BOZEMAN – On Thursday, December 15 at 11:30am, John McFerran, Lieutenant Governor of Optimist Club, will present a Proclamation, A Tribute to 75 Years of Optimist Service to the Bozeman Optimist local chapter. This tribute will take place in the conference room in the southwest entrance of Family Promise, 1603 Tschache Lane.

Founded in 1947, the Optimist Club of Bozeman provides opportunities, activities, camps, areasand materials for youth to develop skills and improve their self-worth and confidence. According to Bob McFadyen, Optimist Club International President, “Since August 13th of 1947 you have been a constant presence in the lives of the fine people in Bozeman. In thousands of ways, both remembered and life changing, you have touched the hearts of people, young and not so young. Through all these years, you have provided hope and positive vision, and in doing do you have continually brought out the best in youth.”

The Bozeman Optimist Club is the oldest Optimist Chapter in Montana. For 75 years, the Club has been a presence in the community, most notably through the annual Garagarama, the annual charity garage sale that has been held the first weekend in April for 57 years, and through the Optimist Park (also known as the Bozeman Ponds), located behind the Gallatin Valley Mall on Fowler Avenue.

Originally donated to the Montana Fish and Game Commission in 1954, the land was originally swamp area for duck hunting until 1986, when the Optimist Club sponsored the first annual Fishing Derby in the original 3 ponds. In 1992, after years of successful Fishing Derbies, the Optimist Club began development of the 3 ponds into the community recreational area that exists today. Construction was completed on the pond in 1996, and the pavilion was finished in 1998. Approximately $500,000 in cash and in-kind donations from the Optimist Club and area businesses were raised to help finance the Optimist Park project.

Currently, the Optimist Club of Bozeman supports several non-profit organizations, serving the needs of over 200 kids and young adults annually. In addition to Garagarama, previously selling Christmas trees, and the Fishing Derby, the Optimist Club of Bozeman sponsors a Warm Clothing drive, which provides warm clothing to children and families in need, a sport scholarship in conjunction with Play It Again Sports to help children afford sports equipment.

To learn more about the impact of Optimist Club of Bozeman or to join, visit https://www.optimistclubofbozeman.org/ or call Amy at 406.599.3535

HELENA - Muzzleloader season opens on Saturday, Dec. 10, and runs through Dec. 18. This season is for muzzleloaders only; no other means of taking game, such as archery, is allowed. Note that some areas have elk shoulder seasons through Feb. 15, where firearms and archery equipment may be allowed.

Hunters should also note that many of Montana’s Block Management Areas (BMAs), even though they are open for upland bird or waterfowl through Jan. 1, are not allowing the harvest of deer or elk during the muzzleloader heritage season. Make sure to check BMA rules before you hunt.

• Find Block Management Program information here

In addition, although all Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Region 7 are open year-round, many other WMAs allowing hunting across the state are closed through May 14. If planning to hunt a WMA, see a list of WMAs and their seasonal closure dates here.

Hunters should check the hunting regulations to make sure they are compliant with all rules and regulations for this season. Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the following regulations, most of which are based on language from the statute:

• A person may take a deer or elk with a license or permit that is valid on the last day of the general hunting season.

• Any unused license-permit valid on the last day of the general season (i.e., Nov. 27) is valid during the muzzleloader heritage season.

• Any license that can still be purchased is valid. For example, if a person had not already purchased a general deer tag, they could purchase one for the muzzleloader heritage season.

• Hunters can use plain lead projectiles and a muzzleloading rifle that is charged with loose black powder, loose pyrodex or an equivalent loose black powder substitute and ignited by a flintlock, wheel lock, matchlock or percussion mechanism using a percussion or musket cap.

• The muzzleloading rifle must be a minimum of .45 caliber and may not have more than two barrels.

• During the muzzleloader heritage season, hunters may not use a muzzleloading rifle that requires insertion of a cap or primer into the open breech of the barrel (inline), is capable of being loaded from the breech, or is mounted with an optical magnification device.

• Use of pre-prepared paper or metallic cartridges, sabots, gas checks or other similar power and range-enhancing manufactured loads that enclose the projectile from the rifling or bore of the firearm is also prohibited.

The nine-day season muzzleloader heritage hunting season was established when House Bill 242 was signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte last year.

Keep vigilant with grizzly bear awareness 

With the mild weather, bears are still active. All bears are potentially dangerous. Hunters should be prepared to encounter a bear. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• Stay alert and look for bear activity, especially where visibility or hearing is limited (woods, bushy areas, streams). 

• Travel in a group and keep members together (especially kids). 

• Make noise whenever possible to avoid surprising a bear, especially where visibility or hearing is limited. 

• Carry bear spray close at hand and know how to use it. 

• Avoid traveling at night, dawn or dusk. 

• Avoid carcass sites and scavenger concentrations. 

For more information on hunting in Montana, visit fwp.mt.gov/hunt.

ENNIS – Valley Garden Fishing Access Site northeast of Ennis has been closed temporarily due to flooding. 

Ice jams on portions of the upper Madison River have caused water, ice and debris to flow into the site, inundating the access road and creating unsafe conditions for visitors. Access to the site will be restored as soon as conditions allow. 

Seasonal flooding may impact access at other sites throughout the winter. Visit fwp.mt.gov to learn more about temporary closures that may be in effect across the state.   

Sellers holds degrees in News/Editorial Journalism from the University of Saint Thomas and Public Administration from Montana State University. In her 18 years working at MSU, Sellers helped launch the University System-wide performance evaluation process; conducted supervisor/leadership training; secured grant funding from and developed and/or managed programs for NASA, NSF, NIH, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Dept of Education; and wrapped up her time at MSU as Assistant Dean of the Honors College. Immediately prior to joining MWS, Sellers raised money for People and Carnivores, working to protect bears and wolves.

On December 6, 2022, at 6:24pm Gallatin County 911 received a call from a stranded motorist whose vehicle had become stuck in the snow in the area of Nixon Gulch Rd and Gallatin River Rd. The driver and family were traveling home and accidentally slid into a precarious situation in the snow next to a steep drop off. After assessing the situation, the driver determined they didn’t think a tow truck could safely reach the vehicle and requested assistance to get the family home safely.

Due to road conditions and the location of the vehicle, volunteers from the Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) Valley Section responded to the area with side by sides and ATV’s to assist the stranded individuals. After a helicopter from Lifeflight Network was able to find their exact location, the entire family was safely brought down from their vehicle and transported home.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind everyone that with the heavy snowfall we have received this year to always travel prepared. Remember to bring warm clothing and have a communication device handy. Even the best equipment can fail in extreme weather so if you need assistance, please call 911 sooner rather than later.

If like us, you have perfected the art of procrastination and subscribe to the practice of putting off what needs to be done today until tomorrow, then you probably haven’t done your Christmas shopping yet. 

If that’s the case, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that in the age of online shopping and speedy delivery networks, you are still probably just about okay in terms of getting your act together in time; the bad news is that you may well end up missing the boat entirely if you don’t start soon.

Christmas has a habit of creeping up on us, even though we know it’s coming because it’s conveniently taken place on the same day for quite some time now. 

It Will Cost You More

If you don’t plan far enough ahead, you will end up losing out financially. By planning ahead, you have time to do the relevant research and won’t be left with a last-minute rush on Christmas Eve, when those selling goods will know you are desperate.

If you start the process now, you can check online for the relevant gifts on Santa’s list and shop around for the best deal. You’d be surprised just how much you can save by spending a little bit more time and effort on the whole process.

Avoid Disappointment

Most of your Christmas purchases in 2022 will occur online, and that means your window of opportunity is already closing. While it’s true that the delivery of packages from around the world, or just your specific region, is getting quicker, there is not much that can be done if you finally buy your gifts with just a matter of days before the big event.

Infinite Online Marketplace

Get your Christmas shopping done earlier so that you can make the most of the markets that are especially financially rewarding online. Take, for instance, the jewelry industry. For decades we’ve been paying over the odds when we’ve visited the local store and bought items. 

We know this now because the online market is far less expensive, and not just because of the lack of overhead costs but also because the advent of online shopping has also exposed some myths about certain luxury items. 

So now you can get that stylish bracelet for men that you’ve wanted to get your husband or partner for months, but now you can do so for a far smarter price. Just make sure it arrives in time!

Bad Reputation

You don’t want your friends, families, and loved ones to start to associate you with a bad reputation when it comes to gift giving. Who wants to be known as the person who always forgets special occasions or ends up getting last-minute presents that are clearly nothing more than a rushed afterthought?

This Christmas, why not salvage the situation, plan ahead and impress those you care about by making the right gift-giving decisions in plenty of time? 

Avoiding the Crowds

One thing that many of us can’t stand about Christmas shopping is the crazy crowds that come with the season. No one wants to be stuck in infinite lines queuing to get the last toy in the store, and this issue is actually relevant online, where stocks can also run low, leaving you to disappoint that special someone who wanted a specific gift that you couldn’t provide.

Christmas crowds can be seriously stressful, and it’s a situation that can be avoided easily by taking your trips to the local mall or stores weeks in advance. You’ll be surprised at how civilized shopping can be when it’s not nearly the 25th of December!

Smug Satisfaction

Have you ever experienced the smug satisfaction of relaxing and watching those around you lose their minds in the last-minute rush? The sad truth is that you are not aware of this more than pleasant sensation, but it’s never too late to try. 

Imagine how good it will feel when Meg from accounting regales the work canteen about stories of her hideous shopping expeditions, and she asks you why you remain so calm in the face of such adversity. 

Leaving you able to reply confidently that you’ve already completed the Christmas shopping and now you can truly enjoy the festivities without all that stress, tension, and pressure. 

It’s a Cliche, But It Happens to be True

Even the most negative cynics around would have to attest to the power of Christmas when it comes to lifting the mood and just generally being a time of year that fosters a sense of happiness and generosity. 

It’s a time for families and a chance to show the people you love and care about just how much they mean to you. That doesn’t have to mean spending vast sums on presents or showering them with gifts, but the old adage that it’s the thought that counts is entirely true.

So that means if you don’t plan well and make the most of the festive season, it can reflect badly on you. That means taking a bit of time and care about how you approach the season goes a long way. This is particularly true of those with young families as clearly Christmas is never more special than it is for children. 

Diego Velázquez, The Surrender of Breda, 1634–35, oil on canvas, 307 cm × 367 cm

Conflicts have endured since the dawn of the Human Race, and painters have attempted to depict every battle and war that has ever occurred. As a result, there are numerous important works produced before, during, and after famous wars in history.
 
These top conflict and combat paintings merit equal consideration. In addition, you may find some of history's most delicate pieces of art that deal with war below.

Otto Dix's Triptychon Der Krieg (War Triptych)
The two World Wars were arguably the most influential and unforgettable historical events, and Otto Dix highlights the atrocities of World War I in his enormous 1929-32 triptych. Dix's combat story is somber: the soldiers go before dawn, get hurt and perish inside the trenches, and after that, ultimately repose in a dugout.

This is considered to be one of the famous war paintings that underwent substantial modification between the initial designs and the final painting process.

The Surrender of Breda by Diego Velazquez, 1634–1635

In The Surrender of Breda, we are shown one of the Spanish army's rare victories during the Eighty Years' War. This is among the twelve life-size battle scenes of the war painted in oil on canvas. Each of the twelve pieces shows a victory that the soldiers of King Philip IV gained.
 
By depicting the exchange of keys that took place some days after the concession between the Netherlands and Spain was signed, the artwork focused on reconciliation rather than actual combat. The Surrender of Breda is regarded as Diego Velázquez's finest work and is highly historically accurate.

The Battle of Alabama and the Kearsarge by Edouard Manet, 1864

The rebel privateer CSS Alabama and the Union cruiser USS Kearsarge clashed in a devastating fight at Cherbourg, commemorated by this 1864 artwork.
 
The intriguing occurrence in the seas off the shore of Cherbourg prompted young French artist Edouard Manet to depict it. Manet used press accounts rather than his own participation in the conflict to produce this interesting battle painting. The sea appears to be the dominant subject in the artwork rather than the conflict, which indicates the artist's love for water and light.

Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (Foreshadowing of Civil War), 1936, by Salvador Dali

The famous Pablo Picasso painting Guernica is not the only work of art that drew inspiration from the Spanish Civil War. Salvador Dali, a surrealist artist, also created a startling and unsettling painting with the same theme.
 
The picture depicts a monster figure standing over a heap of beans to symbolize the ruin and self-destruction of military conflict. To illustrate the struggles that individuals in Spain were subjected to during the terrible conflict, Dali added beans to the artwork.

Working Sappers: David Bomberg's St. Eloi (Canada Tunnelling Company)

David Blomberg's acclaimed work, produced around the same period as Francis Dodd's piece illustrates the avant-garde new art style that was carefully encouraged by commissioning organizations throughout the First World War. For example, the Canadian War Memorials Fund commissioned Bomberg to create a memorial for the troops who dug a tunnel under St. Eloi on the Western Front in 1916.

 
They asked him to prevent abstraction in the finished product, and this work demonstrates his creative response. We are taken into the little area and are shown the men in their surroundings from above.
 
The artist distances and allures the observer through the utilization of flat and distorted shapes. The tension of the men, who are faceless and entangled with their surroundings, also represents the whole war effort.

The Demise of Major Peirson by John Singleton Copley, 1783

Copley created this masterpiece in honor of British Captain Francis Peirson, who'd been killed in 1781 while defending Jersey against a French invasion and was killed by a French sniper. The first time this piece was on show was in May 1784, and art expert Simon Wilson noted that at that time, "the chant of admiration stretched to Buckingham Palace."

Guernica by Pablo Picasso, 1937

Picasso's harrowing depiction of the horrors that followed the Nazi bombardment of Guernica, Spain, is shown in this painting which is widely regarded as one of the most famous war paintings. When you look closely at the artwork, you can see a mother grieving over her dead child, multiple severed limbs lying about, and a bull, representing Spain's tenacity in the face of adversity.

War (Krieg), by Kathe Kollwitz, 1923

Käthe Kollwitz started work on her famed War series in 1919, barely one year following the end of World War I. The series stood apart from other depictions because it concentrated on the suffering of moms, widows, and kids who were indirectly impacted by the conflict.
 
The grief of the grieving widow is depicted in this impressive painting of war, along with her intense worry for her toddlers and future.

The Battle of Chesma at Night, by Ivan Aivazovsky, 1848

Ivan Aivazovsky created the nighttime battle of Chesma in 1848. This compelling work of military art portrays the confrontation between Russia and Ottoman Empire. The minority movements in Ottoman Rule and the Aegean Sea were under Russian authority for a considerable time due to the clear Russian victory in this conflict.

General Wolfe's Death 1770 by Benjamin West

Benjamin West created the artwork The Death of General Wolfe in 1770. It is a crucial representation of Benjamin West's Seventh War. This painting depicts a general passing away in a field in Quebec. This is an example of western art that glorifies conflict.

Conclusion

War couldn't escape the attention of many well-known contemporary artists due to its profound influence on the lives of so many people over a lengthy period. The masterpieces listed above are genuinely incredible works of art created by some of the most talented people in art history.
 

BOZEMAN – Usually, the retirement of an athlete’s jersey number is reserved for later in their life or even after death. For Sonny Holland, that honor was bestowed upon number 52 immediately after his final game as a Bobcat in 1959, when Holland was 22 years old. Those around him knew early that Holland would go down in Montana State University history. 

Allyn “Sonny” Holland, dubbed the Greatest Bobcat of All Time by fans and the Bozeman community, died on Dec. 3. He was 84 years old.

Born in Butte on March 22, 1938, Holland is remembered for having embodied a characteristic Montana toughness and work ethic throughout his football career. But there was also a humility to his leadership as both player and coach.

“Coach Holland was more of a father than a coach to the players at Montana State during the 70s,” said Rick Vancleeve, a lineman on the 1976 national champion Bobcat football team under Holland. “He was a soft, gentle man that demanded respect without ever demanding anything. His manner was to let you know what the right thing to do was, but let you make the choice on what you were to do. His leadership style made us champions on and off the field.”

Montana State’s first-ever three-time All-American football player made an impact on the football field from his first game, joining the starting lineup in 1956 and rolling with that team straight to MSU’s first national title. Holland played center and linebacker, positions that require precise instincts and impeccable control — as well as an immense amount of hard work, something Holland embraced.

“Coach Holland’s primary goal was to win the Big Sky, beat the Grizzles, develop his players to grow up and become men, get a great education, represent MSU with pride and always do the right thing,” said Delmar Jones, a running back on that 1976 championship team. “In my view, he exceeded these goals and more. Every major decision I make in life I ask myself…what would Coach Holland do?” 

During Holland’s time as a player, the Bobcats boasted a stellar record of 31-6-1, though they wouldn’t win their second national championship for another 20 years. Holland would be integral to that title as well, but, first, a career in coaching would take him across Montana and beyond. 

Holland began coaching almost immediately after his graduation from MSU, becoming an assistant coach at Bozeman High School in 1961. He joined the Bobcat coaching staff for the first time the following year, serving as an offensive line coach until 1965. He left Montana briefly in 1968 to coach at Washington State University, only to return in 1969 to coach Western Montana College (now the University of Montana Western in Dillon) to a perfect 7-0 season and Frontier Coach of the Year honors. 

But in 1970, Holland returned to his beloved Montana State, where the athletes he coached called him simply “Coach” or “Chief.” After a year as defensive line coach, he ascended to head coach when another Bobcat legend, Tom Parac, became athletic director. After a lukewarm start in 1971 with a 2-7-1 record, the Bobcats would win their first conference title under Holland's leadership in 1972, played at Bozeman High School's Van Winkle Stadium before Reno H. Sales Stadium (now Bobcat Stadium) was completed. Things started to pick up with three consecutive winning records and a split season of 5-5 in 1975. 

Then the magic happened.

The Bobcats beat North Dakota and North Dakota State to open the 1976 season, then suffered their only loss of that year to Fresno State. They defeated conference opponents Weber State, Idaho State and Idaho by a combined score of 101-21 before beating the University of Montana Grizzlies (the fifth in what would be a six-game winning streak against the Griz, to tie the longest in MSU history), and clinched Holland’s third league crown in his seven seasons as head coach.

The 1976 playoffs would see MSU eke past New Hampshire 17-16 before traveling to Fargo to beat North Dakota State for the second time that season. In the title game against Akron, in front of a crowd of over 13,000, they clinched MSU’s second-ever national championship in football.

“I woke up this morning to the news, and the first thing that came to mind was Coach getting off the plane and hoisting our championship trophy,” said Vancleeve on Dec. 4. “In my opinion, no one person, nor legions of others a Montana State held a candle to what he stood for to this University.

Since that season, MSU has reached 12 wins in a season only twice: in 1984 when the Bobcats claimed another national title under coach Dave Arnold, and in 2021 during head coach Brent Vigen’s first season leading the Bobcats, when a near-perfect season ended in a loss in the FCS title game against North Dakota State. 

“Sonny was a pillar of Montana State University and Bobcat Athletics. As a player, coach, and alumni representative he inspired many,” said MSU Director of Athletics Leon Costello. “He leaves a lasting legacy of greatness and will always be remembered as ‘Chief’ to those he coached. We will miss seeing him on gamedays in Bobcat Stadium, and his contributions to the MSU and Bozeman communities will be remembered for many years to come."

While Holland would only coach one more season with the Bobcats before stepping away at the age of 39, it was far from the end of his impact on the university. He took on the role of director of alumni relations and would work with the MSU Alumni Foundation until 1992. During that time, he engaged extensively with his teammates from the 1956 championship in fundraising for the university.

“Sonny Holland was not only a phenom for Bobcat Athletics, playing and coaching alike, he chose to lead the university’s alumni efforts because he knew it was important and he did a great job,” said Kerry Hanson, current vice president of engagement for the MSU Alumni Foundation. “Sonny is certainly a Bobcat legend in everything he touched at his university, and I’m proud to be part of his legacy.”

In 2011, upgrades to Bobcat Stadium included a new south end zone adding more than 5,000 seats, named the Sonny Holland Zone. It’s the area of the stadium where current MSU students and the Spirit of the West marching band now cheer on Holland’s beloved team, a team that is now led by another Butte son: sophomore quarterback Tommy Mellott.

Butte is known for its proud fans and strong community, and for Vigen, having Holland’s continued support over the years was an immense vote of confidence.

“The community of Butte has meant a lot to this program, and Sonny represented it well,” said Vigen, whose roster also includes Butte athletes Casey Kautzman, Aaron Richards and Dylan Snyder. “I’ve heard a lot that if you have Butte, you have Montana, when it comes to support. Obviously, Sonny was a big part of that for a long time. It was great to get a chance to be around him and to know that this program was still so important to him. To get his blessing on the job we’re doing means a lot.”

Holland was a member of two inaugural hall of fame classes after his coaching tenure ended: MSU’s own in 1986 alongside legends like basketball player and coach John “Brick” Breeden, the 1929 national champion men’s basketball team dubbed “the Golden Bobcats” and football kicker and skier Jan Stenerud; and the Montana Football Hall of Fame in 2016. In his induction speech for the latter, he reminisced on the role football had played in his life, emphasizing why sons of Montana often find success on the gridiron. 

“I look back and I know what helped me was the people I played with and the coaches that coached me,” Holland said. “We’re probably going to get knocked down from time to time but we’re never going to stay there...We’re going to be up in your face the next play. That’s the way things are done in Montana.”

In 2016, the now-iconic 9-foot-tall statue of Holland was added at the north end of Bobcat Stadium. Holland is captured mid-clap, hands slightly spread, torso tilted forward and head turned to one side, as if he’s watching a play. But his expression isn’t the intense gaze of the many football coaches mid-game: It’s serene, focused, calm, intentional, just as Holland was.

“He was a friend, a father, a mentor, a champion,” said Vancleeve. “He was and is Montana State University.” 

“His integrity and leadership were passed on to his players and MSU,” said Jones. “He moved the state forward. I can’t thank Coach Holland enough for all he’s done for me, my teammates and our MSU family.”

Bobcat coaches and players touch the feet of the legendary coach each time they process from Brick Breeden Fieldhouse to Bobcat Stadium on football gamedays, a tradition dubbed the Bobcat Prowl. As they go by, they see the words that Holland said to his own players, a timeless phrase echoed by countless players and fans.

“Now is the time and this is the place. Go 'Cats.”

Holland was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years Deanna. He is survived by his three daughters Wendy (husband Gator) Rivers, Heidi (Eric) Jinje, and Jody (Tyler) Delaney, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Sweet Pea is presenting our 2nd Annual Winter Art Show February 1-28, 2023. This juried art show will be hosted by our longtime sponsor and Summer Art Show host, ERA Landmark, at their Main Street Location. This exhibit will highlight great artists from our state. There will be cash awards to First ($500), Second ($250), and Third ($125) place winners.