Does your historic home have a story to tell? HGTV's "If Walls Could Talk" is coming to Montana to film homeowners who have made surprising discoveries while they were moving in and fixing up their homes. Their finds range from old letters and photos to art, books, even toys and clothing that all add up to the story of their home's past. The owners will tell their stories and share the history with our viewers.

If your home has a story to tell or you know about one that does, send an e-mail to Jason Mercado at jmercado@highnoonentertainment.com with "Montana casting call" in the subject header or call 303-712-3109.

National Forest Foundation, U.S. Forest service join forces to combat climate change

In a first-of-a-kind agreement, the Montana-based National Forest Foundation (NFF) has entered the voluntary carbon market with a web-based tool that will allow consumers to offset their carbon footprint with a verified offset.

The U.S. Forest Service and NFF signed a Memorandum of Understanding to officially launch the Carbon Capital Fund initiative. It will serve as an important model that will provide the opportunity to learn more about forest-based carbon sequestration and its role in voluntary carbon markets.

This offset program, The Carbon Capital Fund, will link consumers' offset investment to projects on national forests to sequester additional carbon as well as improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and improve the ecological condition of our national forests and grasslands.

Trees are carbon "sinks," drawing large quantities of CO2 out of the atmosphere and storing it for long periods. The carbon accumulation potential in forests is large enough that forests offer the possibility of sequestering significant amounts of additional carbon in relatively short periods of time. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that the nation’s forests sequester carbon at a rate that is equivalent to 10 percent to 15 percent of U.S. CO2 emissions. According to Forest Service scientists, we can raise that figure significantly by planting more trees.

To realize more of this benefit, the NFF has established the Carbon Capital Fund solely dedicated to supporting implementation and third-party verification of projects that have a specific and measurable terrestrial carbon sequestration benefit.

"NFF is providing an opportunity for people to learn more about their carbon footprint while helping trees be planted on national forests. People have an opportunity to contribute to the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests, not only by countering climate change”, said Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell, “but also by replanting forests for the benefit of future generations.”

The Carbon Capital Fund is a web-based tool that consumers can use to determine an individual, family or organization's carbon emissions. The website www.carboncapitalfund.org provides the consumer, large or small, with a way to offset their carbon footprint. As an initial estimate for every $6 they donate, one metric ton of CO2 emissions is offset through pilot projects that the NFF is developing with the Forest Service. The estimated carbon offset from each project will be verified by an independent third party, Winrock International.

For many years, the Forest Service has entered into agreements with groups, non-governmental organizations and private entities that provide funds to plant trees on National Forest System land. Generally, these agreements provide that the donated funds will be used for reforestation where ever and under whatever conditions the agency deems appropriate. The Carbon Capital Fund initiative will provide the opportunity to learn more about forest-based carbon sequestration and its role in voluntary carbon markets.

"The beauty of the system... is that everyone... can go onto www.carboncapitalfund.org, and, in a matter of minutes, offset your own carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits, while also augmenting the Forest Service’s capacity for restoring areas previously converted to agriculture, or impacted by wildfires," said Bill Possiel, president of the National Forest Foundation. "The benefits of increasing reforestation on National Forest System lands after wildfire include additional carbon sequestration, improved water quality, increased wildlife habitat, and improved ecological condition of national forests and grasslands."

Carbon Capital Fund projects significant increases in wildfires on National Forest lands have led to a greater need for reforestation. The Carbon Capital Fund will also invest in reforestation after other natural disasters as well as hardwood afforestation projects on recently acquired National Forest System lands.

The Forest Service has suggested several reforestation and afforestation pilot projects to undertake in partnership with NFF’s Carbon Capital Fund. Here are two examples:

• The Custer National Forest, straddling Montana and South Dakota, will reforest approximately 500 acres burned in the Kraft Springs Fire with ponderosa pine seedlings to increase forest cover, benefit elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer and goshawk habitat, and improve watershed health.

• The Payette National Forest in Idaho will reforest 1,400 acres with ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, western larch, and Engelmann spruce in an area heavily damaged by a tornado that touched down new Bear, Idaho in June 2006. Restored forest habitat will benefit a myriad of wildlife and fish species.

The National Forest Foundation is a congressionally-chartered, nonprofit partner of the U.S. Forest Service, dedicated to engaging Americans in the conservation and stewardship of our National Forests. To learn more about the National Forest Foundation, visit www.natlforests.org; for information on recreation and volunteer opportunities on our National Forests and joining Friends of the Forest®, visit www.becomeafriend.org.

Archery-only antelope hunting to open

Some archery-only antelope hunters were afield Wednesday, August 15.

These hunters hold a 900 series license to archery hunt antelope Aug. 15-Nov. 11 in any hunting district starting with 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

This either-sex antelope license had to be obtained over the counter by June 1. Archers who secured this license can only hunt antelope with archery equipment from Aug. 15-Nov. 11.

FWP officials remind early-season archery hunters that they may be traveling through or hunting in areas with Stage 1 or 2 fire restrictions. Hunters must follow all fire restriction advisories in effect in these areas. For details on current conditions, go to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website at fwp.mt.gov. Click Drought & Fire under Hot Topics.

As a reminder, the general antelope-hunting season will open on Oct. 7 and close Nov. 11, instead of Oct. 14 through Nov. 11, as listed in Montana's deer, elk, and antelope regulations booklet.

During the antelope archery-only season, Sept.1-Oct. 13, archery hunters may pursue antelope with region-specific antelope licenses issued through the antelope drawing. All antelope hunters need to be aware that this year the final week of archery season overlaps with the opening week of the general antelope-hunting season. Hunter orange will be required for archery hunters during this one-week overlap.

The archery-only deer and elk seasons run Sept. 1-Oct. 14.

The 2007 deer, elk and antelope regulations are available at FWP regional offices, from FWP license providers and on the Internet at fwp.mt.gov on the Hunting page.

Bear hunting license deadline August 31

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds black bear hunters that licenses must be purchased by Friday, Aug. 31 for the fall season. Hunters may purchase a license on the Internet at www.fwp.mt.gov/ under Hunting, at FWP regional offices and from FWP license providers.

All mail-in applications must be postmarked no later than Aug. 31. The cost of a black bear license is $19 for residents and $350 for nonresidents.

Hunters may purchase only one black bear hunting license and harvest one black bear per year.

Black bear hunters must have successfully completed the Black Bear Identification Test and must present a certificate of completion when purchasing a black bear license. The program aims to prevent mistaken identity killings of grizzly bears and to help Montana maintain its black bear hunting season.

The Black Bear Identification training and test are available on FWP's web site at www.fwp.mt.gov/ under Online Services. A paper version may be obtained at FWP regional offices and FWP license providers.

Hunters are also reminded it is illegal to harvest black bear cubs, defined as bears less than one year old. It is also illegal to harvest female black bears with young.

The 2007 black bear hunting regulations are available on the Internet at www.fwp.mt.gov/ and at FWP regional offices and license providers.

Comment sought on peregrine falcon assessment

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking comment on a draft environmental assessment that could allow a limited take of up to seven young peregrine falcons for use in falconry.

In the practice of falconry, under federal law, licensed falconers may take nestling or free-flying birds of prey from healthy wild populations and then train the birds for the hunting of small game like grouse, pheasants and ducks.

Last year in Montana at least 65 active peregrine falcon nests fledged nearly 150 young birds. The draft environmental assessment would allow no more than five percent of the yearling population – currently about five to seven birds annually – to be taken for falconry in Montana. Because peregrines nest on cliffs that are difficult to reach, Montana's population estimate does not include all nesting pairs across the state and is considered a minimum count.

The draft assessment suggests that Montana's peregrine falcon populations are expanding across the state and their numbers continue to grow and that the population would not be harmed by allowing the capture of some birds for the sport of falconry.

Today's American peregrine falcon population was restored through a broad network of conservationists, including falconers, who spent years "hacking" young birds from specially-designed towers and from the tops of buildings and skyscrapers in some cities. The effort was designed to reverse population declines that began about 60 years ago.

The peregrine was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999, which enabled the peregrine to be included as a raptor eligible for take under federal falconry statutes beginning in 2004. Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington all allow the limited take of peregrines.

The FWP Commission directed the wildlife agency in October 2006 to develop a rule to govern the take of peregrine falcons by licensed Montana falconers. FWP completed initial public discussion in January. The draft environmental assessment, which was prepared prior to developing the rule, can be reviewed online at fwp.mt.gov. Click "Recent Public Notices."

Written comments must be received by Sept. 6. Mail to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; Attention: Arnie Dood; 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59717-5496; or by email to adood@mt.gov.

Fundraising opportunity

The Stevensville Main Street Association will be holding its 2nd Annual Mega Bucks fundraiser. Local non-profit groups who want to earn money for their organization and help sell Mega Bucks tickets can earn $5 for each $50 ticket sold. The winning ticket will be drawn October 6 at St. Mary's Family Center during the Main Street's 2nd annual Boast & Toast dinner. Last year the winner won $7,800.

This is a great way to earn money for your organization and help the Main Street too! Call Joan at 777-3773 for more information. Last year the winner won $7,800.

Soroptimist distributes funds

During its business meeting on July 19, Soroptimist International of Hamilton distributed excess funds to five Ravalli County non-profit organizations. $1,000 was given to Genesis House, $2,000 to Emma's House, $2,000 to Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital for the Mammogram program, $1,000 to the Hamilton Fire Department, and $4,000 to SAFE.

Funds are raised in the community by selling See's Candy during the holidays and the Banana Booth at Ravalli County Fair. Other community fundraisers include selling concessions at the Hamilton Playhouse and the Performing Arts Center. The annual "Winter Golf" tournament is open to the public and is one of the favorite community fund raisers for businesses and individuals that come out and play! Watch for Winter Golf the first Saturday in February – Feb. 2, 2008 – and come out to play!

Comments sought on Hazardous Fuels Project

Stevensville District Ranger Dan Ritter is seeking public comments about the proposed Haacke-Claremont Vegetation Management Project on the Stevensville Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest. Comments need to be received by September 14th.

The Stevensville Ranger District is proposing vegetation management treatments to reduce fire hazard and improve tree vigor in the Haacke and Claremont Creek drainages east of Stevensville. The proposed action is designed to reduce the potential severity, size, and adverse impacts of wildfire by increasing the likelihood that future fires would burn on the forest floor at lower severity as opposed to fire burning in the tree crowns at high severity. This would make conditions safer for firefighters and better protect private property and national forest resources in the area. The proposed action also manages for timber production by thinning trees to provide them more growing space and reducing the competition for water, nutrients, and sunshine. The reduced stress, in turn, creates forests that are more resilient to disturbance such as root disease, insects, or low severity fire.

As proposed, the Haacke-Claremont Vegetation Management Project would commercially thin approximately 722 acres of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir timber stands using ground based or skyline logging methods followed by hand piling, pile burning, and underburning the logging slash. An additional 409 acres of young forest stands would be thinned using noncommercial methods followed by hand piling, pile burning, and underburning. Prescribed burning with limited slashing of small trees would be conducted on approximately 368 acres. No new permanent road construction is planned. Existing roads would be reconditioned by cutting or clearing brush and small trees that have encroached into the road prism and restoring the native surface of the road. Road drainage would be improved by restoring the appropriate road template and improving cross drainage.

The purpose of the proposed Haacke-Claremont project is to:

1) Reduce fuel loading and lower crown fire hazard in low elevation Ponderosa pine/Douglas fir forests and middle elevation mixed forests of Douglas-fir/Lodgepole pine/Western larch;

2) Manage timber to provide forest products, jobs, and income;

3) Improve resilience to natural disturbances such as fire, insects, and disease in all forest types across the two drainages;

4) Maintain or increase shade intolerant species such as aspen, ponderosa pine;

5) Maintain and improve the vigor of large diameter ponderosa pine;

6) Create stand conditions that would provide large trees in the future.

For more information concerning the Haacke-Claremont Vegetation Management Project, contact District Ranger Dan Ritter at 777-5461 or Ken Hotchkiss, Team Leader, at 363-7187.

Free Farmers Market produce coupons

The Bitterroot Farmers Market Project provides free coupons for eligible Ravalli residents to purchase produce at the Darby, Hamilton and Stevensville farmers markets. A recent grant from the Steele- Reese Foundation has made possible expanded program participation. This program is available for seniors, people with disabilities, families with school aged children, veterans and domestic violence survivors. If you have not received coupons this season and meet the guidelines, you may receive $40 to purchase fruit and vegetables at Bitterroot markets which are open until early October. Monthly income for a family of one - $ 1,574.04; two - $ 2,110.54; three - $ 2,647.04; four - $ 3,183.54; five - $ 3,720.04. For applications and coupons, contact the appropriate agency: Seniors 60 and older - Ravalli County Council on Aging; People with Disabilities (under 60) - Summit Independent Living; Families with School Aged Children - Haven House; Veterans (under 60) - Valley Veterans Service Center; Domestic Violence Survivors - SAFE. Coupons are distributed on a first come basis and limited to one set per participant. For more information, call Cheryl Kikkert at 825-6955.

Bitterroot fishing restrictions lifted

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lifted all fishing restrictions on the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers on Saturday, Aug. 18.

Water temperatures measured on the rivers have not exceeded 70 degrees for at least three consecutive days as of Aug. 15, and weather conditions have moderated enough that further restrictions are not likely to be required.

The Bitterroot, from Tucker Crossing Fishing Access Site near Victor to the Clark Fork River in Missoula, has been closed to fishing from 2 p.m. until midnight since July 13 to protect fisheries during elevated water temperatures. The Clark Fork has been under the same "hoot owl" restrictions from Galen Road Crossing, just north of Warm Springs to the confluence with the Flathead River near Plains.

Several other area rivers will remain under fishing restrictions. The entire main stem of the Blackfoot River from the headwaters near Rogers Pass to the confluence with the Clark Fork River at Milltown is closed to fishing from 2 p.m. until midnight. In addition, tributaries including Morrell, Gold, Belmont, Cottonwood, Copper, and Monture Creeks; the North Fork of the Blackfoot River; and Landers Fork are closed to fishing 24 hours a day in order to reduce stress in these important bull trout spawning and rearing areas.

Although Blackfoot water temperatures have dropped below the 70-degree mark, river flows are extremely low, and the Blackfoot Drought Response Plan calls for fishing restrictions to remain in place while irrigators contribute water important for maintaining critical trout habitats. This cooperative, "shared sacrifice" approach has resulted in 50 cfs or more water in the Blackfoot River this year.

The Little Blackfoot River remains will also remain under "hoot owl" restrictions from the Highway 12 Bridge near Elliston to the confluence with the Clark Fork River near Garrison.

The main stem of Rattlesnake Creek, from the mouth of Beeskove Creek to its confluence with the Clark Fork River in Missoula, remains closed to fishing 24 hours a day. Fishing is closed 24 hours a day on Fish Creek, west of Missoula, from Forks Campground to its confluence with the Clark Fork River.

Rock Creek is closed to fishing 24 hours a day from the Skalkaho Highway Bridge to the confluence with the Clark Fork near Clinton. The stretch of river from Windlass Bridge (where Stony Creek Flows into Rock Creek) downstream to the confluence with the Clark Fork is closed to all recreation due to helicopters dipping water from the river to fight the Sawmill Complex fires.

For the latest information on drought and fire restrictions and closures in Montana, visit FWP's website at fwp.mt.gov and select "Drought and Fire."

More than $15,000 awarded to help Ravalli County fight crime

Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today announced a $15,161 grant to help fight crime and prosecute criminals in Ravalli County.

The grant will be used to purchase digital recorders and cameras for Ravalli County law enforcement officers and detectives to photograph crime scenes. The money will also be used to purchase equipment for patrol vehicles to allow for hands-free communication.

“Having high-tech equipment at crimes scenes will help solve crimes more quickly,” Baucus said. “This money will help keep officers safe while they are driving and help keep Ravalli County a safe place to live.”

“Helping our cops on the streets upgrade their technology will lead to better, more family-friendly communities across Ravalli County,” Tester said. “Officers will be more efficient with digital equipment at the scene and in the patrol vehicles.”

The grant will be awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice.

Births

Births at Marcus Daly Hospital, Hamilton

8-8-07
Girl, 8 lbs., 9 oz., 20-1/2 inches, to Chase and Jeffa Cooper, Victor

8-10-07
Girl, 8 lbs., 4 oz., 20 inches, to Kurtis and Heather Snell, Hamilton

8-12-07
Boy, 5 lbs., 6 oz., 19 inches, to Shawn and Steve, Hamilton

Obituaries

James Robert Vandehey
1968-2007

James Robert Vandehey, 39, of Stevensville, died at his home on Monday, August 13, 2007.

He was born on March 8, 1968 in Billings to Kenneth and Kathy (Bateman)Vandehey.

Jim graduated from Stevensville High School in 1986. He married Lori Zsupnik in 1990. The couple later divorced in 2006.

He is survived by a daughter, Shawnee and two sons, Austin and Tyler. Also surviving are his parents, in Texas; brothers Joseph (Wendy), Germany, Patrick (Carole), Texas, William (Fidelia), Texas, David, Stevensville and a sister Rosemarie (J.R.) Waddle, Texas; his grandmother, Mary Vandehey, Stevensville, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services were held at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville on Saturday, August 18, with Father Michael Smith officiating.

Esther V. Karper
1920-2007

Esther V. Karper, 87, of Florence, died at her home on Tuesday, August 14, 2007.

She was born on August 9, 1920 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania to Charles and Olive E. (Shope) Shughart. She attended a country school and later graduated from Carlisle High School.

Esther and Philip Karper had been married 66 years when he died in 2004. She worked at Sears for five years and kept books for the family business and she was also a homemaker. Esther was a member of the Bethel Bible Church in Missoula and she loved dolls and crafts

Her husband Philip preceded her as did a daughter Donna in 1998 and brother Maynard Shughart in 2005.

Esther is survived by three sons: Alden (Barb) Karper of Boiling Springs, PA, Larry (Bev) Karper of Florence and Philip (Donna) of Helena. Also surviving is a sister, Janet Smith of Carlisle, PA and nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, August 21, at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville with Pastor Chris Gobrecht officiating. Burial followed at Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville.

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