HELENA – Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus was detected in a snow goose from Canyon Ferry and a Canada goose near Belgrade last week. HPAI was detected earlier this month in domestic poultry in Judith Basin and Cascade counties. Several more birds from around the state are currently undergoing testing for the virus.

Avian influenza (AI) virus is a naturally occurring virus in birds. AI viruses are classified into two groups, based on the severity of disease they cause in infected poultry. Low pathogenic AI viruses generally cause no clinical illness or only minor symptoms in birds. HPAI viruses are extremely infectious and fatal to poultry and some species of wild birds.

Detection of HPAI in Newfoundland and Labrador in eastern Canada was announced in December 2021. Since it was first detected in the eastern United States in January 2022, it has spread to all four bird migration flyways, including the Central and Pacific flyways which include parts of Montana.  This is the first time since 2015 that HPAI has been detected in Montana, when it was identified in a captive gyrfalcon and then shortly afterward in a backyard poultry flock in Judith Basin County.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk of HPAI spread to humans to be very low, Montanans should take precautions when handling game birds or any sick or dead bird they find. Whenever possible, avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife. Even if a bird is not suspected to have died from a contagious disease, gloves should always be worn if a dead animal must be handled for disposal.

The public is encouraged to report unusual or unexplained cases of sickness and/or death of wild birds by calling their local wildlife biologist or the wildlife lab in Bozeman at 406-577-7880 or 406-577-7882.

Bird hunters and those who maintain bird feeders should follow these simple precautions when processing or handling wild game:
• Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead.
• Wear disposable latex or rubber gloves while cleaning game or cleaning bird feeders.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game.
• People and equipment that have been in contact with wild game birds should avoid contact with backyard poultry flocks.
• Wash hands with soap and water or alcohol wipes immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders.
• Wash tools and work surfaces used to clean game birds with soap and water, then disinfect with a 10 percent solution of chlorine bleach—one part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water.
• Separate raw meat, and anything it touches, from cooked or ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination.
• Cook game meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 165°F.
• Wild birds don’t need supplemental feed this time of year. Taking feeders down prevents concentrations of birds that sometimes lead to disease transmission.

For more information on AI in wild birds, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/diseases/avian-influenza, or visit the USGS website at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/avian-influenza-surveillance.

(BOZEMAN, MT)—In a garage at Fifth and Cleveland, one of Bozeman’s most beloved musicians, John Hermanson of folk duo Storyhill, is working with wood.

He’s building his new high-performance “Limber Bows” brand of recurved trekking poles from layers of ash, hickory, ipe, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. One pair at a time.

He patented the unusual shoulder-height, recurved design while hiking in the Cascades, where he discovered that a semicircular limb, when used as a pole, put an extra spring in his step.

“Basically, it’s all about kinetic energy,” says the son of MSU physics chair Dr. John Hermanson, Sr. “The height lifts your posture, while the curves absorb shock and give you a push. As a result, you’re a more limber hiker, and your stamina increases.”

Trekking is only the most obvious application. Limber Bows are also useful on skis, in the yoga studio, for stretching and physical therapy, and for any number of hangs, as Hermanson’s videos at limberbows.com attest.

“As soon as people see them in action,” says Hermanson, “they understand the benefits and opportunities intuitively.”

Available to order at an “heirloom” price point at Schnee’s Boots (June – Aug) and limberbows.com, Hermanson will continue making bows by hand until demand is sufficient to warrant the engineering of a collapsibility component, and, eventually, mass-production. Already his current model has sold to customers in several states.

Cryptocurrencies are becoming more and more popular every day. Many experts believe that they will become even more mainstream in the next few years. If you're curious about the crypto trends to watch in 2022, keep reading! We will discuss some of the most important things you need to know. We'll also provide a few predictions for how the cryptocurrency market will progress over the next few years.

 
1. Bitcoin Prices in the Crypto Market
 
Bitcoin prices have been on a roller coaster ride over the past year, and the crypto market has been volatile. However, several factors could impact crypto prices soon. For one, the coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in demand for digital assets like bitcoin. More people are investing in bitcoin as a haven asset during economic uncertainty. In addition, major corporations like Square and PayPal have begun to allow customers to purchase and hold bitcoin on their platforms, leading to more mainstream adoption of the digital currency.

 
2. Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
 
Decentralized finance, often called DeFi, is a growing ecosystem of financial protocols built on the Ethereum blockchain. By harnessing the power of smart contracts, DeFi protocols provide a wide range of financial services that were previously only available through centralized institutions. These include everything from lending and borrowing platforms to stablecoins andtokenized BTC.

By deploying immutable code on Ethereum, DeFi protocols can offer these services trustless and permissionless. Users can access these services without going through a go-between and don't have to worry about censorship or KYC/AML compliance. As the DeFi ecosystem grows, it's expected to provide a more accessible, efficient, and fair financial system.

 
3. Blockchain in the Metaverse
 
In a world where digital tokens can be used to purchase everything from land to art, it's no surprise that blockchain is being used to create entire virtual universes. The Metaverse is a term used to describe a shared virtual space where users can interact with each other and create content. Unlike traditional video games, the Metaverse is not limited by the laws of physics, allowing users to experiment with new forms of expression and creativity.

 
Blockchain provides the perfect infrastructure for the Metaverse, as it allows for the creation of secure digital assets that can be bought, sold, or traded on decentralized exchanges. In addition, blockchain can create unique identities for avatars, providing a level of security and privacy not possible in the real world. As the Meta

 
4. Multiplication of Bitcoin ATMs
 
The number of Bitcoin ATMs has exploded in recent years, with more than 8,000 machines now in operation worldwide. It represents a ten-fold increase from just two years ago when only 800 Bitcoin ATMs were in existence. These machines are located in North America, with nearly 6,000 ATMs in the United States and Canada.

Europe is home to the second-largest number of Bitcoin ATMs, with 1,500 machines. Asia currently has the third-highest density of Bitcoin ATMs, although this is likely to change in the coming years as the region continues to experience rapid economic growth. The proliferation of Bitcoin ATMs is a sign of the growing mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrency.

 
5. NFTs
 
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are a type of cryptocurrency that represents a unique digital asset. NFTs are often used to represent art, music, or other collectibles. One of the most popular applications for NFTs is in the gaming industry, where they are used to represent in-game items.
 
Conclusion
 
The cryptocurrency world is constantly changing and evolving. It's essential to be aware of the latest trends. Some of the trends we'll be watching in 2022 include decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), stablecoins, and Bitcoin. Keep an eye out for these trends.

Bozeman, MT— From April 23-30 the City of Bozeman is sponsoring its annual Bozeman CleanUp Week through partnership with the Solid Waste Division, Neighborhoods and Sustainability Programs. Come rain or shine residents are encouraged to tackle trash and debris from a long winter to beautify Bozeman. CleanUp Week will be kicked off at the Gallatin Valley Earth Day festival on April 23rd in collaboration with partners across the city.

The City of Bozeman has coordinated this event locally for 34 years and successfully mobilizes hundreds of volunteers of all ages from community organizations, local businesses, and government agencies each year. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up online at www.bozeman.net/cleanup!

CleanUp kits will be provided and include gloves, vests, yellow bags, and instructions. Interested community members may opt for delivery of cleanup kits to their group or organization ahead of CleanUp Week, OR groups can pick up kits at the Gallatin Valley Earth Day Festival at the Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture on Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Along with the CleanUp Kits, participants of CleanUp Week will also be given a choice to pick a location or provided ideas for a clean-up location. Participants are welcome to clean up your area any time from April 23-30 and City of Bozeman Solid Waste will take care of the yellow bags left behind.

Sustainability Program Specialist Ali Chipouras says, “This time of year everyone starts to see the litter and dog waste that surfaces after snow melt. CleanUp Week is a great opportunity to work together to build community, keep our waterways clean, and give Bozeman a spring cleaning.”

In addition to Bozeman CleanUp Week, Gallatin Valley Earth Day is hosting events throughout the month of April including online film screenings, in person and online speakers, a fun run, fix-it clinic, and more. The main events include the Water for Earth speaker series on April 22nd with keynote speakers Dr. Shane Doyle and Todd Wilkinson and the Earth Day Festival on April 23rd. To learn more visit www.gallatinvalleyearthday.org.

Join us in cleaning up Bozeman! This activity is free and open to the public. Kits will be available for pick-up on April 23 regardless of weather. For more information visit www.bozeman.net/cleanup

HELENA – After deer and elk permits were drawn Thursday, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks uncovered an error in the drawing process affecting less than three percent of applications across the state in 10 hunting districts.

This year the Fish and Wildlife Commission changed several elk hunting districts to “first and only choice” for applications, meaning if hunters want to hunt any of these districts, they forfeit the option to list a second or third choice on their application.

Due to an error in the current licensing system regarding “first and only choice” hunting districts, hunters who applied for these districts were able to submit second and third choices. Hunters who did submit second and third choices on their applications for a “first and only choice” district were removed during the draw. The mistake affected 10 hunting districts and 2,482 applications out of the 83,017 total statewide. FWP is moving away from the current licensing system as part of the administration's effort to modernize state government.

“As soon as FWP became aware of the technical glitch, our licensing staff worked around-the-clock to fix it and make it right with hunters who were inadvertently removed from the draw,” said FWP Director Hank Worsech.

Impacted applicants initially didn’t see results for the elk draw in their MyFWP account. Until the situation is resolved, those individuals will see temporarily that they were unsuccessful in the draw. Any hunter who drew a permit in yesterday’s draw will not lose it.

Here’s what FWP is doing to address the problem:

• Hunters who submitted applications and are eligible for districts 411-21, 447-21, and 595-21 and entered second and third choices will receive a permit because the number of permits unallocated after the draw is greater than the number of applicants who were removed from the draw. Similarly, the 270-45 permit is unlimited, so applicants will all receive a permit.
• Hunters who submitted applications for districts 411-20, 417-20, 417-21, 426-20, 799-20, and 799-21 and were removed from the draw will be entered into a random drawing next week. Those who are unsuccessful in this second drawing will receive bonus points.

Under administrative rule, Director Worsech has the discretion to issue permits up to 10 percent above the quota. This 10 percent will be allocated in these second drawings.

“The fairest solution to this error is to use my discretion to give all impacted hunters the shot at a permit they’re owed,” Director Worsech said.

Bozeman, MT—Big Sky Country State Fair is pleased to announce their 2022-night show line-up, a mix of celebrated multi-genre hip-hop and country artists! T.I. with special guest Willie Jones will kick out the week, RUSSELL DICKERSON with special guest Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry on Thursday, we will round off the week with BRANTLEY GILBERT with special guest Ashland Craft.

“After the success of last year's fair we were wondering how to continue to be “Back Better Than Ever” and decided to return with “Bigger Fun – Bigger Smiles” in 2022 with a line up which includes a multi-genre hip hop artist and country entertainers.” said Dennis Voeller, General Manager of the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, and home of the Big Sky Country State Fair. “ We also have expanded our programming in the kids ride area and on Sunday in the Motorsport Area. To catch all the changes we have made we invite you to come to the Big Sky Country State Fair and enjoy the best family entertainment value in the area. Thanks and see you there!”

• T.I. with special guest Willie Jones performs Wednesday, July 20.
• RUSSELL DICKERSON with special guest Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry performs Thursday, July 21.
• BRANTLEY GILBERT with special guest Ashland Craft performs Friday, July 22.

T.I. An acclaimed innovator with millions of albums sold and more than 35 million singles, T.I. has been awarded 3 Grammy Awards, 11 Billboard Awards, 3 BET Awards, 2 American Music Awards and more through the years. Viewed as a seamless collaborator whose prolific musical pairings with seminal superstars include Drake, Beyoncé, Pharrell, Rihanna, Jay--Z, Lil Wayne, Robin Thicke, M.I.A., Lady Gaga, and others, his recent politically--charged collaboration with Kanye West on “Ye Vs. The People” is also garnering raves. T.I.’s decade--and--a--half stewardship of Grand Hustle Records has produced multiple breakout artists, including Iggy Azalea, Travis Scott, and others, and his purpose--driven 2016
EP Us or Else courageously addressed police brutality and racial inequality in America, hailed by Rolling Stone as another crucial ‘point on the timeline of the rapper’s growing social conscious.’ Having recently added art curator to his long list of creative credentials, T.I. is also the visionary and creatorfor the first ever pop--up Trap Music Museum, where he lends his visual and artistic wisdom along with his creative energy to chronicle and celebrate the contributions of Trap music. Since it’s opening, the Trap Music Museum has already become one of Atlanta’s most visited attractions. With a new, exciting film and television projects underway, the #1 podcast, as well as a string of creative and business ventures, the fearless game--changer is once again taking his ever--evolving artistic franchise to new heights.

Willie Jones is a Shreveport, LA native, SONY Nashville/The Penthouse recording artist and Warner Chappell songwriter. He seamlessly blends hip-hop and country music, paving the way for a genre-expanding sound that's truly signature to Jones himself. Armed with more than 1 million followers across social platforms, he recently debuted his own Apple Music show called "The Cross Roads Radio." Willie is slated for Stagecoach 2021 and C2C London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Glasgow (health regulations pending). Jones just released his debut album 'Right Now' (The Penthouse / EMPIRE), amassing a cumulative stream count of 27.5M to date on Spotify, featuring the poignant patriotic single "American Dream." The video clip of this anthem was jointly premiered on CMT and BET, a first for the networks. The rising artist has been covered by NPR All Things Considered, Forbes, Rolling Stone, E! News, PEOPLE, MTV and more.

RUSSELL DICKERSON Multiplatinum Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Russell Dickerson has established himself a prolific songwriter and powerhouse showman through good old-fashioned performances and eloquent songcraft spiked with spirit. In 2017, his gold-certified full-length debut, Yours, bowed at #5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and #1 on the Emerging Artists Chart. Not to mention, it yielded three consecutive #1 smashes, including the double-platinum “Yours” (christened “One of the hottest wedding songs of the year” by The Knot), the platinum “Blue Tacoma,” and “Every Little Thing.” Nominations followed at the Academy of Country Music Awards, CMT Music Awards, and iHeartRadio Music Awards. Among many highlights in 2020, he received a nod in the category of “Best New Male Artist of the Year” at the ACM. Plus, he has electrified audiences on tour with the likes of Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, Darius, Lady A, and Kane Brown in addition to bringing the “RD Party” to sold out venues everywhere as a headliner. Attracting a fervent following on social media (fondly referred to as “RD Fam”), he launched his own YouTube show, “This Is Russ,” bringing viewers deeper into his world. In 2020, he transposes the little pleasures into hummable and heartfelt heartfelt country anthems uplifted by pop energy on his second full-length album, Southern Symphony [Triple Tigers], led by the singles “Love You Like I Used To,” “Home Sweet,” and “Never Gets Old.” The record reflects every side of his personality—from the loving husband, self-proclaimed “regular dude,” and now dad at home to the boisterous and bold presence beloved by millions on stage. Russell tells his story like never before through eloquent songcraft and airtight playing.

Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry Average Joes Entertainment’s Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry recently released "Outskirts," a seven-song EP. With 20 plus charted singles, the Kentucky native has earned CMA, ACM, and GRAMMY awards and nominations with undeniable blue collar anthems like “Hell Yeah,” “My Town,” and “Hillbilly Shoes." They’ve notched five No. 1 singles, "If You Ever Stop Loving Me," "Something To Be Proud Of," "Lucky Man," "Back When I Knew It All" and "Roll With Me." They were inducted as Grand Ole Opry members in 2009 and were inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

BRANTLEY GILBERT With back-to-back Platinum albums and a grassroots following millions strong, Brantley Gilbert’s music has been shared, covered and adopted as the soundtrack to Saturday night and Sunday morning by audiences around the world. The Georgia native who started as the defiant life-of-the-party can still go ‘til sunrise, but he’s also emerged as something far greater: the leader of a massive tribe of hard-working, fun-loving believers for whom electric guitar-shredding, rapping, and twang can go hand-in-hand-in-hand. They call themselves the BG Nation, and when the BG Nation watches Gilbert on a stage, they don’t just see a star. They see themselves. Seven No. 1 hits punctuate his career: “Country Must be Country Wide,” “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” CMA Awards Song of the Year nominee “Dirt Road Anthem,” “My Kinda Party,” RIAA 5x Platinum-certified “Bottoms Up,” “One Hell of an Amen” and collaboration with Lindsay Ell “What Happens In A Small Town.” Gilbert’s landmark record Just As I Am clinched the 2014 American Music Award for Favorite Country Album. Earning praise from the New York Times, NPR, American Songwriter, and more, Gilbert has mined a rich vein of conflict between the party and the pew on all of his albums. Instead of toiling in limbo, unable to enjoy good times for fear of Judgment Day, Gilbert fully lives––rowdy friend, man of faith, devoted husband, smitten new father––just as he is. For additional information, visit BrantleyGilbert.com or follow him on
Instagram and Twitter @BrantleyGilbet and on Facebook @BrantleyGilbertMusic..

Ashland Craft: South Carolina native whose strong, personal songwriting is rapidly earning a dedicated fanbase with the release of her 2021 debut album, TRAVELIN’ KIND. “There’s a New Country Badass in Town, and Her Name is Ashland Craft,” hails American Songwriter, as her soulful country voice helped catapult her to the Top 10 on NBC’s The Voice, and the stages of Zac Brown Band, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, and currently Ashley McBryde. Craft has also notched major collaborations with Brothers Osborne on HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 and HARDY’s acclaimed project, A ROCK.

All shows are held in Anderson Arena with doors open at 6 p.m., opening acts at 7 p.m., and the headlining performance at 8 p.m. Wednesday night show tickets to T.I. with special guest Willie Jones are $39 for general admission and $44 for reserved grandstand seating. Thursday night show tickets to RUSSELL DICKERSON with special guest Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry at $33 for general admission and $38 for reserved grandstand seating. Friday night show tickets to BRANTLEY
GILBERT with special guest Ashland Craft are $50 for general admission and $55 for reserved seating.

All concert tickets come with gate admission and can be purchased at 406StateFair.com. Additional information may be found at 406StateFair.com.

Big Sky Country State Fair is held Wednesday, July 20 through Sunday, July 24 in Bozeman, MT. The Fair opens to the public Wednesday, July 20.

Lace up your running shoes, and join us for the 15th Annual Race for Independence. This 1k, 5k, and 10k is set for Monday, July 4, 2022 at the Reach Work Center. Our enjoyable, family-friendly experience is one of Reach’s major fundraising events and raises important funds and awareness to support our clients. We will maintain the virtual option for our out-of-state friends and locals who are away for the holiday weekend.

Reach serves adults with developmental disabilities to live, work, and get around our community. This amounts to 365 days a year services to 93 clients based on their goals and desires for independence and inclusion in their community.

Come together with Reach staff, clients, and hundreds of family and friends for a scenic walk, jog, or sprint through the Cherry River fishing access and Glen Lake Rotary Park. We will distribute medals to top finishers in all age groups, have raffle prizes, and lots of fun! This celebration directly impacts our clients’ ability to live, work, and travel independently in their community. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Bozeman/ReachIncRaceforIndependence

On Friday, April 15, ballots for the 2022 school and special districts election on May 3 in Gallatin County are being mailed to active voters in districts that are holding elections.

Those districts include the following:

• Schools:
  • Belgrade
  • Big Sky
  • Bozeman
  • Gallatin Gateway
  • Lamotte
  • Manhattan
  • Monforton
  • Springhill
  • Three Forks
  • West Yellowstone
  • Willow Creek

• Special districts:
  • Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District
  • Logan County Water and Sewer District

In total, more than 70,000 ballots will be mailed. Voters can expect to start seeing their ballots in the mail by this weekend or early next week.

For questions on specific school district ballot measures or candidates, please see this information provided by the Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools, or contact your school district directly.

As with all mail ballot elections, there is always an option to vote in-person at the Gallatin County Elections office, located in the Courthouse at 311 W. Main St., room 210 in Bozeman. In-person voting for this election begins Friday, April 15. If your ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost, or not received, you may request a replacement ballot no later than 8 PM on Election Day.

Ballots must be received at the Gallatin County Elections office or a designated place of deposit by 8 PM on Election Day. Ballots may be returned by mail or in-person. If you’re mailing your ballot, mail it no later than Wednesday, April 27 to ensure it arrives at our office in time.

Places of deposit for this election are:

• Gallatin County Elections Department (311 W. Main St., room 210 in Bozeman)
• Monforton School District Office (6001 Monforton School Road, Bozeman).

Voters in any district can drop their ballots off at either location. Both locations are open during regular business hours Monday through Friday until May 2, and then from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day on May 3.

Voter registration

Gallatin County is currently in the late registration period for the May 3 election. In order to register to vote, you must appear in-person at the Gallatin County Elections office. Election Day voter registration is currently under legal review. The best way to ensure you’re able to vote in this election is to register by noon on Monday, May 2.

You can check your registration status at MyVoterPageMT.com.

If you have other questions, please contact our office at gallatin.elections@gallatin.mt.gov or 406-582-3060. For more information, you can also visit gallatinvotes.com.

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To better educate voters in upcoming school district elections, the Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools Office announced that it will serve as a clearinghouse for information on school district trustee candidates in the May 3 election.

Superintendent of Schools Matthew Henry sent a 10-question, voluntary questionnaire to all candidates running for seats on school boards in the 16 school districts across Gallatin County. The questionnaires collected from the trustee candidates will be posted on the Superintendent’s website.

“Residents of the county often contact my office seeking information about trustee candidates in their school districts,” Henry said. “My office devised this questionnaire to better serve the public and assist voters in making informed decisions.”

Responses from candidates were requested to be sent by April 14 to be posted on the Gallatin County website. Responses received after that will be posted when received up until Election Day on Tuesday, May 3.

Find candidate responses here.

Three Montana school districts — Power Public Schools, Hamilton School District and St. Ignatius School District — have been chosen for the first offering of the Montana Farm to School Institute, hosted by Montana Team Nutrition Program at Montana State University, the Montana Office of Public Instruction and program partners. This yearlong program intends to ignite, grow and sustain farm to school action within Montana schools and communities by providing training and support and by facilitating team building and action planning.

“The Montana Farm to School Institute is a great opportunity for our Montana school districts to grow their farm to school programs,” said Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. “The continued partnership between MSU, my office and Montana school districts, with focus on our Montana agriculture producers, provides our students with a unique learning experience. Utilizing pathways to fresh locally grown foods benefits our Montana schools, students, farmers and ranchers.”

This program will kick off with a three-day Summer Retreat, where the three school district teams will develop one-year farm to school action plans to be implemented during the 2022-2023 school year. Action plans will encompass goals, activities, roles and timelines focused on the three core elements of farm to school: local procurement, education and school gardens/farms. Each team, ranging from four to eight members of the school community, will be assigned a Farm to School Coach who will support the team with development and implementation of the action plan.

For more information about the Montana Farm to School Institute, visit: https://www.montana.edu/mtfarmtoschool/institute.html

The Farm to School Institute model was developed by Vermont FEED using evidence-based best practices in professional learning. The Montana Farm to School Institute is supported by the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm to School Grant. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.