THE LOCAL NEWS OF THE MADISON VALLEY, RUBY VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS Montana’s Oldest Publishing Weekly Newspaper. Established 1873 75¢ | Volume 143, Issue 12 www.madisoniannews.com January 15, 2015 T REASURES OF THE T REASURE STAT E A NEW HOME Fifty-two bighorn sheep are relocated to the Wolf Creek drainage in the Madison Mountain Range Abigail Dennis stated. “A mix of rams, ewes The Madisonian and lambs were brought by a [email protected] trailer … to the Wolf Creek area, once a winter home to a The morning of Jan. native population of bighorns.” 6, Montana Fish, Wildlife Wolf Creek was prioritized and Parks crews and mul- as a good spot for the reloca- tiple volunteers gathered near tion because it was historically Raynold’s Pass in the south bighorn sheep range, Julie Madison Valley to capture Cunningham, FWP region bighorn sheep from a herd three biologist, explained. that lives in the Quake Lake The reintroduction is mul- area and relocated them ap- tiple years in the making – last proximately 15 miles north year, the FWP planned to cap- to the Wolf Creek drainage. ture sheep, but found evidence Abigail Dennis/The Madisonian “(The relocation) could of pneumonia in the herd. Cun- During the summer, Virginia City and Nevada City are packed with tourists – Montanans and out of staters visit the towns. not have been better,” said ningham said bighorn sheep volunteer Kathy Coontz. are very susceptible to illness, “We had no issues and it so the capture and relocation Virginia City, Nevada City produce went like it was scripted.” was postponed to give the herd Coontz is a member of time to recover, which it did. the Rising Sun Estates Ho- “As homeowners and $62.2 million for state meowners Association, non-biologists, we couldn’t which is a group of ap- have been more impressed,” while people pass through on interests across the state. proximately 50 landown- Coontz said. “We got to The towns are important the way to Virginia City. The The towns are more than ers who live near the Wolf be really involved and it towns are a huge economic an important piece of Mon- Creek drainage. The FWP was very hands on.” pieces of Montana history, benefit to all of Southwest tana’s history, however. In relocated the sheep through When the sheep were Montana and that resonates late 2014, the Northern Rocky the Rising Sun Estates. released, they did exactly but also economic drivers to the state as a whole.” Mountain Economic Devel- According to a press what Coontz said every- Since Virginia City and opment District completed release from the FWP, a large one hoped they would do. Abigail Dennis “(The towns) are by far Nevada City are state-owned an economic impact analysis drop-net was used to confine “They started up the hill The Madisonian the biggest historic attraction attractions, they are man- about how the towns finan- the animals. Then, teams and stopped to munch,” she [email protected] in Montana,” said Rep. Jeff aged by the Montana Heritage cially impact Madison County of two and three worked to said. “They were just brows- Welborn, R-Dillon. “More Commission, which is led and the state as a whole. capture and test individual ing their way up the hill. The popular tourist des- people stop there than at all by executive director Elijah The findings, which Allen bighorns before they were They’ve gone exactly where tination of Virginia City and other historic sites in the state Allen. Allen works with the says are “conservative,” show prepared for transport. we wanted them to go.” Nevada City benefit Montana’s combined. Those are dollars heritage commission board, the towns produce $62.2 mil- “Ten of the bighorns were According to the FWP, economy, and this year the that get dropped off in Dil- made up of 14 commission- lion statewide – $37.7 mil- fitted with radio collars to Cunningham said, “future 2015 legislature has a few bills lon, Sheridan, Ennis and all ers who represent various Turn to VC/NC on pg. 2 enable biologists to monitor transplants may be necessary that may impact the towns. the way through that corridor herd movement,” the release to augment the population.” Twin Bridges discusses school safety at special board meeting juvenile probation officer Sam Community members gather to Stockett said he may be attend- ing regular classes at the start of talk about school safety with the next semester, which is Jan. 20 “Nothing is completely set in board and administration stone,” Stockett said. “We fore- see him attending regular class- Abigail Dennis questions about school safety. es starting next semester. He The Madisonian The questions stem from the will be accompanied by an aid, [email protected] fact that the former Harrison he will have to leave his back- high school student who brought pack and coat at the office and The Twin Bridges school two guns to the Harrison School he will not be issued a locker.” board and school superintendent nearly two years ago on Jan. 25, The school’s safety commit- Chad Johnson hosted a special 2013, and made more threats tee – made up of staff, office school board meeting on Jan. toward the school in a Facebook personnel, teachers and the 8 to discuss a school safety message thread between Jan. 5 administration – identified a few areas the school could improve Abigail Dennis/The Madisonian plan. The meeting was held and 14, 2014, now lives in Twin The Twin Bridges school board and administration host a special meeting with parents and community members at the request of parents and Bridges. The student is cur- to discuss school safety plans. community members, who had rently educated off-site, though Turn to SAFETY on pg. 2 A farewell to Schenk and hello to Thompson Roger Thompson Long-time Madison County Sheriff Dave Schenk leaves the office and new Sheriff Roger Thompson takes the reins Abigail Dennis respect in the community,” Schenk and Thompson The Madisonian Schenk said. “It took patience worked together for approxi- [email protected] to unify the department.” mately 10 years before Thomp- The current department son was elected sheriff and took When former Madison is staffed with excellent per- over the reins of the department. County Sheriff Dave Schenk sonnel and the community “(Thompson’s) familiarity was elected to office in 2003, he responds positively to county with the department is great,” had a long road ahead of him. law enforcement, Schenk said. Schenk said, explaining why A former highway patrolman Schenk made the deci- he believes Thompson will for nearly 30 years, Schenk sion not to run for re-election take on the role of sheriff with immediately had the task of in 2014 – instead, Schenk’s ease. “He was part of all of this bringing his staff together undersheriff, Roger Thompson, for the last 10 years and his toward a common mission. ran unopposed. Thompson took Turn to SHERIFF on pg. 2 Dave Schenk “It took time to develop the role of sheriff on Jan. 1. Banking YOUR Way - When YOU Want it TABLE OF CONTENTS Local News-----------------A3 Columns-------------------B3 BillPay @ www.rubyvalleybank.com Opinions, Obits-----------A4 Comics/Games----------- B4 Sports-----------------------A6 Classifieds/ WebStatements Member Lifestyle---------------------B1 Public Notices---------B5-B6 FDIC Visa® Check Card Health & Wellness -------B2 Calendar-------------------B8 P.O. Box 417 • Twin Bridges, MT P.O. Box 587 • Sheridan, MT 24 Hour Better Banking @ 888-842-5121 59754 59749 Visit us online at (406) 684-5678 (406) 842-5411 www.madisoniannews.com A2 Thursday, January 15, 2015 VC/NC from pg. 1 remarks resulting in proposed Welborn said Virginia City “I believe we need to fund lion of that goes to Madison legislation that will help in the and Nevada City are “obvi- the assets we have first and Conforming Mortgage Fixed Rates County. For every dollar the preservation and repairs of the ous fixes,” because they are foremost before we buy more historic sites it manages,” said historic sites that also ben- and acquire more,” she said. “We 30 Years - .000% Points state invested in the towns, they got a return of $48, which is a MHC commission chairperson efit Montana’s economy. need to take care of what we % Rate % APR 3.625 3.720 4,700 percent return on invest- Marilyn Ross. “This will transfer “We need to protect them own with an honest funding plan 15 Years - .000% Points ment, according to Allen. to preserving Montana’s heritage for future generations,” Wel- every year and that’s not what and increase tourism visitations, born said. “There’s also a huge HB5 is. It is one-time funding Rate APR That $48 is distributed 2.875% 3.042% statewide, Allen said, and which will benefit local Madison safety factor. Those buildings with no guarantee it will be in County businesses and create keep falling into disrepair and the Governor’s budget again.” Rates subject to change without notice, APR calculation is based on a $200,000.00 loan amount with a 1% includes what the hotel industry, loan origination fee, $295.00 document processing fee, Mers fee $11.95, $15.00 flood determination fee, $4.00 more jobs for Montanans.” the state will have a huge li- Senate Bill 64 also focuses transcript fee, 15 days of prepaid interest and *discount point fee as stated above. restaurants, retail shops and more make from the visitors. For example, House Bill ability situation. We’re running on the MHC. Since the com- The state has owned the 5, also known as the Gover- the risk of costing the state big mission was created 17 years If you haven’t enrolled for towns since 1997, when it nor’s bill, proposes $4 mil- dollars in litigation, and we’d ago when the state purchased purchased them from Charles lion in infrastructure for have to repair the buildings at the towns, Ross said it is time E-Statement delivery, the time is now.