Game wardens with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are seeking information on several elk and pronghorn that were killed illegally in Park County this week.
 
On Thursday wardens received reports of poached elk near the intersection of Trail Creek and Old Yellowstone roads, about 17 miles south of Livingston. After talking with landowners, wardens found that three cow elk had been shot from the road on private property, and the meat was wasted.
 
Wardens also learned of nine pronghorn—three bucks and six does and fawns—that were poached on private property about 1 mile south of the three poached elk. The pronghorn were also shot from a roadway, and the meat was left to waste. Several houses and buildings were adjacent to where the pronghorn were shot.

 
Wardens have been gathering evidence from both areas. They found blood trails away from the carcasses, indicating other animals may have been wounded and ran away. One area landowner reported hearing multiple gun shots Thursday morning around 2 a.m.
 
Anyone with information on either of these incidents are asked to contact Livingston area Game Warden Drew Scott at 406-581-7613 or Gardiner area Game Warden Gregg Todd at 406-224-5207. Informants can also remain anonymous by calling Montana’s poaching hotline, 1-800-TIP-MONT (847-6668). Persons who provide information that leads to a successful prosecution in this case may be eligible for a monetary reward.

A project that retired Montana State University President Geoffrey Gamble launched nearly 50 years ago may help preserve the language of a California Indian tribe that has all but disappeared.
 
Gamble, a linguist who served as MSU’s 11th president from 2000 to 2009, has just published a dictionary of the language of the Wikchamni people of California’s southern San Joaquin Valley, a tribe with a declining population that has only one native speaker remaining. It is a 50-year labor of love for Gamble, who first began on the project in 1969 while he was working in a master’s program at Fresno State College. He worked on the dictionary in spare moments throughout a career that evolved from anthropology professor to college administrator to university president.

 
“I got a little sidetracked,” Gamble joked.
 
Gamble officially published the web-based Wikchamni dictionary this fall when he also presented his work at a linguistics conference at his alma mater, now called California State University, Fresno, which hosts the online dictionary. Gamble’s small library of field notebooks and file slips and his recordings have been digitized and may soon also be accessible in the special collections of the Fresno State Library.

 
Despite its name, the work is more than merely a dictionary. It is also an encyclopedia of the culture of the Wikchamni people, and it is a memoir of Gamble’s experience of learning firsthand a way of life that has all but died out.
 
That Gamble fell in love with linguistics and the culture of the small family of Central California Indians near his hometown might have seemed unlikely when he first enrolled in his local university to play football, among other things. He started at Fresno State College in 1960 and at first planned to study astrophysics — which is still one of his many passions. He shifted majors and received his bachelor’s degree in English in 1965 and then launched a successful insurance career. His love of teaching a night class for agents rekindled his passion for academia, and he returned to graduate school. A mentor professor attracted him to linguistics.

 
“I saw linguistics as half-way between physics and English,” Gamble said. “It gave me a chance to blend my scientific curiosity with my humanistic tendencies.”
 
Soon after beginning his master’s program in 1969, he met a Cecile Silva through a former colleague in the insurance business. Gamble needed a field project, and Silva, who was then in her 70s, asked Gamble to help her record her history and the language of the Wikchamni Tribe as she and her three sisters recalled it. The four Pohot sisters — which included Silva, Mary Friedrichs, Virginia Aguilar and Susie Metcalf — were among the last native speakers of Wikchamni, sometimes spelled Wukchumni, a tribe native to California’s Central Valley. The family feared that unless someone was willing to write down the oral language and traditions, they would be lost to time.

 
“The work selected me — I didn’t select it,” Gamble recalls. He would often bring his children as he visited Silva at her home on the Santa Rosa Rancheria, a small reservation near Hanford, California, and she patiently tutored him on the fine points of her people’s ancient ways.
 
Silvia taught Gamble a wide range of native skills, such as how to collect salt in many different variations from native salt grass and how to weave baskets from sawgrass roots and the bark from the redbud plant. Gamble also recorded the sisters telling Wikchamni stories they learned when they were young. Those ethnographic references are woven into clips and annotated entries that provide depth and breadth to the dictionary.

 
“The (document includes) cultural descriptions of how the Wikchamni folks, as seen through lives of these sisters, used the natural environment that surrounded them to live full, rich lives,” Gamble said.
 
Gamble interviewed Silva from 1969 to 1974 and maintained a friendship with her for 11 years before she died in her 80s. Gamble’s work was featured in a 1994 Chronicle of Higher Education story about the death by attrition of American indigenous languages.
 
Gamble received a master's degree in 1971, graduating with honors. He earned a Ph.D., also in linguistics, from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975 and then took a fellowship with the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. He became a linguistics professor of anthropology at Washington State University in 1976 and taught there for 12 years before moving into academic administration at WSU, the University of Vermont and then MSU — a career turn that benefitted from Gamble’s analytical and curious mind and even demeanor, qualities that are also reflected in the dictionary.

 
Gamble said that when he retired as MSU’s president in 2009 he was able to spend more time on the project, although he is kept busy with a constellation of interests that range from teaching classes to playing and singing in a ukulele cabaret group.
 
While Gamble regrets that the Wikchamni language has nearly died out, he is grateful to have a part in preserving it in some form. He points out that this is an unfortunate, but not uncommon problem among tribes, particularly small tribes, even in Montana.
 
“Languages have natural processes,” Gamble said. “They die out through the world. Languages change and evolve.”
 
He said there is still a great deal missing from the dictionary; including some material originally omitted for religious reasons and out of respect for the sisters. However, a member of the Pohot family recently asked Gamble to add sacred material that he originally omitted. He also continues to translate the many hours of recordings with Silva and her sisters.

 
“This is slow work, but very interesting work because I run into words and forms I have never heard before,” Gamble said. “It’s still fascinating. And I’m not done yet.”
 
To learn more about the Wikchamni project go to http://wikchamnidictionary.library.fresnostate.edu/.

Are you ready for a change? This calls for something loud and interesting to do. So where have you planned to go? If Bozeman encapsulates what you’re looking for, like it does for a lot of people, you better pack your bags and set off. You must have seen Bozeman on television with your family, but now it is time for you to register for a visit over there. Apart from its scenic beauty, Bozeman has some of the most breathtaking locations in the world that must be visited at least once in a lifetime. It is tough to define Bozeman in words, therefore we suggest you visit it yourself. To enjoy your stay in the elegant city, here are a few things you must know:

1.      The Dining is Unique
Unlike other mainstream restaurants and cuisines in the world, Bozeman has unique dining. This intriguing fact is also one of the main reasons why foodies flock this city every year. There is a lot for you to choose from. Once you visit, you will be surprised to come across a vast array of Indian food, delicious BBQ, enticing Thai dishes, outstanding Sushi and classy Montana steak gourmets. However, you must keep in mind, Bozeman doesn’t have restaurants in abundance so you better stick to a few places.

2.      Natural Beauty Speaks for Itself
As discussed, the mind-boggling beauty of this city is not hidden from the eyes of the world. Although changing to a new location is scary but moving to Bozeman is surely going to be the best experience of your life. We’re sure you’ll come across amazing people and make new friends instantly when you move there. The people of Bozeman are forthcoming and cosmopolitan, which is why a lot of new residents don’t feel alienated. There’s something magnetic about the city, which is why people visit it every year.

3.      The Snow is Not as Beautiful as It Looks
You probably would have visited the Bozeman in summer, but it is essential to test the winters before you decide to move. The heavy amounts of snow look beautiful in pictures but are very deadly during the winter season. After Christmas, days are short. Therefore you need to be prepared for everything. Everything in the city freezes in the early months of the year. Install spy in your kid's phones to keep track of them in winter because heavy snowfalls often cause an emergency.

4.      Shopping is Unique Too
Just like food, shopping from Bozeman is unique as well. However, don’t forget that this city is not rich when it comes to shopping brands. You can only get a handful of shopping brands in Bozeman to buy basics from. So just before you move, don’t forget to pack everything you need over there. Apart from unique clothing, Bozeman is also rich in beautiful home décor. You can also find multiple book stores in the area that are seldom found in many cities today.

Your wedding is arguably the most important of all the events you are likely to have been involved in. It is, in fact, the most momentous day in your life. That is why you will make it the most memorable day ever to have happened. Just like any other event, you will need a theme, photography, theme decorations, music, food, and drinks as well as a memorable venue. Keeping all other factors constant, this article will take you through tips on how you can choose an excellent caterer for your wedding.

Prepare a budget

Before you start on the search, ensure you prepare your desired budget for catering. You should know that catering involves more than just food and drinks. It consists of the party linens- covers the tabled and other surfaces, the menu for the event which entails food and beverages, then the cost of the labor and service delivered, including cleaning and other small provisions. You can interview the caterers for the budget that well suits you. You can ask the caterers to provide packages that suit you or those that are tailored for your budget.

Dining style

Depending on the dining style you favor, you can get an excellent caterer to execute your design and like to get out of that special and unique feeling the day deserves. This comes as a reminder since a wedding can have more than one catering style combined or just one style which is executed to perfection. Some caterers are specialized in one or two styles. In contrast, others are open to providing whichever style the client is interested in. This factor is essential since it will define the class and stature of your wedding.

Ask for the suggestions

If you are low on options for catering, you can ask for some recommendations from your venue providers. The fact that they have been in business for some time suggests that they have had several caterers that have had contracts to deliver at their premises. They can get you a few suggestions as well from a pool of contacts they have kept as long as they meet your expectations. In case they do not have any credible suggestions, then you can get them to tell you the qualities and requirements they look for in the right caterer for the venue.

Furthermore, you can ask for referrals from friends and family. Chances are that they have come across right caterers from the events they have attended.

Online reviews

Technology has made it easier for companies to increase their visibility to the online community and globally. From this platform, you can easily launch a hunt for your desired caterer. Usually, companies create their online websites from which people leave their reviews and ratings of the company, your ideal candidate will be highly reviewed by most people. 

Test the best top candidates

From your research, get your best candidates then try them out. Trying your candidates involves getting to taste their food and serving techniques. You should be in a position to know what you expect at your wedding before the main event. 

Get your client on a contract

After you finish your interviews, draw up a contract for the candidate to sign up. This ensures accountability and beyond doubt responsibility. It would help if you had your prices accurate enough so that there won't be confusion afterward.

The Bottom Line

There isn’t anything more important than keeping your wedding day a day to always remember. Having the best of the services, including your caterer, serves to give you some peace of mind on your important day. Do not forget to hire an entertainment specialist.

Bozeman artist Carrie French is currently one of two featured artists at the campus location of Town & Country. Her work will be on display in the upstairs gallery through March 31, 2020.

Carrie French is a contemporary painter who's work reflects a wonder of the world, both natural and human-made. Working in oils and on occasion, mixed media, her paintings are a way of capturing and savoring fleeting moments, emotions and memories.

For more images and information, contact: carriefrenchpainting@gmail.com or 303.260.9431

HRDC is set to begin their eighth season of providing tax preparation services through their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) service run by IRS certified volunteers. Individuals and households with incomes of less than $56,000 are eligible for tax assistance through VITA.

Last year, HRDC assisted with 773 tax returns resulting in over $1 million in tax refunds back to the community. This tax season, HRDC will offer assistance in Belgrade, Big Sky, Bozeman, Livingston, and White Sulphur Springs.

HRDC’s VITA service will start on Wednesday, February 5 and go through mid-April. The majority of VITA sites operate by appointment only. Tax assistance will occur at a variety of locations, including at HRDC’s Bozeman Office, Fork & Spoon, many community libraries, and more.

Individuals and households seeking tax assistance must bring photo identification, Social Security cards and birth dates for each member of their family, and other relevant forms, like W-2 forms, 1099s, or a copy of the previous year’s tax return.

“VITA is one of the most effective ways to provide financial opportunity to individuals and families in our community. Of people we served last year, the average refund was around $1,500. That can mean a lot to a household,” says Marc Graham, HRDC Financial Opportunity Coordinator.

Those interested in receiving tax assistance should call or text the appropriate site location.

Phone numbers are listed at https://thehrdc.org/how-we-help/our-community/tax-assistance/. For more information about HRDC’s VITA service or any other HRDC program or service visit www.thehrdc.org

Big Sky Resort has announced a new sustainability initiative, The Big Picture, with a long-term goal to reach zero carbon emissions by 2030. This net zero goal is shared by all of the ski and golf resorts in the Boyne Resorts family.

The Big Picture prioritizes reducing carbon emissions to net zero through emission reductions and offsets, as well as a focus on reducing waste. This initiative also focuses on preserving the beauty and health of the ecosystems where the company operates.

This fall, Big Sky Resort hired a full-time sustainability specialist and signed on to the 2019 National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Climate Challenge, a voluntary program dedicated to helping ski areas inventory, target and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Many of the resort’s efforts won’t be obvious to customers. Buying energy from renewable sources, choosing high-efficiency snowcats and lifts, reducing energy use with smart lighting and thermostats, and supporting mass transit and on-site housing are key components of the resort’s initiatives that happen in the background. Other efforts are visible, such as how the new Vista Hall—the resort’s largest restaurant venue—has minimized single-use plates, bowls and silverware and transitioned take-out containers to compostable materials. Recycling efforts, already in practice, will be increased, specifically by eliminating 99 percent of glass, which cannot be recycled in the state of Montana, and focusing on proper sorting of cans and other recyclable materials in place of unrecyclable plastics.

Additionally, a composting program in Vista Hall will pilot diverting food waste from landfills to a local composting facility in Bozeman. This winter, Big Sky expects to keep more than one ton of waste out of landfills, and plans to expand the effort to other food and beverage operations in the near future.

"While we plan to put significant focus in efforts to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, waste reduction is also an important step to take responsibility for our environmental impact,” said Kryn Dykema, sustainability specialist, Big Sky Resort. "Rather than sending organic material to the landfill, composting created by this waste diversion program contributes to local agriculture with healthy soil.”

“Our goal is to continue innovating and reimagining our approach to a changing climate,” said Big Sky Resort General Manager Troy Nedved. “We are dedicated to balancing our environmental footprint, social responsibilities, and growth. We believe that by honestly and openly evaluating our impact, and working together with other stakeholders, we can make a positive difference.”

Winter’s Bounty Farm to Table Feast is a fundraising event in support of Gallatin Valley Farm to School. Proceeds support our efforts to: provide meaningful food, nutrition, and agriculture education in schools; integrate healthy, local food into school meal programs; and promote a vibrant local food economy through community partnerships. Gallatin Valley Farm to School is a Bozeman based nonprofit organization started in 2007.

Event Details
Date: February 28, 2020 Location: Firelight Farm in Bozeman
Attendees: Local food supporters, business owners and professionals, parents of school age children, school administrators and teachers, farmers, ranchers, and foodservice and healthcare professionals

Donation Opportunities
During Winter’s Bounty, we host both silent and live auctions. These include experiences and items from businesses and individuals across the Gallatin Valley. Donations to Winter’s Bounty show your support of healthy children and families as well as a stronger, more vibrant community in the Gallatin Valley. Gallatin Valley Farm to School will promote your support leading up to and during the event.

Deadline: February 14, 2020
Contact: Kate Emmerich, Associate Director, 406-830-5731, kate@gvfarmtoschool.org
Thank you for supporting healthy kids, vibrant farms, and strong communities.

Gallatin Valley Farm to School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - Tax ID #: 45-3528080 Sponsorships and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

A Montana State University mathematics professor who is nationally recognized for his work to solve a problem that may advance an area of quantum physics has just received a highly coveted National Science Foundation CAREER grant, the first such award received by a member of the MSU Department of Mathematical Sciences.

David Ayala works in a mathematical field called topology, specifically higher category theory that has important applications in quantum physics. The bulk of his $400,000 NSF CAREER award, given over five years, will fund two mathematical physics conferences around Bozeman, as well as support graduate students in the MSU Department of Mathematical Sciences in the College of Letters and Science, he said.

Ayala explains that higher category theory is a system of techniques for identifying patterns, or structure, held by certain arrays of information. Ayala's work applies these techniques to data that are the observables of certain quantum systems, with the goal of addressing the long-time, long-distance behavior of the system.

Ayala, 37, just began a semester-long appointment as one of three leaders of a program that hosts 200 mathematicians from around the world during a four-month program at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley, California. The fall semester Ayala will travel to several other locations to work on his ongoing project before returning to MSU in January 2021.


When Ayala returns, the NSF grant will enable him to integrate research and education between students and researchers in Montana and surrounding states. He also will plan conferences that will bring renowned researchers in mathematical physics to the state.

While his field of mathematics may sound esoteric, his colleagues use more concrete words to describe his interactions.

“David is fiercely committed to people’s enjoyment of mathematics, whether it is himself, his undergraduate students or his graduate students. And he is fearless about trying new things,” said Elizabeth Burroughs, head of the MSU Department of Mathematical Sciences. “That’s what makes him a great teacher, but it also makes him a great mathematician, taking his research field in new directions.”

Although Ayala’s work is solitary and his field is complex, he often likes to work communally in local coffee shops, where he jots down complicated equations in large, unlined art notebooks. He also frequently spends several hours each day video chatting with his collaborators, who are located around the world.

A prominent researcher in his field, mathematician Haynes Miller at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said that Ayala and his collaborator, John Francis, have led the exploration of a field of mathematics called factorization homology, which connects high-dimensional geometry with higher-category theory. Miller said the impact of Ayala and Francis’s work is only just beginning to be felt.
 
While Ayala’s work is garnering him recognition from colleagues in mathematics and quantum physics around the world, people in Bozeman are likely to recognize his name for his accomplishments as a trail runner. He has twice won the Bridger Ridge Run, including last August’s race. His arduous 93-mile run through Death Valley in 2013 was featured in Trail Runner magazine.

Ayala said that he runs not to think and solve equations. Rather, trail running allows himself to turn off his active brain.

“I run so I can’t think of anything else,” he said.
 
In fact, the landscape and community surrounding Bozeman was an important factor in his coming to MSU. The son of medical providers who worked in Zion National Park, Ayala grew up in Rockville, in southern Utah. He attended a two-room schoolhouse in which the first three grades were in one room and the other grades in another room. There were five students in his grade.

“It was precious,” said Ayala of his upbringing. He said he remembers being embraced by his entire community, since there weren’t many children. He was bussed to high school in Hurricane, Utah.
 
Ayala recalls spending a lot of time alone, running and hiking and skiing. He taught himself to juggle and then later started reading books on math and physics for fun. He attended the University of Utah. “I didn’t even think of going any place else.”

And then his education and passion for math jumped into high gear. He earned a bachelor’s degree in math in just two years. In the next two years, he earned another bachelor’s degree in physics as well as a master’s degree in math. His doctorate in mathematics is from Stanford. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley’s Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, the University of Southern California, Harvard University and the University of Copenhagen.

“I really, really wanted to return to the Intermountain West after that,” said Ayala, who has been at MSU since 2014.

Ayala said that in addition to allowing him to pursue his research, his position at MSU provides him the satisfaction of working with intriguing undergraduate students, several graduate students and collaborators.
 
“I enjoy sharing an idea and seeing in a student’s eyes the moment they understand it,” he said.
 
Burroughs said the fact that Ayala already has worked at such a high level of scholarship for many years and produced a steady output of strong and innovative mathematics is just part of the Ayala equation.
 
“He finds joy in what he does. And he hopes other people find joy in it, too,” Burroughs said. “He has chosen to be here at MSU in the mountains doing the work he loves. And we at MSU are so fortunate.”