioner, Joe Balyeat for Senate District 34 and Harry Klock for House District 83. Scott Sales was favored over Debra Ann Brown for House District 68.
On the backs of all ballots were the non-partisan races and issues. Mike McGrath was favored by local voters over Ron Waterman for Supreme Court Chief Justice, but both will move on to the General Election. Patricia Cotter was uncontested as the choice for Supreme Court Justice No. 3. Dennis Loveless topped the list of choices for District Court Judge with 369 Broadwater County votes. Behind him was a close race between Steve Frankino with 278 votes and Kathy Seeley with 264 votes, followed by K. Paul Stahl with 233 votes, Greg Duncan with 218 votes and David Nielsen with 114 votes. However, with the inclusion of Lewis and Clark County votes Loveless came in third with 3828 votes to Seeley’s 4481 and Frankino’s 5269, giving those two the positions on November’s ballot. Also uncontested was Valerie Middlemas for Clerk of District Court.
In the Broadwater County Commissioner races, Laura Obert topped District No. 1 with 843 votes, followed by Tim Ravndal with 478 votes and Melissa Tuemmler with 282 votes, while Elaine Graveley topped District No. 2 with 952 votes, followed by Michael Delger with 414 votes and Cal Janes with 226 votes. Tuemmler and Janes were eliminated from the races in the General Election.
Both mill levy issues on the ballot were shot down. The Broadwater County Road and Bridge Department was asking for a $114,400 permanent mill levy to fund their operations. It was declined by a vote of 1005 against, versus 656 for, the tax increase. The Broadwater County Sheriff Department also asked that a $123,019.44 permanent mill levy be approved. It was voted down in a close decision, 910 against versus 755 for.

Local bighorn sheep herd nearly wiped out
.

By James Green

The Townsend Star

The death toll continues to rise on the Elkhorn herd of bighorn sheep. Approximately 45 carcasses have been recovered thus far. All have been confirmed to have died of pneumonia. The majority of confirmed deaths have been from Indian Creek to the southern part of the Elkhorns. The deaths have not been confined to the young or old, it has been an all age die off according to Fred Jakubowski of FWP.
In April, FWP conducted an aerial survey of the remaining herd and were only able to locate 19 of the expected 200-220. They expect some mortality rate amongst the 19 remaining thus leaving an alarmingly low number for replenishing/recovering the herd.
When the herd was transplanted in the 90’s, a herd of 75 was brought in establishing last year’s healthy herd of approximately 220. If the expected death toll holds, the herd may be a total loss. FWP officials are in discussions as to what will occur as far as re-population is concerned but are unanimous a repeat of this year’s episode is the last thing wanted.
The bacteria that causes the pneumonia is carried by all big horn sheep as well as domestic sheep. The pneumonia itself is transmitted through nose to nose contact. FWP were able to test a domestic sheep herd and see the impact of intermingling between domestic and wild herd. No signs of a correlation between the two has been observed thus far.
FWP would also like to remind all those who may come across a ram carcass this year that it is illegal to pick up or posses those heads/horns. Failure to comply results in some very hefty fines. In lieu of your picking them up FWP asks for your help in locating the carcasses. If you are in the Elkhorn Mountains and come across one, FWP asks that if you have a GPS on you please write down the GPS coordinate and deliver it to FWP. If you don’t have a GPS they ask that you make detailed directions so they may take care of the carcass.
Finally, they ask for your help in locating and reporting live members of the remaining herd. The same request applies, GPS coordinate or detailed directions. They would also like you to document what you see, i.e. Lamb, Ewe or Ram. Your help is greatly appreciated. To report findings please contact FWP at 266-3367.

Locals top benefit fishing tournament

By Dean Rhyneer

The Townsend Star

Montana Walleyes Forever and Pike Masters sponsored a benefit fishing tournament on Canyon Ferry Reservoir this past Saturday. About 80 teams tried their luck between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. to try to land the largest walleye.
Local anglers Doug Breker and Duane Meier teamed up to take top honors in the event. Curt and Ron Campbell, also of Townsend, landed second place. Also placing in the money was local Corky Roberts.
Breker reeled in the 30.5 inch ‘eye, weighing 11.42 pounds, giving him and Meier the biggest catch of the day. That earned them a check for $500, which they donated back to the tournament benefactor, Camp Mak-A-Dream.
Camp Mak-A-Dream was founded in 1991 by Harry and Sylvia Granader who donated 87 acres of their Western Montana ranch and seed money to begin construction of the camp facility. The camp was created to carry out the mission of providing a medically-supervised, cost free Montana experience, in an intimate community setting, for children, young adults and families affected by cancer.
The first camp was held in the summer of 1995 with a group of 46 children with cancer. In 1996, the number of summer sessions increased to four and now offers programs year-round. Since opening its doors, Camp Mak-A-Dream has welcomed more than 4,300 participants from across the United States, plus Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chili.
Doug Breker holds up his 30.5 inch winning whopper walleye, along with partner and whopper netter, Duane Meier.

Students awarded for reading, fitness

By James Green

The Townsend Star

Elizabeth Holland was the big winner in this years Advanced reading point tally, racking up a whopping 404 points! Only Madison Robishon and Evander Wilbur came close with 350 and 250 respectively.
Local students are awarded points for each book they read and are tested after completing each book to ensure they read the books and retained it.
A ceremony was held last week in the auditorium awarding the highest readers. All students over 100 points were awarded a “100 Point Club” T-Shirt, 150 to 250 also received a $10 gift certificate to Hastings and 300-400 recieved a $25 certificate to Hastings.
Below is a list of the recipients and their respective AR point totals:
Daniel Davis 150, Madison 350, Joel Neel 120, John Bakkum 102, Jace Lewis 100, Evander Wilbur 250, Michael Clark 104, Quinn Lelacheur 200, Braden Masolo 132, Louis Engalls 100, Brittney Rathjen 134.5, *Elizabeth Holland 404, Tavia Rooney 100, Bailey Field 144, Calder Toombs 184, Sam DeMartin 100, Andrew Ferrat 100, Lynzee Dexter 108, Gabby Bakkum 101, Olivia Lynn 100, Melanie Booth 100, Bryce Green 100, Josh Brown 150, Tyson Racht 100, Baylee Boster 100, Kristen Wheeling 100, Questen Inghram 100.
Four students were also awarded the Presidential physical fitness award - Caitlin Hoeffner, Kenny Wilbur, Bryce Green and Aubrey Bair. The students received the award for having the highest combined point totals in curl ups, pull ups, shuttle run, sit and reach and the one mile run.
Caitlin Hoeffner, Kenny Wilbur, Bryce Green and Aubrey Bair receive their Presidential fitness awards.
Photo by James Green