THURSDAYTHURSDAY lonepeaklookout.com DecemberJuly 19, 201831, 2020 FREEFREE VolumeVolume 3, Issue1, Issue 55 33 BigBig Sky, Sky, LONELONE PEAKPEAK LOOKOUTLOOKOUT MontanaMontana Year in Review As the sun sets on 2020, the Lone Peak Lookout wishes you all the best as we head into 2021. Enjoy the special “Year in Review” edition we have crafted and have a happy, healthy and safe New Year. PHOTO BY JOLENE PALMER BY JOLENE PHOTO Another piece of the puzzle in fight against coronavirus BIG SKY MEDICAL CENTER STAFF RECEIVE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND REsoRT TAX MAKES moVES FOR CARES ACT REImbURSEMENT By JANA BOUNDS “We are just trying to get reim- [email protected] bursed for what we think is a fair request of CARES Act dollars, ig Sky Medical Center testing certainly seems to qualify,” received 100 doses of the Big Sky Resort Area Executive Moderna COVID-19 vac- Director Daniel Bierschwale said of cine on December 23. the $750,000 of Resort Tax funding B This allotment will be enough to used to launch the community immunize all Big Sky Medical Cen- surveillance testing. ter employees who want to and are Earlier in the year, Resort Tax able to be immunized at this time, wrote a letter to the congressional Bozeman Health Marketing and delegation to endorse increasing Communications System Director testing supplies for Montana. Lauren Brendel explained. “We requested supplies and finan- It is one piece of the puzzle as the cial support and in order to move Thea Larson, BSMC nurse, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Christy Fletcher, BSMC Family Medicine nurse, receives the Moderna community strives to protect the this program forward we needed to to Ody Loomis, BSMC emergency department nurse. Ody was our first COVID-19 vaccine from BSMC nurse Michelle Geppert. PHOTO populace from the disease as much commit our dollars to make things nurse to have received the COVID-19 vaccine. PHOTO COURTESY COURTESY BOZEMAN HEALTH as possible. happen. We are simply seeking BOZEMAN HEALTH “The CDC (Centers for Disease reimbursement of those dollars,” Control) estimates that more than he said. 50% of all infections are transmit- According to data from the state ted from people who are not exhib- website, $1.25 billion Cares Act dol- iting symptoms,” a Big Sky Relief lars allocated to the state through update stated. Beginning Jan. 4, the the federal program, Gallatin free asymptomatic COVID-19 tests County has received the most thus can be picked-up and dropped off far from Montana Coronavirus at the old American Bank building Relief Grant Awards: around $97.7 located at 1700 Lone Mountain million, followed by Yellowstone Trail. County with close to $96.5 million Big Sky Resort Area District and Missoula County with around (Resort Tax) recently submitted an $95.8 million. Madison County has official request for a local govern- received $4.6 million, placing it in ment services reimbursement from the lower third of allocated dollars the state through Madison County of Montana counties. Kelly Reynolds, BSMC nursing supervisor, receives the Moderna Board of Commissioners, which BSMC pharmacist Wendy Rogers prepares a Moderna COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine from Thea Larson, BSMC nurse. PHOTO unanimously approved endorsing it. vaccine for injection. PHOTO COURTESY BOZEMAN HEALTH COURTESY BOZEMAN HEALTH LONE PEAK LOOKOUT A2 December 31, 2020 Year in Big Sky, LONELONE PEAK PEAK LOOKOUT LOOKOUT MontanaReview News... Trading snow for sunshine; Established in 1982 Farewell to the BIG SKY, MONTANA Fire Chief and Big Sky’s first Editor: Cori Koenig attorney: Big Sky Fire Department (BSFD) Chief Publishers: Susanne Hill & Erin Leonard William Farhat and his wife attorney Mindy Cummings Advertising/Sales Rep.: Susanne Hill • 406.596.0661, are now enjoying the Florida [email protected] sunshine. Story by Jana Bounds, photos courtesy of Mindy Erin Leonard • 406.570.0254, [email protected] Cummings and William Farhat Reporter: Jana Bounds, [email protected] (Jan. 16) Staff Writer/Customer Service: Keely Larson [email protected], 406.465.2937 Designer: Christine Dubbs Editorial Policy Guest editorials are intended to acquaint our readers with different viewpoints on matters of public importance. Guest editorials and letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Poop Chute lives editor or the staff of Lone Peak Lookout. up to its name; Sanitary sewer Press Release Policy overflow • Lone Peak Lookout staff will give all press releases full occurs on consideration, but ultimately retains the authority to popular ski trail: determine whether or not to publish releases. In a degree of irony, a sanitary • Content must be factual and objective. sewer overflow occurred on what old timers of Big Sky • Lone Peak Lookout may edit submissions for grammar affectionately call the Poop and content. Chute ski trail. Construction • Lone Peak Lookout reserves the right to make all debris blocked the sewer determinations relative to the above policy. pipe. With the large diameter of the PVC pipe and lack of Letters to the Editor Policy construction using that size pipe in the area for a long Lone Peak Lookout encourages the opinions of readers on time, BSCWSD wastewater public issues and matters of local concern. Letters must superintendent Grant Burroughs be close to 350 words. Please include the writer’s name, believes the sewer pipe may have address, email and phone number. These letters do not been partially blocked for years. necessarily reflect the opinion of Lone Peak Lookout staff Some of the debris likely caught and we reserve the right to edit content for grammar, good some extra debris and then it taste and libel. We also reserve the right to reject or delay overflowed, he said. Story by publications. Jana Bounds, photos courtesy of BSCWSD. (March 3) Display & Classified Advertising Policy Lone Peak Lookout accepts most advertising, but makes final determination on placement and content acceptability. Coronavirus: do The advertisements in this publication are not necessarily not panic and be the opinion of or supported by Lone Peak Lookout. Please kind; Gallatin note: Our client information is confidential. County had first two coronavirus Subscription Rates cases: Local events were Lone Peak Lookout is a complimentary publication, postponed or canceled, from available at newsstands around the area. The following the Big Sky County Water subscriptions are also available if you’d like us to send it to and Sewer District board you each week: meeting to the remaining two • In-State — $35/1 year or $60/2 years winter season Warren Miller Performing Arts Center shows • Out-of-State — $45/1 year or $75/2 years (e-edition to the 40th Annual Pie Auction, complimentary with print subscription, by request) which was shifted to online • $30 — 1 year e-edition bidding. Story and photo by • $40 — 6 mos. print/1 year e-edition Jana Bounds (March 19) Postmaster: Please, Send Address Changes to: Lone Peak Lookout, P.O. Box 365, Ennis, MT 59729 Phone: 406.579.6877 Shutdown: Governor Bullock initiates a two-week quarantine for visitors and restricts restaurants and bars due to COVID-19 Email: [email protected] concerns. (March 19) NEWS AND ADVERTISING DEADLINE: Distance learning continues and seniors get a graduation: Big Sky students continued 12 p.m. Mondays distance and virtual learning, per a unanimous Big Sky School District (BSSD) Board of Trustees decision made during a special board meeting. School facilities remained closed for the remainder of the school year. Story by Jana Bounds (April 23) Any submissions to our paper, including photos or content, may be used in any of our print and digital products. Welcome to the family: Chief Greg Megaard was appointed “to continue on the great path Chief Farhat created with the BSFD.” He brought a combined 40 years of experience to Big FOLLOW Sky from Central Valley Fire Department in Belgrade as well as the Bozeman Fire US Department, where he retired as deputy fire chief. He served as deputy chief of operations for on Instagram! BSFD since 2016 and as interim @lonepeaklookout fire chief after Chief Farhat’s departure. Story and photos by Jana Bounds (May 7) 100 LOWER DUDLEY CREEK, BIG SKY $3,800,000 | MLS# 345753 8 7 7380SQ.FT. Dudley Creek Lodge is surrounded by 5.64 acres of privacy and outdoor enjoyment near the Big Sky Ski and Summer Resort. Dudley Creek runs along the northern boundary providing a sanctuary for birds, wildlife and water sounds. Designed and built in 2006, this spacious residence hosts 8 private bedrooms, 7 baths and 2 living rooms separated 406-995-3444 | www.erabigsky.com by a dual, gigantic Andesite rock fireplace, both wood and propane. There’s more room in the walk out basement with 2 bunkrooms, game room, sauna, hot tub and 3 car garage. ® 30 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. Stay a week...or a lifetime Katie Haley Grimm 406-580-3444 LONE PEAK LOOKOUT A3 December 31, 2020 Year in Review News... Big Sky election results; Bonds pass and board positions are filled: Big Sky voters approved ballot measures in May that will fund a collaborative effort between Big Sky County Water and Sewer District (BSCWSD) and Big Sky Resort Area District (Resort Tax). The 1% additional resort tax made available in the last legislative session by SB 241 will help fund key water and sewer infrastructure projects until they are completed, including a centralized system in the canyon and the WRRF upgrade to the current BSCWSD facility. Specifically, The 1% increase will fund two projects: approximately 60% but not to exceed $27 million of the total project costs of the BSCWSD water resource recovery facility expansion and upgrade project and the BSCWSD canyon area lift station, forced main and reuse pipeline project – not to exceed $12 million.