THE LOCAL NEWS OF THE MADISON VALLEY, RUBY VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS

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(LEFT) Black-necked Stilt. PHOTO COURTESY GARY SWANT

Counting coots…

If you see Tundra pickup cruise slowly along Ennis Lake, then pull to a stop before a long-lensed spotting scope emerges from the driver’s window, like a periscope, you may have encountered bird expert Gary Swant or his partner and grandson, Caleb Lashway, counting migrating birds as they take a break, or “stage,” on their journey south.

Ericka Kirkpatrick demonstrates the hat smoothing process. After sanding the felt a torch is used to get rid of any remaining fibers, creating a hat as smooth as velvet. PHOTO BY JOLENE PALMER

Tip of the hat

Growing up watching her mother Sheila make cowboy hats, Ericka Kirkpatrick certainly learned a lot about the unique trade. She’d help with all the aspects of the trade, but she was sure it wasn’t something she’d take on as her own career.

The community met in the garden for the first Thursday night concert and market held in July. Three more will be held this summer. PHOTO COURTESY MELISSA SMITH

In full bloom

Hey, what’s all the buzz about? By 8 a.m. on an early August morning honeybees were in full force at the Jeffers Community Garden, alighting upon poppies, cosmos, tomato blossoms – if it’s blooming, those bees were pollenating.

An excerpt of the Madison Ranger District recently introduced weekly trails report. Green indicates trails that are cleared, yellow indicates trails in progress of being cleared and the white trails included have notes. If you would like to receive the weekly update, email Joel Sather at joel. sather@usda.gov. .COURTESY USFS

Clearing trails

Two weeks ago, the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association (SWMMBA) helped clear the Gazelle Creek trail because “once a trail disappears, it’s gone forever.”

Judi Ward gets things in order on the last day of her 40-year career. PHOTO BY JOLENE PALMER

A fond farewell

The year is 1981. Ronald Reagan is leading the country. Sandra Day has been appointed to serve as the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Raiders of the Lost Ark topped the movie scene while Dynasty was all the rage on television. And in little old Harrison, Mont., Judi Ward started her career at the Harrison School District.

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The Madisonian

65 N. MT Hwy 287
Ennis, MT 59729
406-682-7755
www.madisoniannews.com

Cori Koenig, editor: editor@madisoniannews.com
Susanne Hill, billing: s.hill@madisoniannews.com 
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