Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Three years after taking over the Jefferson Inn, owners Greg and Veronica Cowdrey have quietly transformed the longtime Whitehall motel through extensive renovations, updated amenities and a renewed commitment to customer service - all while working to change outdated perceptions of the property. The couple said one of their biggest challenges has been convincing local residents and returning travelers that today's Jefferson Inn is far different from the motel many remember from years past....
Will Bowen has been running Whitehall's only vehicle scrapyard at the south end of Whitetail Road for 20 years – but may soon be forced to stop. At 22 years old, he broke his back when a pile of trusses fell on him, making physical labor impossible, so Bowen began scrapping metal to make ends meet. What started as salvaging a few motorcycles a year gradually grew into a car-wrecking facility where Bowen would tow, store, crush, and salvage cars from area shops and individuals. Bowen estimates t...
Dear Editor, I'm pretty sure some of your readers are aware of the most recent Jefferson County Commissioner's meeting (July 14), which might well be called a travesty! This may seem a bit petty, but "How many commissioners are required to hold a valid assembly?" If one is missing, which is more than understandable (condolences to the Kirsch family), would it not STILL be a requirement? I'm not sure what the law is regarding conflicts of interest, but I'm pretty sure I remember hearing...
To the Editor, The recent lawsuit filed in the name of the Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee (YCRCC) et al. against the Montana State Republican Party, without the consent or vote of the precinct representatives, is a glaring example of how our local YCRCC executive committee has centralized power at the top vs. being run as the grassroots political organization it is meant to be. The Executive Board decided unilaterally on July 1st that suing the GOP party over its new bylaws was...
What are other communities doing to make roads safer? Here's a clue. It is illegal in Montana. Using technology. Communities across America are using automated red-light enforcement cameras, speed cameras, and automated ticketing systems to make roads safer. They are saving lives. Preventing injuries. But not in Montana. In the absence of modern technology, driving defensively is critical. It's a survival strategy. Why? Because we have to assume that every stop sign, traffic light, and speed...
Dear Editor, I voted for Alani Bankhead in the Democratic primary because I didn't think the alternative was the better choice. That said, she wasn't my first choice-Seth Bodnar was, but he wasn't on the ballot. I had hoped Bankhead would recognize that much of her support came from voters looking for an alternative rather than from broad enthusiasm for her candidacy, and that she would step aside to give the strongest possible candidate a chance to turn the Senate seat purple. Then, trying to...
It’s envying to see a nice house from the highway, until you realize you can see it from the highway. The growth-maturity moment of boys/men needing to run to the store for feminine hygiene products has largely been eliminated by self-checkout. Civilizations started from kids running away from home. Comparing Armageddon (1998) and Don’t Look Up (2021) shows how mindsets have changed over time. We know humans experience time at approximately the same rate because our reaction times are so close. Having a photographic memory must have been har...
One-hundred years ago, the primary election took place in August instead of June. Every edition of the July Jefferson Valley News had plenty of ads and articles about people running for the various offices, and the July 1 edition listed the names of the 392 Whitehall people who were eligible to vote. High temperatures during the last week of June were recorded between 77 and 96. Temperatures in mid-July stayed in the mid- to upper 80s. At the national level, the federal government reported a...
I love the smell after it rains - so fresh and rejuvenating, which brings with it a feeling of calm. Nice to have those types of mornings once in a while. This summer has been a whirlwind here at the Whitehall Community Library! I'm pretty sure the volunteers thought we were crazy when they found out we were going to make slime with roughly 60 kids. By the way, yes, we are! It's a good kind of crazy though, and we had a blast! This Wednesday, we are going to use a technique called hydro-dipping...
David Henry Kirsch, age 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Boulder, Montana, on July 8, 2026, surrounded by family. Born on February 6, 1938, in Lewiston, ID, Dave spent his early years moving around Idaho and Montana before settling in Boulder in 1972, when he purchased the hardware store. There, he became a familiar face in the community while running the store until his retirement in 1999. Away from work, Dave found joy in Montana's outdoors, teaching his kids to hunt deer and elk,... Full story
Candace "Candy" Emilie Tilzey, 86, went to sleep peacefully and joyfully woke up in the arms of Jesus on November 26, 2025. She was born to Ralph and Veronica Schnell on March 30, 1939, in St. Maries, Idaho, and joined her beautiful sister Joicelyn. They welcomed their little brother Bill in 1945. Candy cherished her childhood ranch life in Phillipsburg with many special memories. She fondly remembers the fascinating lightning in the summers and digging through the incredibly deep wall of snow... Full story
David Henry Kirsch, age 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Boulder, Montana, on July 8, 2026, surrounded by family. Born on February 6, 1938, in Lewiston, ID, Dave spent his early years moving throughout Idaho and Montana before finding his lasting home in Boulder when he purchased the hardware store in 1972. There, he became a familiar face in the community while running the store until his retirement in 1999. Away from work, Dave found joy in Montana’s outdoors, teaching his kids to hunt deer and elk, fish nearby streams, pan for g... Full story
Jake Steven Hansen, 39, passed away suddenly on July 17, 2026, in Manhattan, MT. Jake was born on January 26, 1987, in Dillon, MT, to Craig and Donna (Hayden) Hansen. He was raised in Dillon and graduated from Beaverhead High School in 2005. From an early age, Jake was known for his strong work ethic and love of the outdoors. Farming was more than a job to him- it was a way of life. Throughout his career, he worked with Hansen Ranches, INC, while also starting a custom firewood business while... Full story
Our crew is working hard and having fun in the HOT sun! Insects are best collected in the hot afternoon, when they are up on the tops of the plants rather than hiding at the base, as they do when it is cool. We have just finished collecting and releasing leafy spurge insects in the Missoula and Grass Range areas. It is gratifying to see how quickly these insects are killing much of the spurge. In southwest Montana, it is becoming hard to find places with extensive, remaining leafy spurge...
Commercial and residential subdivisions have been spreading across the Gallatin and Helena Valleys like a patchwork quilt, replacing open land. Concerns range from increased traffic to the loss of open space, but the gravest issue centers on water, both its quantity and quality. Increasingly, longtime residents and senior water-rights holders are finding themselves in conflict with rapid development fueled by Montana’s “exempt well” loophole. Developers have exploited a loophole in Montana water law to build subdivisions with exempt wells...
WE in Whitehall had an amazing turnout this weekend with thirty competitors from Montana, Utah, and Idaho. WE in Whitehall coordinator Brianna Krennerich would like to send a huge thank-you to the event’s wonderful judge, Tracey Erway, and technical delegate, Dawn Swensson, for all their time and expertise, as well as to their wonderful scribe, BJ. Thank you to the one, the only Alyssa Briceland, who helped run and manage the show. Couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you, Alyssa and Tim...
My name is McKinley Murphy, and I will be a freshman at Ennis High School this fall. I like a lot of different things about 4-H. I enjoy showing my goats & showing them off because I raise them. I also like doing indoor projects and sharing my knowledge about them with the judges. Seeing my friends and making new friends is one of my favorite things about being involved in 4-H. The coolest thing I have done in 4-H is get into and win Round Robin with my Dairy goat, Bean. It was super cool... Full story
The Jefferson Valley Museum has new signage throughout town, which showcases both the historic Brooke barn as well as the newly refurbished Lewis & Clark Murals....
For about 20 years, wildlife managers, politicians, and wildlife advocates in the Northern Rockies have gone back and forth about what to do about grizzly bears. The heart of that debate centers around who should manage the species: the states or the federal government. So when I got word there would be a press conference this week north of Yellowstone, in the heart of grizzly country, featuring the governors of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho alongside Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, I knew...
Warming river water is prompting more hoot-owl fishing restrictions and one complete closure in southwest Montana this week. The Madison River, from the Madison Dam at Ennis Reservoir to the footbridge at the NorthWestern Energy powerhouse, is closed to fishing at all hours beginning Wednesday, July 15. The closure is in response to warm outflows from Ennis Reservoir that are preventing nighttime cooling in that section of the river. Hoot-owl restrictions, which prohibit fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day, also take effect on July 15 at 2...
DIRECTIONS: Sprinkle the yeast and sugar over the warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk to combine, then let sit until bubbles form on the surface, about 5 minutes. Add the flour, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and salt, and mix with the dough hook on low speed until the dough comes together, about 2 minutes. Scrape the bottoms and sides of the bowl. Increase the speed to medium-low until everything is well incorporated and the dough is sticky, for 2 to 3 more minutes. Drizzle the top of th...
GEORGIA, I have a question. My daughter (23) adopted a two-year-old cat about two months ago from the humane society. She was a plump cat, about 12lbs. We scheduled her a vet appointment, but there’s a 6-week wait. Three weeks later, she gave birth to three kittens. We still have a two-week wait for the vet. While a surprise, we are all in love. She is keeping two kittens with mom, and my other daughter (25) is keeping one. Unbeknownst to me, one of my good friends has taken it upon herself to rehome all three kittens, without talking to my d...
SUNDAY, JULY 12 06:24:12 Traffic Stop 06:33:22 Animal: Hwy 55 07:54:47 Medical: Quarter Horse Ln 10:01:58 Suspicious: Milligan Canyon Rd 11:05:47 Traffic Stop: W Legion St 12:58:07 Traffic Stop: Hwy 55 13:09:21 Citizen Assist: Uff Da Rd 13:38:30 Traffic Stop: Hwy 55 14:13:36 Stranded Motorist: I-90 14:31:08 Motorist Assist: I-90 14:38:28 Motorist Assist: I-90 14:38:34 911 E LEGION ST 14:54:09 Traffic Stop: I-90 15:11:57 Reckless Driver: I-90 15:30:43 Traffic Stop: I-90 15:37:51 Suspicious: I-90...
