People's Choice: 1st Place –2013 DODGE VIPER GTS; STEVE KIDD (#2022)

The Downtown Bozeman Association and Cancer Support Community Montana, along with our gracious Sponsors present the 26th Annual “Cruisin’ on Main” Car Show on Sunday, August 16th. 

A huge thanks to our 2026 “Cruisin’ on Main” Car Show Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor: Ressler Motors
Hot Rod: Montana Landscape Solutions, The Sapphire Motel, AAA
Classic Car: State Farm, L&L Site Services, Bozeman Health, Bozeman Lodge, Cloud 9 Cycles, Montana Reclaimed Lumber, GVARG, Back Nine Golf, Napa Auto Parts, SCS Wraps, EVESO, Kenyon Noble, SkinCare MT, KBZK
Checkered Flag: Les Schwab Bozeman, Little Stinkers, Rocking R Bar
Pit Crew: CarQuest Belgrade, Big Sky Build, DP Conversions, Martel Construction

We had over 240 entries this year and awards in 15 categories, as well as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in People’s Choice and a Best in Show. Without further ado… the 2026 winners are:

1st Place by Class:

Ford –1965 SHELBY AMERICAN COBRA; DAN & MARTHA CASE FORD (#1031)
Chevy – 1956 CHEVY NOMAND; GORDY GOLLENHOM (#3050)
Mopar – 1970 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA; GENE ATKINSON (#4015)
GM Product – 1965 POTIAC GTO; KIRK STOVALL (#3054)
Original/Survivor – 1960 CADILLAC SERIES 62; KENDRA CALLANTINE (#3048)
Antique (pre-1940’s) – 1931 GRAHAM 820; NATE SORENSON (#3002)
Street Rod/Custom –1942 CHEVROLET PANEL TRUCK; GARY THOMPSON (#1050)
Muscle Car & Resto Mod – 1947 INTERNATIONAL KB-5; RUSS GELDER (#2013)
Hot Rod & Rat Rod – 1951 WILLYS PICKUP; CASEY DODGE (#1021)
Truck –1952 CHEVROLET 3100; GARY L REED (#1049)
Special Interest –1948 WILLYS CJ2A; ALISA PORTEUS (#1003)
Import – 1966 VW TRANSPORTER; SANDY & DAVE DOLL (#2017)
2000 to Current – 2005 FORD GT; JIM DOLAN (#1070)
Motorcycle – 1973 SUZUKI TS185; MADDI HOHNER (#1093)
Adventure Vehicle – 1958 MERCEDES 220S; DAVID WATTERS (#1036)

People's Choice:

1st Place –2013 DODGE VIPER GTS; STEVE KIDD (#2022)
2nd Place – 1950 GMC FC 152; JAMES MARTIN (#1059)
3rd Place – 1968 CHEVROLET CAPRICE; SANDRA TORGERSON GOULD (#2016)

Best in Show:

1st Place – 1965 FORD MUSTANG; RONALD R BOERSMA (#2012)

The winner of the 50/50 Raffle was ticket number #5393053 and was claimed. More information can be found on www.cancersupportmontana.org.

For more information about the A “Cruisin’ on Main” Car Show, please visit https://downtownbozeman.org/news/26th-annual-cruisin-on-main-car-show-winners or contact Downtown Bozeman Association at 406-586-4008 and Cancer Support Community at 406-582-1600.

Famous places and landmarks might be one of the main reasons why people opt to go on a trip. But what makes the difference between traveling, sightseeing, and actually creating travel memories is having different experiences.

With that being said, that's also the reason people tend to visit southwest Montana. All those attractions in Yellowstone really do deserve the attention they receive, but the point is to find unique experiences beyond landmarks.

So, what makes them interesting is the title of the world's first national park, and what makes the experience is the willingness to get familiar with local communities and lifestyles.

See the Icons, But Don't Rush the Journey

Let's not reduce the value of real monuments and wonderful sights. Otherwise, it wouldn't count millions of visits each and every year with no signs of slowing down.

Landmarks such as Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring are the symbols of Yellowstone. There are also Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs that, all together, show remarkable geothermal features and different wildlife habitats.

But these routes are very well planned, and as eruptions of Old Faithful are predictable, so could be the rest of the trip. This is the point where you might want to leave room for more spontaneous steps and discovering wildlife beyond just the top trendy/attractive places.

Asking a local about a certain species, or how they live there, might change your perspective. Or going into the forest early in the morning, when animals are most active.

Every step that is out of plan can give you more than any structured plan.

The Communities Around Yellowstone Complete the Experience

The whole point is slowing down, and while you have a few days there or in the nearby cities, use that time to its fullest.

Depending on whether you are closer to the north or western side of Yellowstone Park, you can visit local cities such as Bozeman or Gardiner. These can be your gateway from those structured plans.

Apart from the historic roles of these cities, they also hide something special. For example, the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman can be a great experience, especially if you visit it with kids. But there is also Historic Downtown, which gives you a variety of shops, art galleries, and restaurants.

However, the thing is to go away from tourist attractions and to find a place that feels more local. These cafes and shops give away real Montana culture and show how nice the community actually is.

Authentic Local Experiences Matter Wherever You Travel

Some people never stop in smaller towns, only drive through them; then they stop to wonder why the whole trip ended up as looking at a few things over and over again.

You never know if there is some seasonal manifestation or cultural events.

Led by the previous example in Bozeman, for decades they have had a Sweet Pea Festival manifesting every August. It has become a tradition and a perfect way to get to know locals and those who are coming from other cities.

Not to mention that this type of travel isn't just practical when visiting national parks and local cities; it's a great thing to include in your next vacation.

So, the next time you really want to get to know the place and people, the best way is to spend the day just as if you are living there.

No matter where you might be.

For instance, if you went to Yellowstone in the summer and want somewhere warmer, you might opt for Cusco, Peru. As if everything is different and you might not know how to get around, firstly do research at home.

Think about it – what are sights that YOU would like to see, but also what’s making that place truly special? Not just saying the word ‘special’ just to say it. Like REALLY special! Here, companies that specialize in such tours, like Fernwayer, might be of help, as they're focused on guides and consultations as well as the special experience.

The next thing after you find the best way to get familiar with their culture and lifestyles is to start to plan a route. On that note, historic monuments might still be on top of your list, as it was the capital of the Inca Empire, but more insight into their life you will get from locals and at markets.

That's why people plan a Cusco market walk, as it's a unique experience, in particular San Pedro Market.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, most people would remember beautiful sights but also authentic stories they heard about specific places. So, when you are retelling your experiences, you will be more than happy to include some fun facts or a spooky story. But you wouldn't have known them if you didn't get to know locals.

All in all, it comes to balance.

You get to know the world while also giving a chance to new people and new cultures outside the framework of an average trip. No matter if you’re traveling across the world, visiting nearby national parks, or historic destinations, keep in mind that there is always a story behind it.

Montana State University Electrical and Computer Engineering professor Joe Shaw, left, and doctoral student Morgan Hasenmyer work with instruments that measure how the brightness of the sun is reduced by air particles. These measurements can also used to determine air quality. MSU photo by Kelly Gorham

BOZEMAN — As wildfire smoke continues to collect heavily across parts of Montana, Joseph Shaw logs into his computer to check the data gathered from a weather station atop Montana State University’s Norm Asbjornson Hall. What he saw a few nights ago was a first in his 20 years of collecting weather-related data.

“I would say on a normal, clear day in Montana the scattering coefficient would be five, or maybe 10,” said Shaw, who is a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering in MSU's Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. “Around midnight a few days ago, it was 516, which is the highest that I’ve ever measured.”

The scattering coefficient measures how strongly airborne particulate matter redirects light as it passes through a given distance in air. The corresponding air quality index value of 232 triggers a “very unhealthy” warning from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, advising sensitive groups to avoid all outdoor exertion, and for everyone else to limit outdoor exertion.

The weather station at MSU has the instrumentation to measure and report a bevy of scientific weather data, including the air quality index. He installed the instruments piecemeal over two decades to provide more accurate location-specific data for researchers around the world to utilize. One of the differences between the campus-centric data generated by the weather station at MSU and Bozeman-area weather data often available through smartphone apps is that the latter often comes from a weather station located at Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport. Despite being less than nine miles from campus, the airport can experience weather conditions that are measurably different from those of MSU’s campus, Shaw said.

Another difference is that Shaw’s data isn’t available via an app. The data are intended mostly for scientific research, so the web-based interface might appear non-intuitive to laypersons. But to see a real-time user-friendly measurement of the current AQI at Asbjornson Hall, visit the PurpleAir website, which is part of the global AERONET network of weather-data gathering stations. The campus-specific data updates from Shaw’s instruments every 10 minutes, 24 hours per day.

“Our instruments suck air in and they scatter laser light off of it,” he said. “They then determine how many particles are there from that laser light.”

Of particular interest, Shaw said, are the smallest particles with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers, which can enter people’s lungs and cause irritation and sometimes exacerbate medical conditions such as asthma, he said. The larger particles tend to migrate to the ground relatively quickly, he said. The density of the smallest particles is used in the EPA-defined calculation for the AQI.

Despite having access to a cluster of comprehensive weather-related instruments, Shaw sometimes uses another measurement for air quality – at least when smoke in the air isn’t making headlines. He uses the line-of-sight clarity of mountains 30 to 40 miles away as a means of approximating visually the amount of haze in the air.

“For light haze, I use the visibility of the Tobacco Root Mountains from the top of Asbjornson Hall,” said Shaw, who is also director of MSU’s Optical Technology Center.

OpTeC is a globally recognized center advancing optical technology through research, education and collaborations with private industry.

THREE FORKS – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is implementing a new lottery system for managing hunting access at Missouri Headwaters State Park.

Missouri Headwaters State Park offers quality wildlife habitat and diverse recreation opportunities. As interest in hunting in the park grows alongside general park visitation, FWP staff are looking to manage hunting access in a way that ensures the safety of all visitors while keeping the park open for hunting where appropriate.

Beginning this season, hunting access at Missouri Headwaters State Park will be managed through a lottery reservation system. Those who wish to hunt in the park must complete an online application the week before they plan to hunt, choosing up to three days as possible hunting dates. Up to six hunters will be selected randomly for each day. Those hunters will receive an email with hunting rules, a map with safety zones, and a tag for their vehicle.

The online application will be open each Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Aug. 26 through Jan. 6, with hunting dates available weekly from Sept. 1 through Jan. 15. Hunters will be selected one week at a time.

For example, those who wish to hunt in the park any time from Sept. 1 through 6 will fill out the application on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Up to six hunters will be selected randomly for each day of that hunting period. If those hunters wish to hunt on future dates, they must fill out a new application.

To access the application starting Aug. 26, click here.

Those planning to hunt in the park after Jan. 15 must stop by the visitor center during business hours for a permission slip. 

Other hunting rules apply, including a weapons restriction and a safety closure near park facilities. Upland bird hunting will be limited to a certain portion of the park, while deer and waterfowl hunting will be open in additional areas. To see the map, a complete list of rules and a lottery schedule, click here. 

“Missouri Headwaters State Park provides a variety of recreation opportunities for thousands of visitors each year,” said park manager Alice Southworth. “We’re hopeful this new approach to managing hunting access in the park will help ensure visitor safety while maintaining the opportunities many people enjoy.”

Within the boundaries of Missouri Headwaters State Park, the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers merge to form the Missouri River, the longest river in the U.S. The site is significant to Native American peoples and was visited by members of the Corps of Discovery in 1805. Now a national historic landmark, the park hosts thousands of visitors each year. The park is about 5 miles northeast of Three Forks on Trident Road. For more information about the park, click here or call 406-285-3610.

BOZEMAN —The City of Bozeman is updating its Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) and continuing with public engagement for the project. All are invited to the in-person UFMP Public Engagement Meeting on Aug. 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Bozeman Public Safety Center, 901 N Rouse Avenue. This will be the final formally scheduled public engagement meeting for the UFMP update process.

“We’ve learned a lot through this process and are eager to see residents’ thoughts on our draft plan,” said Alex Nordquest, Forestry Manager at the City of Bozeman. “If you haven’t been involved yet, now is the time. Feedback at this stage is critical as it helps to inform our final plan.”

The UFMP Update builds on the 2016 framework to ensure sustainable, holistic, and efficient management of the city’s urban forest. The updated plan will guide Forestry Division operations, planning, and public outreach, incorporating professional analysis and community input through meetings with staff, officials, and local stakeholders. Key components of the plan include community engagement; tree infrastructure; staffing and equipment; planning and development integration; and insect, disease, and disaster preparedness.

During the most recent public engagement meeting for the plan update, the project team presented the draft UFMP that has since been posted for public review and comment. The public comment period will begin on Monday, Aug. 17 and run through Tuesday, Sept. 15, allowing ample time for Plan review and comment formulation and submittal.

Comments can be provided during the meeting on Aug. 31 or by emailing comments@Bozemanmt.gov.

For more information on the UFMP Update and to sign up to receive updates on the project, visit the project website at engage.bozemanmt.gov/urbanforest.

BOZEMAN – Construction is underway on the City of Bozeman’s West Kagy to Babcock Sewer Improvements project. Crews are working 24-hour shifts to complete work at the South 3rd Avenue/West Kagy Boulevard/South Willson Avenue intersection before the school year begins.

Starting late next week, a full closure of South 3rd Avenue will be implemented while construction crews work on the manhole on the southeast corner of the intersection, near Crossings Kitchen. South 3rd Avenue will be closed to all directions of traffic between the West Kagy Boulevard intersection and West Graf Street but will remain open for local residents and business access. Detour signs will direct northbound through traffic on South 3rd Avenue to take West Graf Street to South 11th Avenue.

When work at the South 3rd Avenue/West Kagy Boulevard/South Willson Avenue intersection is complete and the intersection is reopened, crews will begin working on the West Kagy Boulevard and South Tracy Avenue intersection. The public can expect intermittent closures along South Tracy Avenue beginning the week of August 24, weather and other factors permitting.

In addition to the upcoming closures on South 3rd Avenue and South Tracy Avenue, the City of Bozeman has issued the following travel advisories:

Starting this week, there will be intermittent closures of the westbound left-turn lane from West Kagy Boulevard into the Museum of the Rockies’ (MOR) main entrance. During these closures, signs will be in place directing westbound MOR visitors to take South 7th Avenue into the museum’s staff parking lot and then follow the service drive to the visitor parking lot.

Access to the business center at the corner of West Kagy Boulevard and South 3rd Avenue is and will continue to be available throughout construction.

Pedestrians and bicyclists must follow all traffic control and posted signage. Barricades and other devices are in place to maintain worker and public safety.

The purpose of the West Kagy to Babcock Sewer Improvements project is to replace aging sewer pipelines to maintain a resilient and reliable sewer system in southwest Bozeman. The project will be completed in two phases over the next couple of years, beginning with the West Kagy Boulevard upgrades this summer. The next phase of the project includes sewer improvements in a residential area between West Babcock and West College Street—near Cooper Park—which is tentatively planned for spring 2027.

More information about the West Kagy to Babcock Sewer Improvements project can be found at https://bit.ly/kagysewer. To sign up for email or text alerts, click the “eNotifications” link at the top of the page.

HELENA – The Montana State Shooting Facilities and Improvements Development and Oversight Task Force will meet Monday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting will be held on Zoom.  

The task force is responsible for identifying shooting facility needs in Montana and is tasked with developing a set of recommendations for the development, location and administrative structure of state shooting facilities and improvements. The deadline for the recommendations is June 30, 2027.  

“We learned a lot about shooting facilities in South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado,” said task force co-chair Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe of Billings. “We also heard from over 1,400 shooters in Montana about the facility needs in our state. We will use all this information as we draft our recommendations.”   

The public is invited to watch the meeting and participate in the public feedback session. For the Zoom link and more information about the task force, click here.     

“We appreciate the passion and participation from the public,” said task force co-chair Sen. John Fuller of Kalispell. “Our recommendations will reflect that passion and benefit shooters in the entire state.”