News 09-02-09

“Montana’s Biggest Weekend” ready to roll

By J.P. Plutt

Dillon Tribune staff

The hay is stacked, the kids have started school, footballs are in the air and fall is on the door step. For the folks in Beaverhead County and for friends and relatives from far and near that means Dillon's Labor Day celebration is on tap.

Montana's Biggest Weekend provides a traditional fair and rodeo weekend to signal the end of summer and a transition from shorts and t-shirts into long pants and jackets. Before that shift occurs, time stops for the three-day weekend, and citizens enjoy the western-style festival.

Beaverhead County Fair

Entries begin rolling in Wednesday, all with hopes of grand championship results. The fair gates open officially Thursday morning at 8 a.m. and close Sunday afternoon. Throughout the four-day run, visitors can take a step back in time. A walk through the various fair buildings will duplicate similar strolls of 50 years ago. Prize flowers and baked goods, fruits and leather projects and all other such entries will meet the critical stare of a judge's eye.

At the livestock pens hogs, steers, and sheep, along with rabbits, roosters and farm animals of all sorts, will be shown by young 4-H kids in the traditional white shirt, and dark pants and tie.

The financial future of these young producers will change Saturday afternoon at the sale barn when supporters bid up the prices on the hogs, sheep and steers. Traditionally, that payoff from a year's work is deposited in the 4-H member's college fund.

Craft Fair

The Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce hosts the Blue Ribbon Craft Fair on the Old Depot Lawn Sept. 5-7. The event features local, regional and national vendors runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday.

Carnival

The Mighty Thomas Brothers enter their fourth year as Dillon’s carnival, and the professionally run show brings a clean, upbeat atmosphere that has garnered a host of fans in the Dillon area.

The carnival, which will be open Sept. 3-6, is a big company traveling from a show in Miles City to another show at Salt Lake. Dillon fits into the travel plans to make it a win-win. Dillon can handle only a portion of the show, so this year the carnival will rotate rides into Dillon that weren't at the show last year.

Rodeo

The Dillon Jaycees will stage the 53rd edition of their PRCA rodeo. The highlight of Montana's Biggest Weekend, the show matches top stock from Wade Sankey against some of the best cowboys in the world. Each performance opens with a nontraditional PRCA event, the Reg Kesler Memorial Wild Horse Race. Action is nonstop through the bull riding finale.

Saturday's rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m., while the wild horses buck out of the chutes at 1:30 p.m. to kickoff the Sunday performance. From Wednesday on, tickets will be available at the Jaycee Building (683-5771) at the fairgrounds.

Concert

The Dillon Jaycee concert features country western talent, with The Lost Trailers opening for Josh Gracin. The two-act performance is staged at the rodeo arena and begins Sunday evening at 8 p.m. For ticket information, call 683-5771.

Fire Department Labor Day Breakfast

The Dillon Volunteer Fire Department will hold their annual breakfast Monday morning at the Fire Hall from 7 a.m. to noon. Whether you’re just heading home or just heading to the parade, stop by and support this worthwhile organization. The menu includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, milk, juice and coffee at $5 a person. Kids eight and under eat for free.

Parade

The weekend slows down Monday with the deliberate pace of the Jaycee Labor Day parade. The parade harkens back to days of old, with floats and horseback riders, novelty acts and candy for the kids. The theme is “Into the Future.” For more parade information, contact Wendy Horner (925-1089).

Night life

For the young and young at heart, Dillon's night life reaches a peak during Labor Day Weekend. Music, dancing and meeting old and new friends highlight the social activity in uptown Dillon.

Tragic accident in Dillon 30 years ago

By J.P. Plutt

Dillon Tribune staff

The Labor Day Parade tragedy in 1979 cost the life of Montana Air National Guard pilot Joel Rude. Fifteen other spectators were injured including Faye Patacini, 40, of Whitehall. Patacini, four months pregnant, was admitted to the burn center in Great Falls with burns over 40 percent of her body. Leo Barnette, a highway patrolman, was struck by debris and listed in stable condition at Barrett Hospital as were Sandra Rebich, 20, and Louise White, 60, both of Dillon.

The F-106 fighter plane piloted by Rude and another by Alfred Schultz, both of the 120th Fighter Interceptor Squadron out of Great Falls, were engaged in a fly over of the Dillon parade when the left wing of Rude’s plane clipped a grain elevator near the intersection of Montana Street and Helena Street. Rude died upon ejection. Businesses and homes within three blocks of the site were damaged.

The tragedy could have been much worse. The jets made two passes over Dillon. The first, going south and the second fatal pass going north. Had the plane been traveling south at the time of the accident, the plane would have landed amidst thousands of parade watchers. Secondly, the parade started 11 minutes late. Had the parade started on time, the area of the crash site would have been covered with parade participants but was instead empty.

Dillon Jaycees name four retired firemen as parade marshals

By J.P. Plutt

Dillon Tribune staff

The Dillon Jaycees have named Bill Walker, Parke Scott, Scott Marsh, and Kirk Bergeson as Grand Marshals of the 2009 Dillon Jaycee Labor Day Parade. The Jaycees chose to honor the four after their recent retirements from the Dillon Volunteer Fire Department. The four combined for 94 years service to the fire department.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Marsh on behalf of the group. “As somebody that has grown up in Dillon, I’ve always felt that those were the outstanding, top-of-the-line people. I’ve known a lot of them and they’ve all been wonderful, civic-minded people. So to be asked may be one of the biggest honors that Dillon can bestow upon somebody. We were just a small part of the fire department and everybody who went before us, we’re riding on their coattails. Our predecessors are the ones who built the fire department up to where it is today. We feel that we’re representing the current and all of the past fire department members.”

Making the honor even more special for Marsh is his respect for the work the Dillon Jaycees do for the community of Dillon. Marsh says the jobs he took as a young man prevented him from joining the service organization but that he has always been “proud to come from a community that has an organization such as the Jaycees.”

Bergeson agrees with Marsh’s assessment of the Jaycees, calling them a “marvelous organization,” noting that every project the group takes on they do a great job, despite their dwindling membership numbers.

On the anniversary of the jet crash tragedy in which fire departments from Dillon, Twin Bridges, Sheridan, Melrose and Wisdom, as well as the Forest Service’s fire retardant drops by helicopter, controlled the ensuing blaze within hours, both men were asked about the event. Neither Marsh nor Bergeson had yet joined the DVFD.

“I was standing at the Jaycee Park with my family,” recalled Bergeson. “We watched the jets go over to the south and then we watched them go over to the north. It was quite strange because there wasn’t a noise but there was this mushroom cloud that rose up into the air. The lady beside me said, ‘My goodness, they dropped a bomb.’”

Bergeson rushed to the grain elevator and asked if he could help in any way. Later he went to the family business, which was on Montana Street near the crash site and watched the responders through the window.

Marsh recalls the 1979 was the first he had ever missed up to that time. His wife had accepted a teaching position at Polaris and they were making their new home in the Grasshopper Valley. “So we didn’t come to Dillon that Labor Day and I’ll never forget, I turned on the evening news that night and I’m sure it was Roger Mudd and he said there was a plane crash in Dillon, Montana during the Labor Day Parade. All I could think was, ‘Oh my gosh, everybody is dead.’”

The next day he drove down Montana Street to see the damage and has a clear visual image of the jet engine sitting in the middle of the street, just down from Bergeson’s shop.

Bill Walker has been in the back country of Alaska packing moose hunters and could not be reached for comment. Scott could not be reached for comment. Marsh regrets he will be out of town on a vacation planned before he learned of the honor. Bergeson says he will have Parke’s wife Pam twist his arm to get him to ride the parade route with him. Bergeson intends to at least have pictures of the three other honorees with him as he enjoys the tour of Dillon as Grand Marshal of the Labor Day Parade.

Births 09-02-09

Donald and Sarah Copple of Dillon are parents of a girl born Aug. 7.

Obituaries 09-02-09

John H. Anderson, Jr.

1916-2009

John H. Anderson, Jr., 93, a lifelong resident, rancher and statesman of Beaverhead and Madison counties, passed away Aug. 24, at the Tobacco Root Care Center in Sheridan.

John H. Anderson, Jr. was born in Dillon on July 9, 1916. His parents, John and Egidia, both immigrants from Denmark, homesteaded in Beaverhead County and later bought additional property in Madison County. They relocated to Alder in 1920. John was the oldest of four children. He attended grade school at Alder and graduated from Virginia City High School in 1934. John attended two years at Montana State College in Bozeman before becoming associated with his father on the family ranch. In 1943 he started operating for himself by leasing the ranch and livestock from his father.

John married Estella Hansen on Feb. 1, 1948. They built their home on the lower Larabie Ranch in Alder, which became the primary headquarters for their family ranching operation. John played an important role in Montana’s government. He served two terms in the House of Representatives representing Madison County and two terms in the Senate representing Beaverhead, Madison, and part of Gallatin counties. John served on the Natural Resource, Taxation, Fish and Game, Township and Counties, and Livestock and Range committees. However, he frequently said that his greatest privilege was to be elected, along with Carl Davis, to represent Madison and Beaverhead County at the Constitutional Convention of 1972.

The Environmental Article, a product of John’s service on the Natural Resources Committee, has become a model for other states, as well as the federal government. John and his colleague Carl Davis sponsored the Constitution’s Water Article, and John and Erv Geysler served as a sub-committee and wrote the Agriculture Article. John had memberships in many organizations and committees: He was a lifetime member and past exalted ruler of the B.P.O.E. Lodge No 390, Virginia City; a member of the Masonic bodies of Virginia City and Bagdad Temple of the Shrine, Butte; and a member of the Danish Brotherhood Lodge No. 273, Dillon. He served 18 years on the Alder School Board and seven years on the Sheridan High School Board. He was active in the Montana Woolgrowers and Montana Stockgrowers Associations. He was also a member of the National Cattleman’s Association, a charter member and director of the Montana Public Lands Council and served as a director and past-president of the Southwestern Montana Stockmen’s Association. Additionally, he served as director and past chairman of the Advisory Board for Grazing on BLM lands in the Butte District. He served on the Committee of Montana Citizens for Court Improvement, was a member since 1963 of the Board of Directors for the First Northwestern National Bank of Dillon, and served as Board President of the Federal Land Bank Association of Bozeman and Dillon, during his 17 years as a board member.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Edna and beloved wife Estella. He is survived by his children, sons John (Karen) and Jim (Addie) of Alder; daughters Jean Bluett of Alder and Joan (Tom) Eliel of Townsend; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Marie Battle and Clara Cragholm, brother-in-law Karl Sauerbier, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 31 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dillon. BPOE Elks Lodge #390 conducted a Lodge of Sorrows at the K&L Mortuary Chapel in Sheridan on Sunday, Aug. 30.

Memorials may be made to the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #390 Scholarship fund; The First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dillon, MT; the Tobacco Root Mountain Care Center, Sheridan, MT, or charity of choice.

Sandra Rae Benbow

1946-2009

Sandra Rae Benbow, 63, of Blackfoot, Idaho, passed away peacefully Friday, Aug. 28, at her home surrounded by her family.

She was born July 4, 1946, in Malad, Idaho, to Leland and Virginia Pauline Dixon Madsen. She lived in Malad for one year, when her family bought a ranch in Patterson. She attended school in Patterson and graduated from High School in Challis. Sandra has also lived in Lewistown for six years, Long Beach, Calif. for a short time, Salmon, Idaho, four years, and in Dillon for 24 years. She moved to Blackfoot in 2006.

On July 1, 1971, she married George Benbow in Elko, NV.

Sandra worked for Parkview Convalescent Center in Dillon.

She enjoyed fishing, camping, and dancing.

Sandra is survived by her husband, George; three sons, Mike (Kimberly) Benbow, George (Cheryl) Benbow, all of Blackfoot, Geoff (Christy) Benbow, of Bozeman; one daughter, Wendy (Sean) Smith, of Cedar City, Utah; two brothers, Keith Madsen and Gary Madsen, both of May, Idaho; one sister, Kaye Simmons, of Salmon, Idaho; grandchildren: Sydney Smith of Cedar City, Utah, Kolton Dalton of Blackfoot, Wendy Alverez of Crestline, Calif., Ashley Valenvuela of Dillon; and great-grandchildren: Triston Alverez, Jace Alverez, Lillie Valenvuela, Carlos Valenvuela, Jr., and Ariana Valenvuela.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Kenny.

In accordance with her wishes no public services will be held. Private family services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Hawker Funeral Home in Blackfoot.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to: Kenny Madsen Memorial Fund, c/o Eastern Idaho Credit Union, P. O. Box 262, Challis, Idaho 83226-0262.

Orban C. "Calvin" Jackson

1988-2009

Orban C. "Calvin" Jackson, 21 of Lima, moved on to ride for the Lord in Helena on Aug. 28, 2009.

He was born in Dillon on April 30, 1988, to Orban and Ruth Jackson. He graduated valedictorian of his high school class and enlisted in the Montana Army National Guard in 2006. He attended Helena Vo-Tech in 2007 and 2008, and studied welding and metal fabrication.

He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, riding 4 wheelers, and anything to do with horses. He also loved his big pickup trucks. He was an artist and loved to draw.

He is preceded in death by his great-grandparents and Godfather Harry Shaffer.

He is survived by his parents; his sister, Farin (Josh) Hales; and niece, Macaila of Dillon; grandparents, George and Grace Jackson of Big Timber; and Dan and Mary Hill of Dillon; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; brothers, Casey Smith and Dean Goettle; very special friend, Angela McKeever; Godmother Linda Shaffer and her children Harry and Raylene; and friends too numerous to mention all of them.

There was a visitation at Brundage Funeral Home on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and the family requested participants to bring any photos or written memories to share.

A celebration of his life will be on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. at Brundage Chapel with graveside services at Mountain View Cemetery. Following services there will be a reception at the Fire Hall in Lima.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Childrens Hospital, Lima Fire Department, White Hat Coalition/Care Packages, Patriot Riders, or a charity of your choice.

A guest book is available at www.brundagefuneralhome.com.

Milton Julius Radloff

1925-2009

Milton Julius Radloff of Dillon passed away at Barrett Hospital and HealthCare on Aug. 25.

Milton was born in Merrill, Wisconsin, on Aug. 15, 1925, and has been a Parkview Care and Rehabilitation Center for the past 6+ years.

He served our country in the Navy during WWII.

There will be graveside services for Milton on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery in Dillon.

Brundage Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Sports 09-02-09

Beaver football comes in a bigger model this year

By J.P. Plutt

Dillon Tribune staff

The Dillon Beaver football team will continue on its path as an elite Class "A" program this fall. Under the guidance of head coach Terry Thomas and with a group of assistant coaches that has added a consistent element of excellence in all areas of the program the Beavers embark on yet another journey in pursuit of a state championship this Friday when they visit the Livingston Rangers in a non-conference contest.

During the 23-year Thomas tenure as mentor of the blue and gold, the Beavers have posted a 154-59 record. Beginning in 2000 the Thomas machine has found high gear winning state titles in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The Beavers were state runner-up in 2007 and semifinalists a year ago.

Livingston on the other end has struggled to win even a single game each season over that stretch of time and enters the 2009 season with yet another new head coach. It is not a question of whether the Beavers will win the season opener for both teams, but how soon Dillon's reserves will begin to flood the field.

Each season brings a team of unique character to the field for Dillon and this year's version features size in the line on both sides of the ball that Beaver fans have rarely enjoyed watching. Dillon's program lists 11 players over 200 pounds and four of those players tip the scales at 250 pounds or more.

"Up front, both offensively and defensively, we're probably as big as we've been," said Thomas. "The kids have worked very hard on their speed because size without speed doesn't mean much. They've done an excellent job in the weight room on their leg and hip strength."

The Beavers will line up in the shotgun in four wide receiver sets and will rely on the passing game as they have for most of the decade, but the threat of the running game behind the big men up front will force opposing defensive coaches to respect the run which will likely open up the passing game. It will be a pick your poison scenario.

The offensive front includes Daniel Morstein (6-2, 265, soph.) and Luke Renfree (6-0, 210, jr.) at center, and guards Trevor Rehm (6-3, 200, sr.), an All-State first team pick a year ago, and Tucker Brackenbury, (6-3, 255, sr.). The starting tackles are Derrick Hucke (5-10, 205, sr.) and Monte Folsom (6-3, 250, jr.). Kyle Godecke (6-5, 275, jr.) will rotate at guard with Brackenbury. Other players working into the rotation will be Carl Gunderson (6-2, 230, jr.), Matt Longie (5-9, 175, sr.), Kevin Hilton (6-1, 215, jr.), and Alex Basile, 6-0, 180, jr.).

"We know we have a little work to do to get that size to move quickly in order to protect the passer and creat run holes but it certainly is somehtin that is a little unusual for us," said Thomas of the size. "All those players are playing in the defensive front seven and then you add Zeke Koslosky (6-1, 205) and we have quite a good group of interior people on both sides of the ball."

Another unusual aspect of this year's team is a senior quarterback as a first year starter. The previous eleven years featured just four starting quarterbacks – Bryce Carver for two years, Zach McRae for three years, Torrey Thomas for three years and Tyler Thomas for three years. Thomas is confident that Pete Walde is ready to lead the Beaver offense. "Pete Walde has done a tremendous job of backing up Bryce the last couple of years and learning about the offense and building himself up both physically and mentally so that he's ready to play," said Thomas. "He's got great leadership skills and I think the team believes in him so I think he's ready to lead the show."

Walde doesn't step into the huddle without experience on his resume. As per the Thomas tradition, Walde as other backups, has gotten a good share of on the field training. He's taken snaps during almost every game of the past two seasons so varsity football won't be a shock to his system. The backup will be J.T. Linder, a 6-1, 195-pound sophomore.

"We feel our quarterback play is falling in line with the tradition we've had in the past," said Thomas.

Helping make the transition to a new signal caller a bit smoother will be an experienced running game with the top three ball carriers from a year ago back in the huddle. Seniors Sam Parke and Evan Helle shared the position a year ago in the one-back set and will do so again this year. While Parke (5-8, 170) and Helle (5-9, 155) are quick slashers, Koslosky (6-1, 205, soph.) will add a bruising, athletic power threat in goal line situations.

Given the facts – a big offensive line with experience at runnning back and a first-year starter at quarterback – an observer might come to the conclusion that the Beavers are going to pound the ball this season.

"I would say that is a good analysis although in our offense we really believe we have to throw the football and stretch the defense both vertically and horizontally and we believe we can do that," stated the Hall of Fame coach.

A fleet of speedy, sure handed receivers and a coach who's play calling ability has kept the opposing defenders off balance, ensures that the Dillon offense will continue to generate miles of offensive production through the air.

"We've got another great group of receivers," admitted Thomas. "I think it will be receiver by committee."

Not only receiver by committee, but receiver by "just try to guess which one of the four or five pass catchers on any given play will have the ball thrown their way." Seniors Toby Shepherd, All State first team, and Garrett Banning, All Conference first team, head up the athletic receiver corps. Senior Mackenzie McGrath burned the fastest 40 yard dash time in fall camp and senior Torrey Vezina was right on his tail. Hunter Johnson, Austin Williams, and Andy Peterson are all break away threats making the unit a game breaking bunch. Adding more depth to both the receiving corps and the defensive backfield will be Donnie Moore, Matt DesJardins, and sophomore Wes Knox, a 6-3, 160-pound sophomore.

"A lot of these receivers are going to be playing in the defensive secondary so its important taht we can spell them on one side or the other," said Thomas. "Some will be getting breaks on offense, some on defense, so its nice to have a strong group."

In short yardage situations, when Dillon slides to a double tight end, two-back look, Torrey Vezina and Matt Merenz will move to the tight end positions.

So with all of the weapons, how does coach Thomas evaluate the team's chances to continue in the tradition of offensive dominance. "Pass protection from our offensive line will be the ultimate test of whether we'll be an explosive offense," said the coach.

Defensively, the Beavers will line-up in both their traditional 4-4 look and more and more in a 3-4 scheme that the coaching staff has developed to handle the wide variety of offensive sets that they face each season, from spread attacks to Wing-T power running looks.

The Dillon defense under the direction of coordinator Rick Nordahl has as many faces as there are names in the program. Nordahl integrates the entire roster into his scheme. In the 3-4, look for Godecke, Morstein, Longie and Gunderson to create havoc at the nose guard. Brackenbury will get time along the defensive front, most likely at end or tackle.

Folsom and Koslosky return as starters at inside linebacker making yards inside a challenge. Merenz will head up a quick and hard hitting outside linebacker unit, with depending on the formation, Hucke, Rehm, Parke and Helle filling positions. Hucke and Rehm go down to a three-point stance as defensive ends in the 4-4.

The same group playing receiver will line-up at some time in the defensive backfield though starters figure to be Banning at one cornerback and McGrath or Johnson at the other corner, Shepherd at free safety and Vezina at strong safety.

Rehm and Knox will handle the kicking, Walde and Merenz the punting, and Hucke and Renfree the long snapping. Walde will hold for placekicks.

"We feel like we have a lot of kids doing a lot of things on offense, defense and special teams," said Thomas. The Beaver roster includes 35 players on varsity and 40 on the froshmore team. "We can play close to 35 kids in each game so we're excited to get a lot of kids out on the field and see them play."

Bernie Wasser takes over reins of BCHS golf team

By J.P. Plutt

Dillon Tribune staff

The Dillon golf program is under new management this season. For the first time in over 30 years, someone other than Tedd Stanisich is directing the Dillon Beaver and Lady Beaver golf teams. Bernie Wasser steps in this fall to take over a program that has been consistently successful for more than three decades.

“It’s new to me in terms of getting to know the kids and what their skill level is,” said Wassser. “Right now I’m just trying to see where the kids are and how they’re developing.”

While BCHS golf is new to Wasser, coaching high school hackers is not. Wasser started the boys golf program in Malta and coached the team for five years before coming to Dillon as the girls basketball coach.

Wasser has 16 students on the roster, 10 boys and six girls. The two seniors are both on the girls side with team leader and four-year starter Shelby Lake serving as the calming influence. Freshman Randi Lewis, a transfer from Whitehall, has lit the leader board up with two, top 10 finishes in the season’s early going. Kassade Lemhouse, a sophomore, is the other varsity lock, while senior Hannah Byrne and freshmen Kristen Cottom and Kelsey Peterson will challenge for the #4 and #5 spots on varsity.

Junior Brett Creger picks up where he left off last year –as the ace of the boys team. Creger has placed in the top ten in both meets thus far. Freshman Travis Lake, junior Marcus Osborne, and sophomores Tyler Love and Dillon Womack have rounded out the varsity so far after two tournaments. Other boys competing for varsity slots include juniors Devon Compton, Ethan Ferris, Danny McGrath, Sam Burden, and sophomore Daniel Fuhriman.

Thus far Dillon has played the Butte Central Invitational and the Anaconda Invitational. Dillon next tees up at Riverside Country Club in Bozeman for the Belgrade Invite, Sept. 8, followed by the Anaconda Invitational at the Anaconda Country Club Sept. 11.

Butte Central Invite at Highland View Golf Course, Aug. 24

Boys team scores – Butte High JV 317, Hamilton 322, Belgrade 327,Bozeman JV 329, Livingston 339, Dillon 342, Anaconda 347, Butte Central 354, Stevensville 363.

Boys Top 10 – 1, B.J. Casaagranda, Butte High JV, 75. 2, Brett Creger, Dillon, 76. 3, Anthony Wood, Anaconda, 77. 4, Decker Wilson, Livingston, 78. 5T, Tim Schdrapps, Butte High JV, 79. 5T, Dylan Kempf, Bozeman JV,79. 5T, Eric Olive, Belgrade, 79. 8T, Jason Jessop, Hamilton, 80. 8T, Kyle Lubke, Hamilton, 80. 8T, Milan Plachy, Stevensville, 80

DILLON (342) –Brett Creger 76, Travis Lake 74, Dillon Womack 88, Tyler Love 96, Marcus Osborne 106.

Girls team scores – Livingston 352, Bozeman JV 405, Anaconda 414, Dillon 450, Hamilton 462.

Girls Top 10 – 1, Capri Ingram, Livingston, 80. 2, Teryn Green, Anaconda, 82. 3, Elizabeth Cahoon, Livingston, 84. 4, Randi Lewis, Dillon, 86. 5,T Rachel Wagner, Anaconda, 91. 5T, Amanda Reese, Livingston, 91. 7T, Miranda Martin, Hamilton, 94. 7T, Amber Gough, Hamilton, 94. 7T, Kiley Bremmel, Bozeman JV, 94. 10T, Olivia Davison, Bozeman JV, 97. 10T, Emily Buckner, Livingston, 97.

DILLON (450) – Randi Lewis 86, Shelby Lake 102, Kristen Cottom 130, Hannah Byrne 132.

Old Works Invitational at Anaconda, Aug. 26

Boys team scores – Hamilton 328, Belgrade 356, Butte High JV 357, Polson 359, Livingston 368, Anaconda 377, Stevensville 377, Dillon 383, Butte Central 388, Ronan 425, Frenchtown 427.

Boys Top Ten – 1, Jason Jessop, Hamilton, 77. 2T, Eli Rogers, Hamilton, 79. 2T, Hans Dierenfeldt, Anaconda, 79. 4, Haydon Congdon, Polson, 80. 5T, Brad Palin, Hamiklton, 81. 5T, Milan Plachy, Stevi, 81. 5T, Cody Fischer, Polson, 81. 8T, Brett Creger, Dillon, 82. 8T, Zach Stowell, Belgrade, 82. 10, Tom Raymond, Butte High JV, 84.

DILLON (383) – Brett Creger 82, Travis Lake 104, Tyler Love 98, Dillon Womack 99, Marcus Osborne 107.

Girls team scores –Livingston 374, Butte JV 407, Anaconda 434, Dillon 457.

Girls Top Ten – 1, Teryn Green, Anaconda, 85. 2, Natalia Arlint, Polson, 89. 3T, Capri Ingram, Livingston, 90. 3T, Sarah Boyer, Livingston, 90. 5T, Liz Cahoon, Livingston, 95. 5T, Ashley Preston, Butte High JV, 95. 7T, Randi Lewis, Dillon, 96. 7T, Amy Williamson, Polson, 96. 9, Kaitlyn McGrath, Butte High JV, 98. 10, Amanda Reese, Livingston, 99.

DILLON (457) – Randi Lewis 96, Kassade Lemhouse 114, Shelby Lake 119, Kelsey Peterson 128, Kristen Cottom 133.

DFL signup is in full swing

The 12th season of Dillon Football League Kids' Flag Football will begin with the first games on Sept. 19. The most important task right now is to get the kids signed up. Registration forms are available at area schools and the Dillon Tribune.

The DFL is for boys and girls preschool through eighth grade. There are four divisions divided by grade (P/K/1, 2/3, 4/5, 6/7/8).

Rules unique to the DFL are the equal play rule in which all players rotate into the game for the same number of plays, and each kid on the team gets to carry, catch or pass the ball at least once each game.

The season is six weeks long capped by the playoffs and DFL Bowl XII. Games, scheduled for a one hour time slot, are played behind Parkview Elementary School on Saturday mornings.

The ideals of sportsmanship and a fun, positive experience for the players are the basic goals of the program. Skill development and team work are emphasized. Parents and fans are expected to provide an example of sportsmanship that the young players can emulate.

The league rule allows only one team practice per week.

The cost is $15 per player with a maximum family obligation of $30. Thus, two kids $30. Six kids, $30. The DFL has a very discreet scholarship program.

The league supplies each player with a team shirt. Because of the time-line, shirts will not be available until the second game of the season.

Last year the DFL fielded 39 teams and over 360 players. That required a recruitment of over 75 volunteer coaches. The DFL needs to have two coaches per team to ensure that on each game day at least one coach will be at the field.

Besides the need to get the registration information as soon as possible, the DFL needs volunteer coaches. Parents are welcome to help coach, as well as former DFL players, college students, and anyone with a desire to help kids learn the greatest game on the planet.

For more information, contact J.P. Plutt (W 683-2331 or H 683-5411).

Lady Beav netters lack height not heart as they retool

By J.P. Plutt

Dillon Tribune staff

The Dillon Lady Beaver volleyball team opens the season Thursday at Frenchtown and then returns to B.W. Lodge Gym for the home opener Saturday versus Hamilton. Next Tuesday they host Livingston.

“The past two years we’ve graduated 14 seniors so this first part of the season is really working on fine tuning the little things and creating the discipline to do the basic skills,” explained Dillon coach Megan Conrow.

Conrow feels her team’s commitment to hard work will pay off not only in conditioning but also in technical proficiency. She says she is “amazed” with the dedication the players have shown thus far in preseason workouts.

For Conrow, a big adjustment will be playing competitive volleyball without a player over 5-9.

“We are not very big,” she admitted. “We’ve always been a team that is 5-11 or above at the front of the net. We don’t have that as one of our assets this year. We’re going to have to be very smart when we’re hitting the ball.”

Leading Dillon will be three returning players who gained varsity experience last year – Jacey Suenram, Annie Ori, and Katie Myllymaki. Suenram will line up as a middle blocker as the tallest player on the squad at 5-9, while Myllymaki is a defensive specialist and Ori will fill an outside hitter role and then defensive specialist when she rotates to the back row.

Dillon will play a 6-2 offensive set with cousins Kate and Jordan Ferris as setters.

“They can both hit the ball as well as set the ball so we can utilize them in a lot of different roles,” said Conrow.

“We’ve got some kids that have come up through the program that are really shining,” said Conrow of Emily Paffhausen, a defensive specialist, and Alison Jenne, a middle blocker. Kasidy Fosse will rotate at outside hitter, while Sara Downey, Kerrianne Richardson, and Carly King will swing between varsity and junior varsity.

“We’ve got some kids with a lot of athleticism,” concluded Conrow. “We might not have the size but defensively, we’re going to touch every ball.”

UM Western netters open season on road

By Gary Oram

Dillon Tribune sports

The University of Montana Western Volleyball squad opened their season, August 26, and lost their first match against Conference rival Montana Tech, in non-conference play at Butte, 25-16, 25-19, and 25-23.

“We were definitely nervous for the first couple games, and once we sort of got into the rhythm, and weren’t so nervous, the third game we played much better,” stated Montana Western head coach Katie Howells.

This was Western’s first match of 2009. Tech, however, had competed in a tournament the previous weekend. “I thought it really looked like our first game. Tech played a tournament the weekend before, but it looked like we improved through it,” said Montana Western athletic director Mark Durham. Confirming what Howells commented on, after this match-up.

Sitting dead last in the pre-season coaches pick, Western trailed Frontier Conference defending champion Lewis-Clark state by 39 points after a dismal 2008 showing. However, on the road, August 28-29, at the Fortin Center in Billings, team captains Teresa Bennett, Maria Peterson, and Kyla Rasmussen helped Western defeat Dickinson State, South Dakota Mines, and Minot State, in a tournament setting, losing only to Rocky Mountain College.

“Definitely, again, every time we are out on the court we’re playing better and better,” Howells stated. At present the University of Montana Western is 3-2 on season action.

Next week, Sept. 4-5, Montana Western travels to Mitchell South Dakota, to compete in a tournament hosted by Dakota Wesleyan. Commenting on the upcoming matches Howells said, “We will play some of the same teams that we beat. I think we’ll have another good weekend in terms of wins.

Montana Tech def. Western 25-16, 25-19, 25-23 UMW stats – Shelby Mack, aces 1, digs 2. Kayla Schmid, assists 1, digs 10. Teresa Bennett, kills 6, assists, digs 5, stuff blocks 1. Kyla Rasmussen, digs 3. Susie Rehse, kills 1, assists 1, block assists 1. Wendy Doutre, kills 10, assists 1, digs 2, block assists 1. Maria Peterson, kills 1, assists 18. Jamie Zemljak, kills 7, aces 2, digs 5. Elise Davis, kills 1, assists 1, digs 1. Valerie Thoms, kills 3.

Rocky Mountain def. Western 25-12, 25-12, 25-17

UMW stats – Shelby Mack, digs 6. Kayla Schmid, digs 2. Michaela Jeffs, kills 2, digs 1. Teresa Bennett, kills 6, digs 5. Kyla Rasmussen, digs 8. Susie Rehse, kills 1, block assists 1. Wendy Doutre, kills 2, aces 1, digs 1. Maria Peterson, kills 2, aces 12, digs 4, block assists 1. Jamie Zemljak, kills 1, digs 6. Elise Davis, kills 2, aces 1, digs 5, block assists 1. Valerie Thoms, kills 1.

Montana Western def. Dickinson State

22-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-23

UMW stats – Shelby Mack, kills 1, aces 1, digs 11. Teresa Bennett, kills 12, aces 3, digs 23. Kyla Rasmussen, digs 10. Susie Rehse, kills 7, digs 1, stuff blocks 1, block assists 1. Wendy Doutre, kills 5, assists 1, block assists 1. Maria Peterson, kills 7, assists 44, digs 19, stuff blocks 1, block assists 1. Jamie Zemljak, kills 12, digs 10. Elise Davis, kills 11, aces 2, digs 8, stuff blocks 1.

Dillon runners prepare for state

By Dick Crockford

Dillon Tribune staff

If last season is any indicator, Dillon cross country fans can expect to see another solid core of dedicated runners consistently improve over the weeks ahead, continually building toward the state championship finale in the latter part of October.

The 2009 edition of the Beaverhead County High School running squad offers an almost evenly split mix of boys and girls among its nearly 35 members, including returning leadership from 2008.

Last season, the boys’ team improved its times and packing nearly every week, bringing home the third-place trophy from the state meet in Missoula.

Two members of that team, Neal Jenne and J.W. Henningsen, are the foundation for this year’s squad. Also back are seniors Tyler Kelly and Cody Mitchell. On the girls’ side, Claire Larson and Emily Gary – both experienced seniors – are serving as co-captains.

Brightening the picture even more for Coach Betty Iverson is the fact that this season’s new team not only still has strong leadership elements from last year, but is also bolstered by strong interest from new recruits, particularly sophomores and juniors out to run for the first time.

Several on both the boys’ and girls’ squads have been running for weeks before the start of formal practices that began a little more than two weeks ago. Those athletes, especially the ones who have kept up their training over the summer break, are expected to compete well even in the early season.

Last Saturday, the Beavers competed amongst themselves in team time trials in preparation for their season opener this Friday, the traditional Birch Creek Invitational.

Birch Creek will be the first opportunity for the Beavers to demonstrate their readiness against other teams. Dillon easily outpaced the competition on offered by runners from Anaconda, Butte Central and Whitehall.

As always, as the season progresses, Iverson will be concentrating on advancing the running skills needed to assure her teams of places on the championship risers in Missoula on Oct. 24.

Class C volleyball outlook

By Tim Hansen

Dillon Tribune staff

Local class C volleyball teams opened up their seasons this past weekend as both Twin Bridges and Lima earned a couple of victories while dropping a pair.

Coach Karen Degel enters her fifth year as the Falcons head coach and will have a very familiar face as assistant, as daughter and former Falcon star, Katie Degel joins her while sitting out a mandatory year for the UM Western Bulldogs after transferring within the frontier conference. The Falcons return two seniors and adds a senior transfer as they try and improve on last years fifth place league finish. Senior Katie Ashcraft is considered a great leader and inspiration to her team, while sophomore Peyton Ferris is expected to contribute immensely with her overall athletic ability.

The Lima Lady Bears have eight athletes out for new head coach Jenny Kershaw. Two seniors, Alena Mayer and Cimbrelyn Clarno should provide good leadership for the younger bear players. Coach Kershaw feels that discipline, hardwork and an injury free season are the keys to success.

There was no information available on the Sheridan Panther Volleyball team at press time.

Area Class C gridders ready for 2009 season kickoff

By Tim Hansen

Dillon Tribune sports

6-8-11; does it matter so long as it’s football season? Not if you ask Lima, Twin Bridges, Sheridan, or the Dillon Beavers, all whom will test their summer weight program, two-a-days and overall team toughness beginning this weekend.

The Southern “C”, yes, Southern, not Western, will pit the Sheridan Panthers and the Twin Bridges Falcons against new opponents after a lengthy stay in a very tough Western C that saw the state champion the past four of five years come out of its division.

The Southern C includes Twin Bridges and Sheridan along with a former C entrant coming back to the ranks after a lengthy stay in the Southern B division, the Ennis Mustangs. Once a co-op with the Harrison Wildcats, the Mustangs will drop down a class while the Wildcats take their football players to former Southern B foe Three Forks. Most sports fans know the Mustangs have moved to C in every other sport with the exception of football two years ago. White Sulphur Springs, Shields Valley and Gardiner round out the Southwest side of the Southern C division.

Although not clear cut, the Panthers of Sheridan High School look to be the favorite on this side of the bracket. Returning six seniors from a 5-3 team in ‘08 puts them in fairly good position to win a lot of games. Basically a four-year starter, Senior Casey Crippen will lead the Panthers under center and will also serve as their “QB” on defense as he plays the safety position.

The Falcons of Twin Bridges will not enter with an empty cupboard either, bringing back all-everything senior Jake Schmidt to a team that lost in the semifinals to eventual runner up Wibaux in the ‘08 campaign. Although short on seniors, the Falcons are not short on talent as they return four starters and a host of young-hungry players, 28 in all, that are looking for a successful season as they vie for a fifth straight playoff appearance.

In 6-man just down the road from Dillon, the Lima Bears will look to improve on a winless season in 2008 under new head coach Jason Sutton. Coach Sutton will suit up four upper and four lower classmen on the new season, led by 6’2”, 160-pound senior Jeremy Bump and 5’11”, 245-pound center Jake Wilding.