BOZEMAN — Six entrepreneurial ventures took home a share of $75,000 in prize money from Montana State University’s third annual $50K Venture Competition, which was held April 27 in Inspiration Hall on the MSU campus.

The event featured 10 finalists in traditional and social venture categories, all of whom had connections to MSU or the University of Montana as students, faculty, staff or alumni. The event was hosted by the MSU Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship and the MSU Blackstone LaunchPad.

The event started with an announcement that the available award funds had increased to $75,000 this year.

During the competition, the finalists pitched their ideas to a panel of four judges and then answered questions. The judges were Eric Ladd, founder and chairman of Outlaw Partners, L&K Real Estate, Outlaw Real Estate Partners and Boundary Expeditions; April LaMon, CEO and co-founder of Alosant; Garrett Leach, an MSU alumnus and analyst at Next Frontier Capital; and Scott Peterson, MSU alumnus and vice president of development for United Properties.

The winners are listed below by category, place, prize amount and venture:

Traditional ventures:

• First place, $18,000: Morel Technology, presented by Bruce Clark and Marcus Twichel, is a platform enabling mobile apps for local and regional restaurants to compete in an industry that's rapidly demanding new technology.

• Second place, $9,000: Ignis Technologies, presented by Andrew Dixon, provides tools to modernize how firefighting organizations communicate and distribute information.

• Third place, $6,500: The Giddy Thrifter, presented by Mariah Karis, is a media and e-commerce venture that inspires and educates budget-conscious young people on styling their home spaces and wardrobes using primarily thrifted goods.

• In addition, the two finalists in the traditional venture track who finished outside of the top three places – Aizy Tech and Hear It Clear – each received a $2,000 award.

Twichel, Morel’s co-founder and an MSU student studying computer science, was appreciative of the support Morel received.

“We are again blown away by the generosity of our community in donating their time, expertise and money to help students like us start a business,” Twichel said. “We are thrilled to meet so many people that believe in our vision and want to help in whatever ways they can to get us there, and we are working hard to turn that belief into a successful venture.”

Social ventures:

• First place, $18,000: Plus, presented by Jasmine Schroeder and Nathan Saier, connects college students to provide a peer-based social support system.

• Second place, $9,000: TrialWear, presented by Elizabeth Johnson, provides technology for clinical trial participant safety.

• Third place, $6,500: Homecoming Seed Co., presented by Charlie Watt, is an organic vegetable seed producer focused on bio-regionally adapted varieties of seeds.

• In addition, the two finalists in the social venture track who finished outside of the top three places – High Morel and Sweet Grass Woman – each received a $2,000 award.

Schroeder, the co-founder of Plus and a current MSU business student, said that she is thrilled to have an opportunity to positively impact others with their new venture.

“Our dream is to make the world a better, more connected place, and winning this competition is a huge step toward that goal,” Schroeder said. “We'd like to congratulate all of our competitors for not making this easy on us, and we’d like to thank the Blackstone LaunchPad as well as Dean (Matt) Caires for the support.” Caires, MSU’s dean of students, has pledged additional support to Plus from his office because it focuses on an area of importance to MSU students.

Ladd, one of the judges, said he was honored to be a part of the event.

“To witness such a talented group of candidates with inspiring concepts and ideas was very exciting,” he said. “There are a few concepts that were presented at the event that stand to be market disruptors and really make positive ate and entrepreneurship certificate.

MSU’s Blackstone LaunchPad helps MSU students succeed in entrepreneurship and in their careers. Open to students, faculty, and alumni in all majors, the campus-based LaunchPad provides mentoring, opportunities for participants to grow their networks and resources to help their businesses succeed. For more information, visit montana.edu/launchpad

Your body may be cleansed of THC and its by-products using an appropriate Natural Detox approach to an employment interview, athletic event, promotion, or other necessary selection processes.

6 Natural Remedies that You Can Make at Home

Garlic
You may consider taking garlic tablets to aid your body's natural detoxification process unless you're a vampire. THC may be eliminated as long as you eat a reasonable quantity of garlic each day. This is the primary reason we advise against attempting to consume large amounts of raw garlic via oral supplementation.

The metabolic system and organs are severely taxed during cannabis withdrawal. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are withdrawal symptoms that may lead to vitamin deficits due to inadequate nutrient absorption. With the addition of vitamins and minerals and foods like garlic to detox treatments, toxins may be expelled from the body.

Citrus Juice
A potent natural remedy for detoxification is lemon juice. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a safe and effective way to cleanse your body. Lemon juice is a very effective natural remedy for detoxification. Lemon juice is an excellent natural cleanser because of its high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Toxins may be removed from the body with the help of Vitamin C, and lemons are unquestionably one of the best sources.

Lemon may aid in the removal of residues of THC from the body if you are not a heavy user of the drug. Although your pee is diluted, the medicine is not removed if you consume enough. The quantity of THC consumed and your digestive system's acidity tolerance dictate how often you should drink lemon juice diluted with water.

This procedure only works for Urine drug tests and cannot be relied upon if you are being tested for drugs in Blood, Saliva, or Hair Follicle.

Grape
Grape detoxification has lately become something of a fad. In her book The Grape Cure, published in the 1920s, Johanna Brandt claimed that a diet high in grapes had healed her of stomach cancer. The notion of Grape detox may be overdone, but it remains alive and thriving. The grape is a popular addition to detox beverages.

Cranberry Juice
This tasty fruit may help remove THC from your system, but you should be checked to see whether you're allergic to it. You may increase your immune system by drinking cranberry juice the day before the test. Consume one or two glasses of sugar-free cranberry juice throughout the day for optimal results. You'll get the best outcomes by drinking about two liters of juice every day. Diluting the juice with water will allow more fluid to enter your body, which will aid in the removal of THC from your system.

Cranberry juice is a more cost-effective alternative and has a pleasant flavor. To be safe, taking a Vitamin B supplement is advised. Even if it seems messy, it will make the time appear more typical. When doing a drug test using the hair follicle as a sample, you should not use this approach.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is another kitchen product that may aid in the natural removal of THC from the body. It is a natural substance you can rely on, making it an excellent choice for detoxification. THC may be removed from your urine and saliva by taking vinegar orally, as can hair follicles by washing with vinegar because of its antibacterial qualities.

Apple Cider Vinegar is consumed in the form of a liquid. Depending on the amount of THC you've ingested in the days leading up to the test, mix two or three tablespoons of vinegar with eight ounces of water and drink it as needed. THC will be flushed out of the body.

Using Apple Cider Vinegar to clean up for a THC drug test is less expensive, but it only utilizes a smattering of the substance. If you've been using banned substances for a lengthy period and in heavy dosages, this procedure is not for you. Because of the high levels of THC in the body, this supplement is less effective than other detox products. There is a website available that will help you to find more information about detox products and THC drug tests.

Moon-Phase Diet
One of the more unique detox regimens is the Moon-phase diet. According to the Moon-Phase Diet Plan, your detoxification should match the moon's phases. The Moon-Phase promises a weight loss of six pounds in only one day. Even if this isn't true, passing a drug test might benefit from this.

During the Full and New Moon phases, you must go on a juice and water fast. Detoxing seems to be more efficient during these periods.

This probably won't be useful unless your drug test is scheduled for the week after the Full Moon.

In 2018, recreational marijuana usage was legal in the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, DC. More than two-dozen states have made it lawful to consume medicinal marijuana. Regardless of whether or not marijuana is legal, it is crucial to consider that cannabis has specific medical dangers. Understand the hazards before deciding whether or not to use them.

Gallatin County officials were notified that avian influenza A (H5N1) was detected in a flock of domestic poultry located in rural Gallatin County. 

The site was identified late last week near Manhattan/Belgrade. The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) has identified a “Surveillance Zone” of ten kilometers around this location, and an investigation is ongoing. This Surveillance Zone includes all of Manhattan and parts of northwest Belgrade.

Click here for the full press release.

If you own outdoor birds, be sure to monitor closely for signs of illness. Report any sudden onset of illness or death of birds to the following: 

• Report dead or sick domestic birds:
  • Your local veterinarian
  • Montana Department of Livestock – 406-444-2976
• Report dead or sick wild birds:
  • Local Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Warden or Regional Office 
  • Gallatin County FWP Office – 406-585-9010
  • State FWP Wildlife Veterinarian – 406-577-7880

Every new or potential crypto investor wants to know if investing is a risk or an opportunity; it is a burning question. You’re right to be wary of cryptocurrency investment; we’d be worried if you weren’t. However, you should know that what you face with investing in crypto depends on you. Therefore, if you will buy XRP, you want to ensure you know the risks involved and how to manage or outrightly avoid them. You also want to know the right patterns to consider, predictions to follow, and the best time to buy.

What Cryptocurrency Investing Entails: Facts and Stats

Cryptocurrency is still a mystery to many, and with the many biased notions flying around, education is vital for new investors. Here are five fun facts and stats about cryptocurrency investing to give you an idea of the concept:
• Ethereum and Bitcoin are not the only digital coins available; more than 11,000 virtual coins are in circulation. While some of them are popular, others are still trying to gain ground. Interestingly, there is a possibility of more digital currencies coming into the cryptocurrency market this year.

• Cryptocurrency is not unlimited; like gold and oil, there is a limit to how much crypto can be mined. That means the availability of Bitcoin and altcoins will come to an end someday. This is most important, especially because of the many environmental challenges of Bitcoin mining.

• Satoshi Nakamoto is not the name of Bitcoin’s founder; no one knows who created the crypto market. That name has always been a pseudonym for the person who created Bitcoin.

• Regardless of bans in countries, they cannot physically ban cryptocurrency. Anyone can own a digital wallet with XRP in it – even those in countries where cryptocurrency is prohibited.

• Cryptocurrency is prohibited in China, yet, ironically, the country controls the largest percentage of the mining network.

Risks in Cryptocurrency Investment and How to Avoid Them

Cryptocurrency investment is not for the weak-minded or people with low shock tolerance. If you want to invest in cryptocurrency, you need an efficient shock absorber. Here are some risks involved in crypto investing and how to avoid or, at least, manage them.

• Digital coins are extremely volatile; their prices go up and drop violently and without warning. Sometimes, Bitcoin price can drop tens of thousands of dollars; it did in 2021, leaving investors in debt for a while. This is not your fault; therefore, the only thing you can do is prepare your mind to do crypto investing long-term. The best thing is to lock your digital wallet and throw away the keys – in a place you can retrieve them, of course.

• Virtual currencies are unregulated by the central bank, government, or legal services. Nevertheless, that’s gradually changing as governmental and financial institutions get interested. To be safe, you want to keep your information secure, trade safely, and avoid crypto deals that appear too good to be true.

• Cryptocurrency operates on secure technology, but it is traded on exchange platforms prone to cyber-attacks and frauds. You will want to research the exchange before signing up and trading with them.

Making the Most of Your Crypto Assets

Despite the risks involved in crypto investments, they also offer ground-breaking opportunities. Here are ways to make the most of your digital assets and wisely use the network for your good.

• Lend your digital assets. You can participate in a lending/borrowing program as a lender; this is where you loan your assets and get paid with interest. The most important factor here is that you’re lending your digital assets to a trusted third-party or doing so on a reputable platform.

• Buy the dip. You can make the most of cryptocurrency price drops by purchasing more assets. After a while, the prices on those assets will go back up, and you’ll get more than you paid for.

• Trade. You can buy or sell cryptocurrency taking advantage of its volatility; that is, buy when you suspect a rise and sell when you suspect a fall.

• Airdrops. In airdrops, you get free cryptocurrency; however, this has the highest risks. Most crypto developers offer free digital coins when they need support for a new coin; you’ll want to be careful. Don’t just jump on any initial coin offering you see; try to do your due diligence.

• Earn Dividends. This doesn’t have the biggest profit, but it provides a steady way to earn with your digital assets.

In conclusion, cryptocurrency investment has risks, no doubt. However, you can maneuver those risks to work in your favor if you invest with your eyes open. Cryptocurrency investment risks can turn into opportunities, depending on how you invest.

BOZEMAN, MT — Earlier this month HRDC officially announced plans for the construction of its new campus on 5.6 acres located on Griffin Drive. The project will consolidate the majority of the nonprofit’s programming into one location. Two main buildings will occupy the land. The first building will house services that address hunger including HRDC’s Gallatin Valley Food Bank and Fork & Spoon Restaurant. The second building will be home to a year-round shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Additionally, both buildings will have space for community partners as well as HRDC staff. The new campus was thoughtfully designed in direct response to the growing needs of people living and working in Southwest Montana. Construction of the first building has begun. The second building, which will include the community’s first year-round shelter, will not begin until additional funding is secured.

“Philanthropy will play a significant role in our success,” said Kristin Hamburg, HRDC’s Development Director. “We must raise $15 million through community support to help fund our new campus. As of today, we are pleased to have raised just over $10.8 million, which includes a generous $75,000 donation from our friends at First Interstate Bank. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

“First Interstate Bank’s Commitment to Community runs deep throughout our 14-state footprint,” said Amberly Pahut, First Interstate Director of Community Relations. “We are honored to partner with a Community Action Organization like HRDC in Bozeman to respond to the pressing housing needs in the community and surrounding area. Two of our key funding priorities are hunger and homelessness, and HRDC’s plans for their future addresses both of these priority needs through helping families maintain stability amidst the region’s high cost of living.”

Scott Levandowski, First Interstate Gallatin Valley Market President, added, “At First Interstate, we are committed to supporting the places we call home, and we look to partner with organizations that make our community a better place.” We are proud to continue our long history of supporting HRDC in Bozeman as they work to make a difference.”

Over the past 47 years, HRDC’s commitment to serving Bozeman has expanded across the greater Gallatin Valley and beyond to numerous communities throughout Southwest Montana. HRDC’s wide range of services include housing solutions from emergency shelter to homeownership, food and nutrition support, energy assistance, early childhood education, senior services, financial planning, and more. Annually, HRDC serves over 15,000 individuals as it continues its mission toward building a better community. All are welcome at HRDC, and anyone can join their journey toward their future home.

Interested donors, volunteers, and community members can find more information on HRDC’s website at https://thehrdc.org/our-future-griffin-place/

WHITEHALL – Staff at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park are pleased to reopen the cave for the 2022 season.

Tours will be offered until Sept. 30. Visitors are encouraged to visit the state parks website frequently as tour options, times and availability may change throughout the season. Tour reservations will be taken this summer starting Memorial Day weekend by calling 1-855-922-6768 or by visiting fwp.mt.gov/stateparks.

During the month of May, the upper visitor area will be open and cave tours will be offered five days per week, Wednesday through Sunday. Days of operation may expand starting in June.

The Paradise Tour will be offered throughout May, and the Classic Tour will be added in June. The campground and trails are open now, and the showers, comfort station and water stations will reopen as weather allows.

Paradise Tour

The Paradise Tour includes a view of the largest and most decorative room in the cave — the Paradise Room. This 1-mile tour lasts 90 minutes. It includes 15 stairs between two rooms, but the path is mostly level and partly wheelchair accessible. Because the paradise tour provides better accessibility and easier passage, this tour is highly recommended for anyone with small children, claustrophobia concerns or mobility challenges.

The Paradise Tour will be offered on the half hour from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until Memorial Day weekend. Starting Memorial Day weekend, reservations can be made, and tour times will change to 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. These times are subject to change, so visit fwp.mt.gov/stateparks prior to your visit.

Tickets for the paradise tour are $10 for seniors ages 62 and older, $15 for visitors ages 15 to 61, $10 for kids ages 5 to 14, and free for anyone 4 or younger.

Classic tour

The classic tour features a 2-mile journey through the majority of the developed cave tour route, including the second-largest and longest rooms in the cave. This tour lasts for two hours and includes more than 600 stairs, stooping and tight squeezes. It is not recommended for small children, or visitors with mobility limitations or claustrophobia.

Bats occupy some rooms that are part of the classic tour. Bats can be susceptible to pathogens carried by people. To reduce risks to sensitive bat populations at the park, visitors will be asked to wear facemasks in rooms that contain bats.

The Classic Tour will be offered starting in June on the hour from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. by reservable tickets and as staffing allows.

Tickets for the classic tour are $15 for visitors ages 15 and older, $10 for kids ages 5 to 14, and $5 for anyone 4 or younger.

Planning your visit

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park features one of the most decorative limestone caverns in the Northwest, filled with spectacular stalactites, stalagmites, columns and helictites. The park also offers camping, trails to hike or bike, a state-of-the-art visitor center, interpretive displays, a gift shop, food and beverage concessions, an amphitheater, and interpretive events during the summer months.

An $8 entrance fee is required for visitors who are not residents of Montana. Residents of the state normally pay the fee with vehicle registration.

As always, visitors are asked to not wear any clothing, shoes or accessories, including glasses and cameras, that have been to another cave or mine in the past two years. This is to protect bat populations at the Caverns. White-nose syndrome, a fungus that kills entire bat colonies, can be transmitted easily and does not come out of clothing or other materials with normal washing methods. While it does not affect humans, it could have significant impacts to the cave ecosystem.

Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is about 15 miles southeast of Whitehall, along Montana Highway 2. For more information about the park, please visit fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lewis-and-clark-caverns or call 406-287-3541.

If you have parents who are still alive as you get older, you will probably want to care for them if you can. They may need help with certain tasks, and you likely feel a responsibility to help them. We’ll talk about some reasons why caring for an aging parent matters.

You Set an Example for Your Kids

Setting an example for your children is one reason you should care for an aging parent if you have the power to do so. You probably hope that when you’re older, your kids can take of you in the same way if you need it.

Kids learn by example. If they see you caring for your aging parents, they should remember that and do the same thing when you’re in your later years.

You should create an aging parent care checklist and show your kids how to do it. That checklist can contain what medications to give your parents, when to take them to doctor appointments, and what days you might stop by to see them and check on them.

You Love Your Parents and Want to Show Them That

Presumably, you also love your parents and want to demonstrate that when they get older. If they have physical or cognitive decline, caring for them is a loving act. Maybe they are still mentally sharp enough to appreciate it, or maybe not, but in either case, you want to prove your love for them.

It’s one thing to say that you love someone, but caring for them when they’re no longer capable of caring for themselves shows them more eloquently than your words ever could. This is a way to bring you and your parents closer together near the end of their lives.

It’s a Long and Time-Tested Tradition

When you care for your aging parents, you’re also taking part in a tradition that has existed for thousands of years. You show respect for that tradition when you do things like cook meals for your parents, clothe them, bathe them, or do anything else they need that’s in your power to do.

When you care for an aging parent, you may feel the weight of previous generations on your shoulders. You know that you’re doing something noble. Just as your parents cared for you when you were a child, now you can do the same thing for them, completing the circle.

You Can Endear Yourself to Them

Maybe you might not have had the greatest relationship with a parent. Perhaps you feel like they didn’t understand you as much as you would have liked. It’s not as though every parent-child relationship is close and loving.

You might still take care of an aging parent if you want them to leave you something. They might have money or property that they need to leave to someone, and if you care for them, they may leave that to you.

Taking care of your aging parents may be more transactional than because of your love for them, but that’s not always a bad thing. If you care for them and they agree to leave you a house or some other inheritance when they pass away, that might help you. You both get something you want and need if love and good feelings alone don’t prompt you to act.

They Can Pass on Their Wisdom

You might decide that you want your older parent to move in with you. That might be the most prudent move if you can’t afford to put them in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Also, you might understand that you can care for them better than strangers could.

If so, you might spend some time with them in their life’s later stages, and they can pass on any accumulated wisdom from their life during that time. Maybe they can show you how to do things now that you never learned as a child.

Often, the older generations have certain skills that the younger generations do not have. If your kids are still living with you, your aging parents might show them how to do things like changing a tire or changing a car’s oil. They can show them how to fix things around the house, or they can simply tell you and your family stories about things that happened to them.

If you think about it, you will likely come up with many more reasons to care for an aging parent.

The Bozeman Symphony is excited to announce that the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra was nominated for two Northwest Emmy awards by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on April 8, 2022!

The Symphony was nominated in the entertainment and audio categories for our orchestra world premiere of New York City’s rising star composer Anthony Barfield’s Heritage Concerto, featuring the world-renowned euphonium player Demondrae Thurman. These Emmy nominations highlight an important step in the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra’s evolution to represent artistic excellence and innovation from breakout composers to virtuosic guest artists. Music Director Norman Huynh was thrilled to welcome composer Anthony Barfield and guest artist Demondrae Thurman to the Willson Auditorium during its Brahms Symphony No. 2classical series performance in November 2021. More than 2,800 people, in-person and virtually via the livestream performance, enjoyed Anthony Barfield’s riveting Heritage Concerto based on the Ancient Egyptian civilization.

The Bozeman Symphony’s Emmy nominations would not be possible without its exceptional orchestra musicians, Music Director Norman Huynh’s artistic vision and programming to include orchestra world premiere composer Anthony Barfield and virtuosic guest artist Demondrae Thurman, and to its livestream producer Jeremiah Slovarp of Jereco Studios, who prepared the livestream submission to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The Gallatin County Commission approved using Open Lands Program money to help fund three projects, including the expansion of Burke Park on Peets Hill, and improvements to the Gallatin County Regional Park and Anderson Dog Park in Bozeman.

On Tuesday, April 26, commissioners voted unanimously to spend $172,900 total on the following projects:

1. Burke Park (Peet’s Hill) expansion and improvement project – City of Bozeman – $100,000
   • To assist with the acquisition of 12 acres at the south end of Peets Hill
2. Gallatin County Regional Park protected “quiet area” – Gallatin County Parks – $40,000
   • Construction of tree-lined, landscaped area at the Regional Park
3. Anderson Dog Park fetch field and trail repair project – Run Dog Run – $32,900
   • Improvements to off-leash dog park and Regional Park, including development of fetch field and trail reconstruction

Commissioners praised the projects as ones that have high value for the public and that have shown extensive collaborative efforts to move forward.

“We think these are awesome community projects that benefit tens of thousands of county residents,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown.

Money for these projects comes from the voter-approved Gallatin County Open Space Levy, which was passed in 2018. This levy provides funding for conservation projects, such as conservation easements for private landowners, as well as “other eligible projects.” Projects in the “other eligible projects” category must be related to land acquisition, capital improvements, and maintenance projects that support the purpose of the Open Space Levy.

For fiscal year 2022, a total of $1.69 million was collected from the levy for conservation projects, while approximately $391,000 was available for “other eligible projects.”

Brown said that the county’s open lands program provides an undeniable community benefit, but that projects like conservation easements on private land don’t provide public access.

“This category of funding gives us a way to support public open space,” Brown said.

Following an application process, the Open Lands Board scored the submitted proposals and recommended these three projects for approval.

“It is exciting to play a role in a process where the county funds projects that will provide a tangible and lasting public benefit,” said Sean O’Callaghan, Gallatin County Open Land Coordinator.

More information on the projects, including applications and scoring, can be found here.