ST. IGNATIUS — He made it to Seattle, and did it again. Austin Durglo punted, passed, and kicked a football far enough to win his age group in the regional NFL/Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition held December 9 during halftime at the Seattle Seahawks game.
The 13-year old from St. Ignatius bested kids from throughout the northwest region, which also includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
For his efforts, Austin earned the honor of NFL Team Champion at the game, receiving a 13 by 15 inch plaque, “Punt, Pass, Kick” sweats and a Seahawks PPK jersey.
Austin, who is in eighth grade at St. Ignatius school, won the 12-13 year old competition in Seattle last year as well.
“We were just in awe of the whole thing,” Austin’s father Dan Durglo said. “We had higher expectations this year” because of Austin’s previous win, he added. And Austin came through.
The hitch, though, comes when moving on from the regional competition to the national challenge, held during the Super Bowl.
To compete there, the regional champ must hold one of the four best distances in the nation (the competition is scored by measuring the distance traveled by the balls the kids punt, pass and kick).
Because the northwest competition is held in Seattle in December, weather affects the results.
“Some of the parents were upset because of the conditions,” Durglo said.
“The weather was pretty cold, but clear,” Austin said. “It was just freezing.”
“We can’t compete nationally against better conditions,” his dad commented.
Montana’s scores are compared to those of kids in Florida, California, and 31 other places where the weather is more conducive to distance efforts.
The reason is simple physics, Austin explained. “When it’s cold, the football doesn’t go as far. When it’s warmer it goes farther.”
The cold toughens the skin, condenses the ball, and those brisk northwest winds combat efforts to push the football far down the line, he explained.
“It s a disadvantage to do it in Seattle,” he said, due to the wintry weather.
Still, Austin had fun, and considers the time well spent.
“It was fun,” he said, adding he’d like to compete again next year if he can.
“It’ll be tougher to do,” though, Austin said, as he’ll have to compete against high school football players from throughout the northwest who have had more experience at the game. “They’re pretty advanced,” he said of the experienced players.
Austin hopes to continue to play football regardless, and while he might someday play college or pro ball, he said those considerations are just too far down the line to predict. “It’s a long way away,” he said.
For now, he’s happy with his win as regional champ. For kids who want to try out next year, Austin has this advice: “Just practice a lot and get ready for it.”
Other area winners include 9-year-old Emilio Bravo of St. Ignatius, who took home a second place finish from the event. In the girls’ competition, 13-year-old Riley Kenney of Polson placed third and 14-year-old Katie Fitzpatrick of Ronan finished fourth.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
New tribal council members bring hope, optimism to tribal government
PABLO — “It’s not everyday you lose 58 years of collective history,” said Ruth Swaney, of the turnover in tribal council leadership resulting from the recent Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal council elections.
“It’s a momentous change.”
Three new council members were sworn in last Friday morning, along with two returning members.
James Steele, Jr., handily won re-election in the Arlee district, and was subsequently reappointed to the position of tribal council chair through a unanimous vote of the full council. Mike Kenmile also retained his seat in the Hot Springs district.
Bud Moran picked up the open seat in Pablo, beating out contender Joe Dupuis.
Two incumbents lost seats, in St. Ignatius and Dixon. Sonny Morigeau, who had been the longest standing council member, in office for 32 years, and Ron Trahan, both lost to new comers Terry Pitts and Charlie Morigeau.
Pitts especially promised change and attention to the constituency as part of his campaign.
Tribal members-elect were sworn in by Chief Justice of the Appellate Court, William Joe Moran, who first and foremost asked that the men uphold the terms of the U.S. Constitution.
“Tribal nations are not completely sovereign,” Moran later remarked. Their authority lies, he said, “somewhere between federal and state sovereignty.” Thus the new council was first sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and then the parameters of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
The Yamncut Singers led the ceremony with a flag song, which followed an opening prayer.
All the council members made opening remarks about their hopes for the new governing term.
“I feel real honored to serve you,” Bud Moran told the large assembled crowd. “I’m a member of a team that I think is going to do good things for the membership.”
The theme of unity was repeated throughout the morning.
Tribal Chair James Steele stated, “The three tribes together, that’s what makes us a great nation.”
Pitts remarked with his characteristic sincerity, “The one thing I really appreciate this morning is the spirit of love in the council chambers.”
There was, indeed, a feeling of hope flowing through the crowd. Murmurs in the chambers spoke of the positive change and spirit of hopefulness the newly elected council represents.
But the contribution of the past members was not swept under the rug.
“I want to remember the three, Lloyd, Ron and Sonny,” said council member Carole Lankford. “They taught me a lot about history and culture and what it means to be up here.”
“But the people have spoken,” she added.
And it was the people who were placed at the forefront of the new council members’ speeches.
“I thank you for this opportunity,” said Pitts to the crowd. “I will be honest and upfront.”
Moran echoed the sentiment by saying, “Communication is going to improve. I’ll do my best. My door is always open.”
And Charlie Morigeau put it directly, telling the crowd “Don’t ever forget — you are the power. We are your representatives.”
Tribal councilman Steve Lozar voiced the unspoken for the crowd.
“We just experienced a real difficult election,” he said, “that in a lot of ways tore at our hearts and divided us.”
“My hope is those divisions are just temporary and we look at this time forward as a time of healing, that we live by real respect, not just lip service.”
Lozar, who was elected council secretary, added, “It’s a day of optimism, a day of grace.”
The talk of working together came from seated tribal members as well. Mathias reflected on how the council needs to resolve issues, because they represent the family of the joined tribes.
“When the treaty of 1855 came, that shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “But it did. We have to live with that.”
After the swearing in and initial statements by the council, the Yamncut Singers offered an honoring song for health care workers honored later in the meeting, for the new council members, and for “our council members who are going on to do other things with their lives.”
“It’s a momentous change.”
Three new council members were sworn in last Friday morning, along with two returning members.
James Steele, Jr., handily won re-election in the Arlee district, and was subsequently reappointed to the position of tribal council chair through a unanimous vote of the full council. Mike Kenmile also retained his seat in the Hot Springs district.
Bud Moran picked up the open seat in Pablo, beating out contender Joe Dupuis.
Two incumbents lost seats, in St. Ignatius and Dixon. Sonny Morigeau, who had been the longest standing council member, in office for 32 years, and Ron Trahan, both lost to new comers Terry Pitts and Charlie Morigeau.
Pitts especially promised change and attention to the constituency as part of his campaign.
Tribal members-elect were sworn in by Chief Justice of the Appellate Court, William Joe Moran, who first and foremost asked that the men uphold the terms of the U.S. Constitution.
“Tribal nations are not completely sovereign,” Moran later remarked. Their authority lies, he said, “somewhere between federal and state sovereignty.” Thus the new council was first sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and then the parameters of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
The Yamncut Singers led the ceremony with a flag song, which followed an opening prayer.
All the council members made opening remarks about their hopes for the new governing term.
“I feel real honored to serve you,” Bud Moran told the large assembled crowd. “I’m a member of a team that I think is going to do good things for the membership.”
The theme of unity was repeated throughout the morning.
Tribal Chair James Steele stated, “The three tribes together, that’s what makes us a great nation.”
Pitts remarked with his characteristic sincerity, “The one thing I really appreciate this morning is the spirit of love in the council chambers.”
There was, indeed, a feeling of hope flowing through the crowd. Murmurs in the chambers spoke of the positive change and spirit of hopefulness the newly elected council represents.
But the contribution of the past members was not swept under the rug.
“I want to remember the three, Lloyd, Ron and Sonny,” said council member Carole Lankford. “They taught me a lot about history and culture and what it means to be up here.”
“But the people have spoken,” she added.
And it was the people who were placed at the forefront of the new council members’ speeches.
“I thank you for this opportunity,” said Pitts to the crowd. “I will be honest and upfront.”
Moran echoed the sentiment by saying, “Communication is going to improve. I’ll do my best. My door is always open.”
And Charlie Morigeau put it directly, telling the crowd “Don’t ever forget — you are the power. We are your representatives.”
Tribal councilman Steve Lozar voiced the unspoken for the crowd.
“We just experienced a real difficult election,” he said, “that in a lot of ways tore at our hearts and divided us.”
“My hope is those divisions are just temporary and we look at this time forward as a time of healing, that we live by real respect, not just lip service.”
Lozar, who was elected council secretary, added, “It’s a day of optimism, a day of grace.”
The talk of working together came from seated tribal members as well. Mathias reflected on how the council needs to resolve issues, because they represent the family of the joined tribes.
“When the treaty of 1855 came, that shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “But it did. We have to live with that.”
After the swearing in and initial statements by the council, the Yamncut Singers offered an honoring song for health care workers honored later in the meeting, for the new council members, and for “our council members who are going on to do other things with their lives.”
Colorful stars the specialty of local quilter
ARLEE — You can always see the stars in Arlee. The stellar bodies fall from the scissors of Jan Charlo on a regular basis, landing as multicolored patterns on satin and cotton quilts created by hand by the talented craftswoman.
Charlo began quilting over thirty years ago, when her first babies were born. Through the years her hobby evolved into a business, and expanded to include creation of fancy dance shawls and grass dance outfits for powwow participants.
Her niece gets the credit for the star shawls that are her specialty.
“One of my nieces designed a shawl with stars on it and asked me to make it. People saw it and wanted more,” Charlo said.
The outfits then become family heirlooms. “My outfits get passed down for years,” she said. “They’re made to last.”
Charlo estimates she’s made over 200 outfits for local and national dancers. Most all the work is bought by Native Americans.
“Very rarely do I sell to non-members,” Charlo said.
Still, the distribution goes beyond the confines of the Salish and Kootenai reservation.
“I make a lot of stuff that’s sent all over the country,” she said.
That has been changing, though, as the advertising rates in a national Native arts magazine Charlo used to run ads in have skyrocketed.
“It used to be affordable but now it’s gone up too high,” she said.
It’s a loss for her business. “I used to get thirty calls a month.” Though not all the calls turned into orders, the work was steady.
But when her mom got ill, then suffered injuries in a car accident, Charlo’s life focus necessarily changed. “I had the responsibility of caring for her as she got more and more helpless.”
After her mom entered a nursing home, Charlo moved to South Dakota for four years.
“That’s a sad place,” she said.
“It’s a hard place to be a kid. It’s a hard place to be a teacher,” said Charlo, who taught in the Pine Ridge reservation schools.
She might still be there, as she loved working with the children, but she said, “My grandkids were getting old enough to use the telephone, and they’d call and ask me to come over and have a tea party. They didn’t understand I was so far away.”
“It became more and more apparent I needed to come home. I didn’t want my grandkids to grow up without their grandma.”
Charlo decided, “It’s time to turn efforts to home.” She now has four grandchildren, whom she adores.
It was the right move for her.
“I belong here,” she said.
Charlo works out of the small cabin where she raised her four children those many years ago. Her grandkids’ toys are scattered throughout the house and through the yard, attesting to their grandmother’s devotion. And everywhere, there are the bright hues of summer flowers represented in fabric being worked.
Quilt backs drape chairs, the antique sewing machine in the living room has pieces to be sewn and the quilting machine, where Charlo creates her characteristic puffy cloud design on the tops, is covered over by a huge picture quilt in progress.
The quilting, stitching that binds the layers of fabric and batting together, used to be done by hand. But years ago, thanks to a small business loan that targeted entrepreneurial businesswomen, Charlo was able to purchase a machine quilter. It allows her to make thicker, comforter-style quilts.
“That’s one of my trademarks, thicker, puffier quilts,” Charlo said.
People are pleased by the thickness, she said, and Charlo’s work is often given as a wedding or graduation gift to young people starting their own households.
Most of Charlo’s quilts carry her trademark star. The image is a common icon in Native American culture.
“Just as Native American men took to the horse, Native Plains women took the star quilt pattern and made it their own,” Charlo’s business brochure explains.
Star quilts, Charlo said, have “become very significant to Native Americans, replacing the buffalo robe” in ceremonial giveaways.
“In Plains tribes it is a necessary thing for births and deaths,” she added.
For Charlo, though, it was a family occurrence that brought her the star.
“When Vic’s mom died, I was given this star, and eventually I found someone to show me how to make a top.
It took many, many years to hand quilt it.”
That could have been the end of her experience with the star, but in 1993, Charlo needed a number of quilts for a giveaway, so she made star quilts. And she used one as a backdrop for some photos of children she took while teaching.
That quilt caught the eye of a parent who offered to buy it, and Charlo, by now a single mom, realized her talent could be used as a source of income for her family.
Charlo uses the strip quilting method to make her stars, where strips of different colored fabrics are sewn together to make a square. Those squares are then cut along the diagonal to make a series of diamonds, which in turn are pieced together to make the large eight-pointed stars that top the quilts.
She uses the same method to create the less common picture quilts.
The picture quilts, Charlo said, take much more time and concentration.
Because the pattern does not repeat in a picture quilt, but needs to vary strip by strip, each strip needs to be sewn individually, planned in advance. Those strips are also made of half-diamonds, to try to smooth the points that occur when designing with only straight lines.
As a result, Charlo only makes the picture quilts to order.
Her favorite design she calls “Gold Buckle.” The image was designed for a woman bronc rider in the 1940’s, and was given to her by an elderly South Dakota woman about 15 years ago. She now makes the bronc-riding “Gold Buckle” on request, usually for a rodeo rider.
Currently, Charlo is busy making baby quilts. One, a springtime satin of greens and pinks speaks of the softness of a new baby girl.
And then there’s all that Thomas the Tank Engine material on the table.
“That’s for my grandson,” Charlo said. “He’s just obsessed.”
Charlo began quilting over thirty years ago, when her first babies were born. Through the years her hobby evolved into a business, and expanded to include creation of fancy dance shawls and grass dance outfits for powwow participants.
Her niece gets the credit for the star shawls that are her specialty.
“One of my nieces designed a shawl with stars on it and asked me to make it. People saw it and wanted more,” Charlo said.
The outfits then become family heirlooms. “My outfits get passed down for years,” she said. “They’re made to last.”
Charlo estimates she’s made over 200 outfits for local and national dancers. Most all the work is bought by Native Americans.
“Very rarely do I sell to non-members,” Charlo said.
Still, the distribution goes beyond the confines of the Salish and Kootenai reservation.
“I make a lot of stuff that’s sent all over the country,” she said.
That has been changing, though, as the advertising rates in a national Native arts magazine Charlo used to run ads in have skyrocketed.
“It used to be affordable but now it’s gone up too high,” she said.
It’s a loss for her business. “I used to get thirty calls a month.” Though not all the calls turned into orders, the work was steady.
But when her mom got ill, then suffered injuries in a car accident, Charlo’s life focus necessarily changed. “I had the responsibility of caring for her as she got more and more helpless.”
After her mom entered a nursing home, Charlo moved to South Dakota for four years.
“That’s a sad place,” she said.
“It’s a hard place to be a kid. It’s a hard place to be a teacher,” said Charlo, who taught in the Pine Ridge reservation schools.
She might still be there, as she loved working with the children, but she said, “My grandkids were getting old enough to use the telephone, and they’d call and ask me to come over and have a tea party. They didn’t understand I was so far away.”
“It became more and more apparent I needed to come home. I didn’t want my grandkids to grow up without their grandma.”
Charlo decided, “It’s time to turn efforts to home.” She now has four grandchildren, whom she adores.
It was the right move for her.
“I belong here,” she said.
Charlo works out of the small cabin where she raised her four children those many years ago. Her grandkids’ toys are scattered throughout the house and through the yard, attesting to their grandmother’s devotion. And everywhere, there are the bright hues of summer flowers represented in fabric being worked.
Quilt backs drape chairs, the antique sewing machine in the living room has pieces to be sewn and the quilting machine, where Charlo creates her characteristic puffy cloud design on the tops, is covered over by a huge picture quilt in progress.
The quilting, stitching that binds the layers of fabric and batting together, used to be done by hand. But years ago, thanks to a small business loan that targeted entrepreneurial businesswomen, Charlo was able to purchase a machine quilter. It allows her to make thicker, comforter-style quilts.
“That’s one of my trademarks, thicker, puffier quilts,” Charlo said.
People are pleased by the thickness, she said, and Charlo’s work is often given as a wedding or graduation gift to young people starting their own households.
Most of Charlo’s quilts carry her trademark star. The image is a common icon in Native American culture.
“Just as Native American men took to the horse, Native Plains women took the star quilt pattern and made it their own,” Charlo’s business brochure explains.
Star quilts, Charlo said, have “become very significant to Native Americans, replacing the buffalo robe” in ceremonial giveaways.
“In Plains tribes it is a necessary thing for births and deaths,” she added.
For Charlo, though, it was a family occurrence that brought her the star.
“When Vic’s mom died, I was given this star, and eventually I found someone to show me how to make a top.
It took many, many years to hand quilt it.”
That could have been the end of her experience with the star, but in 1993, Charlo needed a number of quilts for a giveaway, so she made star quilts. And she used one as a backdrop for some photos of children she took while teaching.
That quilt caught the eye of a parent who offered to buy it, and Charlo, by now a single mom, realized her talent could be used as a source of income for her family.
Charlo uses the strip quilting method to make her stars, where strips of different colored fabrics are sewn together to make a square. Those squares are then cut along the diagonal to make a series of diamonds, which in turn are pieced together to make the large eight-pointed stars that top the quilts.
She uses the same method to create the less common picture quilts.
The picture quilts, Charlo said, take much more time and concentration.
Because the pattern does not repeat in a picture quilt, but needs to vary strip by strip, each strip needs to be sewn individually, planned in advance. Those strips are also made of half-diamonds, to try to smooth the points that occur when designing with only straight lines.
As a result, Charlo only makes the picture quilts to order.
Her favorite design she calls “Gold Buckle.” The image was designed for a woman bronc rider in the 1940’s, and was given to her by an elderly South Dakota woman about 15 years ago. She now makes the bronc-riding “Gold Buckle” on request, usually for a rodeo rider.
Currently, Charlo is busy making baby quilts. One, a springtime satin of greens and pinks speaks of the softness of a new baby girl.
And then there’s all that Thomas the Tank Engine material on the table.
“That’s for my grandson,” Charlo said. “He’s just obsessed.”
Jocko trails group hopeful despite lack of funds
ARLEE — It’s not yet on the ground, but the trail system formerly known as the Arlee bike path has undergone a transformation in scope and in name.
The newly christened Jocko Valley Trail System will reach beyond the original scope of a simple off-highway walking path, to create a series of interlinking trails in and around the town of Arlee, including the hills and river bottoms of the Jocko Valley.
The change is not as radical as it might seem.
The small group of citizens working on designating the paths originally expected funding through the Highway 93 realignment process that would let them establish an off-highway path for residents to get to and from school and local stores without needing to compete with automobile and truck traffic on the roadway.
That funding was not to be.
Stymied for only a moment, the group decided to go forth with its plans to design and designate an off-road trail system to serve residents of the Jocko Valley.
Many potential paths already exist, it turns out, and may merely need to be mapped. Easements through private properties will need to be addressed, as will establishment of connector links away from heavily trafficked roadways.
But the group is hopeful. In the planning stage is a meeting with a National Parks trails coordinator from Billings, as well as seeking out grants to fund the project.
The group, which meets monthly, is a committee of the Arlee Community Development Corporation.
The newly christened Jocko Valley Trail System will reach beyond the original scope of a simple off-highway walking path, to create a series of interlinking trails in and around the town of Arlee, including the hills and river bottoms of the Jocko Valley.
The change is not as radical as it might seem.
The small group of citizens working on designating the paths originally expected funding through the Highway 93 realignment process that would let them establish an off-highway path for residents to get to and from school and local stores without needing to compete with automobile and truck traffic on the roadway.
That funding was not to be.
Stymied for only a moment, the group decided to go forth with its plans to design and designate an off-road trail system to serve residents of the Jocko Valley.
Many potential paths already exist, it turns out, and may merely need to be mapped. Easements through private properties will need to be addressed, as will establishment of connector links away from heavily trafficked roadways.
But the group is hopeful. In the planning stage is a meeting with a National Parks trails coordinator from Billings, as well as seeking out grants to fund the project.
The group, which meets monthly, is a committee of the Arlee Community Development Corporation.
Lake County politicos unite in resolution to protect Flathead River basin
POLSON — Lake County Democrats and Republicans want people to recognize that water quality is an issue that surpasses party lines. In fact, protecting Flathead Lake is an issue that crosses national boundaries as well.
The two parties have issued a joint resolution supporting the protection of the entire Flathead River basin, from Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park through Flathead Lake and the entire Flathead River drainage.
Gehrand Bechard and Suzanne Luepke, leaders of the Lake County Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, signed the document on December 27 in honor of their general constituencies to show the dedication the people of Montana have for preserving the quality of the state’s environment.
“It’s a topic I’m very concerned about,” said Bechard. “It’s a very real thing that people need to pay more attention to. Flathead lake is a very fragile lake. People don’t recognize that because it’s so big.”
The joint resolution references coal mining and coal-bed methane extraction planned for the northern areas of the basin, across the nation’s border in Canada.
“We have grave concerns that the proposed massive development could have critical and dangerous impacts on the Flathead River Basin, its biodiversity and high water quality,” the document states.
“I don’t think the value of the dollar replaces the value of this lake,” Bechard emphasized.
The resolution recognizes the right of Canada to develop it resources, but takes aim at the value of such development.
“Coal development and coal-bed methane extraction hold the potential for short-term monetary gains in Canada,” the resolution acknowledges, but they conflict with Montana’s constitutional promise of a healthful environment. Thus the document proclaims the coal developments’ “long-term negative impacts, including significant pollution in both the United States and Canada, far outweigh any conceivable benefit to either nation.”
It’s not such a wild fear, Bechard said.
“I’ve seen lakes become so polluted that you can’t even swim in them,” Bechard said.
When he was living in California, the republican chair frequented Paris Lake.
“It’s 1,000 to 1,500 acres in size. We all boated on it.” But the lake “became unusable due to the disrespect of nature,” Bechard said. He said pollution form trash, sewage and boat effluvia made the lake unsuitable for human recreation. He fears the same thing could happen to Flathead.
“(People) feel it’s always going to be here in the same form, but its not,” Bechard said.
“It’s dangerous to allow contamination to start,” Bechard said of his interest in protecting the Flathead’s waters.
Luepke agrees.
“I am very interested in the water issues and do support them,” she said.
“Everybody wants the water to be clean, it’s not a partisan issue.”
While the resolution addresses Canadian mining, Luepke said the joint resolution is not meant to antagonize the Canadian government.
“The Flathead Basin Commission has been working really hard with the Canadians,” she said. Instead, the proclamation is an expression of cooperation between the American political parties, Bechard said.
“We want to show them we are united in a front to protect this lake,” he stated.
“It’s not to harm them,” Bechard said of the Canadian businesses, “but the sites they have picked out will really harm our lake.”
The writers of the agreement hope that “governmental organizations, concerned institutions and other political entities in both the United States and Canada (will) work cooperatively to protect our crystal clear and clean waters as well as the beauty and pristine nature of the entire Flathead Basin,” according to the document.
Both representatives hope the resolution gets the attention of all those who might impact the environment of the Flathead River basin.
“Everybody was agreeable that it was a good ting to do,” Lupeke said.
The two parties have issued a joint resolution supporting the protection of the entire Flathead River basin, from Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park through Flathead Lake and the entire Flathead River drainage.
Gehrand Bechard and Suzanne Luepke, leaders of the Lake County Republican and Democratic parties, respectively, signed the document on December 27 in honor of their general constituencies to show the dedication the people of Montana have for preserving the quality of the state’s environment.
“It’s a topic I’m very concerned about,” said Bechard. “It’s a very real thing that people need to pay more attention to. Flathead lake is a very fragile lake. People don’t recognize that because it’s so big.”
The joint resolution references coal mining and coal-bed methane extraction planned for the northern areas of the basin, across the nation’s border in Canada.
“We have grave concerns that the proposed massive development could have critical and dangerous impacts on the Flathead River Basin, its biodiversity and high water quality,” the document states.
“I don’t think the value of the dollar replaces the value of this lake,” Bechard emphasized.
The resolution recognizes the right of Canada to develop it resources, but takes aim at the value of such development.
“Coal development and coal-bed methane extraction hold the potential for short-term monetary gains in Canada,” the resolution acknowledges, but they conflict with Montana’s constitutional promise of a healthful environment. Thus the document proclaims the coal developments’ “long-term negative impacts, including significant pollution in both the United States and Canada, far outweigh any conceivable benefit to either nation.”
It’s not such a wild fear, Bechard said.
“I’ve seen lakes become so polluted that you can’t even swim in them,” Bechard said.
When he was living in California, the republican chair frequented Paris Lake.
“It’s 1,000 to 1,500 acres in size. We all boated on it.” But the lake “became unusable due to the disrespect of nature,” Bechard said. He said pollution form trash, sewage and boat effluvia made the lake unsuitable for human recreation. He fears the same thing could happen to Flathead.
“(People) feel it’s always going to be here in the same form, but its not,” Bechard said.
“It’s dangerous to allow contamination to start,” Bechard said of his interest in protecting the Flathead’s waters.
Luepke agrees.
“I am very interested in the water issues and do support them,” she said.
“Everybody wants the water to be clean, it’s not a partisan issue.”
While the resolution addresses Canadian mining, Luepke said the joint resolution is not meant to antagonize the Canadian government.
“The Flathead Basin Commission has been working really hard with the Canadians,” she said. Instead, the proclamation is an expression of cooperation between the American political parties, Bechard said.
“We want to show them we are united in a front to protect this lake,” he stated.
“It’s not to harm them,” Bechard said of the Canadian businesses, “but the sites they have picked out will really harm our lake.”
The writers of the agreement hope that “governmental organizations, concerned institutions and other political entities in both the United States and Canada (will) work cooperatively to protect our crystal clear and clean waters as well as the beauty and pristine nature of the entire Flathead Basin,” according to the document.
Both representatives hope the resolution gets the attention of all those who might impact the environment of the Flathead River basin.
“Everybody was agreeable that it was a good ting to do,” Lupeke said.
Chance to buy local pasties is once-a-year opportunity
ST. IGNATIUS — They’re the size of a plate, I’m told. Well, a plate folded over, Aylee Bain corrects. The classic Butte Irish pasty is a staple of sorts in Mission, too. The Mission Valley United Methodist women make them every year “for the Super Bowl,” said Patty Krantz, another Methodist woman.
The ladies make them in the new United Methodist Church kitchen, whereas in the past they used to work in the decidedly closer quarters of the St. Ignatius Senior Center. But with the Center’s kitchen being remodeled, and the new church kitchen available, the location this year was a no brainer.
“We have this lovely new kitchen,” said Lois McPherson of the new church, who with Bain is taking orders for this year’s meat pies.
The ladies make 90 dozen a year, they said. That’s over a thousand pasties, created in just two days by a passel of church volunteers.
“Oh, people always want us to make them again, and we did that one year, but no more,” said McPherson. She explains quite clearly there is one chance and one chance only, each year, to buy the meaty treats.
“We’ve been making them forever and ever,” she said of the number of years the women have been creating the pies.
For those who don’t know, a pasty is a meat pie, made by placing a good portion of filling atop a circle of dough, and folding it over like a calzone or a quesadilla. The crust of a pasty is like that of a pie, unlike noodle-based filled dough pouches such as ravioli, or bread-dough filled pouches such as bierocks or knishes.
The women grind “very good quality beef, it’s very lean,” said McPherson, with onions and potato, and use a cup full as filling for each bread-plate sized pasty. They bake them to a golden brown before selling, so that all a purchaser has to do is reheat them in the oven or microwave.
“They make a great meal,” Bain mentioned. “One is enough.”
“People will buy a couple dozen and freeze them to have,” said McPherson. But the chance to purchase them is limited, and is happening now.
The women are taking orders this week only for the pies, and will be creating the savory treats on only two days, Jan. 19 and 21, at the church.
Orders can be called in to Ayleen Bain at 745-4532, or Lois McPherson at 745-4535. Pasties cost $2 each, and are picked up at the church after they’ve been baked. All the women said they’re a deal, and a tasty meal to boot.
The ladies make them in the new United Methodist Church kitchen, whereas in the past they used to work in the decidedly closer quarters of the St. Ignatius Senior Center. But with the Center’s kitchen being remodeled, and the new church kitchen available, the location this year was a no brainer.
“We have this lovely new kitchen,” said Lois McPherson of the new church, who with Bain is taking orders for this year’s meat pies.
The ladies make 90 dozen a year, they said. That’s over a thousand pasties, created in just two days by a passel of church volunteers.
“Oh, people always want us to make them again, and we did that one year, but no more,” said McPherson. She explains quite clearly there is one chance and one chance only, each year, to buy the meaty treats.
“We’ve been making them forever and ever,” she said of the number of years the women have been creating the pies.
For those who don’t know, a pasty is a meat pie, made by placing a good portion of filling atop a circle of dough, and folding it over like a calzone or a quesadilla. The crust of a pasty is like that of a pie, unlike noodle-based filled dough pouches such as ravioli, or bread-dough filled pouches such as bierocks or knishes.
The women grind “very good quality beef, it’s very lean,” said McPherson, with onions and potato, and use a cup full as filling for each bread-plate sized pasty. They bake them to a golden brown before selling, so that all a purchaser has to do is reheat them in the oven or microwave.
“They make a great meal,” Bain mentioned. “One is enough.”
“People will buy a couple dozen and freeze them to have,” said McPherson. But the chance to purchase them is limited, and is happening now.
The women are taking orders this week only for the pies, and will be creating the savory treats on only two days, Jan. 19 and 21, at the church.
Orders can be called in to Ayleen Bain at 745-4532, or Lois McPherson at 745-4535. Pasties cost $2 each, and are picked up at the church after they’ve been baked. All the women said they’re a deal, and a tasty meal to boot.
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