Townsends iconic water tower has overlooked the cityand stored the citys watersince 1958, but soon it will be put out of commission. A new, multi-million-dollar water system will be put online this summer. Its something the city budgeted $14 million for, and city officials say is needed, but residents are worried about the implications.

(WATCH: Townsend's new water system raises resident concerns)

Parts of the citys water system date back to the mid-1950s. Water is supplied by three wells, and according to a preliminary engineering report for the new water system from 2022, if the largest well is out of service, the others cannot meet the citys maximum water needs. That could set up a situation where water pressure drops so low that it can create a negative pressure event allowing contaminants to enter the distribution system, compromising the health and safety of all water system users.

We do have an aging system and inadequate water storage, Mayor Vickie Rauser said.

Additionally, the citys current 200,000-gallon water tank does not meet the Montana Department of Environmental Qualitys minimum water storage requirements. The new tower will store at least 1.25 million gallons of water to meet DEQs requirements now and into the future.

While you can always kick the can down the road a little farther, sometimes the road runs out, Rauser said.

The new water system will increase water pressure, and that could be a problem, especially for older homes. In a city founded in the 1880s, there are a lot of older homes.

The scariest thing for me with the new water tower is the unknown, Townsend resident Amanda Stiles said. We dont know if our pipes are going to burst, we dont know if our appliances are going to withstand this new pressure.

In March, the city sent a flier out to residents notifying them of upcoming water pressure changes. According to the flier, the new system will be tested in June. Prior to that testing, the city recommends residents locate their water shut-off valve and curb box, check their water pressure, get their plumbing inspected and install a pressure-reducing valve. A number of those recommendations cost money.

Larry Gibson lives on a fixed income. He said he was quoted between $400 and $800 to install a pressure-reducing valve at his home.

Its a pretty big hit on my budget and my savings, Gibson said.

After the system begins operating, the city suggests residents check their water pressure again and monitor their homes for leaks.

Were supposed to listen for these sounds of the pipes rattling, Stiles said. As me, not a plumberIm a stay-at-home-momhow do I know what sound is correct?

The new water system has been in the works for years. Discussions started back in 2021 after a fire in Denton burned homes and properties in the city, and the water system was unable to support firefighting needs.

Our mayor at that time came to city council and said this is what happened in Denton, I believe we are at risk as well, Rauser said.

That led to a preliminary engineering report, which was finalized in May 2024. It pointed out inadequacies in the towns water system.

The city has budgeted $14 million for the new water system, and funding comes from several sources, including ARPA funds and more than $12 million in bonds through the DNRC Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Program. Rauser said one of those bonds, totaling $5 million, will be forgiven when the program requirements are met. The other bond, totaling more than $7 million, will have to be paid back. The city approved a water rate increase in 2024 to service that debt.

The increase in the water rates and all of that, thats not on the city council, Gibson said. Previous city councils over the last 30 years have known that were under-watered, we didnt have enough. The water tower up here isnt enough to cover the towns growth, and if we had a major issuea major fire or somethingwe might be in trouble.

The water system plan has gone through multiple levels of the public process, including discussions in city meetings and public hearings. But some residents say they didnt know about the water system project until it was already happening. Stiles said she first learned about it when she saw the tower getting built about a year ago.

Had I known how much this could affect my home and our communitys homes as a hole, I would have gone two years ago to see why we need a new water tower and how our systems would be affected, Stiles said. I would have completely been involved a long time ago.

Rauser said the city follows state statutes for public notification for cities of Townsends size. She said notices are posted on the city hall door, on the citys website, and on social media. Notices are also published in the citys newspaper of record when required by law.

While the citys website includes past council meeting minutes, agendas and some notifications, other documentslike the water system plan, for examplemust be requested from city hall.

Right now, our website is minimal, and its not costing the city taxpayers very much to maintain that website, Rauser said.

The city will have to change its website in the near future to meet new federal requirements, and that new website could include more information on it; its something the city council will consider. But when it comes to the citys water system, the changes are more immediate. Testing of the system will happen in June, and the system is expected to start operating in August.

The holiday season is upon us, and for many, it is all about community and togetherness. The community of Townsend shows us just that, with around 15 women co-owned small businesses coming together to bring holiday spirit to the ladies in town.

This event to us is just the kickoff to the season, Cassie Cooper, the owner of the C Hangin C Mercantile and Creamery, said.

Cooper and Jessica Hanson, who both have businesses at the Townsend Mercantile, started Ladies Day three years ago when they realized over 90 percent of Townsends businesses are women-owned or co-owned.

Hanson, who owns JRock Jewelry, said, It is so nice to be able to look at our customers and say you are so great, you support us, we want to do that for you as well, and I feel like a small community cannot survive without that.

Mountain West Trading Post is new to the community and is happy to share in the yearly tradition.

I am asking people during this holiday season to come in and tell me what they are thankful for to get an idea of what people are concerned about here, Chanel Stevens, the owner, said.

For businesses like 3D Wellness that have been in Townsend for nearly a decade, they say events like this are of mutual benefit.

Dr. Cynthia Monteil, the owner, said, We have the ability to be able to create that income to be able to make things better within our small communities.

From a farm and ranch supply to a bookstore, these women are helping keep this town of just a few thousand thriving.

Cooper said, To have all these small businesses and be local keeps the small town feel alive, which is what we are all about.

Townsend Ladies Day will run from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, November 29th, and it all starts at the Townsend Mercantile with shopping, prizes, giveaways, and Christmas llamas.

Businesses participating in the event include: JRock Jewelry, C Hangin C Mercantile and Creamery, Little Creek Feed, Broadwater Blooms, Creative Closet, Mountain West Trading Post, The Birds Nest, Goose Bay Glass, Deep Creek Pizza, Helping Hands Kidz, Reading Leaves Books, Carousel Quilting and Embroidery, 3D Wellness, Townsend Drug and Spirits, and JL Wrights Trading Post.

A lot has changed in Townsend and Broadwater County over the past 120 years, but there is one thing that hasntmedical care provided locally. What is now known as Billings Clinic-Broadwater has a more than century-long history in Townsend. That locally-available care was especially important when 7-year-old Talon Evinger broke his arm while playing at school.

I was hanging and I slipped, this arm hit first, and then this arm still wasnt on the ground, and then it hit my arm down and it popped up, Talon said, describing when he broke his arm.

The Billings Clinic Broadwater emergency room was just about a block away.

Being able to have a clinic, a walk-in and an emergency room in our neighborhood, thats pretty much priceless, Talons dad, Jaeger Evinger, said.

Talon is not the first kid with a broken arm cared for at the hospital in Townsend. Although it has had different names, Billings Clinic Broadwater has a history in the area that stretches back to 1905 when doctors J.L. Belcher and G.W. Gilham set up a practice they called the Broadwater Hospital in a house on North Pine Street in Townsend. In the 1940s, a new building was built and it was renamed the Broadwater Community Hospital. Then, in the 1980s, the current facility was built and there as another name change to Broadwater Health Center. Most recently, in 2021, the hospital built a $5 million, 7,400 square-foot addition to 1980s building.

Its really humbling to have started with two doctors in a house doing house calls by wagon, horse and buggy, to what we have now, Billings Clinic Broadwater CEO Justin Tiffany said.

Today, Billings Clinic Broadwater is a 25-bed critical access hospital, with an emergency room, primary care clinic, long-term care beds, imaging capabilities and a rehab team. With 89 employees, it is one of the largest employers in Townsend.

I know that one of the paramedicswe are friends with their kidsshe was there the whole time, Jaeger said of Talons hospital visit for his broken arm. Doctors are great, very responsive. Theres a personal touch to having care down here at the hospital.

Talon was just one of thousands of patients seen and treat at Billings Clinic Broadwater. According to their numbers, Billings Clinic Broadwater saw 11,000 total patient visits in 2024, and is on track for 11,500 total patient visits in 2025.

We have people who continue to come in here, maybe theyve gone somewhere else for their care and they finally got around the corner to you know what, Ill check this facility out, Tiffany said. And we hear amazing things.

For Talon, the care he got helped him recover quickly, just in time for wrestling season.

And then, I tried my hardest to get this! Talon said showing off his wrestling medal. And then I went to wrestling camp!

Earlier this month, a Townsend business owner and veteran visited Washington, D.C., in recognition of Purple Heart Day.

"It is kind of a beautiful photo in an ugly way that I just love it," said Sergeant Major Sean Gifford.

It's a moment in time, captured just before Gifford's life changed forever, and you can see that picture here.

(Gifford talks about being honored at the White House)

How close we were to you know a different outcome," said Gifford.

Gifford served with the 5th and 19th special forces groups, deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was injured in combat.

"When you go to the hospital and you see people who didn't make it out as unscathed as I did, it is kind of like, should I be here and should I have this medal?" said Gifford.

That medal is the Purple Heart, which Gifford received in July of 2017.

Earlier in August, he represented Montana alongside other veterans at the White House to designate August 7 as Purple Heart Day.

Gifford says, " I was surrounded by our nation's heroes on the military side there, and it was such a beautiful and nice experience to go to."

For Gifford, what he went through in the military has shaped where he is today.

"It kind of gave me a sense of purpose, which I have been able to carry over to other pursuits in my life, I feel, Gifford says.

After serving our country, he is now serving his community.

Gifford was a Gallatin County sheriff's deputy, mayor of Three Forks, leads fly fishing trips for post-9/11 veterans, and runs two gyms that employ veterans, V-42 Fitness in Townsend and Three Forks.

Gifford says, "You know what, I should open my own gyms, so I don't have to drive so far."

This work in his civilian life has helped him move forward and recover, but Gifford isn't done advocating for others who served in the armed forces.

"I still have three guys that have not received their Purple Hearts yet, and we have been battling back in forth," said Gifford.

Its a battle he will continue to fight to get them recognition.

Helping Hands Townsend Thrift Store is closing their Pine Street location. It's something they learned about just weeks ago when they noticed a for-sale sign in front of their building.

Founder Dee Gannon told MTN, "What's gonna happen when we are gone? Those people are going to be out of luck. Those people will not be able to get what they need."

(MTN speaks with organizers about why Helping Hands needs to find a new building)

Helping Hands supports those in need through the goods they sell at a low price, and all the profit they make goes back into community organizations like Head Start, the food pantry, and other local nonprofits.

In its nine years, Helping Hands says they have given back over 109 thousand dollars to Broadwater County.

"When I started it, I just wanted a place for people to donate so that we could sell clothing at a very affordable rate for those in town who couldn't afford to go to the store," said Gannon.

This dream and mission that Dee started almost a decade ago was turned upside down when a for-sale sign was placed on the Helping Hands lawn.

The team of volunteers was given a week's notice, and the building sold almost immediately.

Gannon says, "It's heartbreaking, just heartbreaking."

By all accounts, Helping Hands has been a success in Townsend.

They even opened a second location dedicated to child and maternity products. The kids' store will remain open and continue to serve the Helping Hands mission.

As for what's next, Dee and her team are hoping to find a new space within five miles of Townsend.

"I want to thank all of the people of Townsend and all of the surrounding communities who have so faithfully donated to us, who have so faithfully shopped at our store," said Gannon.

Helping Hands will be holding liquidation sales on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm until their last day on July 5.

A Townsend thrift store is positively impacting the Broadwater County community and helping Montanans in need. Dee Gannon opened the Helping Hands Thrift store in its current Pine Street location about eight and a half years ago.

While there is always a need, with an estimated 50 to 75 people coming through the door daily at the Pine St. store, Gannon shared which items are most in demand this time of year.

"Our biggest needs are blankets and things that people need, heavy coats, linens, and kitchen stuff. We have a whole room just of kitchen stuff. We can take donations of anything except heavy furniture. We always supply those who need it with what they need for no cost," said Gannon.

Since Helping Hand's inception, the store has had a large impact on the community. "In eight and a half years, we've contributed over $100,000 to the community," said Gannon.

She also wants people to know that anyone can volunteer to assist in running the store. "We take people if they can work an hour or if they can work all four hours in a day [that the store is open]. We'll take whatever you can do and find something you can help with."

Everything the store receives allows it to continue its mission to the community. "All of the things we receive are donations, so we don't pay for everything. It's a blessing for us, and we try to pass that on to others," adds Gannon.

A year into operation, Gannon needed more space and opened what is now the Helping Hands 4 Kids Thrift Store in Downtown Townsend.

Shelia Heavirland is the store manager at the Helping Hands 4 Kids Thrift store in downtown Townsend and the treasurer of the non-profit organization that operates both stores.

She, too, has been with Helping Hands since the beginning and has witnessed the organization's growth and impact on the community firsthand. At first, the organization mainly served those living in Townsend; however, its reach and impact have grown recently.

"Within the last year, we've seen a lot of people from Three Forks, White Sulfur, and Whitehall. As the word has gotten out that we're here and have such wonderful merchandise and everything, people are coming from great distances to shop with us and donate to us," said Heavirland.

Helping Hands focuses its weekly deals on specific community groups in need. At the Pine Street location, seniors 55+ are half-price this week.

For those looking for holiday decorations, the organization features gifts, decorations, ornaments, lights, trees, and much more and is currently open at the Helping Hands 4 Kids Thrift Store downtown.

The main store is located at 424 N. Pine St., and the 4 Kids store is located at 323 Broadway on the corner of Cedar St. Both are open three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The stores always accept donations but request that the community only donate when the stores are open year-round, especially during the winter months when wetter weather conditions can become more prevalent.

Beginning this school year, Townsend schools switched to a four day school week and introduced a 5th Day Program for kids who need a place to go on the off day. MTN checked in with them to see how thats been going.

Its working very well. And were not seeing, our staff is either on track with their curriculum or ahead of curriculum, says K-5 Elementary Principal & Afterschool Program Director, Christina Hartmann.

The Office of Public Instruction says more than 220 schools in districts across the state have adopted a four day week. Townsend administrators decided to adopt the short school week to improve teacher recruitment and retention. Hartmann says theyve seen positive outcomes from the transition.

We are seeing a better attendance. Our students scores are great. Were not seeing anything in decline on those. The staff morale is even better, says Hartmann.

One challenge typically associated with schools that adopt a four day week is working parents having to find child care for that fifth day. To help parents, Townsend adopted what they call the 5th Day Program. The day is designed to be a pseudo-school day in which kids can participate in fun yet educational options such as pottery, guitar, e-sports, or tutoring, as well as receive a free lunch. The program is offered to all enrolled students, but currently only serves 40-60 kids on average.

Without this 5th Day Program, funded by a 5-year 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, the impact of this four day school week might look a lot different as Broadwater County is considered a child care desert where only 18% of potential demand for child care is being met.

We had to have something for them on that fifth day because a lot of families do work outside of town. Theyre not here locally, says Hartmann.

Parents I spoke with in Townsend say the 4 day school week has been mostly positive. Mikhalia Harper, a parent of a kindergartner, says that she enjoys having her child home for an extra day and uses it to go to appointments.

I really appreciate it because, you know, he gets an extra day at home. And we actually use that Friday for appointments. So, it works out perfectly, says Harper.

Another district researching the four day week option is East Helena Public Schools. Superintendent Dan Rispens emphasized that they are still in the early stages of studying the idea and that they would not make any decision without community consensus and support.

If its something thats going to benefit families and help with student attendance and student achievement, then how could you not be in favor of something like that? If its something thats going to be detrimental for our families and for our students and their learning, then I wouldnt be supportive of it, says Rispens.

Rispens says any changes are years away at the earliest, and if they did make a switch, they would consider programs like Townsends 5th Day Program to support working parents.

Townsend schools recently welcomed a School Resource Officer from the Broadwater County Sheriffs Office.

Nick Rauser, Broadwater County Sheriff, began walking the halls of Townsend schools back in 2022 when he would drop his kids off at school. After speaking with administrators and teachers, Rauser decided it might be time to reintroduce an SRO to the grounds. The last time an SRO was assigned to Townsend School District was in the 2000s.

I started to see, just me walking through for an hour in the morning, the relationships I was building. So, I, when I ran for Sheriff, I said, I was, one of my goals was to make sure that we got an SRO in the school, says Rauser.

Townsends newest School Resource Officer, Tony Cordova, officially began patrolling the hallways of the elementary, junior, and high schools at the beginning of January. Primarily funded by the Broadwater County Sheriffs Office, Cordova says hes using these first few weeks to get acclimated to the schools. Working for the Sheriffs Department, hes seen first-hand the cycle some folks can get in and he hopes to help stop that before it even begins.

...been doing police work for eight years and it's just a revolving door of them coming in and out of the jail. So, I wanna, before they can get to that point, I want to kind of show them what's going to happen if they continue down this path, says Cordova.

Susie Hedalen, Superintendent for Townsend School District, says that the school district is focused on threat assessment and prevention. Some of this includes keeping an eye out for telltale signs of danger and holding such classes for vaping abuse, social media use, and suicide prevention.

We're really focused on threat assessment now in school safety. So, we're doing things to prevent any issues and we're monitoring, you know, anything that could be of concern and trying to be proactive rather than reactive, says Hedalen.

Cordova says that he hopes to utilize relationships and education to help students enter into more healthy lifestyles.

But I think citation where they're either gonna just pay money and do community service isn't the correct answer all the time. And it's probably not gonna help build a relationship or a bond between us. So, I want to implement more of like a class that they're gonna have to sit in with and just see the outcome, you know, of vaping or tobacco use or drug use, says Cordova.

Broadwater County Sheriffs Office reports a person has died following a pursuit by law enforcement and a collision with a sheriffs vehicle.

On Thursday at approximately 3:15 p.m., Montana Highway Patrol initiated a pursuit with a vehicle south on Highway 287/12 north of Townsend.

A Broadwater County deputy responded to assist with the pursuit and activated his emergency lights when they saw the vehicle coming their way.

In a social media post, Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser says the driver swerved towards the deputys vehicle.

The Deputy tried to avoid the collision, but unfortunately he was struck head on. The suspect was traveling at a high rate of speed, Rauser said in the post.

The deputy was able to exit his vehicle on his own. He was transported to the hospital and released with minor injuries.

The suspect was found deceased on impact, according to Broadwater County.

Rauser said as this is an active investigation, names will not be released at this time. Broadwater County is working with the Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office on the investigation.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our Deputy and their family during this time, and everyone else that was impacted by this tragic event, Rauser wrote. Thank you to the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana DCI, Broadwater County Volunteer Fire Department, EMS, St. Peters Hospital Staff, and Sheriff Dutton and Sheriff Springer for all their assistance during this incident.

Its no surprise to Montanans that housing is tight. Buying and even renting feel out of reach for many hard-working people. MTN spoke with a couple of members of a housing committee trying to alleviate this issue in Broadwater County.

People need somewhere to begin. That's one of the difficulties that we've been facing in our country. We kind of got a point to where housing is so expensive that only people halfway through their careers can afford them, says Committee Member with the affordable housing committee, JB Howick.

The Broadwater County Development Corporation took a look at and created committees for the top pressing issues facing the community, which include housing, child care, aging gracefully, multi-use community center, trails, and broadband.

According to the US Census Bureau, the median income for a household in Broadwater County went from about $47,000 to roughly $62,000 in a ten-year period from 2012 to 2022. And according to the most recent data from the National Association of Realtors, the monthly mortgage payment has risen by $360 over the past year. for a median-priced home in the county with a value of about $350,000.

The affordable housing committee is looking at three solutions to remedy the struggle of buying and renting in 6 areas of Broadwater County including The Silos, Townsend, and the Wheatland area, as well as Radersburg, Winston, and Toston. These 3 solutions are tiny homes, rentals, and working alongside Trust Montana to provide affordable living situations.

The odds are pretty good that the first project will be in or around Townsend since that's where the majority of the business is and where the employment is, says Howick.

While these conversations are in preliminary stages, BCDC could potentially work alongside Trust Montana in order to create long-term affordable homes. Trust Montana works alongside non-profits that buy homes. The actual home is sold to someone who is making 120% or less of the average median income while the land portion of the property is given to Trust Montana. That land is then leased to the homeowner and kept at a purposefully low price in order to keep the property affordable in perpetuity says Executive Director of Trust Montana, Dawn Conklin.

We're struggling. We just don't have workforce housing for those who are such important members of our community, our fire department, our EMT's, you know, our nurses, as I said. Yeah, so, it's a real crisis, says Conklin.

Howick says that Broadwater County needs affordable housing in order to support all folks who call the county home and provide them with the opportunity to buy a home at the beginning of their careers.

If we take that away, if we take the first step away, it becomes harder for the area to be anything other than a place for wealthy people to live, says Howick.

During the summer, folks in Townsend can head down to Heritage Park and soak up the sun and take a dip in the community pool. But what about when its snowing and the temperature is in the single digits? Well, the Broadwater County Development Corporation is looking at creating a Townsend Community Center that everyone can utilize year-round.

FWP said it the best with one of their project proposals is: kids don't float. You know, and it's an essential skill, says Board Member with Broadwater County Development Corporation, Adam Six.

The Broadwater County Development Corporation teamed up with the Montana Economic Developers Association to survey Broadwater County.

From that community review, committees were formed to tackle the most pressing issues to the community. Those committees include housing, child care, aging gracefully, multi-use community center, trails, and broadband.

While Townsend has a pool, its outdoors and only accessible for a handful of weeks out of the year. The majority of the time its drained and deserted.

Six says that a multi-use community center could offer the folks of Broadwater County an indoor pool as well as indoor access to sports such as basketball or pickleball. All of this does depend on funding.

Primarily, Six says that this indoor pool is necessary for the communitys children. Six cited an issue that came up when the pool closed down temporarily.

There was a bottleneck of children ages 3-6 or 7 that didn't learn to swim, that didn't. So, we kind of had this big bottleneck and it was just, kind of, things ebbs and flow sometimes, and where we didn't have the facility for a few years and then we had it again, we learned how valuable it was and how nice it is to have, especially for a community in this size range, says Six.

Six says that having an indoor aquatic center will not only allow young kids to learn the important skill of swimming but also provide a space for the elderly to recreate while alleviating the pressure of gravity.

You can take weight off joints through water. People can move easier. People can function better and be healthier, says Six.

While this community center is a long way off from coming to fruition, the committee is looking for community feedback. If youre interested in providing your input, you can follow this link.

TOWNSEND For six decades, the Townsend rodeo has been a tradition in Broadwater County bringing the community together. Though the competitors may change each year like the leaves on a tree, there are still plenty of branches that remain the same.

Im noticing tonight that some of these younger ones, it was their grandparents that were involved and have passed on, says 2021 Montana Pro Rodeo Woman of the West award winner Elaine Graveley.

From high school sweethearts to Broadwater County royalty, the Graveleys have done so much for this community as their roots run deep in Townsend. Elaines husband, Bob, has held many roles in the Montana rodeo association sphere and spoke about the camaraderie shared between the rodeo contestants, fans and volunteers who help put this event on each & every summer.

Family means everything in a deal like this, mentioned Mr. Graveley.

The Graveleys were involved with the MRA prior to 1980 when they merged to become the National Rodeo Association (NRA). The couple now run a farm just outside of town and continue to thrive in small-town Montana.

Before they were members on the board of directors and before the rodeo scene grew to what it is today, the Graveleys would load up their horse trailers while getting the kids rounded up before traveling from Montana rodeo to Montana rodeo such as traveling from Hot Springs clear down to Bridger, Montana in a single day,

We would drive down the road with $60,000 to $80,000 worth of money in the trunk and thank god a lot of people didnt know about it because we never lost a penny over 20 some years, added Mr. Graveley with a chuckle.

Mrs. Graveley was a crucial piece of the original group who planted the trees, painted the grandstands and built the Townsend rodeo arena into what you see today.

Because I love the association, I love the cowboys, I love the stock, the tractors, it was a big part of our life, and would we do it all over it again? You bet, Mrs. Graveley declared.

The trees at this arena have continued to grow just like her family tree has been able to do over all these years.

TOWNSEND Rodeo is a big part of Montana. The same could be said for Townsend Junior Ella Begger who recently became the 2023 National High School Finals Rodeo Champion in pole bending with a total time on three runs of 59.615 seconds.

"Going into the short round I was like, lets just go make a run," Begger told MTN Sports.

This year's finals included 188 Pole Benders who traveled to Gillette, Wyo. from all over the nation and countries including Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Due to the international competition, the winner is considered a world champion.

Ella and her quarter pony Pepper have grown up together for the last 10 years, with Ella being only 7 years old when her parents first purchased the young horse in North Dakota.

"We're just more like two peas in a pod, I just love this horse so much, she's given me quite a bit of opportunities in life and she's just showed me so much that I can do, I know her inside and out," added Begger.

As she got older, the pair were each able to learn the rodeo events together and started out competing in youth rodeos around the region. Begger first started junior high rodeo as a sixth grader and made the national team every year in middle school.

Begger first made the Montana nationals team her sophomore year claiming the State Champion Pole Bender in 2022 title. She earned the 2023 buckle once again before she would go on to become the Pole Bender Champion in Gillette.

Each contestant performed twice throughout the week, with the top 20 making the final performance.

(My parents) are always encouraging us to be better, they always support me, added Begger, who also has two younger siblings.

The pole bending pattern is quite a simple pattern. For the most part, it is just a weaving stake-like pattern that goes around 6 evenly spaced poles. The pattern for pole bending is the same no matter where you go. This way times can easily be compared with each other, and records are easier to keep track of.

The riders guide their horses through this pattern as fast as possible without knocking over any poles.

Its so competitive in Gillette, as far as theres so many girls that can make quick runs, so I definitely was way more nervous last year and that caused me to tip I think, but this year I was like, I think we can do it, I think we can be a world champion," explained Begger. "After my first run, I was a little unsure, but Pepper came out the second run a-blazin and she did awesome.

Begger and Pepper are the first Montanans to claim the World Champion title since 2004, and only the third time since 1960.

"I owe it all to my horse and my family, Montana is still a big rodeo community and to bring back the world champion, is just so amazing," said Begger.

The Montana High School Rodeo Association saw six top ten finishers at Nationals this year, including Begger.

Helena Capitals Hailey Burger placed 4

in goat tying. Leighton Lafromboise of Boulder, finished top 8 in the bareback riding.

Peyton Levine, Wolf Creek, finished in the top six in breakaway roping. Riley Mapston, Belt, finished top ten in tie-down roping. Ryatt Frazer, Hysham, received 6

place in the boys cutting event.

Boy Scout Troop 212 got an up close and personal look at what it takes to be a pilot at Canyon Ferry Airport, while also helping improve the airport for the pilots who fly in and out.

From drones, to small aircraft, East Helena boy scouts learned about the fundamentals of flying and careers in aviation outside Townsend.

The Broadwater County airport board, county commissioner, and a representative from the Montana Aeronautics Division were there to support the scouts.

The lesson started in the cockpit of a simulator run by Safety and Education Chief at the Montana Aeronautics Division, Matthew Lindberg.

Those have simulated flight controls and the kids can learn how the flight controls, control the aircraft in flight, make it climb and descend and turn and experience take-off and landing at the controls, Lindberg said.

The scouts were then able to put what they learned into practice both on the ground, in the form of a pre-flight checklist, and thousands of feet above the ground by reading aeronautical charts and flight instruments.

Beyond the merit badge they earned, Broadwater County airport manager, Dwight Thompson hopes this will encourage the scouts to explore aviation more.

I hope these scouts will take an interest in aviation and see that theres other jobs and careers out there then just being a pilot, Thompson said.