On the morning Friday, Oct. 14, the Gallatin County Elections Office is mailing out over 62,000 absentee ballots for the 2022 federal general election on Nov. 8.

Voters who are registered to receive their ballots absentee should start seeing them arrive in their mailboxes in the coming days.

Sample ballots can be found here.

Absentee ballots must be returned no later than 8 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, in order to be counted. Ballots postmarked on or before Election Day but received after Election Day cannot be accepted.

Absentee ballots may be returned by mail. The Elections Office advises mailing them no later than Tuesday, Nov. 1 to ensure they arrive on time. They can also be dropped off at the Elections Office leading up to and including Election Day.

On Election Day, ballots can be dropped at any polling place in Gallatin County, and there will also be a drive-up box at the front of the Gallatin County Courthouse in downtown Bozeman.

Polling places will be open for in-person voting on Election Day at the following locations:

• Bridger Canyon Fire Station – 8081 Bridger Canyon Rd.
• Gallatin County Fairgrounds – 901 N. Black Ave. in Bozeman
• Hope Lutheran Church – 5152 W. Graf St. in Bozeman
• Povah Community Center – 10 Geyser St. in West Yellowstone
• Big Sky Water & Sewer District Office – 561 Little Coyote Rd. in Big Sky
• Gallatin Gateway Community Center – 145 Mill St. in Gallatin Gateway
• Belgrade Special Events Center – 220 Spooner Rd. in Belgrade
• River Rock Community Center – 101 River Rock Rd. in Belgrade
• Three Forks High School – 212 E. Neal St. in Three Forks
• Manhattan Christian School – 8000 Churchill Rd. in Churchill
• Manhattan High School – 200 W. Fulton Ave. in Manhattan

Polling places will be open 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day, with the exception of Bridger Canyon Fire Station, which will be open noon to 8 PM.

If you are voting in-person, please check your voter registration to make sure you vote at the correct polling place location.

Visit www.MyVoterPageMT.com to check your voter registration status and your information on file.

If you still need to register to vote or update your registration in order to vote in November’s election, you must appear in person at the Gallatin County Elections Office. Voters can register now until noon on Monday, Nov. 7 (the day before Election Day), and from 7 AM to 8 PM on Election Day.

The Elections Office is located in room 210 of the Gallatin County Courthouse at 311 W. Main St. in downtown Bozeman.

For questions or more information, call us at 406-582-3060, email us at gallatin.elections@gallatin.mt.gov, or visit our website at gallatinvotes.com.

BOZEMAN — Sreekala Bajwa, of Montana State University’s College of Agriculture and director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, received a national award for her engineering achievement in agriculture.

Bajwa received the 2022 Cyrus Hall McCormick Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The award, currently sponsored by CNH Industrial, honors exceptional and meritorious engineering achievement in agriculture that has resulted in new concepts, products, processes and methods that advanced the development of agriculture. Bajwa was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the industrial adoption of precision agriculture technologies, agricultural byproduct utilization and ensuing contributions to foundational technologies.

Bajwa was nominated by colleagues in 2019 when she was chair of the North Dakota State University Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and professor of agricultural engineering. Nominations are valid for three years. Bajwa’s research projects focused on industry collaboration and economic development in the Red River Valley.

“Although I graciously accepted this award, it was on behalf of all the people who have contributed to this research program,” said Bajwa, who has been with MSU since 2019. “My faculty colleagues, graduate students, postdocs and external collaborators all played an equally important role in developing and maintaining an impactful research program at North Dakota State University.”

In North Dakota, Bajwa and her team worked with a local company, Masonite, to identify new plant-based raw materials for making door components. The company had been using wheat straw for the fiber core of its manufactured exterior doors, but the material was becoming too expensive with unreliable quality. Bajwa and her team identified soybean- and corn-based fibers to mix with wheat fibers to maintain the quality of the doors and lower the raw material cost. Also based on their recommendations, the company modified their production process and bought soybean straw materials from farmers in the region, keeping materials local and bringing revenue to the state.

Bajwa’s team also worked with a military contracting company to repurpose its drones for agricultural applications in the Red River Valley, which she said was the first time a large unmanned aerial system was used for that purpose in the U.S.

As MSU’s vice president of agriculture and director of MAES, Bajwa said that one of her responsibilities is to understand the research needs of the agriculture sector in Montana from farmers, ranchers and other agriculture stakeholders, and to connect them with researchers to address those needs through producer engaged research.

Bajwa also advocates the adoption of precision agriculture practices in Montana, which include GPS, sensors, robotics and geographic information systems to help with farm planning, field mapping, soil sampling, tractor guidance, crop scouting, variable rate applications and yield mapping. The College of Agriculture hired four precision agriculture faculty members earlier this year to help create a precision agriculture program and facilitate research. Those faculty members meet with agricultural producers to learn about their most pressing concerns and create research plans to try and mitigate the issues, including invasive weeds, soil acidification, nutrient management and more.

“The key to my success has been bringing together a multitude of constituents and experts to work together to take advantage of research opportunities. This approach has been successful for me, and for many scientists I know. The MSU College of Agriculture is working on facilitating such collaborations for our researchers to address the challenges Montana agriculture faces,” Bajwa said.

An international organization with more than 8,000 members, ASABE represents educators, researchers and professionals tackling issues ranging from air and water quality to resource management, livestock environment, food engineering and Bajwa’s specialty, precision agriculture.

GREAT FALLS – A 51-year-old hunter from Washington state sustained non-life threatening injuries when he was attacked by a grizzly bear on Tuesday afternoon in Teton County.

The hunter and his wife encountered the bear around 1 p.m. while hunting for upland birds in a creek bottom east of Choteau. The bear charged out of thick brush at close range. The hunter fired at the bear with a shotgun and handgun, wounding the bear and stopping the attack. The hunters and their dogs left the area and notified authorities of the attack.

FWP bear management specialists, game wardens, and Teton County deputies returned to the site and located and euthanized the bear later that afternoon after consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The 677-pound adult male bear had no known previous history of human conflict and had never been handled by bear managers. Evidence at the site suggested the attack was the result of a surprise encounter.

To guard against surprise encounters and remain vigilant and safe in bear country, which includes most of the western half of Montana:  

• Carry bear spray in an easily accessible location and be prepared to use it immediately.  
• Look for bear sign and be cautious around creeks and areas with limited visibility.  
• Hunt with a group of people. Making localized noise can alert bears to your presence.  
• Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears.  
• Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible. 
• If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during processing, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards.  
• Upon your return, observe the meat with binoculars. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP.  

For more information and resources on bear safety, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear/be-bear-aware.

Homework is a burden for many students because most of us love to cherish procrastination. However, procrastination is not a good habit of allowing yourself to get good marks in exams. On the other hand, procrastination is a source of increased stress in human beings. 

Student life is fascinating but busy. Moreover, the modern education system has imposed a more difficult syllabus for the students to keep them busy with various activities. However, with the help of technology and digitalization, it has become possible for teachers to send assignments online and ask students to do their homework at any time of the day. 

This can be stressful for students who are not capable of managing the pressure of their studies. Due to the high pressure of study, many students get affected both mentally and physically. 

Social life, grades, reputation, the pressure of parents, instructions of the professors, everything has a combined effect of stress on the students. This is now how any student wants to spend their life in college. However, procrastination does not help to manage things like this. 

Tips For Stress Reduction In Managing Homework
This study is mainly focused and concerned with the stress of the students so far. Managing stress is becoming the main issue of millions of students all over the world. It is not possible to change the syllabus to reduce the homework because other students are trying to be competitive and get the top batch. 

So, what you can do best is to manage your working schedule and prepare yourself in a sharp way to handle the pressure without any stress. 

1. Practice Time Management
Without time management, it is not possible to handle the pressure of study and homework. If you do not have a sense of time, you will not be able to complete any of your homework within the given time.

This is where everything is going to go fine with proper time management. To reduce your homework stress, you will need to manage time for fulfilling every task. Always try to keep a clock or watch with you so that you can track the time. 

2. Stick To A Schedule
Scheduling is like planning for your tasks. It does not matter how many days are left in the final exam; if you can make a proper schedule for your homework, you will be able to manage everything within the time.

So, time management and scheduling are related to each other. If you can schedule your tasks and plan them properly to end soon, you will be able to consider time to keep a concise track of your homework. 

3. Ask Questions And Take Notes
If you really want to reduce your homework stress, never hesitate to ask questions to the instructors. If you are not clear with the homework, you will not be able to complete it within the given time. 

Sometimes students think that they will study and learn and reduce the confusion at home, and that is the biggest mistake. Instead, you can simply ask for your confusion, and at home, you can research better on new things. 

Take notes of all your homework to keep everything on track, and this kind of procedure will simply reduce your stress. 

4. Consider Writing Services 
Homework stress increases due to the high expectations of the professors. If you have more than one assignment to complete within a tight schedule, you will need to play smart and consider writing services. 

Simply ask them to do my homework online, and they will do what you have asked for within the time. Sometimes it's not about hard work but smart work. Know the instances and manage your work with expert writers from these writing services. 

5. Get A Good Night's Sleep
No matter how difficult your current condition is, if you are not getting enough sleep, you are summoning health issues. 

Your homework can be done when you are fit enough, both mentally and physically. Lack of sleep at night can affect you both mentally and physically. Do not skip a night's sleep, and this will reduce your stress. 

6. Avoid Procrastination
To avoid homework stress, you should deliberately avoid procrastination. Going for procrastination is easy, but avoiding it is tough. If you can control your emotions and manage to do your work within the time, your study stress will be released automatically. 

Never skip your schedule, and if you have done that, do not procrastinate on the next. The only way to release your homework stress is to manage things within the time.
 
7. Reward Yourself And Increase Your Confidence 
During exam times or even when you have too much homework to complete, most students lack confidence. The drained confidence can be gained uniquely. 

Try to set small goals to make your homework interesting. And on every completion of your goals, reward yourself with the things you like the most. You can be your best friend to manage your stress factor. 

When you deserve the rewards, you will gain confidence, ultimately reducing your stress. 

8. Get Healthy Food
There is no exception to healthy food. If you are not able to manage healthy food in your diet chart, you have missed the foremost important part of your health.

It does not depend on your likes or dislikes. When you have study pressure, and you are getting only a little time to relax, you will need to manage it with good food. Good food means good health, and that is the key to doing your homework in a continuous process. 

9. Make Time For Relaxing Your Mood 
Relaxation is not a luxury to us but a necessity. Hard Working people think that relaxation is a luxury to them. But the actual aspect of getting relaxed is to heal your mood. 

Do not forget to include short breaks and a day off in the schedule so take care of your relaxation and enjoyment. These short breaks and days off will reduce your homework fatigue. 

Reduce Your Stress By Refreshing Your Memory
Apart from following the above-mentioned steps, you can also try different techniques to memorize the things that you have studied so far. In this way, you will get enough time to progress in your homework. 

Work hard and relax like a monk; it's your life; make it happen.

Bozeman, Montana is one of the most beautiful destinations in the United States, offering the perfect blend of city and nature in one charming area. For digital nomads, Bozeman is an opportunity to stay minutes away from the gorgeous outdoor sceneries without losing signal or Wi-Fi when you’re busy at work. Check out these destinations when you’re planning your visit, or simply want a few good reasons to visit Bozeman.

Where to Work

Finding the perfect spot for your work day can be tough, but we’re confident one of these four spots can be your ideal place to be on the grind.

Bozeman Public Library

While the Bozeman Public Library is under construction and mostly closed for daily use right now, it should hopefully open again sometime in the new year. The newly renovated spaces will continue to offer bookable study rooms, which can accommodate up to four people, to keep you staunchly focused on work. In the meantime, check out the library’s FAQ to see what is available during construction.

MSU Library

Being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of campus life can undoubtedly spark your productivity. The MSU Library is a large building that offers collaborative spaces on its first two floors and quiet spaces on its top two floors, so you can crank out any type of assignment. It’s one of our favorite places to work late — until midnight, if you need it.

ICT

International Coffee Traders is basically a haven for craft coffee lovers. Located near the MSU campus, ICT micro-roasts its coffee to give you the high-quality flavors to pair with your high-quality work. You’ll love the beautiful environment and abundance of seating, too.

Wild Joe*s

If you’re looking for a coffee shop that you can basically stay at all day, Wild Joe’s Coffee can definitely do the trick. Its menu is packed with plenty of breakfast foods, coffee and tea drinks, snacks, and lunch (or dinner, if you’re really staying until close).

Where to Play

When the work day ends, there’s nothing better than spending a night out. These destinations will help you get to know Bozeman and, perhaps, some of its residents

Museum of the Rockies

Bozeman is one of the most beautiful destinations for digital nomads who want to visit the Rocky Mountains, and the Museum of the Rockies is the perfect pitstop in the city. Stop by this destination for a dose of cultural and natural history, and to see a massive T-rex skeleton.

Dancing at the Starlight

For the literal movers and the shakers, The Starlight offers a fun place to express yourself in any style. You can sign up for all sorts of dance classes, whether you want a bit of yoga-dance fusion or some exciting post-work pole lessons.

Downtown Bozeman

Walking around downtown Bozeman is a beautiful way to spend your time. This charming city has a lot to offer — and one of our new favorites is the new Intersection(al) Art installation that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. Check out the Bozeman events calendar to check out what’s happening on the days you’re checking out the city.

Where to Eat

Everyone’s got to eat, so you might as well make it good. Try out these three restaurants that are sure to please.

Five on Black

For those who are gluten-free, and even those who are not, head over to Five on Black for some delicious Brazilian street food. This dedicated gluten-free restaurant offers something different — and, we’d argue, more delicious — than the typical gluten-free bakery, so you can fully satisfy your stomach.

Roost

Just because you’re up north in Montana doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy a taste of the South. Roost is a classic fried chicken restaurant you don’t want to miss. Order a cold beer and a side of slaw or mac and cheese on the side to complete your meal.

Montana Ale Works

Montana Ale Works is a taphouse and restaurant that offers a bit more of an upscale dining experience than most casual bars. Enjoy food made with some of the freshest ingredients, like local bison and elk — and definitely don’t skip the craft beer selection.

Where to Explore

No stay in Montana is complete without a good time outdoors. When you have time to shut off your laptop and spend time in nature, you’ll want to explore these spots.

Drinking Horse Mountain Trail

Located in the Custer Gallatin National Forest the Drinking Horse Mountain Trail is a beautiful, two-mile loop trail with expansive valley views. If you’re traveling with your furry friend, you’ll even be able to bring your dog and let them off-leash in designated areas — but make sure you stick to trail etiquette for your dog and follow any local rules.

Palisade Falls

A waterfall view is always worth the trek, and Palisade Falls is an easy trail that anyone can complete. This natural wonder will have you in awe for days, even if you’ve seen it before.

Bozeman Hot Springs

Bozeman Hot Springs is a natural hot spring that’s complete with nine different pools filled with rejuvenating water at different temps. Spend a relaxing day here as a solo traveler, with newfound friends, or with your travel companions.

Enjoy Your Time in Bozeman

Bozeman is an unbeatable city where you can take part in diverse activities while still finding productivity-inducing spots to work. Fly out or drive out today for the perfect digital nomad experience.

Photobooks can be an excellent way to capture what it was that made your latest holiday so unique, and if you know how to use them optimally, then you are going to have a lifetime's worth of memories contained in just one small booklet.
 
In this article, we are going to be giving you two tips that will help you create the vacation photobook of your dreams, as well as going over a few of the most common errors people make when it comes to making photo books.
 
Be Picky With The Photos You Choose
 
There is only a limited number of slots in a photo book. You don’t necessarily want to create one with the most recent vacation photos on your camera roll. Not only will this mean you have less space for the photos you actually love, but it could also diminish your relationship with said photobook if the photos are not the best, and you may end up putting it away in a drawer only for it to be never seen again.

 
You need to be extremely selective with the photos you choose when trying to decide what to choose in the photo book maker as you create the book – this is going to lead to the best results. If you want to create a vacation photo book you truly cherish, taking a little time to think about what photos you would like to include is perfectly okay, and this is something that is going to pay you dividends in the long run.
 
Distinguish This Holiday From All The Others
 
Holidays are magical. If you set up your photobook correctly, you should be able to tell exactly where you were and what the atmosphere was like when you were there, and this is a goal you should keep in mind throughout the entire creation process.
 
Including photos that truly represent the location you visited is going to distinguish your most recent vacation from all the others - you don’t just want to open a photobook and be unable to tell exactly which holiday you are looking at.
 
Of course, learning how to take good photos is also going to be incredibly beneficial in achieving this goal; it will be hard to distinguish anything if all of your photos are mediocre and look the same.
 
Making this holiday stand out is absolutely essential for your photobook's longevity, and if you don’t want your recent adventure to blend into the endless sea of other vacations, then taking steps to rectify this is vital.
 
Making a photobook doesn't have to be difficult. If you follow all of the tips we have given you in this article, you should have no problems with making your ideal vacation photo book, and this skill is going to bear fruit for years to come.
 
Words can’t describe just how good it feels to be able to capture a moment of our lives for all of eternity - this is something that you will be able to look back on for as long as you are around.

Two employees of Bridger Bowl Ski Area were recognized for their contributions to noxious weed management and their dedication to promoting healthy plant communities in Gallatin County.

John VanHouten and Josh Thompson received the first-ever Gallatin County Outstanding Noxious Weed Management Award. They were honored at the Gallatin County Commission’s meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

“Gallatin County is always very appreciative of those who go out of their way to manage noxious weeds on their property. Bridger Bowl is doing a lot,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Joe Skinner.

The Gallatin County Weed District wanted to honor these individuals or groups who are a vital part of noxious weed management in our county.

The award recognizes landowners and managers who do an exceptional job of controlling noxious weeds. These stewards are not only caring for their own land but are helping to protect the wild lands and local agriculture that make our county such a wonderful place to live.

The Weed District sought nominations over the summer. The Weed Board then reviewed the nominations and voted to give VanHouten and Thompson the award.

In nominating VanHouten and Thompson, it was noted that Bridger Bowl puts significant effort into promoting native forbs and grasses while reducing and eliminating noxious weeds on their over 2,000 acres of both private and federal land.

Bridger Bowl’s work includes regularly scheduled patrols, mowing and hand pulling to reduce weed seed production on the ski hill’s main runs, spraying to prevent weeds, and paying particular attention to parking lots that bring in outside weeds. If an infestation is identified, it is remediated, and the area is flagged for follow-up. And any areas of disturbance are seeded back to native grasses and monitored for weed germination over the next few years.

Bridger Bowl also collaborates regularly with Gallatin County, the U.S. Forest Service, and their neighbors Bridger Pines and Crosscut Mountain Sports Center.

Steve Saunders, member of the Gallatin County Weed Board, said the award offers an opportunity to educate the public and bring awareness to the importance noxious weed management. But it also is a chance to recognize folks who are truly making a difference.

“That’s what we’re looking for – people who really care,” Saunders said.

If you ask most people what they know about the Blues as a genre of music, they might tell you that it makes them feel sad and is a beautiful expression of emotion, but that’s about it. However, there’s a lot more about the blues that you need to know.

This musical genre has a deep and rich history behind it, and the deeper you go, the more there is to uncover about the Blues and the people who sing them.

The Origins of Mississippi Delta Blues

First, this is where the blues got started, so it makes sense to know the history of Mississippi Delta Blues music. It’s acoustic, raw, and soulful.

The blues was often sung by slaves and plantation workers who were sharecroppers and cotton pickers around Clarksdale Mississippi and Helena Arkansas. They would sing about the emotions going on with them, as well as the homes that they had been taken from. Most of the early pioneers of the blues genre were African, and when it was discovered that they could use drums to communicate with one another, they were banned from having instruments. So the blues actually started as Acappella music on the fields, until the slaves and workers moved to different parts of the country and began not only picking their own instruments back up but also finding the instruments of different locations.

Blues Has Many Different Sub-Genres

Blues music might have started in the delta, but whenever the blues singers found themselves moving from place to place, they adapted their music to what was around them to create new sounds. Now Blues music has countless different types of sub-genres, and many of them are location-based.

Chicago Blues, for example, was created whenever the practitioners of the blues went up north to find a better life. The blues that they sang in Chicago needed to be filled with energy and needed to be much louder in order for the singers to be heard in rowdy Chicago clubs, and it is still quite popular.

Memphis Blues was also created by blues singers heading to Memphis, and they easily adapted to the other entertainment styles of the city. Including vaudeville style, country style, jug band music, and of course jazz. There are a lot of different sub-genres and blends of blues with other types of music, so if you like the blues from one area, try to broaden your scope and see what else you can find.

The Blues Are Packed With Emotion And Stories

Whether they are singing about lost love, lost hope, loneliness, or injustice, it’s pretty easy to have the blues make you feel a little blue too. The blues are songs that are designed to make you feel an emotion and to make you listen to a story. Plus, many of the lyrics also have double meanings and metaphors, both to make you think, and also because when the songs were sung on the fields those double meanings hid the understanding of the song from their masters.

Jazz and Blues Are Similar, But Not The Same

Finally, there’s often confusion between Jazz and Blues, but they are not the same thing. Yes they are very similar and yes they are also able to be mixed together really well, but Jazz is a massive combination of different instruments and sounds, while blues is often a single singer with an instrument. However, if you like one you will also likely like the other, and you can easily find songs that are essentially blues and jazz music melded together. Because that makes a great combination for everyone!

Gallatin City-County Health Department (GCCHD) will hold two (2) walk-in flu clinics in October. The first clinic, held on October 12, will also have an option for individuals 12 years or older to get their COVID-19 bivalent booster dose. This year’s flu vaccine provides protection against the four (4) flu viruses that are thought to be the most likely to circulate in the United States this year.

“It’s very important for residents in Gallatin County to get their flu and COVID-19 boosters this fall,” said Lori Christenson, Gallatin County Health Officer. “We’ve already seen flu cases in Montana in September, which may be an early indicator of a severe flu season, so we ask everyone to take precautions to protect themselves and
others.”

Anyone can get the flu, but it is more dangerous for some people including infants, young children, people 65 years or older, those who are pregnant, people with certain health conditions, and those with a weakened immune system. Flu vaccines are for anyone six (6) months old or older.

Walk-In Clinics This Fall:
● Wednesday, October 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - located at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, Building 4 - *Optional COVID-19 Bivalent Booster*
● Friday, October 28 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. - located at the health department, 215 W. Mendenhall Street, Bozeman - Flu vaccine only

If you have health insurance, please bring your insurance card. GCCHD will be billing insurance for the flu vaccine only. Most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid, will cover the flu vaccine as a preventative service at no charge to you. Additionally, for those seeking a COVID-19 booster dose, please bring your current COVID-19
vaccine card.

The flu vaccine pricing:
● Regular price: $42 per person
● No Insurance: $21 per person, payable at time of service
● High Dose (65 and older) – covered by Medicare

There is no waiting period between getting your flu vaccine and getting your COVID-19 vaccine. However, you must wait at least two (2) months after your last COVID-19 vaccine dose to get the bivalent booster. The COVID-19 bivalent booster doses are for those who are 12 years old or older.

The Healthy Gallatin website is the best location for the most up-to-date information on both flu and COVID-19. Please visit us at www.healthygallatin.org