MONTANA

August 2013

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

Battle for Hamburger Hill Pest controller goes after them

Race walker

Self-defense a lot about attitude

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Have Fun Just Wanna In Re

Scheduled Events
Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 Red Lodge Festival of Nations
The Festival of Nations is a celebration of the Cultural Diversity that makes Red Lodge, MT such a unique, exciting, and FUN place to visit! Ethnic dancing, music, games, and food are all part of the show!

Saturday, August 3rd Events at Red Lodge Ales Brewery in Red Lodge, MT!!!
A Main street Parade down Broadway starts it all off at 11:30am Saturday. More details to follow.

ists while enjoying fabulous food created by local caterer, Hope Smith. Peruse silent auction items, sample signature cocktails and enjoy the company of great friends. Dont miss out on your chance to win our exciting raffle prize, a 7 night stay at the Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs, CA! Tickets are $50 per person and include food, drinks and 1 raffle ticket. Raffle tickets are $10 each or 6 for $50.

d Lodge

August 18-24, 2013 - Cycle Greater Yellowstone

The first great ride in the last great place... You know that list of absolute must-do cycle tours you have? Well, Cycle Greater Yellowstone is the newest entry and its already on the top of the charts (with a bullet). Were talking about an epic, week-long bike tour in Montana and Wyoming featuring some of the most spectacular settings on Earth. And this is a fully supported ride thats so well planned that all you have to do is eat, sleep and ride although well provide plenty more to do in between. So get ready to share tales of your exploits as a cycling pioneer: You can be one of the first to experience the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem on two wheels, like its never been done before.

Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 Climb to Conquer Cancer

Climb to Conquer Cancer is a unique fundraising event, combining the beauty of a scenic mountain walk and an opportunity to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Cost includes t shirt and lunch. We will provide plenty of water along the way! A free breakfast for survivors and caregivers begins at 8:30 a.m., register the day of beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the climb begins at 9:30 a.m. Call (406)446-4257 or www.climbrl.org to register.

Thursday, August 8, 2013 - Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Red Lodge

Saturday, August 31st, 2013 - 10th Annual Red Lodge Fun Run for Charities

Join the Carbon County Historical Society and Museum for an early evening of historic fun. Meet at the Museum at 5 p.m. to join in a historic walking tour of downtown Red Lodge. Handouts will be provided and a guide will show you the wonderful historic buildings. All programs are free to members and $2.00 for non-members.

August 10th & 11th, 2013 - The Beartooth Blitz

Montanas fastest growing Road Bike race is even bigger and better this year and is now open for registration. The all new reformed Beartooth Ride, is now a two day stage sure to test your legs. Saturdays opening Stage is a 40 mile course, packed with amazing vistas of the Absaroka Beartooth Mountains and the Stillwater River. The Queen Stage of the weekend is on Sunday with a 23 mile personal time trail up the Beartooth Pass. Each day is topped with food, fun and festivities.

10K Run, 5K Run/Walk, 2-Mile Fun Walk, Toddler Trot, Free BBQ. Cost: Free event registration and t-shirt; Charitable contributions encouraged. Benefit: Over 52 Red Lodge Area Charitable Organizations and their Communities The Red Lodge Fun Run for Charities is a community wide event with participants from Red Lodge, Billings, Montana, Wyoming and 13 other states- coast to coast.

An Educational Adventure for the Whole Family

Thursday, August 15, 2013 - Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Red Lodge

Join the Carbon County Historical Society and Museum for an early evening of historic fun. Meet at the Museum at 5 p.m. to join in a historic walking tour of downtown Red Lodge. Handouts will be provided and a guide will show you the wonderful historic buildings. All programs are free to members and $2.00 for non-members.

Friday, August 16 - Cocktails at the Clay Center-DSVS fundraiser

Montanas ONLY wildlife rescue open to the public. Come see bears, wolves, lions, bison, elk, fox, raptors and dozens more!

Gather your friends for Cocktails at the Clay Center-DSVS annual fundraiser! Please Stand With Us as we continue to build a healthy community free from violence. Wander through the Red Lodge Clay Center gallery viewing beautiful pieces by talented art-

www.yellowstonewildlifesanctuary.com
Open Daily 10a to 5p (open till 8p on Wednesdays)
Located just north of downtown Red Lodge on 2nd St East

Animal Sightings Guaranteed!

August 2013

Opinion

Ah, summer in Montana. The sun shining on the eastern prairie grass. The green slopes of the western mountains. The hiking, the horseback riding, the rafting and the shortness of it all. You really get about three or four good weeks of summer in Montana. June is summer in name only, a fake, an imposter that looks like summer but is actually full of cool temperatures, cold rain and sometimes even snow. Even the first half of July has suspect loyalties, often betraying us by siding with June. Likewise, the second half of August can be codependent on September, bowing to its wishes and submissively throwing in a frost or two. That leaves a few weeks in late July and early August for we Montanans to cram all our summer fun in. In fact, with August already here, you could despairingly say summer is already pretty much over. But we worry too much about doing something something pretty hard-core, like backpacking or a day-long hike or a fishing trip before it all melts away. If you have to force it, its no fun. And sometimes in a busy Montana summer of trying to get all those outdoor proj-

Dont try to force summer fun

ects done, there just isnt a lot of time for big summer events. So heres some advice: Dont worry if you dont get all the blockbuster summer events in. Just enjoy the warmth and the soft breezes and sitting on the deck sipping ice tea doing

nothing. Its OK if you dont do some great thing. Life is stressful enough. Dont make a short Montana summer something else to worry about. Dwight Harriman, Montana Best Times Editor

Editor: I am a 63-year-old, lifelong Montana citizen and an inveterate reader of everything in print, or, at least as much varied information as my eyes will allow! I love your wonderful Montana Best Times paper! It is excellent, homey and informative! Thank you so much for creating such a fine local paper. Karen Simons Billings August 2013 4

MONTANA

Letters to the Editor

A Monthly Publication for Folks 50 and Better

P.O. Box 2000, 401 S. Main St., Livingston MT 59047 Tel. (406) 222-2000 or toll-free (800) 345-8412 Fax: (406) 222-8580 E-mail: montanabesttimes@livent.net Subscription rate: $25/yr. Published monthly by Yellowstone Newspapers, Livingston, Montana
Frank Perea, Publisher Dwight Harriman, Editor Tom Parisella, Designer

Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated Savvy Senior information column, is a longtime advocate of senior issues. He has been featured in Time magazine; is author of The Savvy Senior: The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and Finances for Senior Citizens; and is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show.

Shingles Vaccine Protects Seniors and is Covered by Medicare

Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about the shingles vaccine? I just turned 65 and have been thinking about getting vaccinated, but would like to know how effective it is and how its covered by Medicare. Afraid of Needles Dear Afraid, Older adults who get the shingles vaccine can actually cut their risk of getting the painful condition in half, and those that do happen to get it are likely to have a milder case if theyve been inoculated. Heres what else you should know about the shingles vaccine, along with how its covered by Medicare. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a burning, blistering, often excruciating skin rash that affects about 1 million Americans each year. The same virus that causes chickenpox causes it. What happens is the chickenpox virus that most people get as kids never leaves the body. It hides in the nerve cells near the spinal cord and, for some people, emerges later in the form of shingles. In the U.S., one out of every three people will develop shingles during their lifetime. While anyone whos had chickenpox can get shingles, it most commonly occurs in people over age 60, along with people who have weakened immune systems. But you cant catch shingles from someone else. Early signs of the disease include pain, itching or tingling before a blistering rash appears several days later, and can last up to four weeks. The rash typically occurs on one side of the body, often as a band of blisters that extends from the middle of your back around to the breastbone. It can also appear above an eye or on the side of the face or neck. In addition to the rash, more than one-third who get shingles go on to develop severe nerve pain that can last for months or even years. Vaccination Coverage The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone age 60 and older should get a one-time shingles vaccination called Zostavax. Even if youve already had shingles, you still need the vaccination because reoccurring cases are possible. Seezostavax.comor call (877) 974-4645 for more information or to locate a vaccine provider in your area. The vaccine is also very safe. For most people the worst side effect is mild redness or arm soreness. You also need to know that Medicare covers the shingles vaccine as one of its preventive benefits. But, unlike some other vaccines that are paid through Part B, the shingles vaccination is covered by Part D. If you have a Part D prescription drug plan, it will pay for the vaccine itself and for your doctor or other health care provider to give you the shot. You are only responsible for paying the plans approved copay at the time you get vaccinated, which usually runs around $60 to $80. But, you need to make sure you follow your plans rules in order to keep your out-of-pocket costs down. If youre vaccinated at a drugstore, check to make certain its in your Part D plan pharmacy network. Otherwise, the shot will cost you more than your usual copay. If youre inoculated in a doctors office, check to make sure the office can bill your plan or at least can work through a drugstore in your plans network. Otherwise, youll have to pay the entire bill upfront and then claim reimbursement from your plan. Just to be safe, call your Part D drug plan ahead of time and ask which pharmacies and doctors in your area you can use to receive the shingles vaccine at the plans regular copay. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visitSavvySenior.org. August 2013 5

Shingles Overview

I usually walk four to five miles (a day), sometimes eight to 10. I walk about 25 miles a week.
Jeanette Priest

Right: Priest leads the pack in the five-mile Icebreaker Road Race in Great Falls in April. On the cover: Priest proudly wears the silver medal she won in March at the USA Masters Indoor National Championship in Landover, Md., in March.
Photos courtesy of Jeanette Priest

Race walker lives life on the fast track

August 2013 6

By Jennifer Butcher Johnson Montana Best Times

LEWISTOWN There is more to race walking than simply walking fast, according to 64-year-old Jeanette Priest. There are two rules. First, you have to have one foot on the ground at all times and second, the advancing leg has to have a straight knee when the foot hits the ground, Priest explained. Otherwise, its considered a jog and you are disqualified.

Lots of walking

Priest has been race walking for eight years and successfully competes on a national level in her age group. This is my big year, she said. I am training to compete in the National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio, and a few days later I will compete in the National State Games in Harrisburg, Pa. In preparation for races, Priest trains almost every day, walking the roads near her Lewistown home with her chocolate Lab, Tucker. I usually walk four to five miles (a day), sometimes eight to 10, she said. I walk about 25 miles a week. I do both speed and endurance on the road, and I do speed work on the high school track by doing interval training. I take a day off once a week or so. When the weather prevents her from training outside, Priest works out on her treadmill, lifts weights and takes advantage of local aerobics classes. Im a 5K racer, sometimes 10K. I can walk about five miles in an hour, she said. I have raced all over the country. I race in Montana when I can, but there is not much offered here except for the Big Sky State Games and the Senior Olympics. Priest trains hard and really looks forward to the big out-of-state races.

Priest is pictured with her trusty training partner, Tucker. They walk about 25 miles a week together.
Montana Best Times photo by Jennifer Butcher

In March she won a silver medal in her age division at the U.S. Track and Field Association Indoor Masters National Championships. It was a 3,000 meter race, and it felt really good to win the silver. Its the first one I have won on a national level, she smiled. Before, my best was a bronze, or nothing; Ive had a lot of nothings.

Better keep the rules

According to Priest, the races are carefully judged and racers are often disqualified for breaking the rules. The judges watch your feet to see if your leg is bent or if both feet come off the ground. They have paddles and they hold one up if a rule is broken, she explained. Three paddles and youre out of the race. Although Priest has never been disqualified from a race, she said it happens quite often. One race I was in started with 17 people, she said. By the end, five were disqualified.

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Priest said race walking is the perfect sport for her. It serves as an outlet for her excess energy, satisfies her rather competitive nature, helps maintain her weight and most of all, doesnt hurt her back. I am an energetic person and Ive always been active. My whole athletic career was riding and showing horses, but I hurt my back and eventually had to give it up, she said. I started running, but I was so slow I realized I could walk faster. So she started race walking. Several years ago at the Senior Olympics, she met race walking Olympic hopeful Jonathan Matthews. Matthews played a key role in helping Priest refine her skills and become a true competitor. He started working with me, gave me a training program, helped me learn the gait and make sure it was legal, she explained. Starting out is simple, but once you get advanced, the technique is a little complicated. Priest recently retired from the Central Montana Medical Center in Lewistown, where she was a registered nurse and diabetes education coordinator. With no plans to slow down, she is looking forward to training, racing and achieving her ultimate goal of winning a gold medal on the national level. Jennifer Butcher can be reached at reporter1@lewistownnews. com or (406) 535-3401. August 2013

Veteran recalls battle for Hamburger Hill

Recently honored again with Presidential Unit Citation
By Don Cogger Montana Best Times
MILES CITY Its been called one of the most controversial battles in the Vietnam War. Books have been written on it. A documentary was made. Hollywood even produced a movie about it. It was the battle for Hill 937 in the Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam. But in popular culture, and for the men who fought and died in it, it was simply called Hamburger Hill. The bloody battle covered 11 days, from May 10 to 20, 1969. Three airborne infantry battalions of the 101st Airborne Division known as the Screaming Eagles were dispatched to participate. Montana Best Times photo by Steve Allison One of the infantrymen was Miles City David McCullen holds the medals he earned and the Congressional Record tribute native David McCullen. signed by U.S. Sen. Jon Tester for his participation in the battle for Hamburger Hill. I remember asking the recruiting sergeant, after I told him what I wanted, if ries of their service records slip through the cracks, Tester said there was a guarantee Id get what I wanted, McCullen said. He in a recent news release. Getting David the medals he earned said yes, and I asked for Airborne Infantry, and I got it. and recognizing his service is the least we can do for a man who gave so much for his country.

Medals

McCullen, awarded a Bronze Star for Valor for the battle, recently learned he was due another citation, along with the rest of his regiment. As part of a program created by Montana Senator Jon Tester, McCullen was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in June. Since he first started tracking down military medals for Montana veterans, Tester has awarded 400-plus medals to more than 40 Montana veterans. Montana is home to a lot of veterans, and sometimes the stoAugust 2013 8

Straight into battle

McCullen was born in Miles City in February 1949. Soon after, his family moved to California near Los Angeles. A wrestler in high school, McCullen enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation. Looking for a challenge, he joined the 101st Airborne Division, much to the chagrin of his father. When I told my dad I had joined the Airborne Infantry, he said there are only two things that fall from the sky: bird s--- and

11 days and 11 assaults is what it took to take that hill. It was a mess. Somebody got a piece of wood and hung it like a sign. It said Hamburger Hill, and the name stuck.
Gene Sullivan
fools, McCullen recalled. After basic training at Fort Ord on Monterey Bay, Calif., McCullen then attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon and jump school at Fort Benning, Ga. He deployed to Vietnam on May 8, 1969. Two days later, he was assigned to Operation Apache Snow and sent to Hill 937. We got there, and before we knew it, me and some other guys were sent to Camp Evans, he said. Right after that, we were heading up the hill.
MT Best Times photo by Steve Allison

A closeup of McCullens Congressional Record tribute and his medals. monsoon. There were so many guys that didnt come back. There was so much hurt. I lost a lot of friends. Casualties at Hamburger Hill were numbered at 72 American soldiers killed, 372 wounded. The battle quickly came under scrutiny in the United States due to its high casualty rate, as well as the militarys decision to abandon the hill shortly after it was taken, a seemingly senseless loss of American lives. What was left of McCullens regiment was sent back to Camp Evans Fire Base, and the soldiers couldnt wait to get home. We were all brought back, what was left of us, to Camp Evans Fire Base, McCullen said. There was a band there from Korea that played American music for the guys. One of the songs, and I cant remember the name of it, you should have heard the guys scream and yell when they played it. The words went,We gotta get out of this place, if its the last thing we ever do. (Originally recorded as We Gotta Get Out of This Place, by The Animals, 1965.) They played that song and we all cheered. And the beer was good.

Assault on Hamburger Hill

For 10 days, the Airborne Infantry attempted to move up the hill and secure it, only to be repeatedly repelled by North Vietnamese soldiers, who were deeply entrenched. Though believed to have little strategic value to the U.S. military, McCullen and his fellow troops, under orders, continued a frontal assault on the hill until it was finally taken on May 20, 1969. 11 days and 11 assaults is what it took to take that hill, he said. It was a mess. Somebody got a piece of wood and hung it like a sign. It said Hamburger Hill, and the name stuck. I dont know why they wanted it, but we had to take it. What I didnt like about it was it was like playing leap frog. One group would take fire, come back down, the next group would go, all the while with air support. It was very hot and humid and in the middle of a

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After a two-year stint in the Army, McCullen returned to California, living there and eventually Iowa for many years. He moved back to Miles City in 2000. As attitudes have continued to change over the years concerning the Vietnam War and the men who fought in it, McCullen is happy groups such as Senator Testers exist. Hes also pleased to see the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles recognized a final time for their contributions and sacrifice during the 11 days of Hamburger Hill. The American public is realizing things about Vietnam and what took place, he said. And it makes me proud to see how soldiers and Marines are treated when they come back from these current wars. It really means a lot. Don Cogger can be reached at starnews@midrivers.com or (406) 234-0450. August 2013 9

Bookshelf
Weapons of the Lewis and Clark Expedition By Jim Garry University of Oklahoma Press - 2012 Hardcover $32.95 208 pages 6 x 9 ISBN 978-0-87062-412-4

From pistols to espontoons, book on expeditions weapons covers it all

By Montana Best Times Staff
Heres the perfect gift for the history buff in your family Weapons of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, by Jim Garry. When Meriwether Lewis began shopping for supplies and firearms to take on the Corps of Discoverys journey west, his first stop was a federal arsenal, according to a news release from the books publisher, Arthur H. Clark Company. For the following 29 months, from the time the Lewis and Clark expedition left Camp Dubois with a cannon salute in 1804 until it announced its return from the West Coast to St. Louis with a volley in 1806, weapons were a crucial component of the participants tool kit. In Weapons of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, historian Jim Garry describes the arms and ammunition the expedition carried and the use and care of those weapons. The Corps of Discoverys purposes were to explore the Missouri and Columbia river basins, to make scientific observations, and to contact the tribes along the way for both science and diplomacy. Throughout the trek, the travelers used their guns to procure food they could consume around 350 pounds of meat a day and to protect themselves from dangerous animals, the release said. Firearms were also invaluable in encounters with Indian groups, as guns were one of the most sought-after trade items in August 2013 10 the West. As Garry notes, the explorers willingness to demonstrate their weapons firepower probably kept meetings with some tribes from becoming violent. The mix of arms carried by the expedition extended beyond rifle and muskets to include pistols, knives, espontoons, a cannon and blunderbusses. Each chapter of the book focuses on one of the major types of weapons and weaves accounts from the expedition journals with the authors knowledge gained from fieldtesting the muskets and rifles he describes. Appendices tally the weapons carried and explain how the expeditions flintlocks worked. Weapons of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which comes complete with photographs and illustrations, integrates original research with a lively narrative. This encyclopedic reference will be invaluable to historians and weaponry aficionados and to that history buff in your home. Jim Garry is author of This 0l Drought Aint Broke Us Yet (But Were All Bent Pretty Bad): Stories of the American West and The First Liar Never Has a Chance: Curly, Jack and Bill (and Other Characters of the Hills, Brush, and Plains). The book is available from online booksellers, in bookstores, and directly from the Arthur H. Clark Company (www.ahclark. com), which is an imprint of the University of Oklahoma Press.

By Austin OConnor AARP Media/MCT

Etiquette expert discusses rules of inheritance

grandchild have first choice, or be given the most valuable items? A. No. That wouldnt be fair to everyone else. Now if everyone agrees to let the oldest one go first, then thats fine. But most professionals will advise to do some type of a draw. Lets say there are four siblings, they could draw names or numbers out of a hat. So the oldest might very well choose fourth. Q. Is it OK to decline an item youve received if you know you wont use it? A. If the person has already died, you can certainly tell the others in the family that its not something you would use and youre not interested. Its tricky when the person is still alive and wants to give you something. Much of that answer depends upon the relationship and whether it would hurt the persons feelings. Q. Should siblings who have shouldered more of the caregiving load expect a healthier inheritance? A. It can be a factor, as long as everyone agrees. The scale might be tipped toward one person. That works as long as the others arent resentful. Q. What if youve been given something you wont use? Can you give it to someone else? Sell it? A. If its a really special family heirloom and other family members would be crushed to have that sold, then I wouldnt do that. If its just something that you know you cant use but someone else would really like to have it if youre not going to upset everyone else then you can give it to that person. Some people do sell items, and thats fine if its not going to be upsetting to the family. Q. If you have your eye on a certain item, is it rude to ask for it? A. Generally, you dont ask. If youre really close you may say to your parent, for example. If nobody else wants it, or you really dont know what you want to do with that great desk, then Id love to have it. But again, only if its not going to seem that youre being thoughtless and inconsiderate of the other family members. Q. When dividing up items, how do you balance monetary versus sentimental value? A. It is really important to try to balance out the monetary value. You want to make it fair. Get a professional appraisal of jewelry, rare books, paintings or other valuable items before you decide how to divide them. Sentimental value is a little bit harder to gauge, but I think you can even it out. Everybody has their favorite sentimental things. Maybe theres enough to go around for every person, or maybe you have a drawing for them. Q. So for the giver, being specific about your wishes can help avoid discord among family members. A. Leaving specific directions is a really forward-thinking thing to do, and its great when it works out like that. Not everybody plans ahead or wants to think about that. But the fewer question marks at the end, the better for everybody. EDITORS NOTE: Austin OConnor writes on entertainment and lifestyle topics for AARP Media. August 2013 11

Rules of etiquette govern life events from the monumental to the mundane. But when it comes to inheritance whether youre passing items down to family members and loved ones or youre on the receiving end the guidelines of propriety are far from clear. How do you divvy up prized possessions between children? How do you tactfully tell a parent that youd like to inherit some cherished piece, or that youre not interested in a certain item that may be headed your way? Is it even possible? Its about being respectful, said Peggy Post, director of the Emily Post Institute, the Vermont-based business now diversified from books and columns to outreach and online. The underpinnings of etiquette are respect, consideration and honesty, and those benchmarks all apply. Post, 67, is great-granddaughter-in-law of etiquette queen Emily Post and the author of more than a dozen books on the topic. She talked to us about navigating the tricky waters of inheritance appropriately. Q. There are generally accepted rules of etiquette around weddings, workplaces, even dinner parties. Why are we mostly flying blind when it comes to inheritance? A. People are hesitant to talk about death and dying, about how to handle condolences and all the different happenings around those end-of-life rituals. Inheritance probably gets lumped into that. But theres more and more interest in elder etiquette now. Q. The latest version of Emily Posts Etiquette includes a brand new chapter on elder etiquette. What does that entail? A. Things like how to talk to parents about handling money, driving, living on their own as they get older. These are delicate issues. And things parents can do to prepare others talking to children about how siblings should handle their caregiving. How do you do that to make it fair among family members? These are all really awkward topics. Q. And inheritance falls into that category? A. Theres not a good blueprint for handling inheritance. Talking to people who deal in estate planning can give you pointers, professional and legal advice. But it does get tricky because family members forget to communicate. I think thats the big problem. Q. Youve said how awkward this issue can be. Whats the best way to start the conversation? A. Every situation is different. Do some one-on-one talks first, perhaps among siblings or the parents with each child. But its also good to get everyone together whenever possible, to make sure everythings out on the table and everyone is on the same wavelength. Even if families dont live close to each other, you can do a video call on FaceTime or Skype, or at the very least do a conference phone call. Its really good to talk individually and as a group. Q. For people who are starting to think about handing things down, is age or birth order important? Should the oldest child or

Act confident, turn the tables, self-defense instructor says

By Alastair Baker Montana Best Times

RED LODGE Bonnie Martinell doesnt strike you as someone who would know much about self-defense. Being demure, petite and a woman, potential attackers might target her as easy prey until they tangle with her. Thats because Martinell, who can shoot you a cold-blooded glance in a flash, is a third-degree black belt in tae kwon do. Martinell has been teaching selfdefense classes for 20 years to both sexes, in schools and businesses, private homes and even the mens fitness center in Bridger. A lot of men are surprised how much it helped them, she said. They take it for granted that nothing will happen to them. Martinell, who runs Beartooth Shining Mountain Taekwondo, also donates classes.

Culture of compliance

Bonnie Martinell poses for a photo in a tae kwon do stance. August 2013 12

Photo courtesy of Bonnie Martinell

Martinell said she has found herself pitted against real assailants in incidents that ended without violence. It is her aim to teach people how to meet aggressors head-on and turn the tables on them. The task can be difficult, especially these days in light of the movie industry, which continues to portray women as weak and defenseless and easily condemned to an early grave by their attackers, according to Martinell. That culture has helped create a compliant response to attackers, she said. People hate to watch movies with me, as I comment that they are so stupid, Martinell said. Think about it: If you are being

attacked and do what they tell you to, that doesnt even make sense. That means youre giving them the power. Ninety percent of it is about posturing if I dont act like Im a victim, theyre not going to even approach me, but if I act like a victim and they approach and tell me what to do, and I do it? Martinell said, her rhetorical question underscoring the perils of compliance.

Dont act like a victim

Martinell said she knows of a person who has been raped twice but when questioned why she did not fight back, her response

Ninety percent of it is about posturing if I dont act like Im a victim, theyre not going to even approach me.
Bonnie Martinell
was I never thought about it. Thats interesting. Why? Martinell asked. The thing most women dont understand is rape always escalates to murder, and they think, Hell just rape me. But is this his first or tenth time? And hes also going to kill you. Were told to be passive, and the person will leave. She continued, A great example is New York City. Youre told, Dont look anyone in the eyes. That is the worst thing you can do. By putting your head down, it means Im scared of you. And so who has the highest rate of crime? New York. Im already a victim, and I dont see who is coming at me, she said. People almost have to become actors, to build themselves up and be aware of their surroundings to help their situation, she said. Most criminal elements have a lot of low self-esteem, Martinell noted, which is why they do what they do. Pay attention around you, and once you recognize them, they are usually gone. Remember what they are doing is illogical, she said. My mom was a great example, Martinell said. She carried herself well, shoulders back, straight back. She worked with the VA, and would see veterans even the IRS wouldnt see. Shed be invited in (by these vets) and fix coffee, because she also treated them like humans.

Photo courtesy of Bonnie Martinell

Martinell, far right with dark jacket, is pictured with a group of tae kwon do students at a tournament in Powell, Wyo., recently. running after you. The heel to the top of a foot will take bones out, and even a knee, if kicked from the front or from the side. The knee isnt that stable. In other cases such as choking, Martinell suggests that if you are in a neck lock, it is best to spin into the attacker, as it will loosen the grip. The move will surprise the attacker as well. In extreme cases, where a plastic bag is being used to choke a person, then either tear it open with your hands, if they are free, or chew it open with your teeth. Surprisingly, the least effective method to stun an attacker is the groin shot, according to Martinell. A lot of (attackers) have no feeling there, and what happens if it is a woman attacking you? she said.

A light goes on

Step into their space

Martinell advises her students about attackers, Step into their space, step into them. By doing this, you take their power away. They tend to want to close into your space. Also, make sure they know you are aware of them, glare at them, be loud, and ask questions about what they are up to. In her own experience, shes had 100 percent success as wouldbe muggers or robbers have been the ones running away at the end of the encounter, she said Martinell also explained how you could use you body as a defense. It is your armor. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Its easier to take a bigger person down than a smaller person, she said. Use your elbows, head, nails, or heels.An elbow to the rib cage will break a rib, and they will have trouble breathing and

In her time teaching, she has had a lot of good feedback from her classes, Martinell said. You see a light go on, especially with young girls, she said. My generation was raised to be quiet and passive. This generation of girls, the big thing is to be liked. Ive held classes and theyve said, But he (the aggressor) wont like me. Who cares? Hes going to kill you. Then the light goes on. Social media is to be liked, liked, and liked.No, you dont have to be. You want to be safe. Martinell said she can spot right away those who have been abused in a relationship or bullied at school. Its fun when they walk back out of (my) class. They carry themselves well and dont think of themselves as a victim, Martinell said. One of my students is 78. She used to be very passive; now shes very strong. Martinell also runs Boja Farm, an organic farm just west of Belfry off Highway 72. She acknowledged it as a nice balance with martial arts. She offers a final word of warning for people to remain vigilant about their surroundings. We have the whole world going through here on to Yellowstone Park in the summer, Martinell said. People think theyre safe, but (theyre safe) only if youre smart. You dont know who is coming through. Alastair Baker can be reached at news@carboncountynews. com or (406) 446-2222. August 2013

13

A creepy, crawly business

Pest controller knows how to go after house pests

In addition to being Big Timbers only pest controller, Ron Thomas, pictured above beside his work truck, also spends his days driving school buses, serving on the Big Timber City Council and running a ready-mix business.

Story and photos by Lindsey Erin Kroskob Pioneer Staff Writer

BIG TIMBER Hes a man of many different hats. He also has a few different backpacks, bait boxes and insecticide sprayers. Ron Thomas is known in the area for the various roles he plays in the community city councilman, bus driver, ready-mix maker and, more recently, pest controller. As the owner of the only pest business in the Sweet Grass County, Crazy Mountain Pest Control, Thomas has his hands full with a variety of creepy, crawly things, but its the people he helps that keep him coming back. I was looking for a business that would really help the community without interfering with someone else, Thomas, 60, said during a recent interview at his Fourth Avenue home. It was something that there wasnt a person in the community doing, and I felt there was a need for it.

ing economy in 2009, Thomas began looking for other enterprises. A new business in the pest control field would allow him to more than fill his days while not competing with an already established Big Timber business. I didnt want to start a company that would run competition with someone else in our community, he said. The people are great to work with. They have a problem, and we work with it. He quickly went to work taking classes from the state of Montana for a commercial/industrial pest control license issued through the Montana Department of Agriculture.

How he does it

Getting the business started

August 2013 14

When the construction business started falling off with the fail-

The back of Thomas red pickup is packed full with an array of pest eradicating equipment, including two space age-esque, double-cylinder liquid insecticide sprayers. He picked up the larger of the two sprayers, strapped it to his back and began casually moving around the perimeter of his property casually, searching for tiny piles of brown, dust-like ant hills. He found one at the end of the driveway and went to work. Even the local pest control expert has a few pests at home. Thomas laughed after filling one little pile full of insecticide.

I think I drowned those ones, he said with a jovial smile. Its evident Thomas enjoys his work hunting those insects and rodents that make most people squirm. The work and type of pest control is weather dependent, Thomas explained. Most insect spraying is completed in the fall, he said, with mice and pack rat work picking up in the cooler months. There is a large population of mice and a few pack rats, especially in the summer homes and cabins where people dont live, he said. Wet seasons and rooms draw the most invertebrates ants and spiders. They maintain top honors for the most common, or concerning, variety of pest. All insects like moisture and areas of homes that have a lot of it, Thomas said. Spiders prefer bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens, while ants are drawn to sweets, human food and dog food. The best way to keep these insects from gathering at a home or business is to keep building exteriors free of decomposed leaves and grass, and keep the inside clean and sanitary. You cant 100 percent seal a home from insects, Thomas said. Some of them are worse than others. Naturally, older homes have more of a problem than the newer ones. Nevertheless, he said it is fairly easy to get bugs under control, providing follow-up treatments are done.

From mice to carpenter ants

For mice and pack rats, Thomas uses bait boxes to humanely dispose of the rodents. Inside the box is a short maze of walls, leading to a blood-coagulating poison. Once the animal ingests the poison, it searches for water, usually far away from the home, and dies along the journey. Thomas said he doesnt use live traps because of the cost of driving to check them each day. The odor of those little buggers in the trap can make a house just reek, he said. Its a decomposing body. So far, spiders, ants, mice and rats take up the majority of Thomas time. But, he said, there has been talk of a bed bug outbreak. I havent seen a lot of that, and I dont want to, he said. They are very expensive to control. Eliminating bed bugs requires completely stripping and treating a room beds and dressers, seams and cracks with a chemical and steam. Its a time-consuming process, he said. Other concerns here are carpenter ants and termites, which are less common due to the climate. Thomas said he refers termite issues to another company, because it requires a lot of special equipment and usually a $2,500 to $3,000 price tag. But he will deal with carpenter ants, which can bore into wood such as log structures and destroy a home from the inside out, leaving piles of sawdust in their wake. Sometimes pest problems are easy to spot, Thomas said, with cobwebs for spiders, dirt piles for ants and droppings for mice. And sometimes a little less easy. The biggest thing is people claim they have a problem, and sometimes you cant really verify what the problem is, he said. Its interesting and challenging work. Lindsey Erin Kroskob can be reached at news@bigtimberpioneer.net or (406) 932-5298.

Thomas lines his garage with insecticide on a warm summer day in late June. Thomas recommends keeping homes and businesses clear of decomposed leaves and grass to prevent insects from entering the building.

Tips for keeping critters away

Ron Thomas offers five tips for keeping pests away: 1) The best way to keep insects from gathering at a home or business is to clear the exterior of the building of decomposed leaves and grass. 2) Keep the inside of your home clean and sanitary. Bugs love to gather around crumbs in the pantry especially around sweet items. 3) Keep an eye out for excess spider webs, tiny piles of sawdust and rodent droppings. They are almost always a sure sign of an infestation. 4) Have someone regularly check on summer cabins and lesser-used homes before insect issues get out of control. 5) Talk to your local pest control officer about regular treatments if your home is prone to pest issues. Taking care of an issue in small doses is less costly than eliminating a major problem.
August 2013 15

Robert and Joannie Hughes are pictured with their 11-year-old grandson, Michael Hughes Jr. at their home in North Sacramento, Calif., in July. The Hughes are retired, living on a fixed income and raising Michael as his sole support.

Photo by Manny Crisostomo/The Sacramento Bee/MCT

By Anita Creamer The Sacramento Bee/MCT

More and more, grandparents are raising their grandkids

Mike Hughes Jr. was a baby when he came to live with his grandparents, Robert and Joannie Hughes, who are the 11-yearolds legal guardians. Their son, Michael Sr., was killed in a car crash on his way to work two months before Mikes birth. The lingering sadness from the family tragedy hasnt dimmed the Hugheses gratitude for the stability of their lives together: They own their modest North Sacramento, Calif., home, which Robert inherited from his mother. Mike receives survivor benefits from Social Security. And Robert, who retired in 2004, has a small pension from his longtime job with the city of Sacramentos tree service. And we have this guy, said Robert Hughes, 66, smiling at his grandson across the familys leafy front yard. Were fortunate. But many grandparents raising grandkids need assistance and often cant find it. In what used to be called the golden years, a surging number of grandparents are slammed with continued family obligations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of grandkids August 2013 16

living with a grandparent has risen an astonishing 64 percent in the past two decades. Most of those 7 million families included three generations _ but not all of them. Across the country in 2010, 2.7 million American grandparents were solely responsible for the basic needs of grandchildren living with them, and more than 21 percent of those families lived in poverty. Roughly 300,000 California grandparents 65,000 of them past the age of 65 have primary responsibility for their grandchildren. As the numbers have grown, so has the size of a particularly desperate sliver of grandparents who fall through the cracks in near-poverty, ineligible for assistance and services. An estimated half of Californias custodial grandparents past age 65 live in a land of need. Their fixed income exceeds the federal poverty line of $14,470 but doesnt reach the average of $28,809 it takes to fund basic needs in California, according to a recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research. And without meeting federal poverty standards, they dont qualify fully for benefits including food stamps, public housing

support and the California Medicaid welfare program, Medi-Cal. Their grandkids do without. So do they. Were already seeing older adults not getting enough to meet their own needs through Social Security and SSI, said Susan Smith, managing director of Insight Center for Community Economic Development, which helped research the UCLA study. They worked and paid into the system. They played by the rules. They thought theyd have enough to get by in retirement. And here they need more to pay for these kids. Census figures show that about 14,500 grandparents in the fourcounty Sacramento region are directly responsible for raising their grandchildren. Two-thirds of them are grandmothers, raising their grandchildren alone. Furthermore, almost one-third of the grandparents raising grandkids in the Sacramento region have some sort of disability. Only 44 percent of them still work. And 12 percent live below the federal poverty line.

ger. Or they juggle whether to pay the utilities from month to month. They go to food banks and resale shops. They make do. Elder advocates are pressing for the Elder Index to be used on a federal level to calculate benefits, including affordable housing eligibility. As Sacramentos Area 4 Agency on Agings Executive Director Pam Miller said: Theres a huge void in programs, and theres a huge void in funding to help these grandparents get help. Its very difficult. Most of whats out there is peer support.

Support group formed

Dysfunction plays a role

The recession bears much of the blame. The vast majority of todays grandparent-headed families grandfamilies, as some experts put it live in multigenerational households created by the long economic slide, with several adults under the same roof working and sharing the demands of childrearing. But the downturn played a smaller role in the rise of so-called skip-generation households of custodial grandparents. Experts said child welfare issues and family dysfunction are behind most of that increase. The growth in skip-generation families is about substance abuse problems, incarceration, the high divorce rate and mental health issues, said AARPs national expert on family issues, Amy Goyer. Parents deploying overseas with the military were also a factor, she said. The majority of skip-generation grandparents never obtain formal guardianship or custody of the grandkids. They simply see an urgent need when a crisis occurs or a chronic problem balloons out of control, and they step in to help. Its really a struggle for them to raise these kids, Goyer said. Its such a testament to the human spirit. They have their grandkids, and they want to do the right thing. But if they had a little bit of help, it could make a difference. Avoiding the system carries a steep price. In California, grandparents given formal kinship custody through the child welfare system generally qualify for monthly foster care payments, and their grandkids receive Medi-Cal and other financial benefits. For other grandparents, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids provides assistance for children and food stamps also can be available. But if they get through the labyrinth of eligibility rules, they still end up with less than they need, said Steven Wallace, associate director of UCLAs Center for Health Policy Research. The center created the Elder Index, a scale thats twice the federal poverty level, as a more realistic measure of elders financial need. In Sacramento County, the Elder Index calculates that a single older renter needs a basic income of $22,501 to survive. And if that renter is raising one grandchild, she needs $28,136. There is nothing in that number thats discretionary, he said. Nothing. Theres no Little League. Theres no trip to your aunts over the summer. Its paying rent and having food. How are people surviving? They choose. They split their pills to stretch the prescription lonAugust 2013 17

In 1991, Cora Keeton took in four of her grandchildren, three of them still in diapers: 5-month-old twins, a 2-year-old and a 4-yearold. She was single and working, and fought for guardianship after her son died. Typically, the children who come to live with custodial grandparents are special needs children, perhaps born drug- or alcoholexposed, perhaps scarred early in life by the dysfunction and instability of their homes of origin. You dont know what to do when you get your grandchildren, said Keeton, now 65, who lives in North Sacramento. There were really no resources for us. And theres nothing in your budget for raising grandchildren not for child care, nothing like that. It was overwhelming emotionally, financially, every which way you can think of. And when it comes to being a single grandmother, its more overwhelming. She started attending a grandparents group in south Sacramento and within a few years time, formed the North Sacramento Grandparents Support Group. Its 65 members meet twice each month to learn about medical, legal and financial resources and to connect. The groups youngest member is 42; the oldest, a great-grandmother raising her great-grandchildren, is 85. We do have a choice, Keeton said. I had to look into my heart. I knew I could not let my grandchildren go into foster care. A number of her groups members have fallen, raising their risk for broken bones, head injuries and stroke, and as a result shes offering fall prevention workshops in the future. And what happens to the grandkids if their aging grandparents grow ill and frail? Thats one of the reasons custodial grandparents hesitate to ask for help, Keeton said: They dont want the child welfare system taking the kids away. It speaks to the spirit and resilience of these grandparents, said the Insight Centers Smith. They might not be physically able to pick up the kids. But they want to raise them. That speaks to the bond and love and wanting to see hope for the future. For Mike Hughes Jr., a warm summer afternoon of chores awaited with his grandfather and a cousin. In a few months, hell enter the sixth grade. Right now, he had a different plan for his day. Id like to be sleeping, he said. Their normal family life camping a few weeks ago, Little League when Mike was younger is a luxury many custodial grandparents cant provide. For some grandparents, activities amount to taking food out of the kids mouths, said Joannie Hughes, 59. She knows how deep the need is: She and her husband have attended Keetons North Sacramento Grandparents Support Group meetings for eight years. Joannie and I basically provide the main dish for each meetings potluck, said Robert Hughes. At the last meeting of each month, a dozen grandparents take home a lot of food, and you know that will be the meal for the kids that night. And maybe the next night, too.

RSVP
Gallatin County

Below is a list of volunteer openings available through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in communities across southern Montana. To learn more about RSVP, call (800) 424-8867 or TTY (800) 833-3722; or log on to www. seniorcorps.org. - Help Center Telecare: Volunteers needed 3-4 mornings a week 8:30-11 a.m. to make calls to homebound seniors, providing reassurance, check on safety and wellbeing, and access to up to date referral information to vulnerable individuals. - Lewis and Clark Caverns Visitor Center: Volunteers for 3-4 hour shifts any day of the week - Museum of the Rockies: Variety of opportunities available. - RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to quilt, knit, crochet and embroider hats for chemo patients, baby blankets and other handmade goods once a week (can work from home). - Senior Nutrition Volunteers:Volunteers needed to help seniors with grocery shopping, meal and menu planning, and companionship, 2 hours a week, days and times are flexible. - Sweet Pea Festival: Looking for volunteers to man admission gate and welcome attendees to the Festival, Aug. 2-4 for 3 to 3 hour shifts. - Thrive Child Advancement Project (CAP): Seeking mentors to students in grades K-12, one hour commitment a week, training and support provided. - VA Montana Healthcare System: Volunteer DAV (Disabled American Veterans): Drivers needed to transport eligible veterans to and from the VA for medical appointments. - Your unique skills and interests are needed, without making a long-term commitment, in a variety of ongoing, special, one-time, one-shift events. Contact: Deb Downs, RSVP Program Coordinator, 807 N. Tracy, Bozeman, MT 59715; phone (406) 587-5444; fax (406) 582-8499; email: debdowns@rsvpmt.org. days. Wednesday is especially in need of support staff, just a few hours of wrapping silver, serving or wiping tables. - Park County Senior Center: Volunteers needed in a variety of ways from working in the kitchen, to helping in the office, to helping direct people and answering question for senior newcomers. Flexible hours. - RSVP Handcrafters: Volunteers to help with current special projects, such as knitting or crocheting hats and scarves for Head Start. Thursdays at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center. - Stafford Animal Shelter: Needs volunteers who love animals to walk a dog or cuddle a cat, or help with other animals waiting for adoption. - Yellow Bus: Looking for backup drivers and tour guides, learn and share local history. - Yellowstone Gateway Museum: Volunteers interested in becoming involved in a variety of activities. - Various agencies are in need of your unique skills and interests in a variety of ongoing and one-time special events, including mailings throughout the summer. Contact: Shannon Burke, RSVP Program Coordinator, 208 So. Main St., Livingston, MT 59047; phone (406) 222-2281; email: livingston@rsvpmt.org.

- American Red Cross Blood Drive: Two volunteer opportunities available; an ambassador needed to welcome, greet, thank and provide overview for blood donors and phone team volunteers needed to remind, recruit or thank blood donors, excellent customer service skills needed, training will be provided, flexible schedule. - Befrienders: Befriend a senior; visit on a regular weekly basis. - Big Brothers Big Sisters: Be a positive role model for only a few hours each week. - Bozeman and Belgrade Sacks Thrift Stores: Need volunteers to sort and price items, Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. - Bozeman Deaconess Hospital: Variety of opportunities to volunteer. - Bozeman Senior Center Foot Clinic: Retired or nearly retired nurses are urgently needed, 2 days a month, either 4 or 8 hour shifts. - Child Care Connections: Front desk help needed Thursdays, noon-1 p.m., to greet clients, answer phones, and general reception duties. - Childrens Museum of Bozeman: Welcome desk volunteer(s) needed for 2-hour shifts, Mondays-Saturdays. - The Emerson Cultural Center: Volunteers needed for front office as greeter and receptionist, Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. - The First Security Bank Big Sky Wind Drinkers Stampede (formerly the Bozeman Classic, formerly the Sweet Pea Run): Volunteers are needed for water stations and as course marshals Saturday, Aug. 3. - Gallatin Valley Food Bank:Deliver commodities to seniors in their homes once a month. - Gallatin Valley Food Bank: Volunteers needed to help prepare summer nutritious lunch meals for kids. Shifts available are 9 a.m.-11 a.m. or 1 p.m.-3 p.m. (MondayFriday), and/or to help serve meals to kids from noon-1 p.m. any day (Monday-Friday) at Beall Park, MSU SOB Barn or Hollensteiner Park in Belgrade; also needed are volunteers to deliver commodities to seniors in their homes once a month. - Habitat for Humanity Restore Belgrade: Volunteers needed for general help, sorting donations and assisting customers. - Headwaters Heritage Museum:Volunteers are needed through Sept. for 2 and 4 hour shifts. - Heart of The Valley: Compassionate volunteers especially needed to love, play with and cuddle cats, do carpentry work, be an animal bank collector (asking local businesses to display an animal bank for donation collection) or birthday party leader. August 2013 18

Fergus & Judith Basin counties

Park County

- Fix it Brigade: Needs volunteers of all ages and skill levels to help with small home repairs such as mending a fence, doing yard work, hanging a shelf or various other handyman tasks, for seniors and veterans, 2 hours of your time can make a big difference. - Food Pantry and Loaves and Fishes: Need help at either location in a variety of ways. - Livingston Depot Center: Volunteers needed especially for weekends, various times available. - Livingston Health and Rehab: Volunteers to brighten someones day by reading to a senior or helping with bingo or playing cards. - Loaves and Fishes: Dire need of help in order to be open Monday through Satur-

- America Reads: RSVP is beginning their recruitment of volunteers to assist kindergarten through sixth grade students in increasing their reading skills, working one hour a week through the coming school year, listening to and helping children as they read. Contact: RSVP Volunteer Coordinator Cheryll Tuss, 404 W. Broadway, Wells Fargo Bank building, (upstairs), Lewistown, MT 59457; phone (406) 535-0077; email: rsvplew@ midrivers.com.

Musselshell, Golden Valley & Petroleum counties

- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): Learn skills to protect yourself, your family and community during a disaster/emergency. Will train in vital emergency skills. - Food Bank: Distribute food commodities to seniors and others in need in the community. - Meals on Wheels Program: Deliver meals to the housebound in the community, just one day a week, an hour and a half, meal provided. - Musselshell Valley Historical Museum: See RSVP, Page 19

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) It may be difficult to separate Johnny Depp from his Pirates character Jack Sparrow, but the actor recalls a time before the boozy buccaneer became a household name. The films that I did prior to Pirates, ... not everything but a lot of it, was sort of by industry standards, not blockbuster stuff. So I wasnt ever blockbuster material, said Depp in a recent interview. But thats not to say he didnt have fun during those years. Ive been lucky enough to be involved in some very small and different independent films throughout my career and Ive been able to be involved in, you know, a couple of films that shocked everybody, especially me, he said. Since 2003, Depp has played the flamboyant captain in four hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean films, with a fifth installment slated for 2015. At age 50, he is still one the hottest names in Hollywood and recently launched another big-budget summer flick, The Lone Ranger. The only thing I can equate it with is luck. Theres no other reason, he said of his career longevity. The fact that I was able to survive through that 15 years of just bouncing around doing (indie) movies and now still to end up here is amazing. The Golden Globe-winning actor plays the famed Native American character Tonto in the upcoming Disney reboot of The Lone Ranger, which opened July 3. Despite his success, Depp recognizes that life on Hollywoods A-list can be fleeting. RSVP, from Page 18 Greet and guide visitors through newly renovated museum in Roundup. - Senior Center: Volunteers are needed to provide meals, clean up in the dining room and/or keep records, meal provided. - Senior Transportation: Volunteer needed to drive Senior Van to meals, fundraisers and appointments, one day a week or month, no special license needed, meal provided. - RSVP offers maximum flexibility and choice to its volunteers as it matches the personal interests and skills of older Americans with opportunities to serve their communities. You choose how and where to serve. - Volunteering is an opportunity to learn new skills, make friends and connect with your community. Contact: Abbie Nichols, Volunteer Coordinator, South Central MT RSVP, 315 1/2 Main St., Ste. #1, Roundup, MT 59072; phone (406) 323-1403; fax (406) 3234403; email: rdprsvp2@midrivers.com; Facebook: South Central MT RSVP. - Custer County office: Clerical work volunteer with computer skills needed 1-2 days a week.

Depp at 50: Just happy to still be around

I certainly wouldnt expect that it is one of those things that is going to stick around forever and ever, he said. The clock ticks, the times up and the next guy steps in or whatever and thats how it goes.

Just to be here still is pretty amazing. Every day should be some sort of celebration. So yeah, I guess when you hit 50 finally ... its just happy to still be around.
Johnny Depp
When hes not busy making films, Depp said music continues to be his main inspiration. Writing, playing guitar and one-off performances with artists like Keith Richards, Aerosmith, Black Keyvs, Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson keep his creative juices flowing. Depp says that in the last couple of years, hes had sort of a rebirth of my relationship with music. So Ive been playing more and writing more and its led to invitations to play with people. Depp, who celebrated his milestone birthday June 9, refuses to take a single day for granted. Just to be here still is pretty amazing, he said. Every day should be some sort of celebration. So yeah, I guess when you hit 50 finally ... its just happy to still be around.

Custer & Rosebud counties

- Custer Network Against Domestic Violence: Volunteer needed with the crisis line. - Forsyth Senior Center: Volunteer musicians needed to provide entertainment. - Garage Sale: One-time volunteer needed. - Head Start: Volunteer classroom aides needed in September, 2013. - The Historic Miles City Academy: Volunteers needed at thrift store in maintenance, and cleaning. - Holy Rosary Gift Shop: Volunteer cashier needed. - Holy Rosary Health Care: Volunteer receptionist needed at front desk. - Holy Rosary Hospice: Volunteers needed to help with hospice patients. - Miles City Soup Kitchen: Volunteers receptionist needed at front desk. - Ranger Riders Museum: Greeters need through October 31, dates and times of your choice. - TLC: Volunteer needed to do shopping for a resident. - VA Community Living Center: Volunteers needed to assist with activities for veterans, such as taking them fishing two Fridays per month, playing poker or other card games, or playing other games with them, can be done outside, days and times

can be flexible. Also need someone to go to the veterans rooms to make a list of their requests and then shop to fill them; must be able to drive and lift at least a 12-pack of pop. - WaterWorks Art Museum: Volunteer receptionists needed, shifts available Saturday 3-5 p.m., Sunday 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday 9-11 a.m. and 11 a.m.-1 p.m., choose a shift each week, every other week, or one shift a month. If you are interested in these or other volunteer opportunities please contact: Betty Vail, RSVP Director; 210 Winchester Ave. #225, MT 59301; phone (406) 234-0505; email: rsvp05@midrivers.com - Fair Booth fundraiser: Volunteers needed, Aug. 8-11. - Volunteers needed to deliver commodities, once a month, to individuals unable to pick them up at the designated site. - If you have a need for or a special interest or desire to volunteer somewhere in the community, please contact: Patty Atwell, RSVP Director, P.O. Box 1324, Glendive, MT 59330; phone (406) 377-4716; email: rsvp@midrivers.com. August 2013 19

Dawson County

On The Menu
Humans crave fatty foods. A popular TV chef had an expression that nailed it. Graham Kerr, aka the Galloping Gourmet, used to refer to foods that satisfied this urge as giving us round mouth fullness. When the nights are hot and sultry, its natural to have a hankering for ice cream and ice cream treats. Thanks to American ingenuity and the desire of manufacturers and restaurants to create an ice cream treat that practically everyone craves, we now have dozens of delectable ones to choose from. The figures

With Jim Durfey

When it comes to an ice cream treat, you dont have to consume 2,800 calories
below will indicate what effect various treats will have on your waistline and the extent the treat will clog your arteries. The information for the first three items was gleaned from The 10 worst Ice Cream Treats in America a website hosted by Mens Health magazine that can be accessed by http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slideshow/ print-list/105863. A phone call to the Livingston Wilcoxsons Ice Cream plant provided the figures for the last item.

TYPE OF TREAT 1 scoop (1/2 c.) Ben and Jerrys Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream P B & C Coldstone Shake, (Gotta Have It size) Uno Chicago Grills Mega-sized Deep Dish Sundae 1 scoop (1/2 c.) Wilcoxsons Low Fat Vanilla Ice Cream

CALORIES

GRAMS OF FAT

GRAMS OF SUGAR

360 1,750 2,800 140

26 118 136 9

24 140 380 gr. carbs 10

Its not necessary to serve your dinner guests ice cream desserts that are high in saturated fat or that feature more calories than the average adult needs in their daily diet. The recipes below are very simple. But if the people whom we invite to the Durfey shack for dinner are any gauge, your guests will want to nominate you for sainthood when you serve them any of these. Since they are so easy to concoct, these recipes might seem too good to be true. But if you try them, you wont be sorry. Nonfat ice cream is a great product. Perhaps its psychological, but my taste buds tell me it doesnt have enough pizazz to be real ice cream. Low-fat ice cream does seem to give me that round mouth fullness, so I serve fellow diners low-fat vanilla ice cream when I make these desserts.

If your liquor cabinet doesnt have coffee liqueur, you should have some on hand. Kahlua is the most popular brand, but most liquor stores carry less expensive brands that are very good. Pecan liqueur isnt usually found in many Montana homes, but it has a unique flavor that makes it star in not only the ice cream dish below but some foods and some drinks. Amaretto liqueur is also another item that is versatile and seems to come in handy especially around the holidays. You might want to add that to your liquor cabinet as well. Practically any liqueur will work when added to vanilla ice cream. So substitute your favorite and create your own special sundae.
Small handful toasted pecans, chopped

Coffee Ice Cream

One large scoop low-fat vanilla ice cream Scant 1/4 c. coffee liqueur
Place ice cream in small bowl. Pour liqueur over ice cream. Serve immediately.

Place ice cream in small bowl. Pour liqueur over ice cream. Sprinkle with pecan pieces. Serve immediately.

Almond Delight
Place ice cream in small bowl. Pour liqueur over ice cream. Sprinkle with slivered almonds. Serve immediately.

Ice Cream with a Southern Accent

One large scoop low-fat vanilla ice cream Scant 1/4 c. pecan liqueur

One large scoop low-fat vanilla ice cream Scant 1/4 c. Amaretto liqueur Small handful slivered almonds

August 2013

20

August 2013 Calendar

 Thursday, August 1
Music in the Mountains Summer Concert Series, 7 p.m. Thurs Sweet Grass County Fair, through Aug. 2, County Fairgrounds, Harmony Market, 4-8 p.m., First Thursdays through Nov., Holi Red Lodge Climb to conquer cancer, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Red Missouri Headwaters State Park Summer Speaker Series, Satur Prime Rib Dinner and Old Western Movie, Fairgrounds, Wilsall

Lodge

days, Town Center Park, Big Sky

days, 7 p.m., Three Forks

Big Timber

day Inn on 5 East Baxter Lane, Bozeman. Music on Main Street, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursdays through Aug. 15, Bozeman Sweet Pea Festival and Parade, through Aug. 4, downtown Bozeman Columbus Farmers Market, Thursdays through Sept. 12, Railroad Park, Columbus Makoshika Youth Program, held Thursdays through July 25, Glendive Montana State Fair and the Mighty Thomas Carnival, through Aug. 3, Montana ExpoPark, Great Falls Park County Fair, through Aug. 3, County Fairgrounds, Livingston The Prairie County Fair, through Aug. 4, Terry 2nd Annual Vigilante Music Festival, through Aug. 4, downtown Virginia City Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park: Campground Programs, Thursday and Friday evenings through Sept. 2, Whitehall  Friday, August 2 Sweet Pea Festival, through Aug. 4, Park, Bozeman Farmers Market, 10-11 a.m., Fridays through Oct. 4, JC West Park, Glendive Farmers Market, Fridays through Sept. 20, Little Horn State Bank, Hardin Farmers Market, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Fridays through Oct. 4, Lions Park, Red Lodge Festival of the Nations, through August 3, Red Lodge  Saturday, August 3 Big Timber Farmers Market, Saturdays through Sept. 13, Lions Club City Park, Big Timber Farmers Market, Saturdays through Oct. 5, Dillon Montana Festival of the Wind, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Harlowton Charlie Russell Chew Choo, 5 p.m., Lewistown Farmers Market, Saturdays through Oct. 5, Lewistown Federation of Fly Fishers Museum, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Livingston Livingston Depot Museum, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 1-5 p.m., through Sept. 2, Livingston Yellowstone Gateway Museum, daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Livingston Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-noon, Saturdays through Oct. 26, Riverside Park, Miles City

 Sunday, August 4
Aug. 25, Anaconda

St. Timothys Summer Music Festival, 4 p.m., Sundays through Park County Demolition Derby, 1 p.m., Fairgrounds, Livingston Miles City Star Mud Run, Miles City

 Tuesday, August 6

Bogert Farmers Market, Tuesdays through Sept. 24, Bozeman

 Wednesday, August 7

25, Miles Park, Livingston  Friday, August 9 The 10-Minutes Play Festival, through Aug. 18, Blue Slipper, Livingston  Saturday, August 10 The Lewistown Art Stomp, from 2-5 p.m., Main Street, Lewistown  Friday, August 16 Charlie Russell Chew Choo, 5 p.m., Lewistown Relay for Life, through Aug. 17, Miles City  Saturday, August 17 28th Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Gathering, Lewistown Livingston Dance Club, country western dancing, 7-11 p.m., American Legion, 112 N. B St., Livingston  Thursday, August 22 Eastern Montana Fair, through Aug. 25, Miles City  Friday, August 23 Livingston Gallery Association Art Walk, 4:30-8:30 p.m., Livingston  Saturday, August 24 Charlie Russell Chew Choo, 5 p.m., Lewistown  Saturday, August 31 Cobblestone Farmers Market, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Cobblestone School grounds, Absarokee 16th Annual Spectacular Stillwater Quilt Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Absarokee

Livingston Farmers Market, Wednesday evenings through Sept.

By Jace Evans McClatchy-Tribune

Baby boomers are divorcing more frequently, new study shows

A study by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers has revealed an increase in divorce cases for those over 50 years old in the last five years. The survey of AAMLs 1,600 members found that 61 percent had seen an increase in over-50 divorces, while 37 percent claimed that no change had occurred. In terms of issues being fought over in court, alimony was the

most common with 38 percent. Business interests and retirement accounts were second and third with 20 percent and 14 percent of AAML members citing it respectively. While 22 percent of AAML members said that wives typically initialized the divorce for those over 50 years old compared to 14 percent for their husbands, 64 percent of members surveyed saw no difference in who began the divorce. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers was founded in 1962 and includes members from all 50 states. August 2013 21

Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at strangetrue@cs.com

By Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.

Whats the happiest day of the week? Tweets tell

Q. What is the happiest day of the week and day of the year? What about the saddest? How might such questions ever be answered? A. By consulting the hedonometer at hedonometer.org (from the Greek hedon meaning pleasure), which uses the continuous flood of words tweeted over the social networking service Twitter to extract day-by-day happiness scores for the connected world, answer Peter Dodds et al. in PLoS ONE journal. More than ten thousand of the most common English words were assigned happiness scores from 1 for sad to 9 for happy. Going by the data, happiness peaks on Saturdays, with Fridays right behind. Tuesdays--not Mondays--are the saddest days, registering about 0.03 happiness units below Saturdays. The happiest days of the year are Christmas and Christmas Eve, typically peaking 0.25 points higher than the days before or after, while other holidays have similar peaks. Since the hedonometer was activated in the fall of 2008, the happiest day of all was Christmas 2008 (6.37) and the saddest was April 15, 2013, the day of the Boston Marathon bombings (5.88). (Generally, the saddest days correspond to natural disasters and other events.) Of course, sampling English users of Twitter is hardly an unbiased gauge of universal sentiment, yet the technique is data-driven and quantitative and eventually will encompass other languages and social network users. Q. How might your smarty smartphone help you control the stresses in your life? postures. AIRS can record over sixty such values, giving you a quick fix on your lifestyle and the pressures you regularly face. Whats critical here is that change itself can mean stress and stress can undermine your health. With todays workforce working longer hours than the previous generation, stress takes on an even higher profile. Trossen describes how after monitoring his own stresses for a year, he began to set aside blackout days where he stays away from work interruptions such as e-mails and is more cautious about making travel plans. If enough people become similarly alert, we hope to be able to reduce the burden on healthcare systems, he concludes. Q. In the wide-open Animal Olympics, where might we humans pick up a gold medal or two? a) sprinting b) longdistance running c) weight-lifting d) jumping e) throwing f) gymnastics motor control, technology, language. Cooperation among humans led us toward civilization. Concludes Lawton: So give your amazing physique the credit it deserves. Human achievement is not the product of brains alone. Q. If you pulled a heist in Denver but claimed you were in California at the time, how might your hair blow your alibi? A. Your hair knows where youve been and can tell tales on you, says Rebecca Coffey in Discover magazine. A few years ago, University of Utah chemists found that both tap water and locally bottled beverages in the 33 cities they studied wound up containing a unique chemical signature that turned up in the hair of people who drank it. Essentially, your do acts as a dirty rat.

A. Youre already aware of body monitors for checking blood pressure, heart rate and more, says Dirk Trossen of the University of Cambridges computer laboratory, as reported in New Scientist magazine. But his Android Remote Sensing App (AIRS) for smartphones goes beyond the body to track environmental changes, including surrounding noise levels, social activity, number of e-mails and other interruptions. It even looks at changing light levels, body movements and body August 2013 22

A. Forget sprinting, weight-lifting, gymnastics and jumping, since pound for pound, a chimp is about four times as strong as a human, our jumping and gymnastic abilities are similarly weak, and we are sluggish sprinters, says Graham Lawton of New Scientist magazine. But there are two areas where humans could contest for gold: long-distance running and throwing. At marathons, a well-conditioned athlete can do 20 kilometers per hour (12 mph) for several hours, comparable to a wild dog, zebra, antelope or wildebeest. This talent of ours depends on special adaptations of the feet, legs, hips, spine, even the rib cage. We are specialized for long-distance running, perhaps as an early adaptation for hunting or scavenging. And while marathon glory is possible, the javelin gold is a certainty. Other primates can fling objects with force but only humans have the shoulders and wrists to launch a spear or rock with power and precision. Evolutionary biologist Paul Bingham has argued that our accurate overarm throw was the key factor in human evolution, allowing us to hunt for allimportant protein, which in turn helped drive critical brain adaptations for fine-

Q. One thing a baseball catcher needs to be able to do is squat down to give signals to the pitcher and to receive the ball, then hes up and down, up and down throughout the game, so much so that Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench once estimated that hed had to squat at least 500,000 times during his career. Was this just an exaggeration?

A. Not at all, says physicist Aaron Santos in Ballparking: Practical Math for Impractical Sports Questions. Bench had played about 20 years with the Reds--not even counting minor league or nonprofessional games--pegged at roughly 150 games per year. In a typical game of 100 pitches, this meant 100 squats for Bench. His total number was likely at least double that since he also caught practices over the seasons. So make that about 200 squats per game, times 150 games per year, times 20 years for an estimated 200 x 150 x 20 = 600,000 squats! Well done, Mr. Bench! Q. Guys, over dinner with your lady friend, you put your hand on the table and say, Look how my index finger is shorter than my ring finger. Ill bet your index finger is longer.

A. Just as you expected, her index finger does turn out to be a bit longer, but no need to explain to her that this is usually the case, though for some women the two digits are really about equal, says Rebecca Coffey in Scientific American magazine. This sort of digit ratio may reflect the female-male hormonal balance in the womb during the week that the fingers form, with androgen apparently producing a longer ring finger in males. Researchers study these ratios to see if they can serve as markers for certain human attributes. Theyve noted that girls with a masculine ratio do not get lost as easily... and that boys with more masculine ratios have more typically masculine facial features. All in all, a handy way to get your sweethearts attention.

Q. Its a humdrum bodily fluid, barely something to be taken seriously, unless of course you lack it. Its about 99 percent water, plus a gaggle of proteins, minerals and microbes. It can vary from person to person, so much so that each of us has a unique kind. Kind of what? A. Its spit, or saliva to be more polite, lubricating the mouth for talking and chewing. Unstimulated saliva forms a protective film that clings to the surface of the teeth and traps bacteria, says Mary Roach in Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal. The prettier stuff is stimulated, coming from the parotid glands between the cheek and ear. When a plate of appetizing food makes your mouth water, thats stimulated saliva, which comprises 70 percent to 90

percent of your 2-3 pints daily. Chewing on something can be a mechanical stimulation. You may be wondering, Roach poses, why newborns without teeth produce excessive volumes of drool. Its simple mechanics, answers Dutch researcher Erika Silletti: They lack teeth to physically keep the saliva in the mouth. Or as Roach puts it, Your lower incisors are a seawall holding back the salivary tides. Over 1,000 species of bacteria have been shown to colonize the mouth, varying with diet, disease, immune status, adds Dr. Frank Scannapieco of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. So each individual would have a unique set of proteins and microbes in the mouth, thus making for a unique spit.

Ask me about the This auto and home insurance is designed exclusively for AARP members and is now available through your local Hartford AARP independent agent! Call Today for your FREE, no-obligation quote: Auto & Home Now available in your area! 406-652-4180 InsuranceProgram CINDY JOHNSON, DARNIELLE INSURANCE AGENCY from The Hartford.
1320 28th St WPO Box 21300Billings, MT 59104 www.darnielle.com

The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. In Washington, the Program is underwritten by Trumbull Insurance Company. AARP and its affiliates are not insurance agencies or carriers and do not employ or endorse insurance agents, brokers, representatives or advisors. The program is provided by The Hartford, not AARP or its affiliates. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays a royalty fee to AARP for the use of AARPs intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. The premiums quoted by an authorized agent for any Program policy include the additional costs associated with the advice and counsel that your authorized agent provides. 107995

Crossword

Across

1 Many a knockout punch 9 Theres a charge for it 15 Navigators creator 16 Mind the sitter 17 Signs at a rally 18 Showed signs of being 19 These, in Tours 20 Herodotus and Thucydides, for two 22 Disk-shaped safety device 24 Baby shower gift 26 Recordholders suffix 29 Ridge studied in forensics 30 One with Esq. on the door 31 Liveliness 32 Citrus-marinated South American fish dish 35 High-level disagreement? 37 Not kosher 38 Styled after

40 Deep purples 41 Faltering sounds 42 The Winds of War actress 45 Homemade defense against a mind-control ray 47 Hotly contested area 49 Riddle of the Sphinx answer 52 Scratch 53 Fortifications 56 Acid neutralizer 57 Like Buckleys columns, say 58 Close again, in a way 59 In orbit

8 Mosaic piece 9 Horse-and-buggy 10 Examine closely 11 ... __ finest hour: Churchill 12 Stephen Colbert bestseller subtitled (And So Can You!) 13 Roast spot 14 Beatty and Rorem 21 Scrumptious 22 Font flourish

23 Sporty Spice, familiarly 24 Col. Potter on M*A*S*H, to pals 25 Pessimistic J. Geils Band hit with the line Its gonna make you cry 27 Tough tissue 28 Garb 29 Pro-prohibition org. 31 Spill, with out

Down

1 Insensitive, in a way 2 Mononymous kicker 3 K-12 fund-raisers 4 Backup key 5 Dave Matthews Band label 6 Meals on Wheels worker? 7 Rabbit Is Rich Pulitzer winner

33 Petticoat alternative 34 Four Quartets poet 36 Annika Sorenstams gp. 39 Good-natured 42 German chancellor Merkel 43 Language family including Turkish 44 Drawer holders 46 Old Peruvian 47 Trauma consequence 48 Corduroy rib 49 Zoo trench 50 Debate side 51 One of 60 billion in a min. 54 Three-day festival 55 SS supplement

August 2013

23

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