Tuesday, Oct. 25th, 2022

General hunting season opens with mixed hunter success in southwestern Montana

BOZEMAN – Hunter numbers were below average and hunter success was mixed in southwestern Montana over the opening weekend of the general deer and elk hunting season. 

Wildlife biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in southwestern Montana operated six game check stations over the weekend and met with 1,732 hunters. Biologists use check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex and age class of the animals harvested. This supplements data collected through hunter harvest phone surveys each year. 

Steady rain, snow and fog limited visibility for hunters in many areas, likely contributing to reduced harvest compared to averages. 
The Alder check station saw 335 hunters, which was 18 percent fewer than the long-term average for opening weekend. About 10 percent of hunters harvested an animal, which is below the long-term average of 12 percent. Elk harvest was 55 percent lower than average. Poor visibility and wet conditions likely contributed to reduced elk harvest here.  

The number of hunters and harvested elk at the Cameron check station were also below average for opening weekend. The check station saw 414 hunters during opening weekend, compared to 579 last year and a long-term average of 495. Hunter success this year was about 10 percent.  

FWP staff at the Gallatin check station met with 127 hunters, about 11 percent of whom were successful. The number of hunters here was below average, but the percentage of hunters who harvested deer or elk was above average. 

The Divide check station saw 330 hunters, with a success rate of more than 10 percent. This was about 18 percent fewer hunters than last year, and 10 percent fewer than the long-term average. However, hunter success here was 13 percent higher than last year and 6 percent below the long-term average.  

Biologists also operated check stations near Canyon Ferry and Gardiner. In total for the region, biologists checked 14 white-tailed deer, 53 mule deer and 83 elk. 
These figures do not account for different hunting season regulations over the years, which have varied from liberal to restrictive for elk and mule deer, depending on population status.  

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Family Promise of Gallatin Valley Celebrates 17 Years of Ending Family Homelessness

Bozeman – Family Promise, the nation’s leading nonprofit addressing family homelessness, is celebrating 17 years of serving families experiencing homelessness in the Gallatin Valley. The celebration will take place on Thursday, October 27 from 5:00 – 6:30 at Family Promise, 1603 Tschache Lane. At 6:00pm, Family Promise will welcome guest speakers including

Prior to 2005, homelessness had been an issue in Bozeman and the surrounding area for many
years. Before Family Promise was founded in 2005 there had never been a shelter program addressing homelessness in the Gallatin Valley. A team of interested persons formed a committee and in 2005 became the founding board of Family Promise of Gallatin Valley.

In December 2005, the position of Executive Director was advertised, and on January 30, 2006 Gloria Edwards began work as the first Executive Director. The eight original partner congregations were St. James Episcopal Church, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Hope Lutheran Church, Bozeman United Methodist Church, Belgrade Community Church, First Lutheran Church, Mt. Ellis Academy, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, and Pilgrim Congregational Church.

In 2020, as a result of COVID, and paired with extensive research on family stability, Family Promise moved from the rotational model to a static model of serving families experiencing homelessness. Currently, Family Promise operates three emergency shelter locations and 10 transitional housing locations. Since September 2009, Family Promise has provided over 140,000 total bed nights to families experiencing homelessness. On average, over the last 17 years, over 80% of the families that have graduated from Family Promise have been successful at maintaining safe and stable housing. Over the past two years, the number of families served by Family Promise has increased 685%.

Gloria Edwards, the first Executive Director, and Ray Ross, an original board member, family liaison, and facility manager.

To learn more about the impact of Family Promise in our community, visit familypromisegv.org or call (406) 582-7

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Monday, Oct. 24th, 2022

Mystic Lake Missing Hunters


On October 23, 2022, at 9:29 A.M., Gallatin County 911 Dispatch received a report of two overdue hunters. The hunters had been last seen in the Mystic Lake Cabin area the day prior at 7:10 A.M by a third member of the hunting party, but never returned to the cabin for their planned stay overnight.  Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue were dispatched to locate and assist the missing hunters.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Valley Section and SAR Dog teams deployed to the area the hunters were last seen from the Bozeman Creek Trailhead.  After several hours of clearing trail and navigating snowy conditions, ground teams and a SAR Dog team were able to reach the Mystic Lake Cabin, where they located the hunters.  One member of the party had suffered a minor injury the night before, which delayed their ability to make it back to the cabin in the dark.  The hunters had arrived at the cabin after their hunting partner had already gone for help, and were seeking shelter from the inclement weather.  SAR teams conducted a medical assessment and transported the hunters back to the trailhead.

Sheriff Dan Springer encourages hunters to prepare for changing weather conditions and to carry a means of communication should an accident happen.  Seeking shelter and remaining stationary aided rescuers in conducting a timely and efficient rescue in this case.

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Montana State receives $250,000 grant to examine use of artificial intelligence in libraries

BOZEMAN — Artificial intelligence can help libraries provide better services, including making materials more accessible, but using AI can also raise ethical questions, according to Sara Mannheimer, associate professor with the Montana State University Library.

Now, Mannheimer is leading a team working to help librarians and archivists make ethical, values-driven decisions about how best to use artificial intelligence in libraries and archives. Their efforts are backed by a $250,000, three-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“We see AI as this potentially transformative technology for libraries,” Mannheimer said. “AI can provide services that users love – services that can make the library better – but we want to use AI in a way that is careful and with an eye toward potential harms so that those harms can be minimized.”

Artificial intelligence refers to machines that are programmed to process complex information and mimic human actions. AI is powering social media and search engines, and it factors into data-driven decision-making in education, criminal justice, business and other fields, Mannheimer said. It helps find relevant information with personalized internet search results, book and movie recommendations and more.

Over the past few years, libraries and archives have begun using artificial intelligence to enhance their services, especially to help with describing items in their collections and helping patrons discover them. But using artificial intelligence can also come with drawbacks, Mannheimer said.

“AI is not actually intelligent,” Mannheimer said. “It’s still a machine that’s working through a process. It’s dependent on what data you feed it.” Because of that, she noted, it’s important to recognize that AI can be biased and limited by the data it uses and to consider how to account for and potentially address those biases.

Mannheimer said one of the main ways that libraries use AI is in archives and special collections to help create metadata and catalog terms. It helps librarians and patrons understand, on a larger scale, what’s in the library’s digital collections.

With that additional data, scholars can do things like data mapping – a process that connects a data field from one source to a data field in another source, which can help facilitate data migration and integration – or distant reading, which uses computational methods to analyze literature.

Having that additional data available aligns with a widely held library value of making collections more accessible, but Mannheimer cautioned that it’s important to balance accessibility issues with privacy issues.

“When collections are digitized, it opens up the scope of use if it’s openly available on the web,” she said. “Having digitized archives widely available is very different than having them sitting in a box that only certain scholars would access in person.”

In addition, libraries have begun using AI to enhance library services, such as recommending books for library patrons, yet such a service could be at odds with patron privacy.

“There’s this long-standing idea that in order for (library users) to have intellectual freedom and explore topics with impunity, we don’t keep lending records,” Mannheimer said. “But if there is a search program where a patron can opt in to creating a profile, and libraries can keep track of what you’ve borrowed and recommend other titles for you, suddenly there is a tension. We’re trying to align with long-standing library values, but also we’re coming into this culture where there are different expectations from our users about the services we provide.”

To help address the challenges that come with AI, Mannheimer and colleagues at MSU, Iowa State University and James Madison University are developing resources, including a harms analysis tool and handbook, to advise on the ethical use of AI in libraries and archives. They’re also hosting workshops with librarians, archivists and library users and have created an advisory board.

“We’re trying to bring in as many people with different perspectives as possible to make sure that the ethical decision-making guide we make can be used by people with all different sorts of values and experiences,” she said.

Mannheimer and her team plan to create a free tool to help decision-makers in libraries consider all of the potential angles and ramifications of AI. The team plans to distribute it to colleagues and also make it available online.

“It will basically be a guide where, when you embark on either buying an AI product or creating your own AI project, it will help you consider all of the potential angles,” she said. “We think it will be really helpful to have a series of questions to consider.”

In addition to Mannheimer, who is leading the grant, other members of the project team include Jason Clark, Doralyn Rossmann and Scott Young with the MSU Library; Bonnie Sheehey with the MSU Department of History and Philosophy; Hannah Scates Kettler with Iowa State University; and Yasmeen Shorish with James Madison University. The grant is affiliated with the MSU Center for Science, Technology, Ethics, and Society.

Doralyn Rossmann, dean of the MSU Library, said she’s excited to be a part of a team providing needed tools for libraries and archives to navigate the ethical challenges of using AI in keeping with library values.

“AI has so much potential to help people meet their information needs,” Rossmann said. “Our team brings together expertise to ask thoughtful questions about the ethical intersection of libraries, our patrons and AI technologies.”

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Sunday, Oct. 23rd, 2022

Albino Lake Injured Hunter Rescue


On October 22, 2022, at 10:40 A.M., Gallatin County Dispatch received a call from the Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC), who had received an SOS from a satellite communication device.  After communicating with the device owner, it was determined a hunter had broken their leg while navigating rough terrain near the Albino Lake Trail in Big Sky.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Big Sky Section, Valley Section, and a Big Sky Fire Department responded to assist with the call. SAR Big Sky and Valley ground teams deployed on foot to the patient with ropes and a one wheeled litter. Another SAR Big Sky team deployed from the Eldridge Trailhead on a four-wheel drive side by side. Teams faced difficult terrain and harsh weather while attempting the backcountry rescue in snowy and icy conditions.

It took volunteers several hours to locate, assess, and evacuate the patient. Once ground teams arrived at the patient’s location, they stabilized the injury and created a plan to evacuate the hunter by one wheeled litter, and then onto the side by side for transport back to the trailhead. The hunter was then transported several miles down the trail to the Big Sky Fire Department Ambulance and ultimately transported to Bozeman Health for further evaluation.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the hunting party for being prepared with not only a satellite communication device, but for being adequately dressed for the changing weather and long day in the elements.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

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Winter storm drops 12"+ at Big Sky Resort


BIG SKY, MT
- (October 22, 2022) — An October winter storm has delivered more than a foot of snow at Big Sky Resort, with continued accumulation forecasted through the rest of the weekend. 

Big Sky Ski Patrol observed snow drifts more than two feet deep at the top of Challenger lift at 9600 feet. 

Today, Big Sky Resort also saw its first snowfall in the base area at 7500 feet.
Big Sky Resort opens for the winter season in just over a month on Thanksgiving Day, November 24. 

Let it snow! 

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Impending Turn in Weather Aligns with Nov. 1 Opening of HRDC’S Warming Center

LIVINGSTON — With snow in the forecast, HRDC is preparing its emergency shelter, The Warming Center, for its approaching November 1 opening date.

“For our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness, we provide a warm, safe place to sleep,” said Jenna Huey, HRDC’s Emergency Shelter Services Manager.

“The area’s lack of affordable housing has forced more individuals who live and work here to seek shelter at our facility,” stated Brian Guyer, Housing Director for HRDC. Guyer expects to see additional pressure this winter. “We regularly saw 12 guests a night last year, with upwards of 20 guests on the coldest nights. It’s possible we could reach our maximum guest capacity this year.” With that in mind, Guyer and Huey are working on contingency plans with other community partners should demand exceed capacity at the shelter.

Guyer and Huey know that without the generosity of residents in Park County, HRDC’s Warming Center would not be able to support so many neighbors who are in need. Volunteer support, monetary donations, and in-kind donations, including the contributions made toward the center’s current fall supply drive*, sustain the center’s operations. With winter weather in the forecast for the foreseeable future and a shortage of affordable places to live, indoor refuge for some area residents at the Warming Center is a necessity now more than ever.

For more information about HRDC’s Warming Center, visit thehrdc.org/housing/homeless-services/emergency-shelter/bozeman-shelter/.

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Impending Weather Change Expected to Increase Need for Emergency Shelter Services in Gallatin County

BOZEMAN — With the year’s first snow forecast to occur on Sunday, HRDC has been preparing its emergency shelter in Bozeman, The Warming Center, for additional guests. With upwards of 80 known people urban camping in and around the city, HRDC expects to see an increase in demand for overnight services.

“For folks whose campers or cars are not weatherized to withstand extreme temperatures, or for those who have been camping in tents, we are able to provide a warm, safe alternative year-round, and especially during inclement weather,” said Jenna Huey, HRDC’s Emergency Shelter Services Manager.
 
“The area’s exorbitant rents and housing costs have forced more individuals who live and work here to find unconventional ways to address their basic needs,” stated Brian Guyer, Housing Director for HRDC. Given the steady demand for overnight services during the shelter’s recent first-ever summer season, Guyer expects to see additional pressure this winter. “On average, we provided shelter to 80 people each night during the summer months. Some nights that number surged to 100 guests. We did not expect to see numbers that high and because of that, we believe we could reach our maximum guest capacity during the upcoming harsh winter months.”

With that in mind, Guyer and Huey are working on contingency plans with other community partners should demand exceed the 120-bed capacity at the shelter. Gallatin Valley has experienced an escalating number of deaths over the past several years due to exposure. These often-preventable deaths are unacceptable to HRDC which fundamentally believes everyone deserves to be warm at night.

Guyer and Huey are united in their gratitude for the generosity of residents throughout Gallatin Valley. Both recognize that HRDC’s Warming Center would not be in a position to support so many of our neighbors in need without the steady stream of volunteer support and monetary donations it receives, including the contributions made toward the center’s current fall supply drive.*

With winter weather in the forecast for the foreseeable future and a shortage of affordable homes, indoor refuge at the Warming Center is a necessity now more than ever.
 
For more information about HRDC’s Warming Center, visit thehrdc.org/housing/homeless-services/emergency-shelter/bozeman-shelter/.

 

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Saturday, Oct. 22nd, 2022

Montana State receives $10 million gift to support agriculture and youth programs

Paul Nugent, assistant professor of precision agriculture with Montana State University’s College of Agriculture, describes the uses of a soil scanner during a demonstration at Precision Agriculture Bootcamp, Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at MSU’s Arthur H. Post Research Farm near Bozeman, Mont. MSU Photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez


BOZEMAN
-- Programs promoting precision agriculture, youth development, agriculture scholarships and the state's farm and ranch heritage will all benefit from a newly announced $10 million gift to Montana State University.

The anonymous donation will establish a series of endowments focused on programs based in the MSU College of Agriculture and MSU Extension.

The largest portion of the gift, $5 million, will endow a dedicated faculty chair in precision agriculture who will lead development of new technologies and their data-driven applications for the future of Montana's largest industry.

The new faculty chair position will work to help Montanans improve profitability, agricultural efficiency and sustainability, according to Sreekala Bajwa, vice president of agriculture, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station.

A shrinking workforce and ever-changing global competition means that, more than ever, the future of Montana agriculture will depend on new technologies, she said.

"Advances in agricultural production, profitability and efficiency will be vital to Montana's future competitiveness in the global market, and MSU is a driving force in moving the state ahead in this area," Bajwa said. "Having skilled, talented and proactive professors at MSU will impact generations of Montanans who will be taught, mentored and inspired by this new leader and then take what they’ve learned back home to help our Montana communities."

In addition to the faculty chair, the endowments will provide $3 million to MSU Extension’s 4-H youth development programs, dramatically increasing 4-H's reach and impact in all 56 Montana counties and all seven reservations. The goal, said Cody Stone, executive director of MSU Extension, is to encourage youth to find ways to help their communities meet local and statewide needs.

"Montana's 4-H program helps Montana youth learn important life skills and grow leadership qualities to become the state's next generation of leaders," Stone said. "These programs directly benefit Montana youth, guiding them to find careers in fields that help their hometowns thrive."

The donated funds will support 4-H programs and develop new initiatives aimed at building young people who are confident, hard-working, responsible and compassionate, Stone said.

Also receiving support from the gift, at $1 million each, will be a new scholarship fund supporting MSU students pursuing a degree in the College of Agriculture and the Dan Scott Ranch Management program.

The new endowed scholarship fund will provide funding for students looking to pursue agricultural studies at MSU, and the Dan Scott Ranch Management Program at MSU educates the next generation of Montana ranch managers and provides the skills and knowledge to create more profitable ranches and improve natural resource use.

"Developing agriculture leaders and technologies to help this vital part of the state's economy have been foundational missions for Montana State for 129 years," said MSU President Waded Cruzado. "We are beyond grateful for these endowments, which will allow us to continue and expand that mission."

"This tremendous gift will provide resources to help our students meet the future as agriculturally literate consumers, advocates and policymakers," said Chris Murray, president and CEO of the MSU Alumni Foundation. "Montanans in every corner of the state will feel the impact of this generous gift. We are incredibly humbled and honored to receive this critical investment."

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Blackline Climber Rescue

On October 21, 2022, at 1:26 P.M., Gallatin County Dispatch received a call that a rock climber had fallen approximately 20 feet and sustained injuries to their ankle and lower back near the base of Blackline in Big Sky.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Big Sky Section, Valley Section, SAR Heli Team, and AMR responded to assist with the call. SAR Big Sky and Valley ground teams deployed on foot to the patient with ropes and a one wheel litter. When they arrived and assessed the patient the ground teams requested a SAR Heli Team shorthaul due to the patient’s condition and location. The patient was packaged and short hauled to an awaiting AMR ambulance. The patient was then transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the other climbers for staying with, and helping the injured climber, until help arrived. He would also like to remind everyone that accidents can happen to anyone, to bring plenty of supplies, a communication/location device, and a first aid kit in case of emergencies.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.


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News Comments

This is so typical of a sign in, which we should not have to do to check if we or some one in our party got a permit. I have been working or "creating an account" for 30 minutes and just get the same ...

Smith River permit drawing results available

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Why not leave those cheerful, colorful garlands up longer? What’s the rush?

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