News in Brief

Free healthcare screenings coming to area

EBS STAFF

Bozeman Health’s Healthcare Connections is offering free adult preventative healthcare screenings in Big Sky on June 15. This is a good opportunity for the uninsured or underinsured to have basic healthcare tests performed.

Services will include heart and stroke screenings, clinical breast exams and free mammography screening vouchers, a comprehensive metabolic panel and complete blood count, as well as diabetes and obesity screenings.

Additionally, the service offers bone-density screenings, adult immunization shots for flu, pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. A pharmacist will also be on hand to answer medication questions.

The service will be held in the Bozeman Health Healthcare Connections van in the Conoco gas station parking lot at the corner of Highway 191 and Lone Mountain Trail from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday June 15, and will return on Sept. 28.

Healthcare Connections will also be present in West Yellowstone on June 15 from 3-7 p.m.; June 16 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Sept. 28 from 3–7 p.m.; and Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Majority of 2015-2016 snowmelt occurred ahead of schedule

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

Water users across the state of Montana have seen streams swell with snowmelt over the last month, and a substantial portion of this year’s snowpack has melted as of June 1, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Snowpack in the state peaked in early April in most locations and has experienced substantial melt over the last two months. May weather patterns were more favorable with regards to slowing snow-melt rates and prolonging the snow water further into the summer, but earlier than average melt has resulted in below normal snowpack levels for June 1.

According to NRCS, at this time of year 25 to 50 percent of the annual snowpack typically remains to enter the river systems, but this year only 10 to 40 percent of the annual snowpack peak remained on June 1.

The early melt has resulted in reservoir storage across the state that is near or above average in all basins, as reservoir managers have been able to capture the snow water runoff in reservoirs.

“For irrigators and water users that rely on river systems with reservoir storage this is good news,” said Lucas Zukiewicz, NRCS water supply specialist. “However, for water users that rely on naturally flowing streams the early melt has left less water available as we enter summer … On these streams, summer precipitation will play a critic

Gov. Bullock to discuss Montana open lands at Chamber’s annual meeting

EBS STAFF

Gov. Steve Bullock will be the keynote speaker for the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Big Sky, Big Idea” meeting on June 15. In its 19th year, the event will be held at Big Sky Resort’s Yellowstone Conference Center.

Dubbed “the most important meal in town,” this year’s annual meeting will celebrate the value of open lands to Montana families and businesses.

Last November, the governor officially recognized July as Montana Open Land Month. Ten Big Sky businesses have rallied behind the announcement by raising funds with their “Step Up for Open Land” initiative.

The Big Sky Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting is the Chamber’s largest event of the year with over 200 business people in attendance.

Kitty Clemens, the Chamber’s Executive Director, expects record attendance this year. Several awards will be given to businesses and individuals who demonstrate exemplary leadership and give back to the community.

For more information, please contact Margo Magnant, Membership Director at (406) 995-3000 or margo@bigskychamber.com

Fatality in Yellowstone

Park sees second thermal-related visitor incident this summer

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

A man in his early 20s walked off the designated boardwalk, slipped, and fell into a hot spring at the Norris Geyser Basin June 7.

Colin Nathaniel Scott, 23, from Portland, Ore., was with his sister, Sable Scott, when the incident occurred approximately 225 yards off the boardwalk near Pork Chop Geyser. The victim’s sister reported the incident to rangers that afternoon.

Using extreme caution given the hazards of the thermal area, rangers confirmed Scott’s death that evening. On June 8, as EBS sent this issue to press, rangers were focusing their efforts on recovering the body.

The Norris Geyser Basin is open; however, visitors should anticipate temporary closures in the area until the investigation is complete.

“We extend our sympathy to the Scott family,” said Superintendent Dan Wenk. “This tragic event must remind all of us to follow the regulations and stay on boardwalks when visiting Yellowstone’s geyser basins.”

This fatality is the second known thermal-related incident to occur in the park during the 2016 summer season. On June 6, a father and son suffered burns in the Upper Geyser Basin after walking off the designated trail in the therma

LPHS ranks in top 10 for class C athletics

EBS STAFF

Although Lone Peak High School’s athletic program is still quite green, it rates high when compared to other Class C schools in the state.

According to results compiled by Missoula-based news station KPAX, the Big Horns are tied for ninth place when points for its finishes in Montana High School Association-sanctioned contests are totaled.

KPAX added up points for every MHSA-sanctioned sport throughout the year, allotting 10 points for a championship down to one point for an 8th place finish.

The Big Horns and Lady Big Horns amassed 16 points, enough to tie for ninth place with Ennis, the only other Class C high school the Big Horns regularly face to make the list.

The LPHS girls’ golf team took home a state championship this spring and Luisa Locker won the state Class C Singles title. The Big Horns’ 2015 football season ended during the quarterfinal round of the Class C six-man playoffs, and the Lady Big Horns volleyball team made it to the 8C District tournament as the third seed before being knocked out by White Sulphur Springs.

According to MHSA Associate Director Joanne Austin, there are 105 schools in Montana classified as Class C, meaning their student enrollment falls within the 1-119 range.