February 2016 Montana Best Times

8/20/2019 February 2016 Montana Best Times

1/24

The nationally famous Kozy Korner Kafe

This Black Angus is not just any bull

Stop in at the Fishtail General Store

Federal trapper

February 2016


2/24

February 2016 — 2

Bookshelf .................................................Page 3

Opinion ....................................................Page 4

Savvy Senior ............................................Page 5

Travel .......................................................Page 14

Birding .....................................................Page 16

On the Menu ............................................Page 18

Calendar ...................................................Page 19

Volunteering .............................................Page 20

Strange But True ......................................Page 22

INSIDE

‘Weather nerd’ comes to NYC to see stormNEW YORK (AP) — Texans Steve and Kathleen Yarborough

weren’t quite like the other travelers stuck in New York recently:

They came to the city because of the big snowstorm.

“I’m a weather nerd,” the husband said in an upbeat tone as the

couple waited for a return flight to Houston. “I came out to see

the storm.”

Steve Yarborough, a Texas born and bred aviation data special-

ist, said that in Houston, the closest he gets to snow is on the avi-

ation maps he pores over.

When he saw the storm building up, he said he and his wife

booked a flight to see it firsthand. They got onto the last United

Airlines flight to leave Houston for New York.

“People thought we were crazy,” he said. “We played in the

snow all day Saturday. Walked down Park Avenue in the middle

of the storm. We walked all over the city.”

Crocodile takes morning dip in poolISLAMORADA, Fla. (AP) — A crocodile apparently decided

a morning dip in a Florida Keys swimming pool was just the

thing.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin

says an Islamorada homeowner called about 7:30 a.m. to report

the croc in his pool. A photo provided by the sheriff’s office

shows the large reptile floating languidly in the shallow end of

the pool. Herrin said the animal was about 8 feet long.

Herrin says deputies and officers from the Florida Fish and

Wildlife Conservation Commission safely removed the animal

and returned it to its native habitat.

The American crocodile is designated as a federal threatened

species. It lives mainly in brackish waters of South Florida and

the Keys.

Islamorada is 77 miles north of Key West.

News Lite


3/24


4/24

February 2016 — 4

Opinion

From the Stone Age to the Digital AgeI have made the move. From the Stone Age to the Digital

Age.You see, I once had a device, and now I no longer havethat device. My device was a clam, like the kind Stone Agepeople were wont to collect, with a lid that opened andshut. This clam had wooden pulleys and tiny belts insidemade of animal sinew to run it. It could be used to commu-nicate with other clams, only the other clams weren’t likemine. They were flat, shiny surfaces, like polished, rock

with bright colors. They were smart and could communi-cate with other shiny surfaces really, really well — waybetter than my clam.

Awright, ’nuf of the allegories. After years of putting it off,I gave up my trusty clam shell, flip-top cellphone and gotmyself a smartphone. The rewards were immediate: Snicker-ing from friends and colleagues disappeared; I can actuallysee the photos my kids send me (my clam shell did receivepictures, but they were about the size of a box elder bug);and mostly, I feel like I’m a full-fledged member of an elitegroup, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

There are some downsides to this brave new world,

though. While my old flip-top could go 10 days withoutrecharging the battery, the battery on my high-powered,newfangled smartphone lasts about three and a half min-utes. Then there’s the humiliation factor in having your

20-year-old daughter teach you how to take and send pic-

tures. And the precious minutes of life I’ll never get backspent flicking apps off the screen so they don’t burn data, aridiculous and debasing exercise if there ever was one.

But I’m no longer in the Stone Age. I can fool people intothinking I’m cool, even though — this is just between you

and me — I don’t know how to use Snap Chat and Insta-gram and Twitter.

Still, every once in a while, in the stillness of my bedroomlate at night, when my mind is free of the empty noise of textmessages and breaking Internet news and podcasts and iTunesand calendar reminders and Facetime and Google maps … Ilong for the quiet, healing calm of my old clam shell.

— Dwight Harriman

Montana Best Times Editor

Dwight Harriman, Editor • Cheyenne Crooker, Designer

P.O. Box 2000, 401 S. Main St., Livingston MT 59047

Tel. (406) 222-2000 or toll-free (800) 345-8412 • Fax: (406) 222-8580

E-mail: [email protected] • Subscription rate: $25/yr.

Published monthly by Yellowstone Newspapers, Livingston, Montana


5/24


6/24

February 2016 — 6

Story and photos by Chaun Scott

Montana Best Times

KINSEY — When we were young, many of us talked about

what we wanted to be when we grew up. For some it was the thrill

of being a firefighter, police officer or rodeo star. For others, it

was becoming a doctor, nurse or maybe even an astrophysicist.

Sixty-two-year-old Kinsey resident Alan Brown had a boyhood

dream, too, born out of his love for eastern Montana’s vast out-

doors — to become a wildlife management specialist, or trapper,

for the federal government. It turns out it would become his wayof life, a career he has worked in for 30 years.

And there is nothing else that he would rather do.

“I’m living the dream,” Brown said. “I’m one of those people

who like to go to work every day.”

Early trapping Brown’s trapping career began when he was 18 years old, right

after graduating from high school in Pennsylvania and moving to

his grandparents homestead on the Big Porcupine north of For-

syth.

It was in the 1970s when a fur trader, Elmer Johnson, took

Brown under his wing and taught him what he needed to know

about trapping.“I started trapping mice and gophers on Grandpa Gray’s place

as a kid, but during the fur boom in 1975, Elmer, who used to

look out for me took me out and showed me the ropes,” Brown

said.

He worked as a fur trader for the next 10 years, attended col-

lege at Montana State University in Bozeman, earned a degree in

wildlife management, and then went to work for the federal gov-

ernment.

Today Brown is a wildlife specialist assistant district supervi-

sor for his district, which covers 10,000 square miles in Custer,

Rosebud and Treasure counties. He and six other wildlife special-

ists covering the district provide technical assistance and direct

management operations in response to requests by ranchers — in

all kinds of inclement weather. The program helps people resolve

wildlife damage to livestock and help reduce the threat to humans

as well.

Working with sheepherders Because of the large amount of land in his territory, Brown said

he spends a lot of time traveling to the location where predation

is occurring.

“Sometimes I have to drive out by Melstone or all the way

down to Birney. We don’t have problems everywhere — there is

just a lot of territory to cover,” Brown said. “I go where I’m

requested.”

When Brown arrives to a requested location, he takes time to

assess the situation. He oftentimes spends time discussing things

with either the rancher or shepherds to see if he can pinpoint the

location where the coyotes might den.

In Montana, many sheep owners hire Peruvians through an

international program to watch over their flocks — a job many

American’s don’t want to do.

Brown said Peruvian sheepherders are really helpful because

they are with the flock on a daily basis and have the opportunity

to study coyote behavior and know the lay of the land.

“(The Peruvians) are here with the sheep every day, so they

know what is going on,” Brown commented. “I can talk to them

and they usually know where I can find the coyotes.”

In fact, the day of the interview for Best Times, Brown spoke

with Corte, a Peruvian sheepherder tending sheep on horseback

near Kinsey, who said through broken English and hand signs he

From boyhood fantasy to a lifelongcareer, government trapper is...

Livingthe

dream Federal trapper Alan Brown sits recently atop a rocky moundnear Kinsey in eastern Montana scanning for coyotes thathad, earlier that day, killed several ewes in a nearby flock. Onthe cover, Brown is pictured in the same location.


7/24

February 2016 — 7

had spotted four coyotes that morning that were dangerously

close to the sheep.

After their discussion, Brown drove to the area Corte described

and found fresh coyote tracks. He said he would come back that

evening to set snares and watch for their return. If he found the

animals he would attempt to eliminate the problem and bring

calm back to the flock.

Getting the job done

Brown spends many hours in extreme weather, hiking on to thetop of bluffs or cutting across the plains on horseback to keep

from scaring off predators. In the spring, helicopters are used to

cover more territory — something he said he really enjoys.

“This is the type of job they probably couldn’t pay you enough

to do if you didn’t want to do it — but if you love what you are

doing, it’s worth it. I would do this forever if my body would let

me,” he chuckled. “I like the challenge of trying to get an offend-

ing animal. There is quite a bit of satisfaction when you solve a

problem someone is having.”

Brown said that in eastern Montana coyote predation takes up

most of his time, but on the western side of the state, they have

wolves and bears to contend with.

Using over four decades of experience and a variety of differ-

ent tools, Brown researches the behavior patterns of the offending

animal before choosing the best course of action. He also said

coming up with a plan to eliminate a problem can sometimes be

tricky.“About the time you think you’re a coyote expert a coyote

throws you for a loop,” he said.

Brown said sometimes elimination is the only thing he can do,

but other times using a nonlethal course of action is all that is

needed.

“Sometimes there is a group of coyotes and we have to thin

Alan Brown, right, talks with Corte, a Peruvian sheepherder, about several ewes from his flock that coyotes recently

killed. Corte points in the direction where he last saw the animals earlier in the day.

See Living the dream, Page 21

Shown is a close-up of Brown’s rifle, a custom-built .260-caliber Remington. Brown said the 17-pound rifle is heavy but he

packs it around anyway because it’s very accurate. Recently, he shot a coyote at 734 yards with it. The rifle features a noise sup-

pressor at the end. Brown has other rifles to choose from, but prefers the .260 for his go-to, long-range coyote rifle.


8/24

February 2016 — 8

Story and photos by Deb Hill

Montana Best Times

WINNETT — Travelers to Winnett might not

notice the Kozy Korner Kafe right away, looking as

it does like any typical small-town Montana cafe.

Inside, however, framed magazine spreads and

awards are clues that a diner is in for an unusual

experience.

Owner, chef and chief pie baker Ellen Wood, 72,a Winnett-area native, bought the Kozy Korner

with her husband, Buck, in 1992.

“I had a job I just hated,” she recalled. “I came

home one night and asked Buck if I could please

quit that job, and he said, ‘Sure.’ Then we found

this place was for sale, and I knew that’s what I

wanted to do. We used to joke about how we were

the only people we knew who could work all day

together and then go home and still get along.”

Ellen is as passionate about her restaurant busi-

ness now as she was that first year.

“I lost my husband in 2014. I miss him so much,

but I never considered leaving the restaurant,” she

said. “I never could just sit around.”

While not formally trained as a chef, Ellen said

that after 24 years she just knows what works.

“I try really hard to make everything as natural as

I can make it. Over the years, I’ve tested tons of

bacon and ham, trying to find the best ingredients.

I’m real particular about what the food looks like

on the plate — it needs to be attractive. One of the

hardest things to do is to make every meal consis-

tently good, no matter who cooks it.”

And judging from the testimonial plaques on the

walls, she might be right, since the restaurant has

achieved some high-level recognition, including

being written up in Gourmet magazine in 2003.However, if left to Ellen, that story might never

have been published.

“I thought it was a joke when the Gourmet maga-

zine reporter called to schedule the interview,”

Ellen said. “I said something like, ‘Ha ha, that’s a

good one,’ and hung up on him. Twice. The third

time they got my husband, so that’s how we ended

Baking up a

storm in Winnett Cafe owner featured in national food magazines

Ellen Wood shows off a blueberry pie at her

Kozy Korner Kafe in Winnett, recently.


9/24

February 2016 — 9

up in the magazine.”

Ellen said the Gourmet magazine staff heard

about the Kozy Korner from someone in Billings

who had stopped to dine there. That is how most

people hear about the diner, since Wood does very

little advertising.

But people still find her. For example, the Road-

Food Team, with a website devoted to memorable

eateries “on the backroads of America,” featured

the Kozy Korner in 2008, calling it one of the “best

places to eat, coast to coast.”

It’s all about the pie Around central Montana, though, the Kozy

Korner is particularly well known for its pies, and

apparently others also agree. In 2005 “Montana

Magazine” put the café on the list of the top 35

places to eat pie, and the Tin Cup Sportsmen from

Green Bay, Wisconsin gave Ellen an award for the

“Best Pie in the State of Montana.”

“I made my first pie when I was 8 years old,”

Ellen said. “My grandmother Anna Rostad, taught

me. She was an old Norwegian lady and she knew

how to cook.”

That first lesson did not go easily.“I was having a terrible time getting that pie

dough rolled out,” Ellen said. “My grandma had

me do it over and over, until it was right. When

I finally got done, that crust was about wore

out.”

Now Ellen bakes between 16 and 20 pies a week

during most of the year.

“The most I ever did was 23 pies in one day,”

she said.

And the secret to a good pie?

“Practice. Practice and patience,” Ellen said.

“Any pie recipe will work if you keep trying. Use

good-quality fruit. I don’t like this genetically

altered fruit they have now. I tested some apples

that were altered so they look good no matter how

long they’ve been on the shelf. They looked great,

but they were rotting from the inside out. It

shouldn’t be like that. There’s no nutritional value

in that kind of food.”

Ellen said she prefers to get her apples from

places such as a grower in Hamilton, who has his

own orchard.

“When you take the lid off that box of Macintosh

apples — oh, the aroma!” she said.

All Ellen’s pies, both fruit and cream, are made

from scratch.

“I don’t use any premade pie filling. I use therecipes in my old Betty Crocker cookbook. You

can’t beat that,” she said.

A gift from above The Kozy Korner Kafe is open seven days a

week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or later.

“In the summer, we stay open until the last diner

leaves,” Ellen said. “It could be 8 or 9 p.m.”

While she still works many long days, Ellen is

now taking a few hours off some mornings.

“I am lucky that I have a few good staff who

know how I like things done, so I can spend more

time with my little grandkids,” Ellen said.But she still puts in some very long days cooking

at the café, and sometimes misses important occa-

sions, such as her 50th Winnett high school reunion.

“It’s a responsibility, having your own business.

You don’t just close when you feel like it,” Ellen said.

She also feels responsible to help local organiza-

tions, such as the Lions Club or the school, with

donations and other fundraising.

“We have the best kids here at the Winnett

School,” she said. “They are mostly all ranch kids

and they work hard. If I can help them out, I do.”

After 24 years of cooking and supporting the

community, is retirement on the horizon?“I could not just sit home and watch TV or some-

thing,” Ellen said. “My gift came from him, so as

long as the Good Lord wants me here, I’ll be here.”

––––

EDITOR’S NOTE: Deb Hill is the managing editor

of the Lewistown News-Argus. She may be reached at

[email protected] or (406) 535-3401.

Ellen Wood works on a breakfast order at her

grill.


10/24

February 2016 — 10

Photos and images courtesy of Karen Morris

Jobie, the Black Angus bull, poses with his “mom,” Karen Morris. Morris has raised Jobie since he was 4 days old.

By Ashley Roness

Montana Best Times

MILES CITY — A few miles out of town lives Jobie the bull.

Jobie isn’t just any bull — he has his own fan club, sends out

e-cards and has even written a book.

Jobie is an 8 1/2-year-old Black Angus bull that has been in the

care of local resident Karen Morris since he was 4 days old. Mor-

ris cared for him like he was her own son, feeding and cleaninghim for his original owners. Years ago, she bought the bull from

them.

No one knows how long Jobie could live.

“I’ve been told that most bulls are killed by the time they’re

5,” said Morris. “There has never been one raised like Jobie.”

Going viral In the beginning, Jobie lived in a field behind the Albertsons

grocery store, where people could see him rolling his bowling

ball around, having a great time. He began to attract crowds,

especially children. Before Morris knew it, Jobie was on his way

NOT JUST ANY BULL Miles City Black Angus is an area rock star

Jobie is featured on various cards, both electronic and

paper. Here he stars on a birthday card.


11/24


Above: The cover of the book, “Dear Grandma ... Love,

Jobie: Letters from a Black Angus Terrier. Below: Jobie

stands patiently in his pen waiting to be fed on a cold Mon-

tana evening.

to becoming famous. His fame continued to grow as Morris

started posting about him on www.milescity.com.

“Larry Antram, the webmaster at milescity.com was selling

milescity.com T-shirts on RedBubble.com in 2012,” Morris

said. “If you bought a T-shirt and submitted a photo to him, he

would designate you as a supporter of milescity.com. I bought

the T-shirt and Jobie modeled it. Since I had established an

account to purchase the T-shirt, I went ahead and submitted

Jobie’s photo. He won.”

Morris continued to post photos and Jobie’s photo gallery was

born. You can find the gallery on www.RedBubble.com.Her popular e-cards began in October 2007 with Jobie’s first

Halloween, followed by Christmas, both featuring a letter and

photos. Now these holiday greetings have become a staple.

The themed e-cards usually feature Jobie in a costume or with

a prop. Each one includes a saying or a message from him. The

e-card last Christmas featured him bedded down in his shelter

with the words, “God rest ye merry gentle bull.”

The e-cards are now sent out internationally. If you happen to

be on his mailing list, you have seen his wide array of costumes.

He’s been a vampire, bumble bee and more.

Bull writes book Most recently, Jobie — with the help, of course, of his

“mom,” Morris — published a book, “Dear Grandma…Love,

Jobie: Letters from a Black Angus Terrier.”

The books consist of letters that Jobie wrote to his “grandma”

(Morris’ mother, Charlee Morris). During the two and a half

years that Grandma Charlee, who died in 2010, was in the east-

ern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive, Jobie was unable to

visit. So, instead of a visit he would send her a card every day

to share his world. The book is a compilation of the letters.

Jobie uses them to introduce Grandma Charlee to his friends.

The letters also describe his make-believe games and day-to-

day activities.

“It’s a great book for children but also for all ages!” said

Morris.The book was published in mid-August of 2012. It is avail-

able on Amazon. For information on the book, email Jobie-

[email protected] or call (406) 852-4787.

Passing out cards When Jobie isn’t busy writing or modeling, Morris passes out

Jobie cards for him. The cards — the actual paper version —

were originally made for Grandma Charlee and a few others

who were dealing with health issues. After Grandma Charlee’s

passing, the distribution of cards increased dramatically as a

memorial to her.

The cards became even more popular once Jobie’s and Mor-

ris’ friend Charlie Redman was in extended care, as Jobie wouldsend him a photo or card every day. Redman kept them in a

notebook and would show them off to the other residents and

staff. After Redman passed away two years ago, Morris started

taking the cards to extended care every month. She also carries

cards with her to hand out to people she meets.

A lot of people thought she was crazy when she started the

venture with Jobie, Morris said, but she doesn’t regret a single

second. Along the way she was offered many pieces of advice

that she chose to push aside, she said, such as how she should

beat Jobie or he would become mean.

“I don’t approve of violence,” said Morris. “I don’t see the

world like everyone else.”

––––

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ashley Roness is a reporter at the Miles

City Star. She may be reached at [email protected] or

(406) 234-0450.


12/24


By Marlo Pronovost

Montana Best Times

FISHTAIL — The only thing diminutive about Katy Martin is

her stature.

She rolls into the Fishtail General Store on a frigid winter

morning, bundled in a large coat and feeling a touch under the

weather, but you would never guess that from her ever-present

smile and warm greeting of “Hi! How are you?”

Martin and her husband, Bill Martin, have owned and operated

the historic store since 2000. The couple has fine-tuned and

grown the business while maintaining its country essence and

allowed the store to continue to be the community’s go-to gather-

ing and information place for just about everything.

Katy is the business’s very heartbeat.

The road to Fishtail

Originally from southern California, Katy is a former teacher

who used her exercise physiology degree to design fitness pro-

grams for law enforcement and schools. She also ran a 24-hourrape hotline, which is how she met Bill, a now-retired police offi-

cer of 37 years. They have six children, one of whom played

football for Rocky Mountain College and continues to live in

Billings.

The couple retired from their respective careers and moved to

Lake Tahoe, California, in 1993. Searching for something differ-

ent, the couple’s quest took them to Red Lodge, where a friend

had property. But the Martins had “done the ski hill thing” and

were looking for something smaller, something with a sense of

community, and somewhere near water, said Katy.

Something big in a small package

MT Best Times photos by Bud Chenaul

Pictured the outside of the Fishtail General Store in Fishtail, 20 miles southwest of Columbus, in December.


13/24


“He (the friend) said, ‘I’ll take you to small,’ and here we are,”

said Katy, sitting at the oversized picnic table located at the back

of the store.

The couple bought a house basically next door to the store and

bought the business from Jim and Linda Clark in 2000.

“And with this much retail experience,” said Katy, forming her

hand into a 0.

The lack of business experience has not hampered their suc-

cess.

The store The store opened in 1900 and provided basically everything for

locals. That continues today in an interesting, impressive and

business-sustaining fashion.

Across the aisle from the cookies and cinnamon rolls bigger

than a person’s head are Nye Shooting Range memberships for

sale. Gluten-free and organic frozen foods are offered in limited

supply toward the back of the store. Breakfast burritos, deli sand-

wiches, homemade soup and speciality in-house Red House

cheesecakes are just a few of the offerings. All the bakery items

are made from scratch.

In the drink coolers, take your pick of Coke in a glass bottle or

an assortment of Neuro drinks. A Cappuccino machine sits next

to a coffee machine.And don’t forget camping supplies, veterinarian supplies, hard-

ware, video rentals and gifts.

The inventory, Martin said, is determined by the customers and

is constantly evolving.

“People mostly let us know what they need,” said Martin.

The store has also moved into the wholesale business, currently

selling 4,000 sandwiches a week to a chain shop. And Martin

uses local suppliers, which enables them to make their own sau-

sage.

It’s not always products that are offered at the store.

Martin said they have helped folks with gunshot wounds and

bike accident victims. Providing directions for delivery services

are also a routine occurrence. The store also throws an annualHalloween costume party for kids that is wildly popular.

While Bill’s health no longer allows him to be in the store,

Katy still enjoys the many hours she spends onsite with their 12

employees.

“This is exciting for me,” she said.

It’s always part of her life calling.

“We are put on this earth to help each other,” said Martin.

––––

EDITOR’S NOTE: Marlo Pronovost is the managing editor

of the Stillwater County news. She may be reached at editor@

stillwatercountynews.com or (406) 322-5212.

Above: Katy Martin stands at the counter of her Fishtail General Store recently.

Below: Merchandise of every kind is available at the store.


14/24


By Kathy Witt

KathyWitt.com/TNS

For more and more people, getting away from it all isn’t all

about the R&R but the hands-on adventure — and the more

authentic the experience, the better.

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, a landmark destination located

in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, offers visitors an active experience in

the spirit of the Kentucky Shakers. The United Society of Believ-

ers in Christ’s Second Appearing, or Shakers as they were more

commonly known because of the exuberance they brought to

meetinghouse worship, sought to create utopia. They practiced

celibacy, believed in racial and gender equality and were chal-

lenged to make the most of their time and talents.

During an active experience, one could make bundle brush and

turkey-wing hand-tied brooms. Achieve serenity through a can-

dlelight or standup paddle-board yoga class. Savor dishes made

from heirloom recipes using ingredients grown in gardens not far

from the restaurant. Learn to use the same tools as nocturnal crea-

tures as you move stealthily through the woods.

Today, the campus they originally settled in 1805 is a place for

active and immersive exploration and adventure. Situated on

3,000 acres of rolling countryside is The Historic Centre, The

Farm and The Preserve, each a historic showplace of Shaker

ingenuity and philosophy that informs active programming

designed to spark curiosity and inspire discovery.

You don’t just go behind-the-scenes; you hunker down at the

workbench, head into the woods and dig into the dirt.

DISCOVERY DESTINATION

Fireside chats about the Shaker lifestyle, themed night hikes

and wildlife treks, making natural cleaners, bourbon and blue-

grass wagon tours, architecture tours, wilderness first aid certifi-

cation — because of its ever-expanding roster of experiential-

based activities in nature, science, history, culture, adventure and

animals, Shaker Village was selected in the fall of 2015 as a

founding member of Discovery Destinations. This collection ofdistinct, independent destination properties offers top-notch

opportunities for travelers eager to go hands-on.

“Discovery Destinations offers travelers and fans alike new

ways to discover the world first-hand, taking the picturesque

scenes and exploration of Discovery’s on-air content to the next

level through immersive experiences that entertain and inspire,”

said Robert Marick, VP of Global Location Based Entertainment

for Discovery Consumer Products. “Whether you seek an adven-

turous excursion or a guided tour rich in history, each partner

resort asks guests to expect the unexpected as they experience

aspects of discovery that are authentic to their surroundings and

local culture.”

Get your hands dirty on a vacation to

Photo courtesy Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill/TNS

A family tends the garden at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

Travel

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill


15/24


Rent Based on Income, HUD 202 PRAC

Live On-Site Community Administrator

Free Laundry • On-Site Parking

Mailboxes on Premises

Electric, Gas, Water, Sewer, & TrashIncluded in Rent

Community Room Available for SocialGatherings & Meetings

Accepting Applications for Independent Seniors

Great News for Seniors 62 yrs of Age & Older! COMFORTABLE & AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS

Call (406) 248-9117 • 1439 Main Street • Billings, MT

Affiliation with the world’s No. 1 pay-TV programmer means

that Shaker Village will be able to more proactively care for its

historic buildings and land, invest in learning and exploration and

establish a premier destination for 21st century travelers. It also

opens the door to innovative guest services in line with Shaker

Village values, including becoming one of five Tesla Destination

Supercharger Stations in Kentucky.

EXPERIENCING SHAKER VILLAGE

Daily Adventures at Shaker Village include visits to workingartist studios and the bird blind, staff-led tours, excursions aboard

the sternwheeler, Dixie Belle, musical entertainment, woodwork-

ing demos, perhaps sowing seeds in the garden. Discovery Treks,

built on Shaker lessons of community, sustainability and ingenu-

ity and created to offer guests more in-depth, interactive experi-

ences, include Paddle + Yoga Weekends, Intro to Beekeeping and

other workshops, and Family Explorer Programs like archaeology

digs and learning to become an animal tracker.

“We’ve been offering introductory workshops for some time,

but we’re getting requests for the option to go deeper into more

intermediate/advanced knowledge,” said Amy Bugg, director of

marketing and communications. “Most programs welcome all

skill levels, but with great partnerships and the expertise of keystaff members, we are able to offer multiple levels of instruction

at the same time.”

Additionally, Shaker Village has Signature Events that take

place throughout the year. These include a Fresh Food Adven-

tures Dining Series, the springtime Chamber Music Festival of

the Bluegrass and Well-Crafted–Brews + Band, a summer cele-

bration of local musicians and craft beer.

Experiencing all of Shaker Village means spending the night

where the Shakers once slept. Guestrooms, suites and private cot-

tages are tucked into 13 restored Shaker buildings, each evoking

the Shaker sensibility of simplicity through Shaker reproduction

furniture and original hardwood floors and offering magnificent

countryside views outside their windows.

Also not to be missed is dining at Trustees’ Table, where menuscelebrate Shaker Village’s roots by serving up dishes made of

seasonal ingredients fresh from its own garden and the gardens of

local farmers. While classic Southern dishes — fried chicken,

corn pudding, tomato celery soup and coleslaw and corn sticks

are menu staples (the latter two items are always set out for lunch

and dinner for guest enjoyment), dishes inspired by the seasons

make frequent appearances as well.

See Travel, Page 17

Photos courtesy Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill/TNS

Above: Music in the Meetinghouse at Shaker Village. Below:

Stand-up paddleboarding adventures on the pond at Shaker

Village is scheduled from spring through fall.


16/24

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Montana Best Times

has been featuring

some of the fascinat-

ing adventures Terry

McEneaney had

when he was Yellow-

stone National Park’s

ornithologist. Fol-lowing is another

excerpt from a new book he is writing,

“Lucky Feathers: Adventures and Experi-

ences of a Yellowstone Ornithologist.”

Almost everyone, from a beginning

birdwatcher to an experienced professional

field ornithologist, is fascinated with the

energetic bird known as the American

Dipper found on fast-moving mountain

streams and rivers. But oftentimes you

hear the common English name American

Dipper referred to as Water Ouzel. Whatgives? So which is it? What is presented

here is a theory on how the common name

Water Ouzel became the American Dipper.

In order to understand this confusion in

common bird names one has to look to the

old country and the birthplace of ornithol-

ogy, namely the Old World such as west-

ern Europe. For the longest time, birds

were given popular common names that

varied from geographic area, exposure

with the bird, income levels and language

differences. In Olde English, and dating as

far back as the 12th century and earlierperhaps, the bird was first referred to as

“o-sle” meaning simply “blackbird.”

There were all types of “black birds,” so to

tell this particular bird from the others, it

was called “water ouzel.” In Ireland, for

example, the Water Ouzel was specifically

referred to in Irish as “gabha dubh,” which

translated into English is “blacksmith.” It

should be noted, Blackbirds in Eurasia are

essentially thrushes.

All that changed when a Swedish scien-

tist by the name of Carl Linnaeus pub-

lished “Systema Naturae” in 1758. In this

significant publication, the term “binomial

nomenclature” was born. Rather thanreferring to species by their confusing

common name, Linnaeus developed a for-

mal, primarily Latin scientific system of

naming species of living things by giving

each a name composed of generic and spe-

cific epithet, hence the term binomial,

meaning two names(“genus” and “spe-

cies”). Regardless of where you were in

the world, even though there were many

common names for a particular species,

only one species possessed the binomial

(generic/specific) epithet.

The first “Water Ouzel” described in a

scientific format was named by Linnaeus

in 1758, from a type specimen (actual car-cass collected for reference) taken from

his home country of Sweden. So the first

“water ouzel” ever described was given

the scientific name Sturnella cinclus. Lin-

naeus took an educated guess and felt this

bird was closely related to the starlings

(current day Sturnelidae), and an unfamil-

iar group of birds he termed cinclus or

kinklos (current day Cinclidae) in refer-

ence to their bobbing/dipping behavior

near fast-moving water. It was about this


Terry McEneaney is ornithologist emeritus for Yellowstone National Park, and is the author of three books: “Birding Montana,” “Birds of

Yellowstone,” and “The Uncommon Loon.” He has been watching birds for 50 years and is one of Montana’s most experienced birders.

How the Water Ouzel became the American Dipper

Birding Big S k y

Photo by Terry McEneaney

Two American Dippers pause on rocks in a mountain stream.


17/24


More short stories from “Lucky Feathers: Adventures and Experiences of a Yellowstone Ornithologist,” will be featured in forthcoming issues

of Montana Best Times. In the meantime, enjoy Montana birds! And the Best of Big Sky Birding to you!

Bird watching questions may be sent to Terry McEneaney by writing to 1215 Lolo St., Missoula, MT 59802; emailing [email protected]; or visiting

www.yellowstonewildlifeguides.com or www.ravenidiot.com. If questions are mailed, include a phone number at which you can be reached.

time the term “dipper” first emerged.

Today the common English name for this original bird is the

White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) of eastern Eurasia. But

the confusion continued as to where dippers belonged in the fam-

ily tree, moving them from the genus Sturnella (starlings) to Tur-

dus (Turdidae thrushes). But besides the bobbing behavior, over-

all dark coloration and unique water environments of the dipper,

the sound and the songs and the singing they emitted resulted in

taxonomic confusion, placing them sometimes close to wrens

(Troglodytidae) and thrushes (Turdidae).

The word ouzel remains confusing to many people. When Wil-liam Shakespeare penned “ouzel-cock so black of hue with

orange tawny bill,” he was talking about the Common Blackbird

(Turdus merula — a black thrush with orange bill and musical

song) rather than a dipper as many people believed. Even Lord

Tennyson mentioned “the mellow ouzel fluted in the elm,” again

no reference to actual dippers, but referring more to the Common

Blackbird (a thrush that frequents deciduous trees and hedge-

rows). Then to confuse matters even more, there is a large black

thrush with a brilliant white crescent on its breast called the Ring

Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) of Eurasia found in upland forests, and

boulder-strewn mountainside slopes.

So today we find Linnaeus was spot on in his understanding of

bird relationships even back then, with modern-day dippers cur-rently situated in a family tree closely related to thrushes, wrens

and starlings.

The beginning of American ornithology can be traced to Amer-

ica with the immigration of a 15-year-old Scottish youth by the

name of Alexander Wilson to the Philadelphia area. Wilson was

resolved to publish a collection of illustrations/writings of all the

birds of North America, and traveled widely in the field, collect-

ing, painting and securing subscriptions for his work, the nine-

volume classic titled “American Ornithology (1808–1814).” Of

the 268 species of birds illustrated therein, 26 had not previously

been described and were new to North American ornithology. In

this splendid work was the first mention of a Pallas Dipper (Cinc-

lus pallasii), today known as the Brown Dipper. The bird illustrat

ed is actually an American Dipper, which is similar in appearance

to the Brown Dipper, but it had not been described before, so all

Wilson could think of at the time was to call it by the name of the

bird he was familiar with — the Brown Dipper.But it wasn’t until 1827 when the “American Dipper” was first

scientifically described by William Swainson from a type speci-

men taken from Temascaltepec, Mexico (just west of Mexico

City), and hence the binomial scientific name, Cinclus mexica-

nus.

Lastly, in 1849 the Scottish naturalist John Muir arrived in

America. In his vast travels of the American West, particularly

the Sierra Nevada of California, Muir was constantly reminded of

the types of bird he witnessed in his youth in Scotland, and in

particular the ouzel sounds (namely the Common Blackbird, Ring

Ouzel, and Water Ouzel). It was the sight and the sounds of his

beloved homeland water ouzel, also known as the dipper, which

caused Muir to pen the endearing words, “has cheered me up inmy lonely wanderings.” And it was these unique chattering

metallic sounds emitted by current American Dippers that led

John Muir to write, “sing water songs, for they hear them all their

lives and even before they are born.”

And that is the best explanation of how the Water Ouzel

became the American Dipper.

Travel, from Page 14 In addition to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, these three prop-

erties also joined Discovery Destinations as founding members:

Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina, House on Metolous

in Oregon and Goldmoor Inn in Illinois.

TRENDING

• In the Shaker fashion, make the most of your time and talents

at one of the Shaker Makers: Hand-tied Brooms workshops. The

Shakers are world-famous for their flat brooms and you can learn

this traditional craft by making two functional hand-held brooms:

a bundle brush and a turkey-wing. The next workshop takes place

10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Feb. 6.

• What the Shakers achieved through dance and song, that is, ahigher state, you can attain through Candlelight Herbal Yoga

(next session is 7 p.m. Feb.12), a gentle yoga flow by candlelight

incorporating the essence of Shaker herbs, held not far from their

former meetinghouse. Namaste.

• Taste the authenticity of locally grown and produced food-

stuff with themed Fresh Food Adventures, like the four-course

bourbon dinner, featuring Kentucky’s Four Roses bourbon,

planned for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 12.

INFORMATION

For more information about programming at Shaker Village of

Pleasant Hill, its Everyday Adventures, Discovery Treks and Sig-

nature Events, as well as lodging and dining options, visit www.

ShakerVillageKy.org. To plan a visit to Harrodsburg, visit www.

HarrodsburgKy.com.

To learn more about other Discovery Destination members,

visit their individual websites:

Goldmoor Inn, Illinois, www.Goldmoor.com

House on Metolous, Oregon, www.Metolius.com

Nantahala Outdoor Center, North Carolina, www.NOC.com.


18/24

On The Menu


With Jim Durfey

When you glance at the photo of your Best

Times recipe contributor at the right, you

might think he’s a normal human being.

Far from it. I confess that I have an abnor-mal fear of being cold.

The cold didn’t seem to bother me when

I was younger. But now that I’m in the “au-

tumn of the year,” to steal a phrase from a

popular Frank Sinatra tune, being cold is no

longer a tolerable condition.

Since my favorite sports are cross country

skiing and ice skating, my being uncomfort-

ably cold is inevitable from time to time.

But I’ve found an antidote to the shivers.

As long as I can eat one of the soups that

are listed with recipes below, the recovery

period is not very long.The Chicken and Tortilla Soup is very easy

to make. It was one of the dishes I prepared

for guests on Christmas Day. It was the per-

fect soup to make on a morning when other

dishes required lots of preparation and lots

of fussing over.

The Chicken and Avocado Soup is creamy,

while the heat from the hot pepper warms a

diner from the inside out.

• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat.• Add onions, jalapeño and garlic. Saute about two minutes until onion hasstarted to soften.• Add chicken breasts, cumin and chicken broth. Cover pan. Let simmer untilchicken is cooked through, 10-15 minutes.• Remove chicken from saucepan and shred into smaller pieces when it hascooled enough to handle using two forks.

• In glass blender jar puree cilantro and half of the avocados with a portion ofbroth until creamy.• Add rest of broth and pulse a few times to combine. (VERY IMPORTANT:Remove stopper from blender lid. Cover lid with a kitchen towel. Hold it rmlyin place. This will prevent pressure from building up in the blender which mightcause the lid to blow off and make a mess in the kitchen. Or use an immersionblender to puree ingredients in saucepan.)• Season to taste with salt and pepper.• Add broth back to saucepan if you use a regular blender.• Stir in chicken and lime juice.• Garnish with remaining half of chopped avocado, tortilla chips, cheese, salsaor fresh tomato, additional chopped chile peppers, etc.

1 lb. boneless, skinless chickenbreasts

1 tbsp. olive oil1 c. green onions, sliced thinly

1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped2 cloves garlic, minced

32 oz. chicken broth1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. kosher salt or to taste1/3 c. cilantro, chopped3 tbsp. fresh lime juice

2 large avocados, pits and skinsremoved

1 Roma tomato, diced, or red salsafor topping

Tortilla chips, Monterey jack cheese,sour cream for serving (optional)

• Combine all ingredients, except chicken and tortilla chips in a six quart slowcooker and stir everything to combine.• Add chicken breasts to slow cooker. Do not dice or cut chicken.• Cook on high for two and a half hours.• Remove chicken breasts from slow cooker. Place on cutting board afterallowing moisture to drip off. Using two forks, gently break apart chickenbreasts to shred.• Add shredded chicken back to slow cooker and cook on low for one and ahalf hours.• Have guests sprinkle crushed tortilla chips or toasted strips over top of soup.

2 large boneless, skinless chickenbreast halves

3.5 c. chunky salsa3.5 c. chicken broth

1.5 tbsp. taco seasoning1.5 c. frozen corn kernels

15 oz. can black beans, drainedYour choice: strips of toasted tortillas

or crushed tortilla chips

CHICKEN AVOCADO SOUP

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

Cold confessions of a real wuss


19/24


February2016

C A L E N D A R— Sunday February 7

• Ice Skating, Bannack State Park 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Dillon• Quaker Artists: An Exhibition of the Quiet Faith, through

March 3, Carroll Art Gallery, St. Charles Hall, Helena • Off Campus Works by MSU Students, through Feb. 20, Liv-

ingston Center for Art and Culture, Livingston• Carbon County Arts Guild All Artists Exhibition, through

Feb. 28, Depot Gallery, Red Lodge

— Friday, February 12

• Harmony of Rock: A Tribute to Three Dog Night and theEarly 70s, 7:30 p.m., Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts,Bigfork

• Showcase Series: Wild and Scenic Film Festival, through Feb.13, 7 p.m., UMW Campus STC Great Room, Dillon

• Glendive Agri-Trade Expo (Gate): through Feb. 13, EasternPlains Event Center, Glendive

— Saturday, February 13

• Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Emerson Center Ball-

room, Bozeman• Ice Skating, Bannack State Park 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Dillon• Boots and Buckles Ball, 5:30 p.m., Park County Fairgrounds,

Livingston• Second Annual Wine and Chocolate Tasting, sponsored by

Retired Seniors and Volunteer Program, Tongue River Winery, Miles City

— Sunday February 14

• Ice Skating, Bannack State Park 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Dillon

— Thursday, February 18

• 4-C Basketball Tournament, through February 20, Miles City

— Friday, February 19

• International Guitar Night, 7:30 p.m., The Ellen Theatre,Bozeman


• Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Emerson Center Ball-room, Bozeman

• Ice Skating, Bannack State Park 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Dillon• Buckaroo Bash, Centra on the Miles Community College

campus, in Miles City

— Sunday February 21

• Ice Skating, Bannack State Park 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Dillon

— Wednesday, February 24

• The Art of Mosaics: Growing a Glass Garden, through March 30, Holter Museum of Art, Helena


• Ice Skating, Bannack State Park 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Dillon• Rhythmic Circus: Feet Don't Fail Me Now, 7 p.m., Helena

Civic Center, Helena • 4th annual Salute to Service Men and Women: Wylie and

the Wild West, 6 p.m., Livingston Civic Center, Livingston

— Sunday, February 28


• Ice Skating, Bannack State Park 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Dillon• Second Annual Cowboy Poetry Event, Range Riders Museum,

Miles City

— Tuesday, March 1

• “Maniacal 4,” 7:30 p.m., University of Montana Western Beier Auditorium, Dillon

— Friday, March 4

• The Cardboard Classic Parade, 6 p.m., Broadway, Red Lodge

— Saturday, March 5


• United in Light Draft Horse Sanctuary, 10 a.m., Paradise Val-ley, Livingston

• Winter Carnival, Red Lodge Mountain Resort, Red Lodge


20/24


Custer & Rosebud counties - AARP Tax Assistance program: Volun-

teers needed.- CCDHS Wrestling Tournament: Needs

volunteers to sign up to help.- CNADA: Needs a volunteer to answer

phones and other receptionist duties. Youchoose the hours and days.

- Clinic Ambassador: Need volunteer togreet patients and visitors, providing direc-tions and more, two locations.

- Custer County Council on Aging: Vol-unteer commodities clerk needed.

- Custer County Food Bank: Volunteerassistants needed for 8 a.m-1:30 p.m., Mon-day, Tuesday and Wednesday, to processdonations, stock shelves and more.

- DAV van: Drivers needed to providetransportation to veterans to medicalappointments.

- Eagles Manor: Volunteer exercise classleader needed, 1-2 days a week, you pickthe days and the exercise for residents.

- Historic Miles City Academy: Urgentlyneed volunteers at the thrift store and inother ways.

- Miles City Soup Kitchen: Desperatelyseeking servers and greeters Monday-Fri-day; pick a day of the week you would liketo serve.

- RSVP: Call if you’d like to bring cook-ies on March 10 needed for the AnnualRSVP soup supper.

- Relay for Life: Person to pop popcornneeded one day per week, two hours in the

morning, at MCC.- St. Vincent DePaul: Volunteers to assist

in several different capacities.- VA Activities: Urgent need for someone

to help with activities. Application packetavailable at VA Activities Director’s Office.

- WaterWorks Art Museum: Volunteerreceptionists needed, two-hour shifts Tues-Sun; a volunteer also needed in catalogingthe art collection, one to assist with historicresearch of the permanent art collection,and a volunteer to assist in kids classeswhen scheduled.

If you are interested in these or other vol-

unteer opportunities please contact: BettyVail, RSVP Director; 210 Winchester Ave.#413, Miles City, MT 59301; phone (406)234-0505; email: [email protected].

Fergus & Judith Basin counties - America Reads: Recruiting volunteers

to read with elementary students.- Art Center: In need of volunteers on Sat.- Central Montana Fairgrounds: Seeking

clerical support.- Central Montana Youth Mentoring:

Seeking clerical support.- Community Cupboard (Food Bank):

Volunteers are needed to help any weekmornings as well as with deliveries.

- Council on Aging: Volunteers needed toassist at the daily Grubstakes meal and withclerical help during the busy lunch hour.

- Library: Volunteer help appreciated.

- Office of Veterans Affairs: Seeking cler-ical support.- ROWL (Recycle Our Waste Lewis-

town): Looking for volunteers to join teamsbaling recyclables.

- Treasure Depot: Thrift store needs vol-unteers to sort, hang clothes and put otheritems on display for sale.

- RSVP always has various needs foryour skills and volunteer services in ourcommunity.

Contact: RSVP Volunteer CoordinatorSara Wald, 404 W. Broadway, Wells Fargo Bank building, (upstairs), Lewistown, MT59457; phone (406) 535-0077; email: rsv-

[email protected].

Gallatin County - American Cancer Society-Road to

Recovery: Drivers needed for patientsreceiving treatments from home to hospital.

- American Red Cross Blood Drive: Twovolunteer opportunities available: anambassador needed to welcome, greet,thank and provide overview for blooddonors; and phone team volunteers neededto remind, recruit or thank blood donors.Excellent customer service skills needed,training will be provided, flexible schedule.

- Befrienders: Befriend a senior; visit ona regular weekly basis.- Belgrade Senior Center: Meals on

Wheels need regular and substitute driversto deliver meals to seniors before noon,Monday-Friday.

- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Be a positiverole model for only a few hours each week.

- Bozeman and Belgrade Sacks ThriftStores: Need volunteers 2-3 hour shifts onany day, Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

- Bozeman Deaconess Hospital: Volun-teers needed for the information desks inthe Atrium and the Perk, 8 a.m.-noonand noon-4 p.m.

- Bozeman Senior Center Foot Clinic:Retired or nearly retired nurses are urgentlyneeded, two days a month, either four- oreight-hour shifts.

- Bozeman Symphony: Need volunteergreeters, ushers, set up, and musician treats.

- Bozeman Symphony Sunday Mati-nees: Need volunteer head of concessions,must be able to stand for long times andable to lift no more than 50 pounds.

- Cancer Support Community: Volunteerreceptionist needed for the last two Tues-days of the month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The posi-tion would be shared with another volun-

teer so there could be flexibility in how theTues are divided.

- Galavan: Volunteer drivers need-ed Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. CDLrequired and Galavan will assist you inobtaining one. Volunteers also needed to

make reminder calls and confirm rides forthe following day. Volunteers also neededfor morning dispatch. These responsibilitiesinclude receiving phone calls/messages andgetting info from clients and facilitating thetransfer of info to staff as required.

- Gallatin Rest Home: Volunteers wantedfor visiting the residents, sharing yourknowledge of a craft, playing cards or read-ing to a resident.

- Gallatin Valley Food Bank: Volunteersneeded to deliver commodities to seniors intheir homes once a month. Deliveries inBelgrade are especially needed.

- HRDC Housing Department Ready to

Rent: Curriculum for families and individu-als who have rental barriers such as lack ofpoor rental history, property upkeep, renterresponsibilities, landlord/tenant communi-cation and financial priorities.

- Habitat for Humanity Restore: Belgradestore needs volunteers for general help,sorting donations and assisting customers.

- Heart of The Valley: Compassionatevolunteers especially needed to love, playwith and cuddle cats.

- Help Center: Computer literate volunteerinterested in entering data into a social ser-vices database. Also volunteers needed to

make phone calls to different agencies/pro-grams to make sure database is up to date andmake safety calls to home bound seniors.

- Jessie Wilber Gallery at The Emerson:Volunteers needed on Wednesdays, Thurs-days and Fridays to greet people at themain desk, answer questions and keep trackof visitors.

- Museum of the Rockies: Variety ofopportunities available such as helping inthe gift shop and more.

- RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to quiltknit, crochet and embroider hats for chemopatients, baby blankets and other handmadegoods once a week (can work from home).

Items are on sale in our store in the RSVPoffice at the Senior Center. *Donated yarnneeded for the quilting, knitting and cro-cheting projects.

- Seniors: You may qualify for $192-$600 a years for grocery and food assis-tance. Call Mary at 333-2537 or 333-2883.

- Three Forks Food Bank: Volunteerneeded on Mondays and/or Thursdays tohelp with administrative duties, includinganswer phones and questions, some paperand computer work. They will train.

- Warming Center: Volunteers needed fora variety of different shifts, 7 p.m.-7 a.m.;

Below is a list of volunteer openings available through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) incommunities across southern Montana. To learn more about RSVP, call (800) 424-8867 or TTY (800) 833-3722;or log on to www. seniorcorps.org.

RSVP


21/24


training held every Tuesday at the WarmingCenter. Please call for more information.

- Your unique skills and interests areneeded, without making a long-term com-mitment, in a variety of ongoing, special,one-time events.

Contact: Debi Casagranda, RSVP Pro-gram Coordinator, 807 N. Tracy, Boze-man, MT 59715; phone (406) 587-5444; fax (406) 582 8499; email: [email protected]

Musselshell, Golden Valley& Petroleum counties

- TAX-AIDE: Seeking volunteers to helpprocess income tax returns for Seniors andlow income families. A short training isprovided. The schedule for volunteering isflexible for this position. This is a veryimportant service to our community.

- Central Grade School: Needs volunteertutors to encourage children with theirreading skills in the America Reads pro-gram. Also volunteers needed to assist

younger students with lunch, clear tablesand serve from the salad bar.- Drama Camp: Volunteers needed for

positions of director and assistant director.- Food Bank: Distribute food commodi-

ties to seniors and others in the communi-ty; help unload the truck as needed.

- 4-H Fair: Volunteers needed to sit atthe table in the art building.

- Nursing Home: Piano players andsingers needed on Fridays to entertain resi-dents, also assistant needed in activitiesfor residents to enrich supported lifestyle.

- RIDE: Volunteers needed for sellingtickets at the night shows.

- Senior Bus: Volunteers to pickup folkswho are unable to drive themselves.

- Senior Center: Volunteers are neededto provide meals, clean up in the diningroom and/or keep records; meal provided.

- The Trade Show: Volunteers needed toserve at door prize table.

- Dinner Theater: Volunteers needed forcooking and serving the meal.

- RSVP offers maximum flexibility andchoice to its volunteers as it matches thepersonal interests and skills of olderAmericans with opportunities to servetheir communities. You choose how andwhere to serve. Volunteering is an oppor-tunity to learn new skills, make friendsand connect with your community.

Contact: Shelley Halvorson, South Cen-tral MT RSVP, 315 1/2 Main St., Ste. #1, Roundup, MT 59072; phone (406) 323-1403; fax (406) 323-4403; email:[email protected] ; Facebook:South Central MT RSVP.

Park County - American Cancer Society: Needs driv-

ers to transport locals to Bozeman Dea-

coness Hospital for cancer treatments.- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Mentor andpositive role models to a boy or girl need-ed one hour or more a week.

- Fix-It-Brigade: Needs volunteers of allages and skill levels for two-hour tasks, onyour schedule, to help seniors or veteranswith small home repairs and chores, suchas changing a light bulb, mending a fence,shoveling snow.

- Links for Learning: Requesting volun-teers to sit after school 3:45 to 5 p.m. atany one of the three elementary schools tolisten to children read. No experience nec-essary.

- Loaves and Fishes: Volunteers neededto prepare dinner meals.

- Main Streeter Thrift Store: Someonewho enjoys working with the public, greetcustomers, label and hang clothes andaccept donations. Volunteer 4 hours a weekand get 50 percent off your purchases.

- Meals on Wheels: Always need substi-tute drivers to deliver meals to seniors intheir home.

- RSVP: Has many one-time events,including mailings and fund-raising eventsthat require volunteers. Your unique skillsand interests are needed, without making along-term commitment, in a variety of on-going and special one-time events.

- RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to knitand crochet caps and scarves for eachchild at Head Start this winter, also as giftsfor children of prenatal classes, and babyhats and afghan’s for the hospital new-borns; Sewers needed to make simple pil-lowcases for our soldiers overseas, Thurs-day, 1-2 p.m. at the Senior Center.

- Senior Center: Need volunteers, Tues-days, 1 p.m., to cut unsold clothing intorags to be sold for proceeds to the center.

- Seniors: You may qualify for $192-$600 a years for grocery and food assis-tance. Call Mary at 333-2537 or 333-2883

- Stafford Animal Shelter: Kindheartedvolunteers needed to socialize cats and kit-tens, and to walk the dogs.

- Transportation: Drivers needed to helppatients keep their doctor appointment inLivingston and Bozeman. Some gas reim-bursement may be provided.

- Yellowstone Gateway Museum:Always in need of help at the front desk,or with labeling and cataloging items.

Contact: Deb Downs, Program Coordi-nator, 111 So. 2nd St., Livingston, MT

59047; phone (406) 222-2281; email: [email protected].

Living the dream, from Page 7

their numbers down,” he explained. “We usually only have one ortwo doing the damage and those are the ones we have to target.”

Predators that are collected are not wasted, either. A field sam-ple of each animal is taken and sent to a federal lab for testing,Brown said. A percentage of coyotes are carriers of distemper,hepatitis, parvo virus, and mange. They can also be infected withrabies and tularemia, which can then be transmitted to other ani-mals and even humans. Coyotes can also be infested with numer-ous parasites, including mites, ticks, fleas, and worms.

Changes, and staying onBrown said there have been many changes in his field over the

past 30 years, especially in technology and federal regulations,which he said have caused a lot more paperwork for the field spe-cialists.

The change he sees that is most disturbing, though, is the lackof interest in trapping from the younger generation.

“(Trapping is) sort of a dying art,” Brown said of his work.“We don’t have a lot of young people interested anymore.”

Also, with fur prices so low in today’s economy, Brown saidthere aren’t a lot of people trapping anymore like there was when

he first started — and with federal trappers’ longevity, therearen’t a lot of positions in wildlife management services foryounger generations to apply.

“There isn’t a lot of turnover in this job,” he said. “When youget the job, you kind of make a career out of it.”

Brown doesn’t see an end any time soon to living his dream,regardless of age. His whole life is planned around the lifestyle.

“It’s been a good occupation and I am going to keep doing it aslong as I can,” he said. “If I retired I would still be doing thesame thing. With this type of job, it’s your life. Even on my vaca-tion I hiked back 17 miles into the Beartooth Mountains to huntmountain goats. I take my vacation time to go hunting — it’swhat I do.”

Regardless of whether he continues to work for the governmentor is forced to retire, his life will always be the same. Brown is,and always will be, a member of the elite — he is a federal trap-per.

––––

EDITOR’S NOTE: Chaun Scott is the managing editor of the

Independent Press. Reach her at [email protected] or 406-

346-2149.


22/24

Q. Why don’t we sneeze during sleep? Or do we?

A. Would you remember a sneeze if you did it? A sneeze is a

reflex and not likely to occur during dreaming sleep, or REM (rap-

id-eye-movement). During this stage of sleep, movement messages

are likely to shut down as partial paralysis sets in, preventing sleep-

ers from acting out their dreams, writes David Muir of the United

Kingdom (UK) in “New Scientist” magazine. A consequence is that

reflex acts like sneezes are turned off. “If a sneeze is absolutely nec-

essary, REM atonia ceases and the person wakes up before sneez-

ing.”

Adds the UK’s Ron Pursell: “I do sneeze during my sleep, fre-quently if I have a head cold. This wakes up my wife, who then

awakens me and tells me that I have disturbed her sleep by sneezing

yet again. Presumably if I slept by myself I would not have awak-

ened.”

Ergo: No (generally) to sneezing during REM sleep, but Yes dur-

ing non-REM, so long as there’s a sneeze witness at hand.

Q. Can you propose numbers and perhaps even a sort of

formula for maintaining human friendships?

A. The magic number is about 150 for the natural size of social

groups, according to University of Oxford’s Robin Dunbar, as

reported by Catherine deLange in “New Scientist” magazine. This

number is even in the right ballpark for modern online groups.“Facebook allows up to 5,000 friends, but most users have

between 150 and 250, although many of these will be acquain-

tances and some will be strangers.” Actually, people with more

Facebook friends tend to have more in-person friends as well.

As for a friendship formula, Dunbar suggests every-other-day

contact for your very close friends and once a week for your next

five closest pals, either face-to-face or online. Once a month is

enough for the next 15, every six months for the next 50, and

once a year for the rest of the group.

The exception is close friendships from your younger days

— “you can often pick these relationships up exactly where

you left off, even after decades.”

Q. Are you a “morning person”? Can science explain why

you might be a lark rather than an owl?

A. It has to do with your circadian system, that brain region of

20,000 nerve cells that regulates everything from hormone levels

and when you digest food to when you feel sleepy, says Sonia

Ancoli-Israel of UC-San Diego’s Sleep Medicine Center, as

reported by Nathan Reese in “Mental Floss” magazine. Larks

(think of morning birds) are “phase advanced,” feeling tired early

in the evening, while owls are “phase delayed,” feeling tired laterat night.

As you’ve probably observed, people’s circadian rhythms

change over time, with babies waking at dawn but teens strug-

gling to get out of bed by noon. As adults get older, mornings

usually get easier. Genetics plays a key role here: “In 2012, scien-

tists discovered a single nucleotide near a gene called ‘Period 1’

that determines whether you’re an owl, a lark, or in between.”

Since research suggests that early risers have a mental edge, to

become more lark-like, stick to a regimented sleep schedule and

avoid disruptive evening light before you call it a night, Reese

says.

Q. Is there anything we humans manufacture in truly“astronomical” numbers?

A. Transistors, the fundamental building blocks of our ubiqui-

tous devices (think smart phones and laptops), are produced in

staggering quantity. In 2014 alone, the world’s semiconductor

production facilities made about 250 billion billion of them (25

followed by 19 zeros), observes Dan Hutcheson in “IEEE Spec-

trum” magazine. That’s nearly a billion times the number of stars

in our Milky Way galaxy and approaches the number of grains of

sand on all the world’s beaches. And the output is growing expo-

nentially. Indeed, more transistors were made in 2014 than in all

the years prior to 2011.


By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.

Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at [email protected]

Do we sneezeduring sleep?


23/24

Crossword


Having the right insurance should bring that peace of mind andallow you to focus on the other important things in your life!Contact our experienced team to discuss how best to protect

yourself, your family, and your business.

INSURING FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND

1320 28th Street West • Billings, MT

406-652-4180 • www.darnielle.com

Across

1 Directive to a dealer6 Adds liberally13 Sustain15 Apple bug?16 Strength in numbers?18 Blubber19 What "this love is," in a

Taylor Swift title20 Shades go-with21 Shepherd's dishes?24 Fruit trees25 __ cut: fabric design tech-

nique26 Birch of Indiana28 Unkempt abode29 Umbrian tourist town

32 Salisbury smooch34 Beats the rap40 __ Accords: Israel/PLO

agreements41 Acorn bearer42 Ad follower45 Some 55-Across works47 Smidge48 Mocks50 Blockers' targets53 Dodges55 Joan of art

56 __ Dome: Lucas Oil Sta-dium predecessor

58 Best Actress the yearbefore Kate Winslet

61 Dizzy with delight62 Neptune, e.g.63 Gently passes64 Simmers

Down

1 Drill cadence syllables2 Swear words3 "If I Can't

Love Her" singer,in a 1994 musical

4 Hip5 Literature

Nobelist who wontwo posthumousTony Awards

6 __ lane7 Spanish 101

word8 Vitalize9 Calls or cells10 "Like I care"11 Kevin of

"Shark Tank"12 "Drat!"

14 Support spec of a sort15 Really enlightened17 Salt Lake daily22 Sale warning23 Harmonize25 Snare27 Shooter's target30 Jack of "Barney Miller"31 Logician's words33 Sporty VW35 Cheeky36 From 2009 through Sep.

2015, it paid $143 billion individends to the U.S. Treasury

37 Concern for some body-builders

38 Issues a mea culpa39 Squeak (out)42 Museo de la Revolucin city43 "Ring Cycle" quartet44 Color similar to crimson46 Narrow shore point48 Portrayer of Django & Ray49 Throws below

51 "Gunfight at theO.K. Corral" screenwriter

52 Spherical extremities54 Snoot57 Tosses in

59 Playing hard to get60 Pull-up beneficiary,

briefly

Regarding the electronics revolution, Hutcheson concludes:“For decades, manufacturing innovation and simple miniaturiza-tion have enabled engineers to pack more capability into the samearea of silicon... It has been the ever-rising tide that has not onlylifted all boats but also enabled us to make entirely new and fan-tastic kinds of boats.”

Q. How do the milks we buy at the grocery store — fat-free,

3 percent, etc. — compare with milk from Mom and other

mammals such as rhinos, naked mole-rats and hooded seals?

A. For the sake of science, Olav Oftedal of the SmithsonianEnvironmental Resources Center has milked bats, bears and hun-dreds of naked mole-rat queens, notes Susan Milius of “ScienceNews” magazine. The mole rats were especially intriguing in tha“unlike nearly every other mammal on earth, the burdens ofreproduction and milk feeding of young are placed solely on asingle queen and are not shared among the females of the colony”(Smithsonian Science). Amazingly, a colony’s top female cangive birth to more than 900 offspring in a lifetime, meeting their

nursing needs “by producing about half of her body weight inmilk each day!”

Studying the naked mole rat’s milk fascinated both Oftedal andWendy Hood of Auburn University, who determined that in bothfat and water content it is close to that of cows and human breasmilk at 3-5 percent, yet it is far skinnier than that of house miceat 27 percent and blue whales at 41 percent. Rhinos have virtuallyfat-free milk. And some seal milks top 60 percent fat, meaningthat they’re “something like four times richer than Ben & Jerry’sice cream,” Hood says.

And no, she did not sip the milk samples out of curiosity: “If Iwere to taste it, that would be that much less we’d have to ana-lyze.”

Q. A not-so-sobering question: Have you ever drunk “the

Angels’ Share”?

A. Simply put, no, since that’s what distillers call the approxi-mate 2 percent of alcohol in a cask that evaporates each yearreports “Mental Floss” magazine. This figures to about 50 millionliters (53 million quarts) of scotch literally “gone with the wind.”


24/24

Financing is Available.

3-Year Warranty on Most Hearing Aids

FREE Lifetime Aftercare

Over 1,200 Locations Nationwide to ServiceYour Hearing Needs

Over 60 Years in Business

100% Satisfaction Guarantee†

??

??

??

??

??

Other Hearing

Aid CompaniesBenefit

© 2014 Miracle-Ear Inc

Steven Howell NBC-HISNational Board Certified in Hearing Instruments Science

30 years Experience in the Hearing Aid Industry

MILES CITY OFFICE

18 N. 8th Street Suite #8

Miles City, MT 59301

800-340-3720

BOZEMAN OFFICE

702 N. 19th Ave. Suite 1-C

Bozeman, MT 59718

406-586-5841

GLENDIVE SERVICE

CENTER

Glendive, MT 59330

1-800-340-3720

BILLINGS OFFICE

1527 14th St. West

Billings, MT 59102

406-259-7983

• Trainable Volume control for your unique listening environments• Advanced noise reduction system for comfort with sudden loud noises• Hands-f ree Bluetooth® compatible technology (some models)• Speech enhancement system• Feedback reduction system to help reduce whistling• Automatic processing of speech in noise• Wind noise reduction system (some models)• Electronic diary for optimal ne tuning• Low Battery alert• Optional remote control (some models)• Rechargeable option (some models)

S weet Hear the difference for Yourself!S weet

Does your LOVED one struggle with their hearing?

We Offer a Variety of Models to Fit Your Unique Lifestyle

Free Box of Chocolateswith each Hearing Test

*Offer expires 2-28-2016

of batteries with purchase

1 YEARSUPPLY

$850 OFFa set of

hearing aids

Hearing Better isHearing Better is

Call NOW for your

February 2016 Montana Best Times

Documents

Transcript of February 2016 Montana Best Times