Author Reading at Whitehall Community Center May 15th

Betsy Gaines Quammen, an acclaimed science and history writer who lives in Bozeman, will present a reading from her nonfiction book True West on Wednesday, May 15th, starting at 7 PM at the Whitehall Community Center (11 N. Division St) in Whitehall. This educational event is sponsored by Lien for Montana HD75, a political organization.

"The intent of the event," said Nancy Jane Lien, a Democratic candidate for the Jefferson County Montana House of Representatives district, "is to promote a non-partisan discussion of the impacts of growth, extremism, and climate on our western agricultural communities." The event is open to the public. Campaign donations will be requested but not required for attendance.

"True West is a book not just on myths but also on mending fences. I set out to interview myth makers, myth boosters, and myth busters and was reminded over and over again, in spite of the frustrations of misinformation and entrenched belief, how important it is to connect with and listen to people. This is where I found truth among my own misperceptions, strolling down the long halls of a museum of Western myths," said Quammen.

The event will have a panel commentary following the reading. Participants are Bobbi Levine, ranch owner, a Republican, who with her husband Dan, operates a cow/calf business on the Rocky Mountain Front near Choteau, speaking to predator-rancher interfaces; and Lilia Tyrell, no political affiliation, a land use attorney in Bozeman, speaking to Montana's growing pains.

Terry Minnow of North Boulder will moderate the event. Community leaders have been invited, and the theme will be "When Good People Come Together, Good Things Happen."

"I encourage folks in the community concerned about citizen militias and the rise of extremism to come and hear Betsy's account of her extensive interviews in communities in Idaho and Western Montana with extremist leaders; but, more importantly, the community responses which were mounted to mute the noise," said Lien.