Week of September 30, 2026
Week of September 30, 2026
Staff at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park are seeking volunteers to help with a post-season cleaning of the caverns. The event will be Saturday, October 3, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Volunteers will meet at the Upper Visitor Center for a brief orientation before the work begins. Volunteers will get the chance to see the park up close as they work to reduce some of the impacts from visitors in the cave and on outdoor trails. This includes removing lint and dust from the cave formations, steps, and pathways, along with cleaning naturally growing algae....
Big Hair, Big Hearts - Angel Wings' 80s Night Gala was a rocking success, raising over $6,000 for mental health support and suicide awareness. On Saturday, September 26th, Angel Wings founder Sherre Mead shared the non-profit's rural community goals, inspirations, and promises. "Tonight, the hair is high, the music is loud, and the hearts in this room are even bigger. We came to celebrate the unforgettable style and spirit of the '80s. But more than that, we came together for something...
Fancy a haunted tour, a haunted house, a haunted prison cell? Or are you a fan of ghost walks, horror movies, or fright nights filled with activities to make you squirm? Whatever your pleasure, Southwest Montana’s colorful history is primed to offer spine-tingling events to keep your spine tingling. It begins with Butte’s Spooks and Spirits Haunted Tours, from Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4. “Only Murders in the Mining City” is an interactive 2-3-hour tour that combines local mining history with legends and documented...
It's a known fact that Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is home to the Northwest's most colorful limestone caverns, resplendent with glowing formations of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and helictites. Yes, these two gems of the park are underground, but there's also plenty to do above ground, where cooler fall days make it an ideal time to follow trails through golden grassland and rocky ridges and enjoy sweeping views of the Jefferson River and Tobacco Root Mountains. Quiet and...
According to the Society for Women's Health Research, "Each day, approximately 6,000 women in the United States reach menopause – marked at one year since the last menstrual period." Thus, every woman will eventually go through this transition as she ages. Unfortunately, many women have suffered unnecessarily in silence due to stigma or insufficient research. The good news- times are changing! Key Points of Perimenopause & Menopause: Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause. It...
Whitehall businesses are hosting the second of three countrywide familiarization tours this week. Whitehall business owners and representatives will present their companies and then help host a tour of local Whitehall facilities and businesses. The presentation and tours are open to the public and are part of a larger effort to expand tourism in Jefferson County. WHITEHALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE WEEK: Vanessa Lanz. Senior Vanessa Lanz is honored this week for her work in physics. Teacher...
Yellowstone National Park attracts close to 5 million visitors every year for a major reason. Yes, it has spectacular geysers and world-class trout rivers, but what makes the park unique is that it's home to wild animals native to the area, from grizzly bears and wolves to elk, deer, and bison. That they flourish is due to Yellowstone's huge expanse of wildlands - you'd have to drive 1,000 miles to circle what's called the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. But new policies from Washington, D.C.,...
Seafood has inspired devotees in nearly every corner of the globe. Unique flavors and versatility make seafood a go-to option in many households. Seafood can be the star of the night as an entrée, and it also makes for an ideal appetizer. In fact, some seafood appetizers are so popular that they have shifted from starters to main courses. Bacon-wrapped scallops might be considered an appetizer, but this tasty recipe for "Scallops Wrapped in Bacon on Green Rice" from Lines+Angles can also make...
The Whitehall Garden Club will meet in the JVEMS Ambulance Barn Conference Room located at 111 Whitehall St. North on October 7, 2026. Please join us at 9:30 AM to socialize with current friends and meet new ones. Our members Linda Rubin and Janet Seabase will provide us with an assortment of goodies, and our regular business meeting will follow beginning at 10 AM. This month, we will review the duties and responsibilities of our officers and what is expected when serving on and/or chairing our various committees as we consider nominations...
It is always fun to have the 21st Century students return to the Whitehall Community Library (110 W. First St.) after school begins. This year we are doing different craft projects from indigenous peoples around the world. We began with totem poles from the peoples of the Northwestern United States, then moved on to polar dream catchers with polar bears and penguins from the Inuit people of the Arctic regions. This week, we are painting in the style of Picasso from southern Spain and France....
The Cardwell Community Church invites you to learn about Restoring Hope Nepal on Wednesday, October 7 at 6 PM. Restoring Hope Nepal provides restoration and hope to women who have been rescued from sex trafficking. Since 2013, our safe home in Kathmandu has helped over 150 women gain freedom from sex trafficking and build new lives. The safe house provides love, safety, and education for 30+ women at a time. The residential program provides: • Vocational training & access to traditional...
Summer seems to pass too quickly. One day we are enjoying warm evenings and outdoor activities, and the next there is a chill in the air, a sure sign that fall is here. Fall also marks the beginning of the respiratory season, when illnesses such as the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tend to circulate more widely. We cannot prevent every illness; however, simple, consistent steps can help reduce the spread and keep you, your family, and your loved ones...
Butte SPIRIT Homes invites the community to join us on Monday, October 13, for a special fundraiser dinner at La Casa Toscana to support our campaign to open a new transitional home for women in recovery. Since opening our first recovery home in 2020, Butte SPIRIT has worked to provide people in recovery with supportive housing and treatment services. Today, our organization provides licensed clinical recovery housing for both men and women, along with a men’s step-down home that helps residents transition toward greater independence. Our...
Inner-Mind Therapeutics, owned and operated by Diana C. Smith-Lamprea, will facilitate a grief support group for eight participants, meeting weekly for eight weeks. The group aims to start on Monday, October 19, and run through November 23, from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, in the upstairs private conference room at the Star Theatre. Sessions cost $30 per person per session, or participants may pay in full for all sessions and receive a $20 discount. Most insurance plans also cover these sessions, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and Pacific Source....
Dear Editor, $6.00 a gallon for diesel??? By the time this goes to print, it will probably be higher. It is time to think about our elected officials. For what reasons were they elected? To represent us? Listen to our concerns? To do their job and hold the president accountable? Our Montana Congressmen and Senators are not doing any of these things! I am a Montana cattle rancher and have watched fuel prices skyrocket, fertilizer prices go through the roof, and now I am facing a $ 500-per-head...
Dear Editor, As I've received and perused the many 8.5 x 11, glossy, card-stock political advertisements in my mailbox this summer, I've been both bemused and irritated by their content. Some of the copy sure "sounds" good. They all purport to be on my side, to be representing my interests, to want the things I want, to like the people and policies I "like" and to hate the people and policies I "hate." They all show pleasant faces and big smiles. They all use the "right words." They all promise...
I take issue with Jim Buterbaugh's recent Op-Ed, "What Are the Midterms Really About?" He sprinkled his negative tirade with hyperbolic and derogatory statements, name-calling, and inaccurate anecdotes. His comments simplified the complex US economy, which, by the way, is the envy of the world. He lumped together all free trade agreements and the 2008 banking crisis as the cause of capital exodus overseas and our country's economic decline. Has Jim researched and analyzed the economics behind...
In ancient times, when people first built upper floors, the wisest probably thought it was unreasonably dangerous. It took roughly 117 billion people about 300,000 years to bring technology to what it is today. Ever wonder if the rise of spreadsheet editors and word processing tools was viewed as catastrophically for white-collar workers as AI is right now? There should be a Shazam for perfumes. Today’s generation of children might be the first who can say their parents play more video games than they do. Using your mouth to make a fart...
Serving as your state representative means staying engaged and working year-round, not just during the legislative session. Nearly every month, I have traveled to Helena to participate in the State Administration and Veterans' Affairs (SAVA) Interim Committee, helping ensure our state agencies and veterans' services are prepared for the 2027 legislative session. At the same time, I remain committed to listening to the people I represent. I am out knocking on doors and having conversations with...
Dear Editor, The League of Women Voters of Montana, along with local Leagues in Billings, Bozeman, Helena, and Missoula, supports our democracy in multiple ways. As a nonpartisan organization, we do not endorse individual candidates or parties, but provide educational opportunities to the public on the candidates and issues, including ballot initiatives. One important source for information on candidates is our online Voter Guide, VOTE411.org, a one-stop shop where you can find nonpartisan,...
Dear Editor, I am very proud to be a resident and citizen of Montana. Among the many examples of courage and principle that make this state great is its independent, nonpartisan judiciary. Let's keep it that way by voting yes on CI-132. In the 43 years I've lived, worked, or owned property in this state, raising my daughter here, I have come to admire many things about this state and its people, including Montanans' inclination to be fiercely independent in all matters. An established...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you will soon learn that any obstacle can be overcome if you set your mind to it. While a certain task may seem daunting right now, don’t allow it to intimidate you. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Others are paying attention to you even if they seem distracted, Taurus. Embrace the scrutiny and do your best to reciprocate any special attention coming your way. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, make an effort to be there for a loved one this week. You have a unique ability to listen and support others, and your loved one...
Dear Editor, Montana's small business owners work hard, create jobs, and build communities. They are also some of Montana's most likely to face litigation as they navigate the complexities of employment, contracts, partnerships, and insurance disputes. They need judges who are experienced, fair, and consistent in their application of the law. Montanans value fair, unbiased courts and judges who interpret our laws and constitution consistently and reliably. That's why we've elected our judges in...
Currently, there are approximately 8 billion people on planet Earth, and approximately 159 nations. But at the micro level, humans seem wired to think everything revolves around them. Seriously, it is laughable. Self-absorption is a common human condition; however, we Americans must learn to BEHAVE differently. Some days it would be better for us to have a memo stapled to our head that reads, “The world doesn’t revolve around me.” Considering the first century and time and again in church circles, Israel is understood to be a favored...
GEORGIA, I have a question. I’m 29F and the family volunteer. Every get-together, every spare room, every airport pickup, every last-minute plan, I’m the one they call. I’ve complained about it before, but fighting takes more energy than hosting, so I always end up giving in. I also have a significantly bigger home than anyone in my family, and they seem to take advantage of it whenever they can. Three weekends ago, my parents were getting their floors redone, so the whole crew stayed with me. I work from home, and my desk was covered...
James David "JD" Gill, a 61-year-old resident of Paul, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 3, 2026, while hiking on the mountain trails he so loved. He was born September 17, 1964. to James Ray "Jim" and Annie Lou Gill in Gooding, Idaho. He attended Minico High School in Rupert. JD enjoyed rodeoing throughout high school and college. He completed an Electrician Apprenticeship in 1987. JD moved to Nevada and met and married Yvonne Nannette Law on January 20, 1989, in Elko, Nevada,...
Martha Mae (Roffler) Hanson was born to John and Anita (Strozzi) Roffler on June 1, 1933, at the family ranch house at Pipestone, Montana. She passed away peacefully at The Springs Assisted Living in Butte on September 23, 2026. Martha and her younger sister, Lorraine, enjoyed horseback riding at the ranch and in Whitetail Park. She graduated from Whitehall High School in 1951. Through her active involvement in 4-H, she met the love of her life, Gene Hanson. They married on October 19, 1952,...
Susan Lynn Leek Perkins, 58, of Whitehall, Montana, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family, on September 1st, 2026. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, October 10th, at 1 PM at The Bridge Church, 608 N. Jackrabbit Lane, Belgrade, MT. Susan was born in Deer Lodge, MT, on November 5th, 1967. She attended Powell County High School before moving to Gallatin County, MT, where she graduated from cosmetology school in Bozeman. Susan spent the next 25 years working in salons in Belgrade and Bozeman. She met...
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 07:12:36 Traffic Stop: Hwy 359 07:54:04 Traffic Stop: Hwy 69 08:51:53 Traffic Stop: N Whitehall St 09:03:05 Traffic Stop: W Yellowstone Trl 09:55:24 Reckless Driver: I-90 10:05:29 Vehicle Accident (Injury): I-90 10:29:47 Traffic Stop: N Division St 12:29:11 Traffic Stop 12:44:00 Traffic Stop: Hwy 55 13:20:40 Traffic Stop 13:44:46 Traffic Stop: N Whitehall St 14:30:47 Vehicle Accident (Injury): I-90 15:54:38 Traffic Hazard: I-90 16:17:39 Traffic Stop: N Whitehall St 16:35:30 Traffic Stop: N Whitehall St 17:06:56...
Whitehall High School (Whitehall) snapped its three-game losing streak with an 18-6 road victory over Big Timber on Friday, September 25. The win marked the Trojans' first victory since opening the season with a 54-6 win over Deer Lodge. Whitehall followed that victory with three consecutive losses, falling 30-27 at Thompson Falls on September 4, 60-14 at Three Forks on September 10, and 32-7 to Jefferson on September 18. Up next: Whitehall will return home Friday, October 2, to host Columbus...
