A mural depicting Salish traditional games has now been completed at Lewis and Clark Park in Stevensville. The mural is the culmination of an ongoing Indian Education project at Stevensville Elementary under the guidance of art instructor Marina Weatherly. The project involved a cooperative partnership between the Salish-Pend D'Oreille Culture Committee, Stevensville Elementary students, Sacajawea Gallery, Stevensville Art and Sculpture Society (SASS), the Township and Park Board.

As part of the initial research for the mural project, third and fourth graders and several home-schoolers participated in a Salish Game Day at the park, led by Salish Education Director Marie Torosian from the People's Center in Pablo. The children played hoop and darts and learned about a variety of traditional games. The third and fourth grade students then created designs for the mural and exhibited their artwork at Sacajawea Gallery. Designs were selected for the mural, notecards and a calendar. A portion of the proceeds from the notecards and calendar sales were donated to an educational activity fund for Historic St. Mary's Mission to help provide future funding for cultural arts programs with the Salish.

With assistance from SASS members, sixth grade artists painted the designs on the restroom building at the park during their last week of school. The mural, which wraps around all four walls of the building, depicts a game of "Shinny," a form of field hockey; hoop and darts; girls playing dolls, scraping hides and gathering berries; storytelling, hunting and fishing, and a horse race. The mural honors the Salish children, whose ancestral homeland is the Bitterroot Valley.

Locals inducted into Draft Horse Hall of Fame

Three draft horse teamsters have been inducted into this year’s Montana Draft Horse Hall of Fame.

Those selected are Helen and Jack Eden of Hamilton, Kayo and Alex Fraser of Deer Lodge and Charles Yerian of Corvallis.

The announcement was made May 19, during the spring meeting of the Montana Draft Horse and Mule Association at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Deer Lodge.

A ceremony will take place at the start of the 12th annual Big Sky Draft Horse Expo, Saturday, September 15, at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Deer Lodge.

The Hall of Fame is dedicated to those who have made significant contributions to preserving and teaching the art of using draft animals and equipment for work or pleasure in Montana.

Helen and Jack Eden – The Edens live on a ranch near Hamilton, training mules and horses. They are also well known for their pack train adventures into the Bitterroot Mountains. Forty years ago Jack Eden often had as many as 100 mules in a pack train heading into those mountains. Now, because of wilderness rules, the number has decreased to 10 mules. So a few years ago, to keep those mules busy, the Edens began entering their teams at shows in Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Kayo and Alex Fraser – The Frasers are well known in Deer Lodge for their tireless help at the Big Sky Draft Horse Expo and at many haying events at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. The Frasers also are known for teaching people at their successful Fraser Driving School. Alex enjoys matching people and their abilities to the right horses. Kayo has a commitment to offering books and literature about draft horses. The two have been key players in several show committees, including organizing the Sandpoint Draft Horse Show in Idaho.

Charles Yerian – Born 86 years ago in Corvallis, Charles Yerian learned his teamster and horseman skills from his father, homestead horseman Asa Yerian. Charles, who still lives on the original homestead, honed his skills during the Depression. When tractors became popular, Yerian stuck with horses. He was the man people contacted when they needed a horse or wanted one trained. Then he began training those people and their horses how to drive. He competed many years in draft horse pulling contests and shows throughout Montana and Idaho. He also took on the job as wagon boss in many wagon trains in the Bitterroot. He still farms but with a smaller breed – Norwegian Fjords, an easier horse to harness for his age.

The three inductees’ photos and descriptions of their accomplishments will be placed in Deer Lodge, where the public can view them throughout the year.

Nominations for the class of 2008 inductees to the Montana Draft Horse Hall of Fame are open. For more information about the Big Sky Draft Horse Expo, or to make a Hall of Fame nomination, contact Nick Shrauger at 406-586-5113, or visit http://www.drafthorseexpo.com. Also that week are activities at the Montana Academy of Living History September 10-14.

Arasta Creek closure

Acting Forest Supervisor Barry Paulson has closed an area along Arasta Creek to all motorized vehicles because of damage to soil and vegetation from recent motorized activity. The closed area is located on the Stevensville Ranger District in the Threemile Creek drainage approximately 16 miles northeast of Stevensville. The closure will be in effect until the area fully recovers. Forest Service and volunteers crews are planning work this summer to replant and repair the damaged area. For more Information, contact Mike Wilson at 777-5461.

Cool Creatures, Hot Planet' wins Benjamin Franklin Award

"Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents" by Montana author, Marty Essen, has won the 2007 Benjamin Franklin Award for Travel/Essay. Over 1,800 books, in various categories, were entered in this prestigious competition sponsored by PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association. The winners were chosen by more than 150 judges, selected for their expertise in the industry. Marty Essen accepted his award at a gala presentation at BookExpo America in New York City on May 31, 2007.

This is the third first-place book award win for "Cool Creatures, Hot Planet." Earlier it won the Best Books 2006 Book Award for Travel/Essay and the National Indie Excellence 2007 Book Award for Travel/Essay.

"Cool Creatures, Hot Planet" also won two bronze metals at BookExpo America: one in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards and one in the IPPY Awards.

Now that the book awards are over, here are the results of "Cool Creatures, Hot Planet's" impressive run:

· Winner: 2007 Benjamin Franklin Award for Travel/Essay

· Winner: National Indie Excellence 2007 Book Award for Travel/Essay

· Winner: Best Books 2006 Book Award for Travel/Essay

· Bronze Metal: ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award for Travel/Essay

· Bronze Metal: IPPY Award for Travel/Essay

· Finalist: Nautilus Award for Animals/Nature

"I didn't write 'Cool Creatures, Hot Planet' with the intention of winning awards," said author Marty Essen. "I wrote it to entertain and enlighten my readers and to defend animals who aren‚t considered warm and cuddly. I also thought it was important to show how the U.S invasion of Iraq affected my wife's and my travels and the people we met all over the world. The awards validate my decision to break the rules of mainstream travelogues and give my readers something totally unique.

"For one book to win three first-place awards and two bronze metals is a rare occurrence. I feel honored that so many judges liked my book and look forward to more people discovering it as a result of the wins."

"Cool Creatures, Hot Planet" is available in bookstores, nationwide. Locally, Marty Essen will be signing copies of his book at the Missoula Barnes & Noble on Saturday, June 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. He will also be presenting his Seven Continents Digital Slide Show at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge's Bitterroot Birding and Wildlife Festival on June 23 at 1 p.m.

TGRF grants available

The Greater Ravalli Foundation announces the deadline for the grant cycle ending June 15, 2007. This process expedites funding requests to benefit the youth of Ravalli County. Deadlines for submission of grant applications for consideration are: March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. For the current cycle grant applications may be obtained on line at www.tgrf.org; return to adminassist@stockfarm.com or fax to 375-1889 by June 15, 2007.

Financial support is limited to the growth and development of Ravalli County's school children K-12, addressing four specific areas. Those areas that the Foundation will consider funding are basic essentials of daily life in the Bitter Root Educational facilities, supplies and grassroots programs; scholarships for all levels of academic ability; sustenance, such as winter clothing, hot meals and other food programs; and various capital line items as they arise, such as cafeteria equipment and extracurricular program needs.

Births

Births at Marcus Daly Hospital, Hamilton

5-18-07
Boy, 8 lbs., 2 oz, 20-1/4 inches, to Brad and Christy Stevens, Hamilton

5-21-07
Girl, 8 lbs., 6 oz, 22 inches, to Quintin and Heidi Apedaile, Hamilton

5-22-07
Boy, 8 lbs., 21 inches, to Jessie and Jessi Jessop, Pinesdale

5-24-07
Boy, 10 lbs., 12 oz., 23 inches, to Chad and Kathryn Delong, Hamilton

5-28-07
Girl, 7 lbs., 13 oz., 21-1/2 inches, to Jason and Jeanette Joost, Hamilton

Libbey Anna Wells

Raymond and Lindsay Wells of Stevensville are the proud parents of a baby girl, Libbey Anna Wells, born Friday, June 8 at Community Hospital in Missoula. Libbey weighed in at 5 lbs., 8 oz. and was 19-1/2 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Mark and Pam Lewing, Stevensville. Paternal grandparents are Dana and John Wells, Stevensville. Great grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Schmitt, all of Stevensville.

Obituaries

Ricky Charles Anderson
1959-2007

Ricky Charles Anderson, 47, of Missoula, died on Saturday, June 2, 2007 in Stevensville. He was born on November 5, 1959 in Hamilton, to Jim M. and Glenda (Collins) Anderson.

Ricky graduated from Stevensville High School and became groundskeeper for several golf courses in Montana and several in other states.

Ricky enjoyed high school rodeo and other rodeo competitions in Montana and several other states. He enjoyed golf, playing his guitar and singing‚ his animal friends and the love of his family. Carpentry was his profession in later years.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Dallas Marie, his grandparents, Charles and Dorothy Christianson and Joe and Harriet (Collins) Kuglin of Great Falls.

Ricky is survived by his parents, Jim and Glenda, of Stevensville; two brothers, John (Kristie) Anderson of Lolo and Scott (Shannon) Anderson of Stevensville, daughter Alexandrea Rymal of Missoula and companion Kimera Rymal of Missoula. Also surviving is a niece, Teresa Grimes of Lolo, and nephews, Rowdy and Justin Anderson of Stevensville.

Memorial services will be held at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 2 p.m. Burial of his ashes will be at Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville.

Myrtice E. Gibson
1931-2007

Myrtice E. Gibson, 76, of Stevensville, died at her home on Saturday, June 2, 2007.

She was born on March 8, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan and was the daughter of Charles and Dorothy Layland Driver.

Myrtice graduated from South Lyons High School in Michigan. She married Dallas Gibson. She loved to cook for her friends and neighbors, traveling across the country, camping, reading, and talking on the phone to her sisters. She was a wonderful raconteur and will be greatly missed by her good friends and neighbors, JoAnn and Gordon Kershner.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Gerald and Charles Driver.

Survivors include a daughter, Laura McKay; granddaughter, Rena McKay; and her son, Paul Gibson. Three sisters also survive her: Patricia St. Henry, Janet Ball and Marilyn Moore, all living in Michigan.

A celebration with friends will be later this summer. The Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville in charge of Cremation arrangements.

Russell T. Mitchell
1922-2007

Russell T. Mitchell, 85, of Missoula, passed away on June 4, 2007 at Riverside Healthcare in Missoula.

He was born on Jan 8, 1922 to William W. and Olive "Doll" Mitchell in Shelley, Idaho. He attended schools in Shelly. Russell was a member of the Future Farmers of America in high school, winning national recognition for his beekeeping.

Russell met the love of his life, Norma Christensen, at the home of his grandmother. They were married on December 31, 1941. Norma preceded him in death on March 17, 2007.

He proudly served in WW II as a "Sea Cook" in the Navy. He was very proud of being a graduate of Cook and Bakers School. He was a meat cutter in Idaho and later in Montana, during the winter months.

Russell and Norma moved to Missoula on April 1, 1956 where Russell, his father and brother became commercial beekeepers, naming their business "Mitchell's Honey."

Russell was very active in the National Beekeepers Association where he held many offices at the state and national levels. He received the Pioneer Award from the Sioux Honey Association for being a pioneer in the beekeeping industry. Russell and Norma were active in the Honey Queen program on the local and national level.

He was a member of the American Legion in Idaho and later Post #27 in Missoula. He was a long-time member of the "40 and 8." Russell was a Boy Scout and an adult leader in the Boy Scout program. He loved to hunt, camp and fish.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma, a daughter, Barbara Dye, sister Norma Owen and his parents.

Russell is survived by his daughter, Julie (Dick) Thurman of Florence and son William Russell (Tami) Mitchell of Missoula as well as nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Norman (Lela) Mitchell of Hamilton, sisters Helen (Dale) Browning of Rigby, ID, Betty Benjamin of Idaho Falls, ID, Mary (Hank) Brown of Soda Springs, ID and brother in law Carroll Owen, Idaho Falls and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were Saturday, June 9 at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville. Burial followed at the Victor Cemetery.

Page One •	Valley News •	Op/Ed •	Sports •	Calendar •	Classifieds •	Links •	About Us •	Back Issues •	Email Us •	Home
©2006 Bitterroot Star This site was Done By Dooney