BOZEMAN -  February 16-22 is “Through with Chew Week”, and the Gallatin
City-County Health Department is encouraging people who use smokeless tobacco to set a quit date and quit for good. Over half of the smokeless tobacco users who used Quit Now Montana in 2023 were able to successfully become tobacco-free! Quit Now Montana coaches can help you, too.

Smokeless tobacco, or chew, contains at least 28 compounds that have been linked to
cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and pancreas, according to research. Smokeless
tobacco can also lead to gum disease, heart disease, and precancerous mouth sores,
among other health consequences.

Nicotine pouches have started to grow in popularity, with 22 percent of Montanans aged 15 to 25 having tried these products and 9 percent currently using them. Nicotine pouches are not risk-free. Any form of nicotine use is dangerous to fetuses, youth, and young adults because it can harm brain development. Additionally, nicotine can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety in youth.

Smokeless products are not designed to help you quit; they are designed to keep you
addicted. To date, no smokeless tobacco product nor nicotine pouch has been approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation aid. There are seven FDA-approved cessation aids that have been proven to help people quit through decades of research.

Ready to quit? Make a plan and list your reasons for quitting. Track your daily use of
smokeless tobacco. Recognize how you will need to change your routine. Ask for support from your family, friends, or co-workers. Talk with your doctor, dentist, pharmacist, or a health professional about available quit medications and get help through Quit Now Montana.

Quit Now Montana (1-800-784-8669 or QuitNowMontana.com) is a free service available to all Montanans who are ready to quit any form of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco and nicotine pouches. Quit Now Montana offers free nicotine replacement therapy, cessation medications with a prescription, free counseling with a certified quit coach, and a personalized quit plan. Quit Now Montana also offers free chat services with a live coach and texting options for those under the age of 25.

Find what works for you and be kind to yourself. Relapse is not a failure. Instead, it’s an opportunity to try again.

To get started, visit www.QuitNowMontana.com or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to enroll. American Indians can reach Native coaches directly by calling 1-855-524-7848. Coaches are available 24 hours, 7 days per week.

GREAT FALLS - A poaching investigation that began with the killing of fish in the display pond of Giant Springs Fish Hatchery in Great Falls ended with two men being sentenced on multiple fish and wildlife charges in the 8th Judicial Court of Cascade County.

Richard Van Meter, 22, and Ty Robert Lewis, 21, were convicted of unlawful possession of a game animal, unlawful possession of a game fish, waste of a game animal, waste of a game fish, and hunting without a valid license. Lewis paid $16,000 in fines and restitution, and Van Meter paid $8,000 in fines and restitution. Both men will also lose their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for 20 years.

The investigation began on Aug. 23, 2021, when Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks (FWP) game wardens discovered that several large fish at the Giant Springs fish hatchery display pond had been speared with a sharp object. Some of the dead fish were left at the scene, while others that survived had to later be euthanized.

On Sept. 19, 2021, wardens received a report that someone had shot and abandoned a bull elk on a ranch near Cascade. The head and antlers had been removed, as well as the lower jaw. The body had been left to waste. During the course of the investigation wardens also determined that three bull elk and one black bear had also been taken illegally. Tips from the public led wardens to Van Meter and Lewis, who later confessed to the crimes. Van Meter then left the state but returned recently.

“This case took a few years, but thanks to the hard work of our game wardens, we are glad to finally wrap this case up,” said FWP Region 4 Warden Captain Dave Holland. “The sentences imposed by the court reflect the value of the resources taken by these two individuals, and especially the importance that the community places on the Giant Springs Hatchery.”

Holland also thanked the other agencies who cooperated in the case. “Game wardens from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife facilitated the return of Van Meter to Montana from California, and the hard work of the Cascade County Sherriff’s Office along with the Cascade County Attorney’s Office was critical to our success,” he added.

Anyone with possible information about a fish and wildlife violation is encouraged to visit tipmont.mt.gov  or contact their local game warden to provide information. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

HELENA – Applications for a permit to float the Smith River will be accepted through Feb. 15. The permit drawing will be held soon after the deadline. 

Permits are required to float the 59-mile section of river between Camp Baker and Eden Bridge and are issued each year through a lottery drawing. Parties of up to 15 people can float with one permit. A person applying for a Smith River permit must be a minimum of 12 years of age at the time they submit their permit application. There is no age restriction to participate on a Smith River float trip. 

Applicants can apply for a Smith River float permit online through the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Online Licenses Service, and pay a $15 nonrefundable permit application fee. Successful Smith River applicants will be notified via email shortly after the deadline.  

Links within the notification email to successful applicants will allow them to download and print their float permit, as well as access important and detailed information regarding their Smith River float.  

Results will also be available online at MyFWP. Those who receive a permit will be contacted by phone two days prior to their scheduled launch date to complete the registration process, which includes declaring boat camps and paying the appropriate float fees.  

In addition to the permit drawing, the public may purchase as many $5 Super Permit chances as they wish. Montana State Parks issues one Super Permit each year through a separate lottery. The recipient of the Super Permit will be allowed to launch on any date of their choosing for that float season.  

The opportunity to purchase chances for the Smith River Super Permit will be available until April 1. The Super Permit drawing will take place soon after that. Super permit chances may be purchased online through FWP’s Online Licenses Service .  

As a reminder, all float parties, private and commercial, will be required to pack out their human waste from the Smith River corridor, and floaters will need to pack portable toilet systems. To see a list of FWP-approved, portable, hard-sided toilets that will be allowed click here. Alternative waste disposal systems, including bag systems, such as Clean Waste and RESTOP2, will not be allowed. Floaters can clean and sanitize their portable toilet system with a SCAT (Sanitizing Containers with Alternative Technology) machine, which has been installed at the Eden Bridge take-out. 

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

BOZEMAN – The Bozeman Schools Foundation is launching its 6th annual "Pack the Sack" campaign on February 1, 2025, to raise funds for HRDC’s Healthy KidsPack Program. This annual initiative continues to bring awareness to food insecurity in Gallatin Valley while empowering students to make a real impact in their community.

From February 1st through February 14th, the Foundation will provide elementary students and their families with information on student hunger and encourage monetary donations. Every dollar raised through the in-school Pack the Sack effort goes directly to HRDC to fund the nutritious, high-calorie weekend meals and snacks for children in need provided in weekend KidsPacks.

“We see firsthand how many students rely on school meals throughout the week - and we know that the KidsPack Program plays a crucial role in ensuring many of our kids have access to essential nutrition over the weekend,” said Casey Bertram, BSD7 Schools Superintendent. “We are honored to continue our partnership with HRDC to support our students and families - as well as those at schools throughout the county.”

The demand for KidsPacks has continued to climb. Last semester alone, HRDC delivered 7,763 KidsPacks to schools across Southwest Montana.

“The increase in demand for KidsPacks over the last two years highlights just how many families are struggling to put food on the table,” said Jill Holder, HRDC’s Food and Nutrition Department Director. “The Pack the Sack campaign provides critical funding each year and goes a long way to helping HRDC meet the needs of local children facing food insecurity.”

Rising costs have also made this fundraising effort even more vital. The single KidsPack cost was $5.00 just three years ago, but today it takes nearly $8.00 to provide three meals and a healthy snack for one child each weekend. Last year, the Bozeman Schools Foundation raised over $28,000, covering nearly 30% of the KidsPack budget for 2024 - much of it coming from Bozeman students and families.

“Beyond raising funds, Pack the Sack is about fostering a spirit of generosity and community among our students,” said Jenn Lammers, Executive Director of the Bozeman Schools Foundation. “This campaign helps students see that even small acts of kindness can make a big impact for kids just like them.”

With demand for weekend KidsPacks growing and the cost of easy to prepare, nutritional items in each pack rising, the Bozeman Schools Foundation is looking to grow community support for the annual Pack the Sack campaign. If you or your business would like to join BSD7 students in Packing the Sack for children in Gallatin County, donations can be made online at https://bozemanschoolsfoundation.org/campaigns/pack-the-sack/.

Together, we can work to ensure that no child in our community goes hungry. Checks can also be mailed to Pack the Sack, c/o Bozeman Schools Foundation, PO Box 1803, Bozeman, MT 59771. 

Gallatin County, MT - Mark your calendars! The 11th annual Give Big Gallatin Valley, hosted by One Valley Community Foundation, will take place from 6 pm May 1st to 6 pm May 2nd, 2025. Nonprofit registration is now open for this 24-hour online giving initiative, which unites thousands of donors across Gallatin County to support local causes in one day on one platform.

As Montana’s largest 24-hour giving initiative, Give Big Gallatin Valley has raised $17.4 million for 464 local nonprofits over the past decade. This year, One Valley Community Foundation aims to engage 7,000 donors, making the 2025 initiative the most impactful yet.

All 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in or serving Gallatin County are eligible to participate. Registration is now open and will close on March 14, 2025. Leading up to the event, One Valley Community Foundation will provide participating nonprofits with training, resources, and support to help them prepare for a successful giving day.

This year’s Give Big Gallatin Valley is made possible thanks to the generous support of our Headline Sponsor, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, and our Champion Sponsor, Spanish Peaks Community Foundation. Their commitment ensures that this initiative continues to inspire generosity and strengthen the nonprofit sector in Gallatin County.

“Give Big Gallatin Valley is more than a fundraiser—it’s an opportunity to celebrate and amplify the vital work of our local nonprofits,” said Bridget Wilkinson, President & CEO of One Valley Community Foundation. “By participating in Give Big, organizations can connect with thousands of donors, raise unrestricted funds, share their stories, and inspire meaningful change across Gallatin County.”

Why Should Nonprofits Register?
Give Big Gallatin Valley is an opportunity for local nonprofits to:
• Raise essential unrestricted funds to further their mission and increase their impact.
• Access valuable training and resources to strengthen their Give Big campaign and improve organizational capacity.
• Engage with thousands of supporters—both new and returning—who care deeply about their cause. Important Dates to Remember
More
• Nonprofit Registration Deadline: March 14, 2025, at GiveBigGV.org
• Give Big Gallatin Valley: 6 pm May 1 – 6 pm May 2, 2025, at GiveBigGV.org
With over 250 nonprofits participating annually, Give Big is a unique opportunity to gain visibility, raise critical funds, and showcase the vital role of nonprofits in Gallatin County. Nonprofits can register and learn more by visiting GiveBigGV.org.

About One Valley Community Foundation
One Valley Community Foundation is the nonprofit organization that identifies and addresses the priorities and concerns of Gallatin County with the intent of making the greatest positive change while charting a path and helping to maintain what makes our Gallatin Valley communities unique. One Valley does this by connecting donors with the causes they care about, managing funds to strengthen local communities, offering tools and opportunities to support local nonprofits, and facilitating collaboration to accelerate solutions to regional challenges. One Valley hosts multiple community-wide initiatives, including Give Big Gallatin Valley and the Gallatin County Regional Housing Coalition, a convening of diverse partners working to address housing affordability and attainability in Gallatin County. For more information, visit www.onevalley.org.

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks submitted 9,066 samples for chronic wasting disease testing in 2024-2025 hunting season to date. This is the largest number of CWD samples ever to be collected in a single year in Montana. Many of these samples were collected by hunters themselves. Of those samples, 335 tested positive for the disease, including 202 white-tailed deer, 127 mule deer and six elk. 

“We’re very excited about the number of samples we collected this season,” said Wildlife Health Program Biologist Bevin McCormick. “Hunters are a huge part of CWD surveillance and monitoring, and we thank everyone who had their animals sampled this year.”   

More than 4,521 samples were submitted from FWP’s 2024 priority sampling areas, which included southwestern, central and central-eastern Montana. FWP asks hunters who harvest a deer, elk or moose in these areas to voluntarily submit their animal for sampling.  

Hunters are a vital part of CWD monitoring and management in the state. Hunters can visit FWP offices and CWD sampling stations to have their samples collected or they can collect and submit their samples themselves. This year, approximately 1,138 samples were collected and submitted by hunters themselves. They sent their samples through the mail or dropped off the samples at one of the check stations.  

Samples are collected by removing the retropharyngeal lymph nodes and sending them to the FWP Wildlife Health Program in Bozeman so they can be prepared for testing at the Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. These lymph nodes are where much of the infectious protein first accumulates in infected animals.  

The data collected helps FWP identify where CWD is, estimate its prevalence and update its management strategies. These strategies sometimes include increasing total tags or either sex/antlered tags in certain CWD-positive hunting districts, with the goal of reducing herd densities. 

Since 2017, when CWD was first discovered in the wild in Montana, FWP has tested an estimated 51,556 samples statewide.  

CWD is a fatal disease that can affect the nervous system of deer, elk and moose. Transmission can occur through direct contact between animals or through contact with bodily fluids of infected animals, including urine, feces, saliva and blood. Carcasses of infected animals likely serve as a source of environmental contamination, allowing animals that come into contact with them to also become infected.  

There is no known transmission of CWD to humans; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hunters who harvest an animal in an area where CWD is known to occur have their animal tested. If the animal tests positive, the CDC advises against eating the meat. 

Although the main sampling season is over, FWP will continue to collect samples from animals throughout the year.