Community

Mark Odegard still remembers his first time in Ennis – as a child in 1945, driving through on a trip to Yellowstone National Park. Later, his family would come out for a week every summer to fish and stay in the Riverside Cabins. After school and a career that took him all over the world, he made a more permanent move to Ennis in 2005. 

The Madisonian is excited to introduce its new editor John Taylor. Taylor assumed his new role on April 26, after the previous editor, Geoff Hamill, transitioned over to the West Yellowstone Star, The Madisonian’s sister paper. 

Brian Brocious has lived in the Madison Valley for eight years after moving from his home state, Michigan. A desire for wide open spaces and access to the great outdoors just steps from his front door is what sent him west. “I enjoy the public land access,” he said. “I can be in the mountains or on the water within minutes.” 

Winter has been on the ground for seven months, with our first snowfall back in September. After the last dumping from Mother Nature the second week of April, I told myself if I ever meet a groundhog named Phil, who knows what might happen.

A community-minded Alder rancher is the 2018 Ruby Valley Conservation District Stewardship Awardee. Les Gilman will receive the award during an awards banquet at the RoundBarn in Twin Bridges on Saturday.

"I'm humbled and delighted that the selection committee and the nominators considered me for it," said Gilman.

The Madison Conservation District has selected Jerry and Jolene Brush and the Jackson Family Ranch as the winners of the 2018 MCD Stewardship Award. The Brushes will accept the award during a banquet at the Round Barn in Twin Bridges on Saturday.

Authors’ Note: This piece is excerpted from a report Clyde Fickes wrote in May 1944. It appeared in “Volume 1 – Early Days In The Forest Service.” His words are excerpted with light editing. Fickes retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1947. He died at age 103 on Dec. 29, 1987 – from an accident on the dance floor.