Week of August 12, 2026
Week of August 12, 2026
Travel back to the days of buckskins, black powder, and barter at the Lost Hawk Mountain Man Rendezvous, happening August 14–16 in Whitehall, Montana. Visitors will experience the historic encampment reenactment and relive the frontier days when Mountain Men came together to trade and share experiences. The 250th Anniversary of this nation will also be a highlight, with a focus on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Inspired by the historic mountain man gatherings of the early 19th century, the...
Whitehall non-profit Angel Wings Montana Foundation is very excited to announce a fun-filled night of 80s throwback fun, to be held at 5 PM on September 26, 2026, at the Whitehall Community Center. This fundraising event in Whitehall benefits mental health awareness and suicide prevention and brings support to our community. All proceeds go to Angel Wings Montana Foundation in support of mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Angel Wings will have a suggestion box to learn where you...
For more than 70 years, the Whitehall Rotary Club proudly maintained the historic fishpond located at the intersection of North Main Street and West Legion Avenue on the south side of the street. The pond was built in 1922 as a memorial to local veterans of World War I. Fish were caught in the Jefferson River and brought to the pond. The center column is adorned with ore samples from local mines that were operating when it was constructed. The top of the center column was adorned with a small...
Montanans have been tasting the smoke from faraway fires for several weeks now, but with August comes the heart of Montana’s wildfire season, and with it, smoke from our own collective backyard. Wildfire fuels have cured, or dried, to the point of being more receptive to sparks and able to support flames. The trees, brush, and grass are not the only carriers of wildfire, however. As many are aware, our neighbors to the west in Spokane, Washington, have recently experienced the latest phenomenon in what drives catastrophic wildfire—urban...
AUGUST 8TH AT THE MYRNA LOY!: Whitehall non-profit Gold Junction Presents debuted their 48 Hour Montana Film Challenge, THE CLEW GAMES, which was written, filmed, and edited in just 48 hours back in June. Gold Junction Presents was nominated for Best Special Effects, their first MT48HFP nomination. As this is only their second year participating in the project, seeing the team recognized among many other Montana filmmakers was very...
The insectary maintained by the Whitehall Biological Weed Control Project at Whitehall High School is a noxious weed garden with several purposes and an interesting history. As of this writing, we are "lovingly" growing the state-designated noxious weeds spotted knapweed, Russian knapweed, yellow toadflax, and whitetop. We also have one or more insect/mite species that help control each of these nasty weeds, established in the insectary. So, we are carefully cultivating the weeds to attract...
Five new teachers to the Whitehall School system, and one former teacher in a new setting, will greet local students when school starts on August 27, provided the Whitehall School Board approves the six new teacher contracts. Whitehall School Superintendent Bill Dietz said all the school's educational and academic needs will be met with the hirings, but with the fall sports of girls' basketball and football slated to start practice on August 13, the school is still looking for varsity and...
Earlier this summer, I was jogging on a local trail with my 7-year-old black lab mutt, Camas, when she suddenly froze. The fur along her spine bristled. Then she let out a single, sharp bark - a timbre I'd never before heard. I caught the unmistakable musk of an animal and my hand shot to the bear spray on my chest. Halfway up a tree less than 20 yards away, a beautiful, small cinnamon black bear stared back at us. The bear scampered off as Camas growled, standing her ground in front of me on...
Summer is the time for singing, and this Wednesday, August 12th at 11 AM, at the Whitehall Community Library (110 W First St), Miss Erica will lead a magical musical storytime. Many of you enjoyed her this summer, and we managed to talk her into coming one more time before school starts. Bring your preschoolers and come join the fun! Next week's Mystery Book Club will meet at 3 PM on Tuesday, August 18th. We also have a new book club beginning on Monday evening, September 14th, at 5 PM. The...
Few foods are as versatile and as beloved as chicken. Chicken is a lean protein source that many people rely on for meals throughout the day. However, they may be stuck with the same tried-and-true recipes that can dull the taste buds over time. The good news is that there is no shortage of ways to prepare chicken, which will take on the unique flavor profile of the other spices and ingredients included. Fans of Asian cuisine can try this Lines+Angles recipe for Chicken Curry with Peas and...
It's no secret that grizzly bears in the Lower 48 live close to the edge of extinction. Now, with little explanation and almost no time for the public to respond, the Trump administration and three Western governors have proposed to make it easier for states to authorize the killing of these bears. The federal proposal would change regulations that now protect grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act, stripping away protections that keep grizzlies in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming alive....
The 20th century was not off to a good start in China. Foreign ministers stationed in China were feared dead from a massacre in Peking, although the Chinese government favored a different story. The China situation covered most of the front pages of the August Zephyr editions. The king of Italy was assassinated in Monza, Italy, shortly after handing out prizes for a gymnastic competition. In Alaska, trouble was brewing at Topkuk, 50 miles north of Nome City, between miners and the U.S. military...
Over the years, Montana has had floods, fires, and other emergencies. Many folks were caught unprepared for the emergency evacuations. Are you prepared? Do you have plans for your pets? Emergency preparedness isn’t only for earthquakes or fires. What happens during an extended power outage? Floods? Tornado-strength winds? Planning is an essential element in keeping you and your pets safe during any disaster or emergency. Plan for an extended stay away from home – you never know how long the emergency will last. Plan to take your pets with...
Celery isn't the most glamorous vegetable today; but in the 19th century, things were very different. The crunchy vegetable was a fashionable status symbol because of how difficult it was to cultivate. If anyone had reason to believe they were cursed, it was Robert Todd Lincoln. The eldest son of Abraham Lincoln was closely connected to three presidential assassinations over the course of his life - first his father's, then Presidents James A. Garfield and William McKinley. Calf's brains were...
UPDATED AND BEAUTIFUL: Whitehall's Subway Sandwiches, owned by Jan Thorne, received a facelift earlier this year, and the results are bright and shining! Make sure you stop in to see the new sandwich options and the updated dining...
Parasites...Whether we want to admit it or not, almost everyone is hosting parasites. We are exposed through food, water, animals, soil, and even the air we breathe! In this eye-opening workshop, you will learn: • Common signs & symptoms related to parasites; • How to determine if & when you should do a parasite cleanse; • The steps needed to physically and mentally prepare for a successful cleanse; • How to choose the right products/supplements for your cleanse, and • What you can...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 You have been burning the candle at both ends, Aries. You can’t run on caffeine and grit all of the time. Find a day to rest before your body makes that decision for you. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 Someone is testing your patience this week, Taurus. Before you stick to your guns, ask yourself if this is a battle worth fighting and then proceed. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 It’s time to mute as much internal noise as possible, Gemini. Focus on one project and make a concerted effort to finish it before jumping to the next thing on...
Dear Editor, My name is Amber Williams, and I am a lifelong advocate for abortion access. I have made a career of building custom homes, running chainsaws, and standing up for women's rights. I am a former volunteer at Mountain Country Women's Clinic in Livingston and a co-founder of a local NNAF chapter that provides financial support to women in MT and across the Western US. I was featured by Carhartt in 2017 and Mountain Living in 2020 (pg. 84). In the mid 2000's, I served as a client escort...
This August marks the 91st anniversary of Social Security and for generations of Americans -- and more than 258,600 Montanans today -- it has provided financial security and independence after a lifetime of work. Recently, AARP Montana asked Montanans a simple question: What was your first job, and how old were you when you started working? The responses offered a powerful reminder of something often lost in today’s political debates: Social Security is not a handout. It is earned. The people who responded described lives defined by hard...
GEORGIA, I have a question. My fiancé (37M) and I (33F) are getting married in six months; just a small destination wedding. His cousin Maddie isn’t close to us. I’ve met her briefly, a handful of times. Last year she had a traumatic birth that nearly killed her. The baby is healthy now, but Maddie spent four months in the hospital and left in a wheelchair. She’s done extensive physical therapy since and has literally had to relearn how to walk. She’s up to short distances with a cane now. Last weekend, we were at a family dinner...
Becoming the best version of yourself comes with a lot of goodbyes. The world’s oldest known recipe is over 4,000 years old and describes how to prepare an ancient Babylonian stew. The longer you stay on the wrong train, the more expensive it is to get home. The first oranges were green - they turn orange in cooler climates. Sometimes your value isn’t seen until your absence is felt. A “butt load” is an actual historical measurement of 126 gallons of wine. You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do. Your liver is the only organ...
On the afternoon of July 30, 2026, Carole Ann Wortman walked out of her Garrison, Montana home, arm in arm with Jesus Christ, pain-free for the first time in nearly 30 years. Some of the pain Carole suffered was well-earned. Her theory in barrel racing was "don't slow down until you hear the boards cracking." In addition to her love of barrel racing and rodeo, she loved animals of all kinds. Any animal that needed help, Carole would take in and care for. On one occasion, she took care of a...
Whitehall Indivisible (WI) jumped back into the fray last week after breaking for July. Activist groups are ramping up for the midterms, and WI is choosing battles that matter in Montana and across the country. Our membership was one of the few among the 19 Indivisible groups in Montana with the decision-making structure and unity of voice to write a letter to Alani Bankhead (D) asking her to withdraw from the Montana Senate race (see inset). Bankhead has since announced she will not drop out....
More areas of the lower Beaverhead River will be under daily fishing restrictions this week due to rising water temperatures. These restrictions, commonly known as hoot-owl restrictions, prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day. They are designed to prevent excessive fish mortality due to angling when water temperatures are warm. Beginning Aug. 5, a hoot-owl restriction will be in effect for the area of the Beaverhead River from Selway Park Fishing Access Site just north of Dillon to the confluence with the Big Hole River. This...
Tywon Pugh has seizures that make it hard to find and keep a job. “They called me a ‘liability to the job site,’” Pugh said, recalling the words of his manager when a seizure cost him his last job at a fast-food restaurant in this western Montana city. When the 46-year-old lost work in the past, his wife of 10 years covered their rent, and he tended to their home until he found another job. But his wife died last year. Soon after, Pugh became homeless. His problem with alcohol became worse, which made managing his seizures more...
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 00:22:31 Wildland Fire 05:53:33 Animal: Hwy 69 05:55:48 Vehicle Accident (Non-Injury): Whitetail Rd 10:47:57 Panic Alarm: Lewis & Clark Caverns Rd 11:45:48 Traffic Stop: Hwy 359 11:55:46 Suspicious Vehicle: W Legion St 12:34:09 Medical: N A St 13:00:47 Reckless Driver: I-90 13:25:26 Shooting 13:35:34 Reckless Driver: I-90 13:51:28 Threats: I-90 15:01:38 911 16:10:52 Agency Assist 16:45:46 Citizen Assist: W Legion St 18:09:00 911: I-90 18:17:28 911 18:27:57 Suspicious: Delmoe...
