Montana
With Grandstand Rated in ‘Fair Condition,’ Northwest Montana Fair, Summer Concerts to Proceed – Flathead Beacon
The schedule of shows expected to fill up the covered grandstand at the Flathead County Fairgrounds this summer will go on, following some repairs to enhance the integrity of the century-old structure. On July 8, construction crews will begin the first phase of work to extend the life of the venue’s primary seating area, “ensuring it remains a community hub for many years to come,” according to a county press release, which announced that the Northwest Montana Rodeo and summer concerts will proceed as planned.
In May, county officials announced the closure of the covered grandstand, and the north bleachers, after a preliminary safety inspection found significant signs of deterioration of the wooden framing and beams. The inspection came as part of a long-planned project to demolish and rebuild the north bleachers, which will remain closed this summer.
Fairgrounds Manager Sam Nunnally said in an interview that the structure will be removed after the Northwest Montana Fair concludes in August; it will be replaced with a new aluminum and steel bleacher set.
On June 13, specialists from Martin Consulting Engineers conducted a detailed onsite visual assessment of the grandstand and its supporting framework in accordance with the International Code Council (ICC). The inspection report concluded that the observable portions of the structure are in “fair condition,” and although there are no areas considered “an immediate life safety concern,” several sections require immediate repairs and maintenance to eliminate potential hazards and maintain the structure’s integrity.
“We got the inspection report back and there are a few things we absolutely have to make safe in order to use the grandstands again,” fairgrounds manager Sam Nunnally told the Beacon. “There’s a couple things we need to address — bracing up the north wall of the grandstands, a little bit of bracing underneath the roof itself. Not enough to cause a structural question, but enough that we want to make sure there’s nothing falling on people.”
The list of immediate repairs includes replacing loose and split bridging elements found throughout the grandstand canopy; bracing the north wall of the grandstand, which leans outward from the structure; and closing or rebuilding an office storage room that has “failed structurally,” but does not impact the grandstand’s operability. The report also notes that the vomitorium stairs leading to the office building inside the grandstand are deteriorated to the point of requiring full replacement and should be closed until repairs can be made.
Nunnally said there is a tiered checklist of work to be done with next month’s construction addressing the most immediate concerns, followed by projects to tackle within the next two years.
According to the report, a number of high-priority repairs will be required to address structural concerns within the next year, including replacing rotted and split two-by-four boards that support the structure, installing support elements where they are missing, replacing boards throughout the seating area, replacing the stair treads to meet ICC standards, and rebuilding the railing walls at the base of the grandstand.
“Safety is the number one thing for us, and we wouldn’t let people back in the grandstands if that was a concern,” Nunnally said.
Per the ICC, all “existing bleachers, folding and telescopic seating, and grandstands” require annual inspections. According to Nunnally, however, he cannot find any documentation of a structural inspection for the grandstand or the north bleachers.
Over the last decade, the fair board, on which Nunnally served prior to becoming fairgrounds manager, understood the 60-year-old north bleachers needed to be replaced and began saving for renovations. That reconstruction project kicked off over the winter, which was when the extent of the grandstand deterioration came to light.
Nunnally is confident the repairs will go forward as planned and hopes that renovations over the next few years will keep the historic structure preserved for generations to come.
“The fair started in 1902, so for 122 years this is where people have come together as a community. We have multiple generations coming to these fairgrounds every year and I don’t want to lose sight of that,” Nunnally said. “I would hate to have our historic grandstand no longer part of Kalispell and this community. If we can keep them and preserve, that’s what my goal is. But at the same time, I have to respect that if we can’t do that safely, we can’t do it at all.”
The latest updates can be found on the Flathead County Fairgrounds website.
MISSOULA — Sam Forstag edged out Ryan Busse to secure the Democratic nomination in Montana’s 1st Congressional District.
Busse conceded the race to Forstag on Wednesday morning. Forstag had trailed behind Busse Tuesday evening, but he made up ground as the votes were counted into the early hours of Wednesday morning. The other two candidates in the race, Russl Cleveland and Matt Rains, are sitting at third and fourth, respectively.
Forstag leads in close race for Montana’s 1st Congressional District
Forstag spent eight years as a wildland firefighter, including four as a smokejumper, and he’s been vice president of the local National Federation of Federal Employees union. Last week, U.S. House of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, held a rally in Missoula to support Forstag’s campaign.
He told MTN on Tuesday that his campaign has been for the working class.
“We got a whole lot of people here that have been working their tail off to finally get some working-class representation in Washington,” Forstag noted. “So proud of everything we’ve done and so grateful.”
Forstag further noted he wants Montanans to be able to afford groceries, have universal free childcare and restore and expand Affordable Health Care Act subsidies.
“Hearing people’s stories and struggles and commonalities in the ways that we’re all fighting in the system that does not serve us so often, and the government serves corporations and the richest people in this country more than working people. It has been frustrating and saddening, but it has also inspired so much hope in me, like the fixes we can actually make,” he told MTN.
The 1st Congressional District covers much of western Montana, including Kalispell, Missoula, Butte and Bozeman. It is currently held by Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, who chose not to seek reelection.
By securing the nomination, Forstag is slated tol face off against Libertarian candidate Nick Sheedy and Republican candidate Aaron Flint in November.
Brian Miller won the Democratic primary Tuesday for the U.S. House seat in Montana’s eastern district.
The Associated Press called the race for Miller, an attorney in Helena, who fended off a challenge from state Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, a longtime legislator from Box Elder, and Sam Lux, a farrier from Great Falls.
In the Republican and rural eastern district, any Democrat will be an underdog, and Miller will face off against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, who was unopposed Tuesday.
Libertarian Patrick McCracken is also running.
In the primary, Miller took 58% of the vote. Lux took 27% and Windy Boy took 16%, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s website.
In April, Windy Boy paused his campaign amid “serious sexual abuse” allegations raised by the Montana Democratic Party — but Windy Boy restarted his campaign and later called the allegations “political attacks.”
Miller is representing the victim of the alleged abuse and her mother, although he said he didn’t take on the role until after Windy Boy initially suspended his campaign.
The Western Montana Food and Farm Trail, a new agritourism initiative led by Farm Connect Montana, launches May 30, offering locals and visitors a new kind of food and farm adventure across Western Montana.
Running June 1 through October 31, the self-guided Trail spans more than 200 miles and features more than 100 farms, ranches, farmers markets, restaurants, breweries and food businesses across the Missoula, Bitterroot, Flathead and Mission Valleys. Along the way, participants are invited to meet growers and makers, taste what’s in season and experience the culture and care behind Western Montana’s local food community.
At the center of the experience is the passport-style Trail Field Guide, illustrated by Missoula-based artist Courtney Blazon. The guide features illustrated maps, curated itineraries, seasonal highlights and more than 100 local food destinations throughout the region. The guide also includes more than $130 in special offers from participating farms and businesses.
Participants can collect stamps at Trail stops along the way to qualify for prizes, giveaways, or simply as a way to document their journey. End-of-season prizes include raffles for three CSA memberships valued at over $600 each, as well as local food and farm gift certificates, product bundles and Courtney Blazon-designed market totes.
The Trail is a regional collaboration led by Farm Connect Montana in partnership with Land to Hand Montana, The O’Hara Commons and Sustainability Center and Abundant Montana, organizations working to strengthen local food systems across Western Montana. The project aims to support local farms and food businesses through expanded visibility and agritourism opportunities while reconnecting locals and visitors with the people, places and stories behind their food.
“In creating the Western Montana Food & Farm Trail, we hope to inspire both residents and travelers to discover the stories behind their food and connect with the people cultivating a more vibrant, resilient and locally rooted food community,” said Bonnie Buckingham, Executive Director of Farm Connect Montana. “Participation in the Trail is a win for everyone. It creates new opportunities for farms and local food businesses to reach wider audiences while encouraging participants to explore new places, support local producers and experience Western Montana in a more meaningful way.”
“Land to Hand is thrilled to partner with Farm Connect on the Food and Farm Trail to highlight the robust agricultural heritage of Western Montana,” said Gretchen Boyer, Executive Director of Land to Hand Montana. “This initiative is more than just a guide – it’s an invitation to celebrate and support the local farmers who nourish our communities every day. By connecting residents and visitors directly to the source, we’re strengthening our local food system and honoring the people and landscapes that sustain the Flathead Valley.”
To celebrate the launch, regional Trail launch parties will take place in Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley and the Flathead Valley throughout early June, featuring Field Guide distribution, local food vendors, giveaways and opportunities to learn more about the Trail.
Trail Field Guides ($10) will be available for purchase beginning May 30 both online and at participating businesses, farmers markets and community locations throughout the region. A full list of Field Guide purchase locations and details, as well as a digital map and Trail listings, special events and more information is available at farmconnectmontana.org/trail.
Funding for this project was made possible through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
Regional launch events
• Missoula Launch Party — LaLonde Ranch, Sun., June 7, 1-4 p.m.
• Bitterroot Launch Party — O’Hara Commons Market, Wed., June 10, 4-6 p.m.
• Flathead Launch Party — Backslope Brewing, Tue., June 16, 4-7:30 p.m.
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