The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office would like to alert the public to a mail scam that has been reported by the Gallatin County Motor Vehicle Department.  Residents have received a mailing like the one posted, claiming to be from the “Vehicle Services Division,” that alleges a person’s vehicle coverage is about to expire and includes a “registration fee voucher” that looks similar to a check.   This is a SCAM and a sly way to get you on the phone to sell you something or gather your personal information. Do not respond to the letter! Our motor vehicle department does not send any such vouchers.

Wellness in Action (WIA) is pleased to announce the start of their building remodel to expand the counseling hub.  The demand for reliable and accessible behavioral health services continues to increase in Big Sky.  To meet this demand, WIA has undertaken a remodel project to add more in person and telehealth counseling rooms, bring the building up to ADA compliance standards and overall increase the capacity for counselors to see more clients.  

“We are so fortunate to have the support of the Big Sky Resort Tax Board to help us fund this much needed remodel as well as the building owner Jeff Helms” said WIA Board President, Michelle Kendziorski.  

Danielle Osti Chenoweth, one of the counselors on the WIA platform, says “It is very exciting to see WIA expand their vision for the overall health and wellness of Big Sky. They have been incredibly helpful and supportive for the community. This expansion will provide even more resources for Big Sky residents and members of the workforce.”

Construction, overseen by Todd Rossier of Two Bear Construction Company, started on February 23rd with an anticipated completion of summer 2023.  If you are interested in touring the site during the remodel process, please send an email to info@wiabigsky.com.

WIA is dedicated to community well-being by connecting individuals to a network of resources.

WIA is a registered 501c(3) nonprofit. If you would like to learn more about our programs please visit https://bigskywia.org.

BIG SKY — Big Sky Resort is proud to announce the opening of Levinski Lodge, the first apartment-style housing for resort team members. Levinski Lodge A is the first of three buildings in the new Levinski Lodge housing campus. Buildings B and C, a mix of dormitory and apartment-style rooms, will open for winter 2023-2024.  

The new units are walkable to the resort, making for a quick commute and easing the burden on local transportation infrastructure.  

“We want our team members to live right here in Big Sky. It enlivens the community, and it’s better for the employee, atmosphere, and climate,” said Troy Nedved, the resort’s general manager. 

Levinski Lodge is the first housing of its kind for team members at Big Sky Resort. Each apartment is fully furnished, and includes a full kitchen, common space, spacious bathrooms, storage closets, and free laundry facilities in the building.  

“Building sustainable housing is not just about location. We’ve included the best efficiency measures to further reduce our environmental impact, including low-flow water fixtures and an energy-efficient HVAC system,” said Amy Fonte, the resort’s sustainability specialist. “The complex will be partially powered by rooftop solar panels, the resort’s first net-metered solar installation, which puts clean energy directly into the grid.”  

Levinski Lodge A will house 35 team members, including some who are moving in with their families.  
“Recognizing that we need more diverse and affordable housing options is crucial to address the housing shortage in the Big Sky community,” said Nedved. “Apartment-style units address a part of the population that has not quite fit in our other housing offerings.” 

The opening of the Levinski Lodge is just one piece of Big Sky Resort’s major investment in team member housing. In the past five years, Big Sky Resort has built and opened more than 350 additional beds in Big Sky, all within walking distance of the resort.  Big Sky Resort currently offers 826 team member beds in Big Sky, more than seven times the ski industry average.  

“Ultimately, our goal is to reach 1,000 beds in Big Sky, which would house approximately half of our team in the winter season. We’re on track to reach that goal by the winter 2023-2024 season,” Nedved said. 

BOZEMAN — “Mavericks,” a documentary about Montana’s freestyle skiing legacy from Montana PBS, recently received two awards.

The film won second place in the National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism awards in the documentary-long form category. In addition, “Mavericks” was named best documentary feature at the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest, which was held Feb. 24-26 in Polson.

“'Mavericks' gives us the opportunity to bring some of Montana’s most interesting untold stories to light and share them across the state and beyond,” said Scott Sterling, director of production at Montana PBS. “I am honored that the hard work and dedication of our Montana PBS production team is recognized with these prestigious awards.”

The filmmakers call Montana freestyle skiers the mavericks of the sport, with multiple freestyle skiers from throughout the state getting their start on homemade jumps before going on to impressive careers. Freestyle skiing is a sport comprising aerials, moguls, half-pipe, slopestyle and more, with skiers often performing aerial flips and spins.

“Mavericks” follows the careers of several Montana freestyle skiers, including Olympic gold medal winner Eric Bergoust of Missoula, Bryon and Bradley Wilson of Butte, Darian Stevens of Missoula, Heather McPhie of Bozeman and Maggie Voisin of Whitefish. Using archival footage and original cinematography, the film captures “the struggles, victories, unsurpassed work ethic and unbreakable spirit of some of the state’s most renowned athletes in a sport where mere seconds determine the outcome of a career,” according to Kelly Gorham, producer and writer. Sterling is the film’s producer, director and editor, and Aaron Pruitt, Montana PBS director and general manager, is the executive producer.

Gorham, who also serves as director of visual media in MSU’s University Communications, said he was proud of both awards.

“I was honored to have ‘Mavericks’ included in such a wonderful festival and deeply humbled by the best documentary feature award considering the breadth of talent on display at the festival,” he said.

Of the NPPA award, Gorham said, “I had to re-read the Best of Photojournalism awards list a couple of times because I couldn’t believe that I was seeing our film among that list of international talent.”

In the NPPA best documentary feature award category, NBC Universal won for its project “Ukraine: The Search for Justice,” while E.W. Scripps received third place and The Washington Post received honorable mention.

The NPPA’s annual Best of Photojournalism competition recognizes the work of visual storytellers around the world. The competition is supported through a partnership with the University of Georgia’s College of Journalism and Mass Communication and presented by Sony as its primary sponsor. More information is available at bop.nppa.org/2023/.

The Flathead Lake International Cinemafest presents a broad slate of domestic and international films. The event is held annually, and this was its 11th year. More information is available at flicpolson.com/.

Last year, “Mavericks” also won the Non-Commercial Television Program of the Year award from the Montana Broadcasters Association. More information about the film is available at montanapbs.org/programs/mavericks/.

Suffering from chronic pain? Looking for a safe, natural way to manage your discomfort? An infrared heating pad might be the answer you’re looking for. Here, we take a look at how an infrared heating pad works and why it could provide you with the relief you need. 

An infrared heating pad offers many potential benefits for people of all ages. Infrared heat is the form of light energy that is found in sunlight and can penetrate 1-3 inches into the skin. This far-infrared radiation warms our bodies from within, providing us with deep tissue warmth that many find to be extremely comforting.

Infrared heating pads have been found to have several positive effects on our health, such as: 

• Improving blood circulation and reducing muscle tension by allowing heat to reach deeper tissues.
• Relief from chronic pain such as arthritis or fibromyalgia by soothing muscles and decreasing
   inflammation.
• Stimulating metabolism and improving overall health due to increased oxygenation of cells caused by
   improved circulation.   
• Helping reduce stress levels due to relaxation resulting from warm temperatures penetrating deeply into
   structures like joints, tendons & ligaments which contain nerves responding positively when heated up.

In addition, infrared heat has been clinically tested for its effectiveness in treating eczema, psoriasis, tendonitis and other medical conditions making it a great alternative healing option if traditional methods are not working well..

How Does an Infrared Heating Pad Work? 

Infrared heating pads work by emitting far infrared rays that penetrate deep into tissue to soothe your muscles and joints. This type of therapy is also known as FIR (far infrared ray) therapy or phototherapy. The heat produced by the pad is absorbed by your body and can help improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and alleviate muscle tension. It can also help speed up recovery time after a strenuous workout or injury. 

Benefits of Using an Infrared Heating Pad 

Using an infrared heating pad can provide a range of benefits. It can help relieve stiffness in your muscles, improve circulation throughout your body, reduce inflammation in your joints, relax tense muscles, and promote better sleep quality. Additionally, using an infrared heating pad is a great way to increase flexibility in your body—especially if you’re dealing with arthritis or other age-related conditions that limit mobility—and maximize range of motion during physical activities like yoga or Pilates.    

The Benefits of Infrared Heat Over Traditional Heat Sources 

Traditional heat sources such as hot water bottles or electric blankets don’t emit far-infrared rays like an infrared heating pad does. This means that traditional heat sources don’t penetrate as deeply into tissue—which reduces their effectiveness at relieving pain and promoting relaxation compared to infrared heat therapy. It also means they aren’t as effective at increasing circulation throughout the body to speed up recovery time after injury or surgery either. If you're suffering from chronic pain, stiffness in your muscles or poor sleep quality due to discomfort, exploring natural solutions like an infrared heating pad could provide the relief you need without any unpleasant side effects. By understanding how it works and what its benefits are, you can make an informed decision about whether this type of therapy will be right for you—and experience better health as a result!

BOZEMAN – As soil acidification becomes a more pressing issue for Montana farmers, researchers in the Montana State University College of Agriculture are conducting on-farm experiments around the state to help explore precision treatments that fit the conditions measured in individual fields.

Assistant research professor Manbir Rakkar and professor Clain Jones of the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences are taking a multifaceted approach to managing and preventing increases in soil acidity, which is largely caused by repeated application of nitrogen fertilizers and can be made worse by growing the crops that require those fertilizers on the same land year after year. 

While other states, such as Idaho, Washington, Oregon and the Dakotas, have been grappling with soil acidity for years, the issue was first really discovered in Montana around 2015, said Jones, who has been working on research into the issue ever since.

“We recognized it as something that needed to be addressed,” said Jones. “The majority of farmers don’t have this problem, but those who do can have up to complete crop loss.”

Jones estimates that around 5% of Montana’s cropland is affected by soils with a pH below 5.5, which is the acidity level at which significant problems can begin to emerge. But one of the things that makes it such a difficult problem is that acidic soils are often found only in patches across a field, and in many instances when soil pH is tested, samples from various locations are combined, resulting in an average acidity measurement for a large area. Low pH and high pH patches may cancel each other out, meaning producers often don’t realize they have an acidity problem.

However, testing more soil samples per acre can be too expensive, so MSU researchers are exploring alternatives such as remote imagery and sensing technology, which could save money and provide a more detailed soil acidity data for a field.

To detect acidic spots within a field, Rakkar said a better approach than traditional composite testing is for farmers to scout their fields periodically. Yellow or stunted plants, poor root development or other unexplained crop growth issue could be an indication of a soil acidity problem. Soil samples from such problematic areas should not be combined with other samples, she said.  

The standard approach to correcting low soil pH is to apply lime products such as spent sugar beet lime, said Jones. However, that requires special equipment and can be costly, especially if farmers opt for blanket application across their fields.

Rakkar hopes her work will help producers to make more informed decisions for precise lime application on acidity-affected areas.

“We’re trying something different than just soil sampling to determine soil acidity,” said Rakkar.

One of those approaches has been to use drones to measure NDVI, or normalized difference vegetation index, which measures the biomass, or “greenness,” in a field — a commonly used indicator of plant and soil health. Jones and Rakkar will seek to identify whether NDVI is affected by soil acidity, something they deem likely.

“If we can correlate NDVI and soil pH, it would be much easier to detect soil pH issues over larger acreages in a very time-efficient method,” said Rakkar.

With funding from the Montana Fertilizer Advisory Committee, Rakkar and Jones are also planning to continue partnerships with producers around Montana to conduct on-farm experiments — rather than only working on MSU’s research farms and centers around the state — that aim to monitor the effectiveness and longevity of different lime products.

They’ll also look at whether different crop rotations could help alleviate acidity. Growing perennial crops such as alfalfa grass or other forages may let producers naturally improve soil acidity. Rakkar hopes to expand those investigations to include pulse crops, such as peas and lentils, which are known to naturally increase soil nitrogen content, which is critical for crop growth and often supplies soil nitrogen to the following crop, thus reducing the fertilizer need.

“We’ve looked at mitigation and prevention, but we are also working on adaptation strategies,” said Rakkar. “We want to identify which varieties of pulses or perennial crops can perform better in acidic conditions. That's important knowledge that growers want to know if they end up with soil acidity issues on their farm.”

Most of Rakkar’s and Jones’ investigations are driven by questions posed directly by Montana farmers, and Jones said the on-farm experiments and collaboration with farmers around Montana shortens the distance between research and implementation. He has received feedback from farmers who have seen improvements in their fields because of MSU’s research.

For Rakkar, who joined MSU’s faculty in 2021, watching that research make a difference in real time has been rewarding.

“It’s been a great learning experience, not just for the farmers. I think for me as well,” she said. “It's always great to listen to what they are doing. We share our findings and then we come up with more fruitful results at the end of the day.”

BOZEMAN, Montana (March 6, 2023) – Late on the evening of Sunday, March 5, the Bozeman School District received an email that included a school threat.

Based on the specifics of the threat, the Bozeman Police Department patrol division, with the assistance of the joint Special Response Team, systematically checked the schools overnight and verified there were no threats present. 

Early this morning, it was learned that multiple school districts across the state also received the same email threat. At this time, the threat does not appear to be credible. The Bozeman Police Department’s detective division is continuing to investigate the incident.

Our first priority during these incidents is the safety of students and staff. Based on that priority, all threats toward the District are taken seriously and appropriate steps are taken to mitigate any danger.  Our School Resource Officers will continue to be present and visible in the schools and our patrol division will increase patrol as school begins again tomorrow.  

We are grateful for our partnership with the Bozeman School District and also want to thank the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.  

Thanks for your patience during this unfortunate incident. We encourage anyone who becomes aware of a threat toward a school district to notify school administrators and local law enforcement.    

Recreationists can help protect critical habitat 

BIG SKY – Winter and spring are stressful times for wildlife as they must rely on fat reserves and limited nutrition to survive. This can make encounters with people especially detrimental to wildlife as the stress of these encounters can deplete an animal’s energy reserves. 

The best thing people can do to help wildlife survive is give them plenty of space. This helps animals retain the energy they need to make it through this season of cold temperatures and limited forage.  

This need is illustrated in an area of the Spanish Peaks near Big Sky. Bighorn sheep spend the winter months in Deer Creek and Asbestos Creek, which are becoming more frequently visited destinations for backcountry skiing. Backcountry skiing in this area puts recreationists amid critical habitat for a struggling population of bighorn sheep. 

Cold temperatures and heavy snowfall have brought excellent opportunities for recreationists, but they’ve also made this winter exceptionally difficult for wildlife. As people across the state head outside to enjoy skiing, looking for antler sheds and other forms of winter recreation, here are some steps they can take to help wildlife: 

• Avoid recreating in areas with wintering wildlife. If you plan to ski in the Spanish Peaks, be aware that Asbestos Creek and Deer Creek are essential winter habitat for bighorn sheep.  
• Abide by seasonal closures on wildlife management areas. Public access is closed in winter for many wildlife management areas to provide habitat security. These closures are strictly enforced. 
• If you encounter wildlife, especially ungulates, give them plenty of space and consider recreating elsewhere. Animals may seem like they don’t mind your presence, but stress from these encounters is harmful. 
• Always keep pets under control.  
• Never feed wildlife. Artificially feeding wildlife can cause digestive failure for animals and is illegal. 

As people keep their distance from wildlife, they protect an important part of what makes Montana’s outdoors so extraordinary. To learn more, visit fwp.mt.gov.

Taking out a loan to keep up with appearances has become an all-too-common norm, and it sees people falling into debt that puts a chokehold on their lives for years to come. This makes living a debt-free life in a world obsessed and run by consumerism seem like an impossible task.

Living debt-free doesn’t mean that you must sacrifice all your enjoyment in life. Rather, living frugally simply means that you prioritize your spending on the things that matter to you.

Here are some frugal living hacks that can keep you debt-free and happy for the rest of your life.

Budgeting

Budgets are fundamental to any financial success. They can help you to keep tabs on your income and expenses as well as let you allocate spending money to the things that you want to prioritize.

When it comes to drawing up your budget, make sure that you include all of your monthly expenses like groceries, entertainment, transport, utilities, and your rent or mortgage. This will keep you living within your means by restricting your expenses.

Sticking to your budget can ensure that you don’t spend too much money on unnecessary expenses. It’s also a great tool to help you to save a little every month so that you can splurge later.

Cook At Home

Going to restaurants should be a luxury, not an everyday occurrence. Cooking your meals at home will not only end up being cheaper, but it’s also much healthier. That’s because meals at restaurants tend to contain higher amounts of saturated fat, sodium, total fat, and overall calories than a good home-cooked meal. They’re also double the price!

If you’re cooking at home, you may as well cook in bulk. Doing this will stop you from caving into a takeout when you’re too tired to cook after a long day. You can plan your meals based on what’s on special in your supermarket and freeze around seven portions for the week.

Avoid Credit Cards

Interest on credit cards tends to be really steep, and the ease with which they can be used to purchase things that you can’t actually afford means that racking up unnecessary credit card debt can happen pretty quickly.

If you do use a credit card, make sure that you pay your balances at the end of every month to avoid unnecessary interest. But because credit card debt can quickly spiral out of control, it’s best that you avoid using them in the first place.

Do It Yourself

Learning how to DIY a bunch of things around your house can end up saving you a lot of money. For instance, you could learn some simple plumbing and electrical tricks. You could also paint things yourself and even make your own cleaning supplies and beauty products.

Shopping for birthdays and the festive season can become expensive quickly. If the thought is really what counts behind gifts, then why not put a little extra thought and effort in by making DIY gifts for your friends and family?

You can check out apps like Pinterest and YouTube for some DIY gift inspiration. Consider making gifts like a DIY birthstone bracelet, homemade candles, or a handmade dreamcatcher.

Decrease Your Electric Bill

You can find so many simple ways to decrease your electric bill.

For example, to cut back on the electricity needed to run your air conditioner, you could use fans. If it’s a hot summer evening, then make a dinner that doesn’t require your oven or wash your dishes in cold water. There are also energy-efficient light bulbs and remembering to turn off appliances and lights when you are not using them can help you to save on electricity.

Buy Second-Hand

Buying second-hand items like used clothing, electronics, and furniture can save you tons of money. It’s also more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Look for your nearest charity and thrift stores. You could also look at online marketplaces and keep your eyes and ears out for garage sales.

Avoid Impulsive Shopping

It’s so easy to impulsively buy something online these days. Very little thought tends to go behind clicking down on the purchase button—with disastrous consequences for your budget. Tackling your impulse buying habits is a must if you are to live frugally and debt-free. It is the biggest culprit of debt since impulsive buying doesn’t involve the consideration of long-term consequences.

You can avoid impulse buying by creating a strict shopping list and by waiting for 24 hours before buying something that wasn’t on your list. During this time frame, you may find that you no longer have a desire for the item or that you found it for a cheaper price somewhere else.

Save, Save, Save!

A big bonus of living frugally is that you’re able to save for the future. Make sure that you start saving for emergency expenses like unexpected car repairs and medical bills. You could also start saving for retirement.

Having enough cash in the piggy bank will mean that you don’t have to take out a loan and get into debt for paying for things you didn’t plan for.

The earlier you start, the longer time your money has to gain interest and grow.

Sell Old Things

Most of us have unnecessary clutter lying around. So why not sell some of the items that you have outgrown and no longer find yourself using?

You could turn your clutter into cash by having a garage sale or selling on sites like Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

Start Paying Off Your Debt

If you’re turning to frugal life because you’ve already racked up some debt, then you should start as soon as possible to take steps to reduce it.

You can do this by paying off your high-interest debts first, like credit card debt. You can then work towards paying off your lower interest-rate debts, like student loans and car loans. If possible, you could consolidate your debt into one loan which has a lower interest rate, which makes it much easier to pay off.

It’s also a good idea to become a bit more financially savvy and work out how to calculate profit margin based on your earnings and expenses and a few other useful accounting hacks. This will help you to manage your debt and avoid it in the future.

A Frugal Future Starts Now

Living frugally in the age of consumerism is possible, and it will keep you from having to live your life indebted to loans. It may mean cutting down on some cushy benefits, but it also means prioritizing what you care about and want to spend your money on, which can be more rewarding than simplistic impulse buying.

On Friday, March 3, 2023, at 12:17 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue West Yellowstone volunteers, Custer Gallatin National Forest Service, Yellowstone National Park, and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District personnel responded to a report of a snowmobiler who had struck a tree on the Two Top Trail, 6 miles west of West Yellowstone.

The snowmobiler, identified as Christopher Berg, was found deceased at the scene. The Gallatin County Coroner’s Office along with Custer Gallatin National Forest Service is conducting a full investigation into the incident. No foul play is suspected. Speed was found as a factor in the crash.

Sheriff/Coroner Dan Springer wishes to express his condolences to the family and friends of the victim in this tragic event.