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.

Bozeman, MT— The City of Bozeman Historic Preservation Advisory Board celebrates Historic Preservation Month in May. As a part of this year’s events, the board is currently accepting nominations for Historic Preservation and Legacy Awards until Friday, April 29, 2022.

This year’s theme [Our]Story is a celebration of Bozeman’s people, places and culture. Throughout the month of May, the City will host lectures, preservation awards, and tours of Bozeman’s history. Award winners will be honored at a ceremony on May 25th at the Emerson Art Center.

Historic Preservation Officer Sarah Rosenberg says, “As Bozeman grows and changes, our stories and the reflection of our community’s history and place are more important than ever before. Change and development is inevitable and we want to celebrate the people and voices that make the commitment to preserve Bozeman’s history, spirit, and sense of place.”

Nominations are open for the 2022 Historic Preservation and Legacy Awards until Friday, April 29. Those interested can nominate buildings and organizations for numerous categories. All details, how to register for the events, and the award nomination can be found on City’s Engage Bozeman website.

On Friday, May 6th, 2022, Bozeman-based recording artist, Adrian Jay (formerly known as The Id of Adrian), will release "I Do", the first single from his long-awaited debut album.

With its simple rhythm and vast choral arrangement, "I Do" is a call back to the hopelessly romantic pop music of the 1950s and 60s.

As lead vocalist, Jay plays the part of the overly confident frontman, proclaiming his undying love for an enchanting young woman. At one point he sings, "I just wanna get on top of this table at this restaurant and tell everybody in the whole room how much I love you."

As guitars strum and pianos pound, a graceful bassline played by local legend, Eddie T, is the glue that holds it all together.

Although the official release date for his upcoming album is still unknown, "I Do" is an assurance that whatever Jay does next will be well worth the wait.

"I Do" will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

Mark your calendar, because "I Do" by Adrian Jay will be out everywhere on Friday, May 6, 2022.

On 4/22/22 at approximately 4:00 pm a Fish, Wildlife and Parks Warden attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a reckless vehicle traveling north on Highway 191. The vehicle came to a stop near the Castle Inn, where the sole male occupant and driver fled on foot. The vehicle was later discovered to be stolen. Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Fish Wildlife and Parks and Montana Highway Patrol have saturated the area with K9 teams deployed to aid in locating the male. The Sheriff’s Office has issued telephone notifications at 1745 hrs to residents in the area, encouraging occupants to lock their doors, windows, outside structures and remain inside. Anyone who observes a suspicious person in the area is encouraged to call 911 and avoid contact with the person. The search is an on-going matter, the Sheriff’s Office will update the public as the search develops and thanks the public for its vigilance and support.

Current guidance to the public: The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging continued vigilance by everyone in the area, keep all property and vehicles locked up, limit travel in the area, call 911 if you see anything suspicious. Do not pick up anyone hitchhiking in the area. The male is a Caucasian male approximately six feet tall, was last seen wearing tan pants and a tan shirt. He was last seen south of the Storm Castle Bridge.

UPDATE 23 APRIL 2022 – 0900 HOURS:

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office continued their assistance of Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) in searching the Highway 191 Canyon throughout the night.  The suspect fled from FWP Officers who were attempting to conduct a traffic stop on a reckless driver at approximately 4:00 pm yesterday evening at which time the Sheriff’s Office began their assistance.

The last known area of the subject was Karst Stage Loop.  Sheriff’s deputies will continue their assistance searching the canyon throughout today though it is possible he was given a ride out of the area.  The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who may have information that may aid in identifying the suspect to call 406-582-2100.  A member of the public has likely heard from this individual or seen him and we are asking for your assistance.  The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to encourage canyon residents to be vigilant about locking their homes and vehicles so as not to prevent the theft of their property.  FWP nor the Sheriff’s Office have additional information about the suspect’s history or motives beyond finding a vehicle with keys in it that he stole.

SUSPECT DESCRIPTION:

The suspect is described as Caucasian, approximately 6 feet tall, with reddish facial hair and a slight to medium build.  If the suspect is still in the area, he is likely very cold, and hungry and is seeking shelter and assistance.

*****Update as of 5pm on 4/23/2022****

Throughout the last 24 hours the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office along with Montana Highway Patrol and Fish, Wildlife and Parks have continued to search the area of Karst Stage Loop and throughout the Big Sky region. With the information gained throughout the investigation as well as information gathered from citizens, the involved person appears to no longer be in the area. The presence of law enforcement will remain in the area as the investigation will continue and leads follow up on.

The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging continued vigilance by everyone in the area, keep all property and vehicles locked, do not pick up hitchhikers and call 911 if you see anything suspicious.  The male is a Caucasian male approximately six feet tall, was last seen wearing tan pants and a tan shirt.  The case is an on-going matter jointly worked by Fish Wildlife and Park and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Dan Springer thanks the public for its vigilance, support and numerous calls providing information. Please call 406-582-2100 if you have any additional information regarding this matter.

A composition inspired by a Bridger Range snow cloud this winter has won a Montana State University sophomore music student a place at the SoundSCAPE composition and contemporary music festival in Italy this summer.

Austin Whisler said he was standing by the MSU Duck Pond where the rise and fall of a cloud inspired his musical composition, “I Saw a Cloud.”

Austin Whisler, a sophomore in music education in the School of Music in the College of Arts and Architecture at Montana State University, has won a spot in a music festival in Italy after submitting his musical composition in the SoundSCAPE composition contest. MSU Photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

A sophomore from Boulder Creek, California, and student in the Honors College, the composition was something of a freshman effort for Whisler, who took his first music composition class fall semester.

“The piece follows the cloud as I imagined it, descending upon the Bridger ridgeline and into the Gallatin Valley where it becomes a fierce, if short-lived, snowstorm,” Whisler said. He said the melody quickly took form in his mind as a sextet for French horns. A fourth-generation musician, Whisler has played French horn since he was in fifth grade.

“I had a wonderful time writing this piece and workshopping/adapting the work with the help of the French horn studio and ensemble,” he said.

A short time later, Whisler spied a poster in Howard Hall for a composition competition to participate in the soundSCAPE Festival in Bobbio, Italy, in July and decided to submit “I Saw a Cloud.” The submission required the piece of music, a rough-draft of a recording and a brief biography.

Whisler said he thought the entry was a long shot, and quickly forgot about it. But just before spring break he received an email that he was accepted into the festival that runs July 6-16.

“And it’s been a whirlwind ever since,” Whisler said.

Part of the reason that it is hectic is that now Whisler must compose a new piece of music to be performed at the festival, this one a 5- to 7-minute duet for an oboe and a percussion instrument. Whisler said he is working with MSU School of Music faculty, including clarinet and composition professor Greg Young, on the new piece. While at the festival, Whisler will work with music composition faculty from Rice University, the Eastman School of Music and the University of Toronto to refine and prepare the piece for a performance at the festival.

Following the festival, Whisler plans to take off a few more weeks from his summer job as a line cook for Eddie’s Café in Glacier National Park and travel in Europe with his sister.

In addition to composing music, Whisler plays in the Wind Symphony, the MSU Orchestra, the Brass Quintet, the French Horn Ensemble and the Spirit of the West marching band. The low brass and horn ensembles will play Whisler’s original composition, “I Saw a Cloud,” at a concert later this semester.

Whisler said he expects the opportunity to participate in the international festival to be life-changing. But the timing of getting into the festival has also changed his life direction. While he previously was a double major in both music and neuroscience, he has decided to focus on just a music major, with an eventual plan to audition for graduate school in music.

“It’s all about those little moments where something just resonates with you,” Whisler said about the excitement he feels working with composition. “You know it when you get those chills down your spine.”

Young said that Whisler is both talented and an effervescent personality, which has contributed to his early success.

“Austin comes into class with both energy and a smile and seems over-the-top excited to compose music and to share it with his peers,” Young said. “I’m sure this will carry him along way. His mixture of talent, enthusiasm and dedication will surely brighten his future.” 

Come check out over 190 artists and non-profits at the first annual Bozeman Spring MADE fair at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse May 6-7, 2022.

The NEW Bozeman Spring MADE fair is fast approaching on May 6-7, just in time for finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift, and we are excited to connect artists with the Gallatin Valley community once again. Shop and discover a curated collection of over 190 local and regional artists. You can expect to see everything from affordable, functional works of art to fine heirloom pieces at the show. Make a day of it with your friends and enjoy strolling the aisles and supporting your local artists. Visit our website for additional details and pre-shop all of the participating artists.

Those interested in a head start on their shopping can purchase a $10 VIP Pass for the Friday Night Preview, valid 7 pm- 9 pm, or an Early Bird $5 Pass valid for 9 am-10 am, an hour before the show opens to the public. Get a solid head start and the best selection with all proceeds going to Hopa Mountain, a local non-profit that invests in rural and tribal citizen leaders who are improving education, ecological health, and economic development. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

The MADE fair is a modern art & handcrafted market featuring local & regional artists and makers. Our events are a curated collection of skilled artisans as well as a handful of non-profits. The MADE fair’s mission is to increase awareness of handmade goods as an alternative to mass-produced items and support local and regional small craft businesses by providing a place to sell their goods. We provide opportunities to artists of all levels—from hobbyists to seasoned professionals. The MADE fairs are presented by handMADE Montana—the recently named Retailer of the Year Award by the Made in Montana program.

Event Details

Date: May 6-7, 2022
FRIDAY: 7pm-9pm : $10 VIP PASS
SATURDAY: 9am-10am $5 EARLY BIRD PASS
10AM-4PM : FREE ENTRY

Location: Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, Bozeman, Montana
Cost: Free Entry/Parking*
Please bring a bring a non-perishable food item to help support the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.

*VIP passes can be purchased online. There is a limited number available. https://www.tickettailor.com/events/handmademontana/643890

BOZEMAN – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds anglers of new fishing regulations that are in effect for the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the new regulations last year to help preserve existing brown trout in the two rivers, where populations have declined in some reaches in recent years.

Anglers should consult the complete list of regulations for these and other waterbodies in the current fishing regulations booklets, which can be found at fwp.mt.gov and anywhere fishing licenses are sold.

Some of the regulations for the Big Hole River include:

From Dickie Bridge to the mouth, artificial lures and single-pointed hooks only. No treble or double hooks. Anglers may remove treble or double hooks from the lure and replace them with a single hook, or the shanks may be cut off to leave a single hook. Lures with multiple hook attachments may still be used, but any treble hook must be replaced by a single hook.

From Dickie Bridge to the Bureau of Land Management’s Maiden Rock Boat Launch, brown trout fishing is catch-and-release only, and rainbow trout fishing is catch-and-release only from Dec. 1 to the third Saturday in May.

From the BLM Maiden Rock Boat Launch to Brownes Bridge Fishing Access Site, fishing is open only from April 1 through Sept. 30. Fishing for brown trout in this reach is catch-and-release only.

From Brownes Bridge FAS to the mouth, brown trout fishing is catch-and-release only, and rainbow trout fishing is catch-and-release only from Dec. 1 to the third Saturday in May.

Some of the regulations for the Beaverhead River include:

The same regulations on artificial lures and single-pointed hooks mentioned above apply to the entire Beaverhead River.

In the entire Beaverhead River, rainbow trout harvest is limited to one daily and in possession, and brown trout fishing is catch-and-release only.

From Clark Canyon Dam to Pipe Organ Bridge, fishing is open only from the third Saturday in May through Oct. 31.

For more information, visit fwp.mt.gov/fish/regulations.