Montana Contemporary Arts Collective, now in its fifth year, is showcasing local Montana artists for their Journeys exhibition at Zoot Art Gallery, at 555 Zoot Enterprises Lane, in Bozeman. The show will be on view from April 5 through June 29, 2023, 9 am - 4 pm daily, reception April 6, 5 pm - 7 pm. 

Journeys is a group show that explores the concept of travel and movement through a variety of mediums. Each artist in the show has their own unique interpretation of the theme, resulting in a diverse and dynamic exhibition. From literal physical journeys to metaphorical emotional ones, the works in this show offer a glimpse into the many facets of the human experience. Each piece tells a story of transformation and growth, inviting viewers on a journey of their own.

Our latest exhibit features the work of 14 diverse artists from Montana Contemporary Arts Collective, each with their own unique style and perspective. Visitors will be treated to a wide range of mediums, including oil, acrylic, and fiber art. The exhibit includes both emerging and established artists, offering a chance to discover new talent and appreciate the skill and craftsmanship of more experienced painters. This diverse collection of works is sure to have something for everyone, making it a must-see for art lovers of all kinds.

BOZEMAN— Students in Gallatin College Montana State University’s culinary program are inviting the community over for lunch on Fridays this spring at Thyme Bistro. 

Through April 14, students, faculty, staff and community members can dine at the student-run Thyme Bistro each Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hannon Hall dining room. Lunch is $8 per plate with optional $1 desserts and $1 beverages. The proceeds from the weekly event support the Gallatin College MSU culinary program. 

Seven second-year students in the Culinary Arts associate degree program will prepare and serve various dishes as a part of a senior capstone class. Each student will lead a weekly lunch, the final requirement of the two-year program.  

The bistro, now in its third year, has become a regular Friday stop for many people around Bozeman, said Bruce Eiting, instructor for the class and owner of Tavern 287 in Ennis.  

“People are quite shocked at what we can do for $8. It’s an amazing price point, and the food that we’re able to put out makes everybody really happy,” he said. “(My favorite part of teaching this class) is the cooking and the enjoyment on the faces of all the guests that come in.” 

Each week, the student in charge designs the menu; writes or borrows recipes; creates food purchasing lists; handles preparation, planning and execution of the lunch in the kitchen; and manages the front, which includes hosting, serving and running the restaurant, said Eiting.  

In addition to the dine-in service, guests can place to-go orders at the bistro, and all meals are ready for take-out within five to seven minutes.  

On Friday, March 3, senior culinary student Noah Sineni will take the helm to design the meal and direct the team of students to execute the lunch service.  

“I've been studying a lot to fine-tune (the meal) and get more of that authentic experience for guests,” he said, adding that students typically prepare throughout the week for the six-hour class. “It’s everything we've been working toward, and now we’re actually in charge of a restaurant and have to run it.” 

Students also gain experience with additional elements of running a restaurant, including sanitation, accounting, point-of-sale and guest interaction, said Eiting. 

“We’re getting more familiar and confident with more than preparing food,” Sineni said. “I'm used to staying in the back of the kitchen and not really interacting with the guests. The main thing I'm taking away from (the bistro) is point-of-sale, interacting with people and serving food rather than just making it.”  

These culinary students will graduate in May, equipped with skills that prepare them for careers in food-service operations ranging from small restaurants to large food service facilities, said Michael Dean, director of Culinary Arts. The curriculum includes traditional culinary arts coursework as well as hands-on experiences that align with Montana’s food culture and strong tourism industry, he said.  

“In our little bistro, we try to simulate as much as we can of what they’re going to see in a restaurant when they move on from us and they’re in the industry,” Dean said. 

The entrance to the dining hall is located on the south side of Hannon Hall facing American Indian Hall. Gallatin College flags are placed to help guests locate the dining room. The dining room only accepts card payments. 

The weekly menus are published each Wednesday at https://gallatin.montana.edu/programs/culinaryarts/thymebistro.html, or on Instagram, at instagram.com/gallatin_college/. More information on the culinary program can be found at https://gallatin.montana.edu/programs/culinaryarts/. Off-campus visitors can purchase hourly parking in the parking garage. A map of parking lots is online at  montana.edu/campusmap/#!/.  

“(The bistro) is relaxed and a great opportunity for the community to come in and really see what we do,” Sineni said. 

HELENA – During its meeting on Feb. 22, the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a new regulation that prohibits snagging of paddlefish within the intake fish bypass channel on the Yellowstone River.

The intake fish bypass channel is part of a Yellowstone River intake diversion dam project. The project’s objectives are to improve upstream and downstream fish passage for pallid sturgeon and other native species, including paddlefish, while maintaining water diversions into the lower Yellowstone project main canal.

Snagging for paddlefish is very popular in the lower Yellowstone and can lead to high concentrations of anglers targeting paddlefish during spawning migrations. Since it is not yet fully understood how the fish bypass channel will influence fish movements and angler behavior, the department proposed closing the bypass channel to snagging to avoid any unintentional catch of migrating pallid sturgeon and other native species.

Closing the bypass to snagging could also reduce potential conflicts between paddlefish anglers and FWP monitoring crews. The bypass channel will remain open for passage by boats and for angling by other methods.  

BOZEMAN — Registration is now open for Montana State University’s summer writing camps for students in grades 3 through 12. The camps will be held in July on the MSU campus. 

The Youth Writing Camp is a five-day camp that runs July 10-14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for students entering grades 5 through 12 in fall 2023. Students can either be dropped off each day or stay in an MSU residence hall and take meals in the dining hall. The commuter price is $275 through May 30 and $300 after that date. The residence hall option costs $725 through May 30 ($750 after that date). 

The Young Writer’s Camp is a four-day camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for students entering third and fourth grades in fall 2023. Running July 11-14, the Young Writer’s Camp does not include an option to be housed on campus. The price is $225 through May 30 and $250 after May 30. 

The camps are filled with activities like walking field trips, writing games and specialized workshops led by local writers. Participants receive guidance and feedback throughout the writing process from licensed educators and will learn how to write in multiple genres. 

A writing showcase will be held on Friday, July 14, and allow parents to join the campers to celebrate their creativity. The Young Writer’s Camp showcase is scheduled for 1 to 2 p.m., and the Youth Writing Camp showcase is from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. 

Both camps are presented by the Yellowstone Writing Project and MSU Continuing, Professional and Lifelong Learning. The camps are led by teachers and junior counselors from the Yellowstone Writing Project, which is based in MSU’s Department of English in the College of Letters and Science.  

For more information or to register online, please visit ato.montana.edu/ywp/. 

Continuing, Professional and Lifelong Learning is a program of Academic Technology and Outreach at MSU. ATO works across the university to support and advance its land-grant mission through unique and innovative opportunities for outreach and engagement. 

Community Education Activity Support & Enforcement (CEASE) Award funding allows Bozeman Municipal Court to research DUI citations
 
BOZEMAN, Montana (February 27, 2023) – Over the last three years, Bozeman Police Department has issued an average of 345 citations each year for Driving While Under the Influence. The Bozeman Municipal Court is exploring options to mitigate this significant public safety risk, and has been awarded a $7,000 CEASE Grant through the Gallatin County DUI Task Force to fund a part of the data-gathering process.

Efforts are beginning by researching information about the risk of re-offense and the needs of DUI Offenders. Information will then be used to develop programs and grant applications that may result in a DUI-specific court docket and a DUI Treatment Court. 
 
“Montana consistently has one of the highest DUI arrest rates and DUI fatalities in the nation, so this work is truly important for the safety of our community,” stated Renee Boundy, VETS Court Coordinator at the City of Bozeman. “We’re eager to see how we can tackle this issue differently in the courts so that everyone on the road is safer.”

 
A Driving While Under the Influence Docket would encourage people to complete their sentences and receive needed treatment. DUI Treatment Court would provide increased supervision and support for serious misdemeanor DUI offenders with the greatest risk to reoffend. The first step in the research process would be determining the feasibility of these options by gathering data about current DUI offenders. 

 
Staff will apply for additional funding through the federal government this spring to start the DUI Treatment Court. If awarded, the DUI Court could start in early 2024.
 
Those seeking more information on Bozeman Municipal Court’s DUI research and potential programs can contact Renee Boundy at (406) 548-5950 or rboundy@bozeman.net.

On February 26, 2023, at 9:48 am, Gallatin County dispatch received a call from Madison County Sheriff’s Office requesting assistance for a rescue mission in the area of Circle Mountain for an individual who had fallen ill and was too exhausted to self-extricate.  Madison County had communication with the individual and was able to pass on coordinates and valuable information to Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Big Sky Section, SAR Comms and Heli Team members responded to assist in getting the patient to medical care. Ground teams rode up Buck Ridge while the Heli Team flew directly to the area. The Heli Team was able to locate the patient, pick them up, and fly to a waiting Madison County Deputy for further assistance.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind winter recreationalist to travel with others when possible and be prepared for unexpected events when recreating. He also encourages recreationalists to have a fully charged cell phone or some other communication device in case of an emergency as the patient did in this case.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

GREAT FALLS – The permit lottery results to float Smith River State Park in 2023 are now available online on FWP’s website. In addition to the online results, successful applicants will be notified via email. Links within the email will allow permit holders to download and print their float permit, as well as access important and detailed information regarding their upcoming Smith River float. Permits are required to float the iconic 59-mile stretch of the Smith River, which is celebrated for its spectacular scenery, remote location and excellent trout fishing.

The number of applications received this year was down slightly from 2022, with 14,497 applicants who were awarded a total of 1,470 float permits for launch dates between April 1 and Oct. 31. Montana residents drew 902 float permits, while nonresidents drew 568 permits. Every date between April 1 and Aug. 21 had all available permits allocated. The Smith River is typically floatable from mid-April to mid-July.  

For applicants who were unsuccessful in the regular permit drawing, Smith River Super Permit chances are available through March 23 for $5 each. One Super Permit winner will be allowed to launch on any date of their choosing. Chances may be purchased at FWP’s online licenses service webpage. The Super Permit drawing will be held on March 29. 

Floaters may also call the Smith River Reservation and Information Line at 406-454-5861 beginning Monday, March 6, to request any remaining launch dates or canceled permits. The call line will be open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Floaters should be aware of the following items this year:

• Floater registration will occur via phone, two days in advance of each scheduled launch date. In addition, the river rangers will assign a one-hour time interval for each float group to approach the boat ramp to launch.
• Camp Baker is now a day-use only site, with no overnight camping allowed, except for the period of Sept. 1 through Nov. 30.
• Pit toilets will continue to be provided in 2023 and floaters will not be required to pack-out human waste. Beginning in 2024, it is anticipated that mandatory human waste pack-out will be required.

For more information about Smith River State Park visit:  https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/smith-river.

New regulation increases possession limit for yellow perch  

HELENA – FWP’s Fish and Wildlife Commission has adopted a new regulation for yellow perch in Holter Reservoir near Helena. 

Effective immediately, the new regulation is 25 perch daily and 50 in possession. Previous regulations allowed both a daily and possession limit of 25 perch.   

Perch numbers in Holter Reservoir have increased over the past few years. The Upper Missouri River Reservoir Fisheries Management Plan guides Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to maximize fishing opportunities when yellow perch abundance increases above goal objectives in the plan. This is now the case with perch, and the rationale behind the regulation change.