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Articles written by jack h. smith


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  • Column: The election has entered my dreams

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 30, 2024

    The further I get from high school, the more I realize that I sure did think I knew it all when, in fact, I did not know much of anything. I feel awful for anyone who had to deal with my wrath of so-called knowledge. With the Presidential election nearing, I can vividly remember in 1992 trying to spark a debate with just about anyone who would listen about why incumbent President George H.W. Bush should be reelected instead of Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton. While I had zero life experience to speak of, I sure did think I was right. I was too...

  • Wolves headed to Class B Playoffs

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 30, 2024

    The Three Forks High School Football team is headed back to the playoffs. The Wolves (6-3, 2-3 Southern B) clinched a spot in the postseason for the second consecutive season after finishing third in the Southern B Conference with a dominant 46-0 senior night win on October 25 against Big Timber. Three Forks will open the postseason on the road on Saturday, November 2, at 1 p.m. when they travel to play the second seed from the East, Huntley Project. Three Forks came out of the gates strong on O...

  • Gallatin County Sheriff's Office releases more information regarding Kjersem homicide

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 30, 2024

    By JACK H. SMITH Three Forks Voice As the investigation into the murder of former Three Forks resident Dustin Mitchell Kjersem continues, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office released more information last week. The Sheriff's Office is asking area residents to be on the lookout for four items believed to have been removed from the crime scene approximately 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road near Big Sky. The items listed by the Sheriff's Office are: • Estwing camp axe, blue and silver, likely with a...

  • Mobile Mammography Bus to be in Three Forks on Nov. 13

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 30, 2024

    The St. James Healthcare Mobile Mammography Coach will be making a stop in Three Forks in mid-November. The coach, launched in the spring of 2023, will be in Three Forks on Wednesday, November 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Three Forks Area Ambulance building at 2 E. Hickory Street. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 406-237-8899. According to St. James Health Care, the mobile mammography coach is a 36-foot bus with one Hologic dimensions mammography machine, the same equipment used in...

  • Wolves defeat Lone Peak in regular season finale, open postseason Oct. 31

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 30, 2024

    The Three Forks High School impressively ended the regular season with a victory on October 26 against visiting Lone Peak. In a senior night contest where Natalee Hayder, Kylee Reichman, and Kennedy Rogers were honored before the start of play, the Wolves won in four sets, 25-13, 23-25, 25-11, 25-21. Rogers said it felt exciting to get the win on senior night. "It was so awesome to win our last game playing at home in front of our families and friends, but also sad that this was our last time... Full story

  • Gallatin County Sheriff's Office investigating 'brutal' murder of former Three Forks resident

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 23, 2024

    The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the brutal murder of former Three Forks resident, 35-year-old Dustin Mitchell Kjersem. The body of Kjersem, of Belgrade, was discovered in his tent on Saturday, October 12, shortly after 10 a.m., approximately 2.5 miles up Moose Creek Road near Big Sky. At a press conference last week, Sheriff Dan Springer said Kjersem was found by a friend he was supposed to meet on October 11. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the caller who found Kjersem... Full story

  • Busy slate of Halloween events planned locally

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 23, 2024

    There will be plenty of chances for Halloween fun this year for local kids, with the Rebekah Lodge, Missouri Headwaters State Park, Three Forks FFA and Drama Clubs, and Three Forks Chamber all hosting upcoming events. The Rebekah Lodge's annual Halloween Party is scheduled for October 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 20 E. Date Street, across from the Fire Hall. For $5, attendees can get a hot dog, chips, a cookie, and a drink. Costume judging will occur at 7 p.m., and a balloon stomp is scheduled... Full story

  • Superintendent reports about 'bowing' walls

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 23, 2024

    At last week’s Three Forks School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Uthlaut shared some concerning news about some of the new construction completed as part of a $25 million bond passed in May 2020. Uthlaut told the board it was frustrating to report that they found walls bowing on a courtyard. “That’s where my office used to be on the elementary wing. It’s now where the new music room is. It’s not bowing in at the music room. It’s from the hallways,” Uthlaut said. After the ceiling in the area was examined, Uthlaut said there used to...

  • MDT Variable Message Sign Vandalized

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 23, 2024

    As part of the ongoing I-90 Incident Management Project, the Montana Department of Transportation placed several new Variable Message Signs near Three Forks in June. Less than six months later, one of the signs located between Three Forks and the I-90/U.S. 287 Interchange was recently vandalized. According to MDT Public Information Officer Charity Burns, vandals discharged several handgun rounds into the new sign, taking it out of service. "Our communications staff are working hard to source...

  • Column: I'm fine with them trick-or-treating

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 23, 2024

    Since we moved to Montana nearly ten years ago, we’ve always had at least one teenager in the house. While this has probably accounted for some of my gray hair, with what seems like a never-ending stream of sass and eye rolls, our kids have generally been well-behaved, and I’m thankful for that. The most significant issue we’ve ever encountered is with phones and the never-ending dangers of social media. I remember we found an unopened beer under our daughter’s bed on one occasion, and we confronted her about it. I almost laughed when she sai...

  • Wolves win in 3 against Whitehall

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 23, 2024

    Playing at home for the first time in a month, the Three Forks High School Volleyball team shined with a three-set win on October 16 against visiting Whitehall. The Wolves would need extra time in the first two sets, winning both in thrilling fashion, 28-26. The final set was another close affair, this time with Three Forks winning 25-22. Following the match, Head Coach Jodi Sampson said she was proud of the team's performance one night after losing at Ennis. "We had a really rough night last...

  • Wolves to host Big Timber in regular season finale

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 23, 2024

    In a wild game on October 18 at Columbus, the Three Forks High School Football team erased an 18-point second-half deficit to take a two-point lead with under four minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the Wolves, the host Cougars would score the final points of the night with a touchdown with under 15 seconds remaining to secure a 30-26 victory. Trailing 24-6 in the third quarter, Three Forks showed fierce determination to get back into the game and took a 26-24 lead halfway through the fourth quarter on a 23-yard Kanon Reichman touchdown run,...

  • Violett sets school record

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 23, 2024

    The Three Forks High School Cross Country team closed out the regular season in style with an outstanding performance at last week’s Rusty Raisland on October 17 in Townsend. “I am incredibly proud of the team and all of the hard work they put in this week and the results we had today,” Head Coach Tara Forsberg said. It was a banner day for Wolves senior Cass Violett, who set a school record and finished in first place in the boys’ varsity race with a time of 15:57. “Cass broke 16, which was...

  • LeDoux sentencing set for November 12

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 16, 2024

    After a change in plea, the sentencing for Alexander Norbert LeDoux will take place on November 12 in Montana's 18th Judicial District Court in Bozeman. In his initial court appearance before Judge Peter Ohman on April 16, LeDoux had pled not guilty to eight counts stemming from a fatal head-on collision that killed 22-year-old Laysa Grewell on January 4 on Interstate 90 near Three Forks. In a change of plea on September 13, LeDoux pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and criminal endangerment.... Full story

  • Overbooked: Club to meet on October 29

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 16, 2024

    On the last Tuesday of each month, local readers are invited to the Three Forks Community Library to participate in the "Overbooked" Book Club. On Tuesday, October 29, at 6 p.m., the club will meet to discuss "Firekeepers Daughter" by Angeline Boulley, with copies available at the library circulation desk. According to Kelly Gesker, who oversees the book club and is also a member of the Library Board, "Overbooked" became a monthly activity in August 2021, with ten copies of "Where the Crawdad... Full story

  • New Denver flight added at Butte Airport

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 16, 2024

    Residents of the Three Forks area and southwest Montana will soon be able to take advantage of a newly added flight to the Denver International Airport. Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that SkyWest will provide Bert Mooney Airport in Butte with 13 total weekly round trips to the Denver and Salt Lake City International Airports. The flights were added through the Essential Air Service program, and the three-year contract will begin on January 1, 2025, and run through De...

  • Three Forks FFA, Drama Club hosting 'Spooky House'

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 16, 2024

    Three Forks Schools FFA and Drama Club members are joining forces for a "Spooky House" in the basement of the Three Forks Community Library. The "Spooky House" is scheduled for Friday, October 25, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and on Halloween evening from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the library basement at 607 S. Main Street. According to Drama Club Advisor Bronwyn Evans, the three-day event at the Three Forks Community Library will cater to younger...

  • Three Forks Youth Task Force to donate money to city for improvements at ponds

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 16, 2024

    At last week's City Council meeting, Three Forks Youth Task Force members announced they would be dissolving the Summer Recreation Program. With the program ending, task force members told the governing body they wanted to donate money from their reserves to the city for improvements at the Three Forks Ponds. Jill Peterson of the Youth Recreation Task Force said it is bittersweet that they will be dissolving the program. She added that they have been in open communications with the Three Forks...

  • Column: Sharing a birthday cake with Dustin

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 16, 2024

    Most mornings, I only need a few minutes of “me” time before I’m at the computer and tackling what always seems to be a never-ending stream of emails. This morning, I was slower to get to my makeshift desk, a TV tray next to my recliner in the front room. A few weeks ago, I got a severe burn on my foot, and the healing process has been trying. Even something as mundane as sitting at a desk has hampered the process. So here I am in my living room, attempting to work while listening to the washing machine make a bunch of racket. I also wante...

  • Wolves fall to rival Tigers, play at Columbus October 18

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 16, 2024

    With just two games left in the regular season, the Three Forks High School Football (5-2, 1-2 Southern B) will continue its push for a spot in the Class B playoffs when they hit the road for an October 18 matchup against Columbus. The Wolves fell in a rivalry game 33-16 at home on October 11 against undefeated Manhattan. "We've got to accept this, and we've got to own it and let it sting. We were in this situation last year. One game doesn't define who you are and what your team is. It's a...

  • Cross Country team competes in Missoula, inches closer to state meet

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 16, 2024

    As they inch closer to the state meet on October 26 in Missoula, the Three Forks High School Cross Country team had an opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the state at last week’s Capital City 7-on-7 meet in Helena. Wolves Head Coach Tara Forsberg said the event is a favorite meet of the season for the coaches, and Three Forks had a good day overall, adding there were PRs from both boys and girls runners. In the number one varsity race, Cass Violett finished at 16:27:92 for the boys, and Teegan Gifford finished at 2...

  • Commissioners discuss proposed emergency facility

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 9, 2024

    During last week's meeting at the Headwaters Livestock Auction, the Broadwater County Commissioners revisited the possibility of a Southern Emergency Response Center on two acres of donated land in the Wheatland Targeted Economic Development District on the east side of U.S. 287. The proposed facility was initially brought to the attention of area residents at public meetings in May and August 2023. Following the August meeting, a Preliminary Architecture Report was sent to the Montana Department of Commerce for the possible response center... Full story

  • Replacement of bridges still going through Section 106 Process

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 9, 2024

    The project to replace the two bridges on Old Town Road near Three Forks is still going through the Section 106 Process, intended to mitigate the removal of historic property. Last week, the Broadwater County Commission received an update on the project from Adam Hagel of Stahly Engineering at a meeting at the Headwaters Livestock Auction in Three Forks. Hagel told the commission that the Section 106 Process, undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers, Montana State Historic Preservation Office,...

  • Busy week for Three Forks Fire Department

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 9, 2024

    It has been a very busy week plus for the Three Forks Volunteer Fire Department, with volunteers responding to many different long-duration mutual aid calls. According to Assistant Fire Chief Charles Eastty, it started on Sunday, September 29, when they were called out to a large wildland fire near Revenue Flats outside of Norris. He said they sent Brush 14-21, Brush 14-22, and Tender 14 to assist on the fire. Eastty reported that on Thursday, October 3, Three Forks Fire was paged mutual aid to... Full story

  • Column: The magical experience of a new lunch box

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Oct 9, 2024

    While I was in elementary school, the end of summer always meant going school shopping, and this always meant searching for a new lunch box. Lunch boxes have certainly evolved over the years, but they pale in comparison to the novelty of those from my childhood. I remember being so excited to get a “Return of the Jedi” lunch box with a Thermos that I’m pretty sure I slept with it for about a week. As much as getting a lunch box was a rite of passage for a 1980s elementary school student, taking a lunch usually only lasted about a week. I would...

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