MONTANA

February 2016

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

Federal trapper
The nationally famous Kozy Korner Kafe
This Black Angus is not just any bull
Stop in at the Fishtail General Store

INSIDE

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

News Lite
Weather nerd comes to NYC to see storm

NEW YORK (AP) Texans Steve and Kathleen Yarborough

werent quite like the other travelers stuck in New York recently:
They came to the city because of the big snowstorm.
Im 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 specialist, said that in Houston, the closest he gets to snow is on the aviation 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.

February 2016

Crocodile takes morning dip in pool

ISLAMORADA, Fla. (AP) A crocodile apparently decided

a morning dip in a Florida Keys swimming pool was just the
thing.
Monroe County Sheriffs 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 sheriffs 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.

Bookshelf
Montanas Waldron Creek Fire:
The 1931 Tragedy and
the Forgotten Five
By Dr. Charles Palmer
Arcadia Publishing and The History Press
(November 2015)
Paperback 176 pages $21.990
ISBN: 978-1-4671-1926-9

Remembering
a forgotten
Montana fire
By Montana Best Times Staff

The West has had its share of major

fires, but one of them, Montanas Waldron Creek Fire, has tended to be forgotten. A new book, Montanas Waldron
Creek Fire: The 1931 Tragedy and the
Forgotten Five, by Dr. Charles Palmer,
seeks to change that.
On Aug. 25, 1931, five men died
fighting the devastating Waldron Creek
Fire west of Choteau, Montana. Lacking
training and preparation, Herbert
Novotny, Frank Williamson, Hjalmer
G. Gunnarson, Ted Bierchen and
Charles Allen dashed into the flames
and never stood a chance, a news
release of the book from The History
Press says.
The Teton County coroner added
insult to injury, noting that each had
"no one to blame but himself, the
release says.
Three men were buried in
unmarked graves. Records show that
the body of the fifth was returned to his family, but no burial site
is known. Only one has a headstone.
In his new book, National Smokejumper Association chief historian Dr. Charles Palmer shines a light on this important story,
honoring the heroic sacrifice that led to critical changes in wildland firefighting.
Dr. Charles Palmer spent 10 of his nearly 20-year wildland firefighting career with the Missoula Smokejumpers. He completed
his B.A., M.A., EdS and EdD degrees at the University of Montana. He joined the University of Montana's Department of Health
and Human Performance in 2006, has been a consultant with
Mission-Centered Solutions since 2000, and is the director of
Human Performance for the First Twenty.

Asked in the news release what

lasting impact he hoped his book would leave, Palmer said,
Many people have lost their lives fighting this country's wildfires over the years, including the five men detailed in this book.
A large number of these individuals have never received the recognition they deserve. I hope readers of this book will remember
not only the Forgotten Five but also the scores of other firefighters who have perished in the line of duty, yet have not been
remembered for their sacrifice.
The book may be acquired through the publishers (Arcadia
Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com and The History Press
at www.historypress.net) or on amazon.com.
February 2016

Opinion

From the Stone Age to the Digital Age

February 2016

20-year-old daughter teach you how to take and send pictures. And the precious minutes of life Ill never get back
spent flicking apps off the screen so they dont burn data, a
ridiculous and debasing exercise if there ever was one.
But Im no longer in the Stone Age. I can fool people into
thinking Im cool, even though this is just between you
and me I dont know how to use Snap Chat and Instagram and Twitter.
Still, every once in a while, in the stillness of my bedroom
late at night, when my mind is free of the empty noise of text
messages and breaking Internet news and podcasts and iTunes
and calendar reminders and Facetime and Google maps I
long for the quiet, healing calm of my old clam shell.
Dwight Harriman
Montana Best Times Editor
MONTANA

I have made the move. From the Stone Age to the Digital
Age.
You see, I once had a device, and now I no longer have
that device. My device was a clam, like the kind Stone Age
people were wont to collect, with a lid that opened and
shut. This clam had wooden pulleys and tiny belts inside
made of animal sinew to run it. It could be used to communicate with other clams, only the other clams werent like
mine. They were flat, shiny surfaces, like polished, rock
with bright colors. They were smart and could communicate with other shiny surfaces really, really well way
better 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 got
myself a smartphone. The rewards were immediate: Snickering from friends and colleagues disappeared; I can actually
see the photos my kids send me (my clam shell did receive
pictures, but they were about the size of a box elder bug);
and mostly, I feel like Im a full-fledged member of an elite
group, 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 without
recharging the battery, the battery on my high-powered,
newfangled smartphone lasts about three and a half minutes. Then theres the humiliation factor in having your

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

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: montanabesttimes@livent.net Subscription rate: $25/yr.
Published monthly by Yellowstone Newspapers, Livingston, Montana
Dwight Harriman, Editor Cheyenne Crooker, Designer

Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated Savvy

Senior information column, is a longtime
advocate of senior issues. He has been featured in
Time magazine; is author of The Savvy Senior:
The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and
Finances for Senior Citizens; and is a regular
contributor to the NBC Today show.

How to calculate your

Retirement Number

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you help me calculate about how much my wife and I need
to save for retirement? We are both in out late-50s and want to
see where we stand.
Looking Ahead

Dear Looking,
Calculating an approximate number of how much youll need
to save for a comfortable retirement is actually pretty easy, and
doesnt take long to do. Its a simple, three-step process that
includes estimating your future living expenses, tallying up your
retirement income and calculating the difference. There are even
a host of online calculators that can help you with this too.

Living expenses

The first step is the most difficult estimating your living

expenses when you retire. If you want a quick ballpark estimate,
figure around 75 to 85 percent of your current gross income.
Thats what most people find they need to maintain their current
lifestyle in retirement.

If you want a more precise estimate, track your current living

expenses on a worksheet and deduct any costs you expect to go
away or decline when you retire, and add whatever new ones you
anticipate.

Costs you can scratch off your list include work-related

expenses like commuting or lunches out, as well as the amount
youre socking away for retirement. You may also be able to
deduct your mortgage if you expect to have it paid off by retirement, and your kids college expenses. Your income taxes should
also be less.

On the other hand, some costs will probably go up when you

retire, like health care, and depending on your interests you may
spend a lot more on travel, golf or other hobbies. And, if youre
going to be retired for 20 or 30 years you also need to factor in
the occasional big budget items like a new roof, furnace or car.

Tally income

Step two is to calculate your retirement income. If you and/or

your wife contribute to Social Security, go tossa.gov/myaccountto get your personalized statement that estimates what your
retirement benefits will be at age 62, full retirement age and when
you turn 70.

In addition to Social Security, if you or your wife has a traditional pension plan from an employer, find out from the plan
administrator how much you are likely to get when you retire.
And, figure in any other income from other sources you expect to
have, such as rental properties, part-time work, etc.

Calculate the difference

The final step is to do the calculations. Subtract your annual

living expenses from your annual retirement income. If your
income alone can cover your bills, youre all set. If not, youll
need to tap your savings, including your 401(k) plans, IRAs, or
other investments to make up the difference.

So, lets say for example you need around $55,000 a year to
meet your living expenses and pay taxes, and you and your wife
expect to receive $30,000 a year from Social Security and other
income. That leaves a $25,000 shortfall that youll need to pull
from your nest egg each year ($55,000 $30,000 = $25,000).

Then, depending on what age you want to retire, you need to

multiply your shortfall by at least 25 if you want to retire at 60,
20 to retire at 65, and 17 to retire at 70 or in this case that
would equate to $625,000, $500,000 and $425,000, respectively.

Why 25, 20 and 17? Because that would allow you to pull 4
percent a year from your savings, which is a safe withdrawal
strategy that in most cases will let your money last as long as you
do.

If you need some help, theres a bevy of free online retirement

calculators to assist you, like the ones offered by T. Rowe Price
(troweprice.com/retirement) or Financial Mentor (financialmentor.com/calculator).

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443,
Norman, OK 73070, or visitSavvySenior.org.
February 2016

From boyhood fantasy to a lifelong

career, government trapper is...

Living
the
dream
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 Montanas vast outdoors to become a wildlife management specialist, or trapper,
for the federal government. It turns out it would become his way
of life, a career he has worked in for 30 years.
And there is nothing else that he would rather do.
Im living the dream, Brown said. Im one of those people
who like to go to work every day.

Early trapping

Browns 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 Forsyth.
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 Grays 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 college at Montana State University in Bozeman, earned a degree in
wildlife management, and then went to work for the federal government.
Today Brown is a wildlife specialist assistant district supervisor for his district, which covers 10,000 square miles in Custer,
Rosebud and Treasure counties. He and six other wildlife specialFebruary 2016

Federal trapper Alan Brown sits recently atop a rocky mound

near Kinsey in eastern Montana scanning for coyotes that
had, earlier that day, killed several ewes in a nearby flock. On
the cover, Brown is pictured in the same location.
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 dont have problems everywhere there is
just a lot of territory to cover, Brown said. I go where Im
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
Americans dont 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

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.
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 the
top 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 couldnt pay you enough
to do if you didnt want to do it but if you love what you are
doing, its worth it. I would do this forever if my body would let

me, he chuckled. I like the challenge of trying to get an offending 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 different 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 youre 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
See Living the dream, Page 21

Shown is a close-up of Browns rifle, a custom-built .260-caliber Remington. Brown said the 17-pound rifle is heavy but he
packs it around anyway because its very accurate. Recently, he shot a coyote at 734 yards with it. The rifle features a noise suppressor at the end. Brown has other rifles to choose from, but prefers the .260 for his go-to, long-range coyote rifle.
February 2016
7

Baking up a
storm in Winnett

Cafe owner featured in national food magazines

Story and photos by Deb Hill
Montana Best Times

Ellen Wood shows off a blueberry pie at her

Kozy Korner Kafe in Winnett, recently.

February 2016

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 thats 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 business 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, Ive tested tons of
bacon and ham, trying to find the best ingredients.
Im 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 consistently 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 magazine reporter called to schedule the interview,
Ellen said. I said something like, Ha ha, thats a
good one, and hung up on him. Twice. The third
time they got my husband, so thats how we ended

Ellen Wood works on a breakfast order at her

grill.
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 RoadFood 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.

Its 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 caf 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 dont like this genetically
altered fruit they have now. I tested some apples
that were altered so they look good no matter how
long theyve been on the shelf. They looked great,
but they were rotting from the inside out. It
shouldnt be like that. Theres 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 Ellens pies, both fruit and cream, are made
from scratch.
I dont use any premade pie filling. I use the
recipes in my old Betty Crocker cookbook. You
cant 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 caf, and sometimes misses important occasions, such as her 50th Winnett high school reunion.
Its a responsibility, having your own business.
You dont just close when you feel like it, Ellen said.
She also feels responsible to help local organizations, 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 something, Ellen said. My gift came from him, so as
long as the Good Lord wants me here, Ill be here.

EDITORS NOTE: Deb Hill is the managing editor

of the Lewistown News-Argus. She may be reached at
editor@lewistownnews.com or (406) 535-3401.

February 2016

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.

Not just any bull

Miles City Black Angus is an area rock star

By Ashley Roness

Montana Best Times

MILES CITY A few miles out of town lives Jobie the bull.
Jobie isnt 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. Morris cared for him like he was her own son, feeding and cleaning
him for his original owners. Years ago, she bought the bull from
them.
No one knows how long Jobie could live.
Ive been told that most bulls are killed by the time theyre
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
February 2016

10

Jobie is featured on various cards, both electronic and

paper. Here he stars on a birthday card.

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
Jobies photo. He won.
Morris continued to post photos and Jobies photo gallery was
born. You can find the gallery on www.RedBubble.com.
Her popular e-cards began in October 2007 with Jobies 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.
Hes 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 GrandmaLove,
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 eastern 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-today activities.
Its a great book for children but also for all ages! said
Morris.
The book was published in mid-August of 2012. It is available on Amazon. For information on the book, email JobieBAT@yahoo.com or call (406) 852-4787.

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 Montana evening.

Passing out cards

When Jobie isnt 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 Charlees
passing, the distribution of cards increased dramatically as a
memorial to her.
The cards became even more popular once Jobies and Morris friend Charlie Redman was in extended care, as Jobie would
send 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 doesnt 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 dont approve of violence, said Morris. I dont see the

world like everyone else.

EDITORS NOTE: Ashley Roness is a reporter at the Miles

City Star. She may be reached at mcsports@midrivers.com or
(406) 234-0450.
February 2016

11

MT Best Times photos by Bud Chenault

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

Something big in a small package

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 communitys go-to gathering and information place for just about everything.
Katy is the businesss very heartbeat.
February 2016

12

The road to Fishtail

Originally from southern California, Katy is a former teacher

who used her exercise physiology degree to design fitness programs for law enforcement and schools. She also ran a 24-hour
rape hotline, which is how she met Bill, a now-retired police officer 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 different, the couples 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.

He (the friend) said, Ill 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 success.

Katy still enjoys the many hours she spends onsite with their 12
employees.
This is exciting for me, she said.
Its always part of her life calling.
We are put on this earth to help each other, said Martin.

EDITORS NOTE: Marlo Pronovost is the managing editor

of the Stillwater County news. She may be reached at editor@
stillwatercountynews.com or (406) 322-5212.

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 persons 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 sandwiches, 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 dont forget camping supplies, veterinarian supplies, hardware, 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 sausage.
Its 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 annual
Halloween costume party for kids that is wildly popular.
While Bills health no longer allows him to be in the store,

Above: Katy Martin stands at the counter of her Fishtail General Store recently.
Below: Merchandise of every kind is available at the store.

February 2016

13

Travel

Photo courtesy Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill/TNS

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

Get your hands dirty on a vacation to

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

By Kathy Witt

KathyWitt.com/TNS

For more and more people, getting away from it all isnt 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 Believers in Christs 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 challenged 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 candlelight 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 creatures 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
February 2016
14

designed to spark curiosity and inspire discovery.

You dont 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 bluegrass wagon tours, architecture tours, wilderness first aid certification because of its ever-expanding roster of experientialbased 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 of
distinct, 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 Discoverys 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 adventurous 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.

Affiliation with the worlds 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

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.

Daily Adventures at Shaker Village include visits to working

artist studios and the bird blind, staff-led tours, excursions aboard
the sternwheeler, Dixie Belle, musical entertainment, woodworking demos, perhaps sowing seeds in the garden. Discovery Treks,
built on Shaker lessons of community, sustainability and ingenuity and created to offer guests more in-depth, interactive experiences, include Paddle + Yoga Weekends, Intro to Beekeeping and
other workshops, and Family Explorer Programs like archaeology
digs and learning to become an animal tracker.
Weve been offering introductory workshops for some time,
but were 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 key
staff 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 Adventures Dining Series, the springtime Chamber Music Festival of
the Bluegrass and Well-CraftedBrews + Band, a summer celebration of local musicians and craft beer.
Experiencing all of Shaker Village means spending the night
where the Shakers once slept. Guestrooms, suites and private cottages 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 menus
celebrate Shaker Villages 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

Great News for Seniors 62 yrs of Age & Older!

COMFORTABLE & AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS
Accepting Applications for Independent Seniors

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

Rent Based on Income, HUD 202 PRAC
Live On-Site Community Administrator
Free Laundry On-Site Parking
Mailboxes on Premises
Electric, Gas, Water, Sewer, & Trash
Included in Rent
Community Room Available for Social
Gatherings & Meetings

February 2016

15

y
k
S
g
Bi
Birding
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 Montanas most experienced birders.

How the Water Ouzel became the American Dipper

EDITORS NOTE:
Montana Best Times
has been featuring
some of the fascinating adventures Terry
McEneaney had
when he was Yellowstone National Parks
ornithologist. Following is another
excerpt from a new book he is writing,
Lucky Feathers: Adventures and Experiences 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. What
gives? 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 ornithology, namely the Old World such as western 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 earlier
perhaps, 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 scienFebruary 2016

16

Photo by Terry McEneaney

Two American Dippers pause on rocks in a mountain stream.

tist by the name of Carl Linnaeus published Systema Naturae in 1758. In this
significant publication, the term binomial
nomenclature was born. Rather than
referring to species by their confusing
common name, Linnaeus developed a formal, primarily Latin scientific system of
naming species of living things by giving
each a name composed of generic and specific epithet, hence the term binomial,
meaning two names(genus and species). 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 carcass collected for reference) taken from
his home country of Sweden. So the first
water ouzel ever described was given
the scientific name Sturnella cinclus. Linnaeus took an educated guess and felt this
bird was closely related to the starlings
(current day Sturnelidae), and an unfamiliar group of birds he termed cinclus or
kinklos (current day Cinclidae) in reference to their bobbing/dipping behavior
near fast-moving water. It was about this

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 family tree, moving them from the genus Sturnella (starlings) to Turdus (Turdidae thrushes). But besides the bobbing behavior, overall 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 William 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 hedgerows). 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 currently situated in a family tree closely related to thrushes, wrens
and starlings.
The beginning of American ornithology can be traced to America 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, collecting, painting and securing subscriptions for his work, the ninevolume classic titled American Ornithology (18081814). 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 (Cinclus pallasii), today known as the Brown Dipper. The bird illustrated 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 wasnt until 1827 when the American Dipper was first
scientifically described by William Swainson from a type specimen taken from Temascaltepec, Mexico (just west of Mexico
City), and hence the binomial scientific name, Cinclus mexicanus.
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 in
my 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.

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

Travel, from Page 14

In addition to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, these three properties 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, a
higher 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 foodstuff with themed Fresh Food Adventures, like the four-course
bourbon dinner, featuring Kentuckys Four Roses bourbon,
planned for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 12.

Pleasant Hill, its Everyday Adventures, Discovery Treks and Signature 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.

INFORMATION

For more information about programming at Shaker Village of

February 2016

17

On The Menu

With Jim Durfey

Cold confessions of a real wuss

When you glance at the photo of your Best

Times recipe contributor at the right, you
might think hes a normal human being.
Far from it. I confess that I have an abnormal fear of being cold.
The cold didnt seem to bother me when
I was younger. But now that Im in the autumn 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 uncomfortably cold is inevitable from time to time.

But Ive 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 perfect 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.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 large boneless, skinless chicken
breast halves
3.5 c. chunky salsa
3.5 c. chicken broth
1.5 tbsp. taco seasoning
1.5 c. frozen corn kernels
15 oz. can black beans, drained
Your choice: strips of toasted tortillas
or crushed tortilla chips

Combine all ingredients, except chicken and tortilla chips in a six quart slow
cooker 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 after
allowing moisture to drip off. Using two forks, gently break apart chicken
breasts to shred.
Add shredded chicken back to slow cooker and cook on low for one and a
half hours.
Have guests sprinkle crushed tortilla chips or toasted strips over top of soup.

Chicken Avocado Soup

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken
breasts
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 c. green onions, sliced thinly
1 jalapeo pepper, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
32 oz. chicken broth
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. kosher salt or to taste
1/3 c. cilantro, chopped
3 tbsp. fresh lime juice
2 large avocados, pits and skins
removed
1 Roma tomato, diced, or red salsa
for topping
Tortilla chips, Monterey jack cheese,
sour cream for serving (optional)
February 2016

18

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat.

Add onions, jalapeo and garlic. Saute about two minutes until onion has
started to soften.
Add chicken breasts, cumin and chicken broth. Cover pan. Let simmer until
chicken is cooked through, 10-15 minutes.
Remove chicken from saucepan and shred into smaller pieces when it has
cooled enough to handle using two forks.
In glass blender jar puree cilantro and half of the avocados with a portion of
broth 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 firmly
in place. This will prevent pressure from building up in the blender which might
cause the lid to blow off and make a mess in the kitchen. Or use an immersion
blender 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, salsa
or fresh tomato, additional chopped chile peppers, etc.

2016

February
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, Livingston 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 the
Early 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, Eastern
Plains Event Center, Glendive

 Saturday, February 13
Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Emerson Center Ballroom, 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

 Saturday, February 20
Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Emerson Center Ballroom, 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

 Saturday, February 27
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
Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Emerson Center Ballroom, Bozeman
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
Winter Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Emerson Center Ballroom, Bozeman
United in Light Draft Horse Sanctuary, 10 a.m., Paradise Valley, Livingston
Winter Carnival, Red Lodge Mountain Resort, Red Lodge
February 2016

19

RSVP

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

Custer & Rosebud counties

- AARP Tax Assistance program: Volunteers needed.

- CCDHS Wrestling Tournament: Needs
volunteers to sign up to help.
- CNADA: Needs a volunteer to answer
phones and other receptionist duties. You
choose the hours and days.
- Clinic Ambassador: Need volunteer to
greet patients and visitors, providing directions and more, two locations.
- Custer County Council on Aging: Volunteer commodities clerk needed.
- Custer County Food Bank: Volunteer
assistants needed for 8 a.m-1:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, to process
donations, stock shelves and more.
- DAV van: Drivers needed to provide
transportation to veterans to medical
appointments.
- Eagles Manor: Volunteer exercise class
leader needed, 1-2 days a week, you pick
the days and the exercise for residents.
- Historic Miles City Academy: Urgently
need volunteers at the thrift store and in
other ways.
- Miles City Soup Kitchen: Desperately
seeking servers and greeters Monday-Friday; pick a day of the week you would like
to serve.
- RSVP: Call if youd like to bring cookies on March 10 needed for the Annual
RSVP soup supper.
- Relay for Life: Person to pop popcorn
needed 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 packet
available at VA Activities Directors Office.
- WaterWorks Art Museum: Volunteer
receptionists needed, two-hour shifts TuesSun; a volunteer also needed in cataloging
the art collection, one to assist with historic
research of the permanent art collection,
and a volunteer to assist in kids classes
when scheduled.
If you are interested in these or other volunteer opportunities please contact: Betty
Vail, RSVP Director; 210 Winchester Ave.
#413, Miles City, MT 59301; phone (406)
234-0505; email: rsvp05@midrivers.com.

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):
February 2016
20

Volunteers are needed to help any week

mornings as well as with deliveries.
- Council on Aging: Volunteers needed to
assist at the daily Grubstakes meal and with
clerical help during the busy lunch hour.
- Library: Volunteer help appreciated.
- Office of Veterans Affairs: Seeking clerical support.
- ROWL (Recycle Our Waste Lewistown): Looking for volunteers to join teams
baling recyclables.
- Treasure Depot: Thrift store needs volunteers to sort, hang clothes and put other
items on display for sale.
- RSVP always has various needs for
your skills and volunteer services in our
community.
Contact: RSVP Volunteer Coordinator
Sara Wald, 404 W. Broadway, Wells Fargo
Bank building, (upstairs), Lewistown, MT
59457; phone (406) 535-0077; email: rsvplew@midrivers.com.

Gallatin County

- American Cancer Society-Road to

Recovery: Drivers needed for patients
receiving treatments from home to hospital.
- American Red Cross Blood Drive: Two
volunteer opportunities available: an
ambassador needed to welcome, greet,
thank and provide overview for blood
donors; and phone team volunteers needed
to remind, recruit or thank blood donors.
Excellent customer service skills needed,
training will be provided, flexible schedule.
- Befrienders: Befriend a senior; visit on
a regular weekly basis.
- Belgrade Senior Center: Meals on
Wheels need regular and substitute drivers
to deliver meals to seniors before noon,
Monday-Friday.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Be a positive
role model for only a few hours each week.
- Bozeman and Belgrade Sacks Thrift
Stores: Need volunteers 2-3 hour shifts on
any day,Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Bozeman Deaconess Hospital: Volunteers needed for the information desks in
the Atrium and the Perk,8 a.m.-noon
andnoon-4 p.m.
- Bozeman Senior Center Foot Clinic:
Retired or nearly retired nurses are urgently
needed, two days a month, either four- or
eight-hour shifts.
- Bozeman Symphony: Need volunteer
greeters, ushers, set up, and musician treats.
- Bozeman Symphony Sunday Matinees:Need volunteer head of concessions,
must be able to stand for long times and
able to lift no more than 50 pounds.
- Cancer Support Community: Volunteer
receptionist needed for the last two Tuesdays of the month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.The position would be shared with another volun-

teer so there could be flexibility in how the

Tues are divided.
- Galavan: Volunteer drivers neededMonday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.CDL
required and Galavan will assist you in
obtaining one. Volunteers also needed to
make reminder calls and confirm rides for
the following day. Volunteers also needed
for morning dispatch.These responsibilities
include receiving phone calls/messages and
getting info from clients and facilitating the
transfer of info to staff as required.
- Gallatin Rest Home: Volunteers wanted
for visiting the residents, sharing your
knowledge of a craft, playing cards or reading to a resident.
- Gallatin Valley Food Bank: Volunteers
needed to deliver commodities to seniors in
their homes once a month. Deliveries in
Belgrade are especially needed.
- HRDC Housing Department Ready to
Rent: Curriculum for families and individuals who have rental barriers such as lack of
poor rental history, property upkeep, renter
responsibilities, landlord/tenant communication and financial priorities.
- Habitat for Humanity Restore: Belgrade
store needs volunteers for general help,
sorting donations and assisting customers.
- Heart of The Valley: Compassionate
volunteers especially needed to love, play
with and cuddle cats.
- Help Center: Computer literate volunteer
interested in entering data into a social services database. Also volunteers needed to
make phone calls to different agencies/programs to make sure database is up to date and
make safety calls to home bound seniors.
- Jessie Wilber Gallery at The Emerson:
Volunteers needed on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to greet people at the
main desk, answer questions and keep track
of visitors.
- Museum of the Rockies: Variety of
opportunities available such as helping in
the gift shop and more.
- RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to quilt,
knit, crochet and embroider hats for chemo
patients, baby blankets and other handmade
goods once a week (can work from home).
Items are on sale in our store in the RSVP
office at the Senior Center. *Donated yarn
needed for the quilting, knitting and crocheting projects.
- Seniors: You may qualify for $192$600 a years for grocery and food assistance. Call Mary at 333-2537 or 333-2883.
-Three Forks Food Bank:Volunteer
needed on Mondays and/orThursdaysto
help with administrative duties, including
answer phones and questions, some paper
and computer work. They will train.
- Warming Center: Volunteers needed for
a variety of different shifts, 7 p.m.-7 a.m.;

training held every Tuesday at the Warming

Center.Please call for more information.
- Your unique skills and interests are
needed, without making a long-term commitment, in a variety of ongoing, special,
one-time events.
Contact: Debi Casagranda, RSVP Program Coordinator, 807 N. Tracy, Bozeman, MT 59715; phone (406) 587-5444;
fax (406) 582 8499; email: dcasagranda@
thehrdc.org

Musselshell, Golden Valley

& Petroleum counties

- TAX-AIDE: Seeking volunteers to help

process income tax returns for Seniors and
low income families. A short training is
provided. The schedule for volunteeringis
flexible for this position. This is a very
important service to our community.
- Central Grade School: Needs volunteer
tutors to encourage children with their
reading skills in the America Reads program. Also volunteers needed to assist
younger students with lunch, clear tables
and serve from the salad bar.
- Drama Camp: Volunteers needed for
positions of director and assistant director.
- Food Bank: Distribute food commodities to seniors and others in the community; help unload the truck as needed.
- 4-H Fair: Volunteers needed to sit at
the table in the art building.
- Nursing Home: Pianoplayers and
singers neededon Fridays to entertain residents, alsoassistant needed in activities
for residents to enrich supported lifestyle.
- RIDE: Volunteers needed for selling
tickets at the night shows.
- Senior Bus: Volunteers to pickup folks
who are unable to drive themselves.

- Senior Center: Volunteers are needed

to provide meals, clean up in the dining
room and/or keep records; meal provided.
- The Trade Show: Volunteers needed to
serve at door prize table.
- Dinner Theater: Volunteers needed for
cooking and serving the meal.
- RSVP offers maximum flexibility and
choice to its volunteers as it matches the
personal interests and skills of older
Americans with opportunities to serve
their communities. You choose how and
where to serve. Volunteering is an opportunity to learn new skills, make friends
and connect with your community.
Contact: Shelley Halvorson, South Central MT RSVP, 315 1/2 Main St., Ste. #1,
Roundup, MT 59072; phone (406) 3231403; fax (406) 323-4403; email:
rdprsvp2@midrivers.com ; Facebook:
South Central MT RSVP.

Park County

- American Cancer Society: Needs drivers to transport locals to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital for cancer treatments.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Mentor and
positive role models to a boy or girl needed one hour or more a week.
- Fix-It-Brigade: Needs volunteers of all
ages and skill levels for two-hour tasks, on
your schedule, to help seniors or veterans
with small home repairs and chores, such
as changing a light bulb, mending a fence,
shoveling snow.
- Links for Learning: Requesting volunteers to sit after school 3:45 to 5 p.m. at
any one of the three elementary schools to
listen to children read. No experience necessary.
- Loaves and Fishes:Volunteers needed
to prepare dinner meals.

- Main Streeter Thrift Store: Someone

who enjoys working with the public, greet
customers, label and hang clothes and
accept donations. Volunteer 4 hours a week
and get 50 percent off your purchases.
- Meals on Wheels: Always need substitute drivers to deliver meals to seniors in
their home.
- RSVP: Has many one-time events,
including mailings and fund-raising events
that require volunteers. Your unique skills
and interests are needed, without making a
long-term commitment, in a variety of ongoing and special one-time events.
- RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to knit
and crochet caps and scarves for each
child at Head Start this winter, also as gifts
for children of prenatal classes, and baby
hats and afghans for the hospital newborns; Sewers needed to make simple pillowcases for our soldiers overseas, Thursday, 1-2 p.m. at the Senior Center.
- Senior Center: Need volunteers, Tuesdays, 1 p.m., to cut unsold clothing into
rags to be sold for proceeds to the center.
- Seniors: You may qualify for $192$600 a years for grocery and food assistance. Call Mary at 333-2537 or 333-2883.
- Stafford Animal Shelter: Kindhearted
volunteers needed to socialize cats and kittens, and to walk the dogs.
- Transportation: Drivers needed to help
patients keep their doctor appointment in
Livingston and Bozeman. Some gas reimbursement 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 Coordinator, 111 So. 2nd St., Livingston, MT
59047; phone (406) 222-2281; email: debdowns@rsvpmt.org.

Living the dream, from Page 7

their numbers down, he explained. We usually only have one or
two doing the damage and those are the ones we have to target.
Predators that are collected are not wasted, either. A field sample 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 with
rabies and tularemia, which can then be transmitted to other animals and even humans. Coyotes can also be infested with numerous parasites, including mites, ticks, fleas, and worms.

Changes, and staying on

Brown 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 specialists.
The change he sees that is most disturbing, though, is the lack
of interest in trapping from the younger generation.
(Trapping is) sort of a dying art, Brown said of his work.
We dont have a lot of young people interested anymore.
Also, with fur prices so low in todays economy, Brown said
there arent a lot of people trapping anymore like there was when

he first started and with federal trappers longevity, there

arent a lot of positions in wildlife management services for
younger generations to apply.
There isnt a lot of turnover in this job, he said. When you
get the job, you kind of make a career out of it.
Brown doesnt see an end any time soon to living his dream,
regardless of age. His whole life is planned around the lifestyle.
Its been a good occupation and I am going to keep doing it as
long as I can, he said. If I retired I would still be doing the
same thing. With this type of job, its your life. Even on my vacation I hiked back 17 miles into the Beartooth Mountains to hunt
mountain goats. I take my vacation time to go hunting its
what I do.
Regardless of whether he continues to work for the government
or 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 trapper.

EDITORS NOTE: Chaun Scott is the managing editor of the

Independent Press. Reach her at ip-news@rangeweb.net or 406346-2149.
February 2016
21

By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.

Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at strangetrue@cs.com

Do we sneeze
during sleep?
Q. Why dont 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 (rapid-eye-movement). During this stage of sleep, movement messages
are likely to shut down as partial paralysis sets in, preventing sleepers 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 necessary, REM atonia ceases and the person wakes up before sneezing.
Adds the UKs Ron Pursell: I do sneeze during my sleep, frequently 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 awakened.
Ergo: No (generally) to sneezing during REM sleep, but Yes during non-REM, so long as theres 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 Oxfords 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 acquaintances 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
February 2016

22

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 Diegos 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 later
at night.
As youve probably observed, peoples circadian rhythms
change over time, with babies waking at dawn but teens struggling to get out of bed by noon. As adults get older, mornings
usually get easier. Genetics plays a key role here: In 2012, scientists discovered a single nucleotide near a gene called Period 1
that determines whether youre 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 ubiquitous devices (think smart phones and laptops), are produced in
staggering quantity. In 2014 alone, the worlds semiconductor
production facilities made about 250 billion billion of them (25
followed by 19 zeros), observes Dan Hutcheson in IEEE Spectrum magazine. Thats nearly a billion times the number of stars
in our Milky Way galaxy and approaches the number of grains of
sand on all the worlds beaches. And the output is growing exponentially. Indeed, more transistors were made in 2014 than in all
the years prior to 2011.

Regarding the electronics revolution, Hutcheson concludes:

For decades, manufacturing innovation and simple miniaturization have enabled engineers to pack more capability into the same
area of silicon... It has been the ever-rising tide that has not only
lifted all boats but also enabled us to make entirely new and fantastic 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

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Crossword

Across
1 Directive to a dealer
6 Adds liberally
13 Sustain
15 Apple bug?
16 Strength in numbers?
18 Blubber
19 What "this love is," in a
Taylor Swift title
20 Shades go-with
21 Shepherd's dishes?
24 Fruit trees
25 __ cut: fabric design technique
26 Birch of Indiana
28 Unkempt abode
29 Umbrian tourist town
32 Salisbury smooch
34 Beats the rap
40 __ Accords: Israel/PLO
agreements
41 Acorn bearer
42 Ad follower
45 Some 55-Across works
47 Smidge
48 Mocks
50 Blockers' targets
53 Dodges
55 Joan of art

56 __ Dome: Lucas Oil Stadium predecessor

58 Best Actress the year
before Kate Winslet
61 Dizzy with delight
62 Neptune, e.g.
63 Gently passes
64 Simmers
Down
1 Drill cadence syllables
2 Swear words
3 "If I Can't
Love Her" singer,
in a 1994 musical
4 Hip
5 Literature
Nobelist who won
two posthumous
Tony Awards
6 __ lane
7 Spanish 101
word
8 Vitalize
9 Calls or cells
10 "Like I care"
11 Kevin of
"Shark Tank"
12 "Drat!"

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

A. For the sake of science, Olav Oftedal of the Smithsonian
Environmental Resources Center has milked bats, bears and hundreds of naked mole-rat queens, notes Susan Milius of Science
News magazine. The mole rats were especially intriguing in that
unlike nearly every other mammal on earth, the burdens of
reproduction and milk feeding of young are placed solely on a
single queen and are not shared among the females of the colony
(Smithsonian Science). Amazingly, a colonys top female can
give birth to more than 900 offspring in a lifetime, meeting their
nursing needs by producing about half of her body weight in
milk each day!
Studying the naked mole rats milk fascinated both Oftedal and
Wendy Hood of Auburn University, who determined that in both
fat and water content it is close to that of cows and human breast
milk at 3-5 percent, yet it is far skinnier than that of house mice
at 27 percent and blue whales at 41 percent. Rhinos have virtually
fat-free milk. And some seal milks top 60 percent fat, meaning
that theyre something like four times richer than Ben & Jerrys
ice cream, Hood says.
And no, she did not sip the milk samples out of curiosity: If I
were to taste it, that would be that much less wed have to analyze.
Q. A not-so-sobering question: Have you ever drunk the
Angels Share?
A. Simply put, no, since thats what distillers call the approximate 2 percent of alcohol in a cask that evaporates each year,
reports Mental Floss magazine. This figures to about 50 million
liters (53 million quarts) of scotch literally gone with the wind.

14 Support spec of a sort

15 Really enlightened
17 Salt Lake daily
22 Sale warning
23 Harmonize
25 Snare
27 Shooter's target
30 Jack of "Barney Miller"
31 Logician's words
33 Sporty VW
35 Cheeky
36 From 2009 through Sep.

2015, it paid $143 billion in

dividends to the U.S. Treasury
37 Concern for some bodybuilders
38 Issues a mea culpa
39 Squeak (out)
42 Museo de la Revolucin city
43 "Ring Cycle" quartet
44 Color similar to crimson
46 Narrow shore point
48 Portrayer of Django & Ray
49 Throws below
51 "Gunfight at the
O.K. Corral" screenwriter
52 Spherical extremities
54 Snoot
57 Tosses in
59 Playing hard to get
60 Pull-up beneficiary,
briefly

February 2016

23

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