August 25, 2021 Local Announcements TrailQuipt offers contactless bear spray rentals via automated kiosks in Gardiner at Yellowstone Big Rock Inn and in West Yellowstone at Madison Crossing. Renting bear spray protects your wallet, our ecosystem, and your peace of mind. Pick it up when you need it, drop it off when you don't, and letTrailQuipt handle the rest. The Livingston-Park County Public Library bookmobile will be at Arch Park on Wednesday’s from 12:00pm to 2:30pm. Unable to visit the bookmobile? There is a drop box/holds shelf located at the Gardiner Community Center. For more information call 406-222-0862. Yellowstone National Park fire danger lowered to HIGH, stage 1 fire restrictions lifted due to widespread rain • Yellowstone National Park lowered the parkwide fire danger from very high to HIGH due to an average of two inches of rain that fell across the park the week of August 16. • Stage 1 fire restrictions (put in place July 1) are no longer in effect.The park will evaluate the need for restrictions for the remainder of the fire season. • Campfires are allowed within established fire rings in campgrounds and some backcountry campsites. • Campfires must always be attended and cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel and repeat until cold. • Visitors are reminded that negligently starting a wildfire may result in fines and/or imprisonment. • Currently there are no active wildfires in the park. Stay informed aboutYellowstone’s fire activity. • Visibility in the park varies due to drifting smoke from wildfires throughout the West. Visitwww.airnow.gov for details. TRACT 1 TOM MINER CREEK, EMIGRANT, MT 12.27 ACRES | $950,000 A rare opportunity to own 12.27 acres in one of the most beautiful locations in Montana and the perfect place to build your Montana dream home. The property has good access off the county road with great build sites and ab- solutely sensational views in all directions Only minutes from a National Forest trailhead. A hunters dream! SAM NOAH SALES ASSOCIATE LISTED BY: (406) 581-5070 [email protected] ERAGardiner.com 406-222-8700 Robyn Erlenbush CRB Broker Owner Each office independently owned and operated. The Gardiner Chamber of Commerce serves our community through developing local tourism while endorsing the stewardship of the Yellowstone Ecosystem. 5 Day Forcast for Gardiner, MT from the National Weather Service Saturday September 11, 2021 9k & 5k trail race / Kids race / 5k walk Raising Awareness of Depression Volunteers Needed Register Now at: for Race Morning RunSignUp.com Please email, call or text [email protected] Follow Us on FaceBook 404.664.6624 2 Gardiner & Surrounding Area Electronic Dining Schedule Available Gardiner area dining continues to navigate a variety of challenges, ranging from supply chain irregularities to staffing shortages, all of which can lead to inconsistent restaurant schedules. We recognize these irregularities can be confusing for both visitors and residents. To minimize confusion, we're glad to recommend our new electronic schedule that is updated as changes occur to Gardiner chamber member restaurants. The schedule is located at: https://www.visitgardinermt.com/plan-your-trip/tourism-directory/ dining or you can scan the QR code listed. A note to our participating restaurants: Please help us serve you and your customers better by updating the Chamber of Commerce of any changes to your schedule. You can email us at [email protected] or call us at 406.848.7971. Is your restaurant not listed? If you are a current Chamber Member, please let us know and we'll include your information. If you are not yet a Chamber Member, we invite you to join the Chamber to take advantage of this benefit, as well as many others. 3 Yellowstone lifts fishing closure on rivers and streams Yellowstone National Park responded to high water temperatures and unprecedented low stream flows in rivers and streams by instituting a fishing closure during the afternoon and evening (after 2 pm) as of July 24, 2021. Conditions at the time were stressful and even fatal for trout. Park scientists have monitored flow and temperature data since the closure. Temperatures of Yellowstone's rivers and streams have cooled, and flows have improved. Water temperatures are now well below thermal thresholds for trout and flows are returning to long-term averages. Since conditions have improved, the fishing closure on park rivers and streams has been lifted as of Aug. 20, and anglers can resume fishing all day (sunrise to sunset) as specified in the Fishing Regulations booklet. Anglers: Do not play hooked trout to exhaustion. Gently handle and release them quickly after they have revived. Your cooperation will protect the park fisheries and may preclude the need to prohibit fishing again this season should conditions worsen in rivers and creeks. LEADERSHIP 49 ANNOUNCES YEAR 8 PARTICIPANTS LIVINGSTON - Montana State University Park County Extension is proud to announce Year 8 participants of Leadership 49, an eight-month leadership program designed to develop empowered and engaged citizens that will strengthen and connect the communities of Park County. Entering its eighth year, Leadership 49 has graduated 80 community leaders. Comprised of monthly day-long sessions, community-based experiences, and a group project, participants develop leadership skills, increase their knowledge about challenges and opportunities, and network with community groups, leaders, businesses, elected officials, and others. “This experience has enabled me to broaden and deepen my connections with members of the community and my knowledge of Park County. It was an amazing experience that equipped me with the tools needed for personal and professional development,” shared Sarah Mussetter, Park High School Teacher and Year 4 Alumna. The program begins September 17 in Paradise Valley and includes monthly sessions in Clyde Park, Cooke City, Gardiner, Livingston, Paradise Valley, Tom Miner, and Wilsall. A total of 19 participants were selected from a geographic and career cross-section of the county. The Leadership 49 Year 8 participants are: • Deb Anczak, Bozeman, Livingston Healthcare • Lander Bachert, Livingston, BBBS of Big Sky Country • Alison Becker, Gardiner, Yellowstone Forever • Brian Beckner, Livingston, Park County Health • Kacie Boteler, Livingston, Montana Brewery Shop • Mick Burlington, Livingston, A Stone’s Throw B & B • Kathryn Fast, Gardiner, Yellowstone Forever • Sarah Hubbard, Livingston, Self-employed • Luis Islas, Bozeman, MSU Alumni Foundation • Shauna Johnson, Livingston, MT Dept of Labor • Kate Koller, Livingston, Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch • Margaret Lockwood, Livingston, American Bank of Montana • Meghann Maurer, Livingston, Foundant Technologies • Martha O’Rourke, Livingston, City of Livingston Public Works • Samantha Peirce, Livingston, AMB West Philanthropies • Nate Podgajny, Emigrant, Red Dog Property Services • Holly Sandbo, Livingston, National Parks Conservation Association • Katie Stewart, Emigrant, Self-Employed • Steve Van Slyke, Livingston, Livingston HealthCare Leadership 49 is generously supported by Ace Hardware, Ace Roofing, American Bank, Bank of the Rockies, Barrett Custom, City of Livingston, Community Closet, Crazy Mountain Catering, Cushing Terrell, Elk Horn Lodge, ERA Landmark Western Land, First Interstate Bank, Glenn’s Shopping Center, JTech Communications, Livingston HealthCare, Livingston Landlady, M Design Group, Michal and Michael DeChellis, NorthWestern Energy, Opportunity Bank, Park County, Park County Community Foundation, Printing For Less, and Small Dog Realty. 4 Montana State Parks sees increase in visitation for the first six months of 2021 Montana State Parks recorded more than 1.5 million visitors from January through June of this year. Compared with same time period last year, visitation increased by 11.1% and increased 44.1% in comparison with 2019 visitation. Of the 45 state parks that were seasonally open during the first half of the year, 27 experienced an increase in estimated visitation compared with last year. “For the second straight year, the state parks system has experienced significant visitation growth for the first half of the year,” said Beth Shumate, state parks division administrator. “Our staff, volunteers, and partner organizations have done an excellent job of providing a safe and inviting place for people to experience some of the most outstanding historical, cultural, and recreational opportunities that Montana has to offer.” The top five most visited parks between January and June of this year were: 1. Giant Springs State Park, Great Falls – 212,329 visits (up 6.3% from last year?) 2. Spring Meadow Lake State Park, Helena – 152,515 visits (up 91.5%) 3. Flathead Lake State Park (all units), Flathead Lake – 147,003 visits (down 8.4%) 4. Cooney Reservoir State Park, Roberts – 124,834 visits (down 16.6%) 5. Lake Elmo State Park, Billings – 106,754 visits (down 11.6%) State park snapshots from around the state: Northwest: Flathead Lake State Park (all units) had the highest visitation in the region at 147,003, visits, a decrease of 8.4% West: Milltown State Park had the highest visitation in the region with 48,361 visits, an increase of 88.1% Southwest: Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park had the highest visitation in the region with 57,177 visits, an increase of 262.8%. North-central: Giant Springs had the highest visitation in the region as well as the state at 212,329 visits; an increase of 6.3% South-central: Cooney