May 10 - May 17, 2023
Laurie Adams was one of nearly 100 people who came out for the St. Paul’s annual Salad Smorgasbord on Wednesday, May 3, at the Granite County Museum. Proceeds from donations go to local needs in the community as well as around Montana. Photo by Gwyneth Hyndman.
Water filtration study pursued as concerns grow over Fred Burr Lake by-products
by Gwyneth Hyndman
Continuing water quality concerns at Fred Burr Lake are motivating the Philipsburg Town Council to move forward with a pilot filtration project, as the town hovers on the brink of losing its filtration avoidance waiver for their municipal water source.
Philipsburg is currently one of a handful of municipalities in the U.S. with a filtration avoidance waiver, because of the historic purity of Fred Burr Lake, and instead relies on a chlorination process mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is overseen by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Issues with the chlorination process were raised by former Town of Philipsburg Public Works Director Sam Dennis in mid-December 2022 after water samples showed higher levels of disinfection by-products that put the town at risk of losing its waiver. These are by-products that form when natural organic matter combines with chlorine and can be carcinogenic - but exactly what the organic matter is remains a mystery.
Last Tuesday, May 2, public works employee Ed Roseboom spoke to the council about the continuing high levels, adding that the organic material was still unknown, but he believed that material from old pipes could also be contributing to higher by-product levels.
“I wish I had the answer to this,” he said.
Dennis had noted in previous council meetings that he believed that ash from wildfires settling on the surface of Fred Burr Lake may be at least one source of organic matter. Fallen dead trees surrounding the lake as a result of the mountain pine beetle are also a suspected source.
DEQ Communications Specialist Moira Davin has said this was a possibility, as well as pollen and algae. The DEQ was keeping an eye on the water quality in Philipsburg and was aware that the town was in the process of pursuing a filtration pilot study. This was the first step in “proactively addressing” the filtration requirement, if the town crossed over the allowance level for disinfection by-products, Davin stated earlier this year.
On Tuesday night, town council members voted unanimously to proceed with the filtration pilot study. The council has discussed that this would be funded with a $2.7 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Century-old smorgasbord makes a comeback
by Gwyneth Hyndman
Philipsburg’s long-running annual Salad Smorgasbord was back at the Granite County Museum last Wednesday, May 3, after a three-year hiatus - the only known break for a community fundraiser that is believed to have been going since the early 1900s.
Organizer TJ Vietor, alongside Carol Anderson - who remembers the fundraiser being held in the Philipsburg Senior Center and the previous location of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in the 1950s - said they’d welcome any contradiction to its longevity. But as far as they were aware, it had been held as a St. Paul’s women’s group fundraiser for as long as anyone could remember.
“It’s back by popular demand,” Vietor laughed, overlooking a table of 35 salads - including Anderson’s famous “popcorn salad,” made with water chestnuts, bacon, onion and six cups of popcorn - which also included broccoli salads, Jell-O salads, tossed green salads, but ironically, no potato salads, Vietor pointed out.
Nearly 100 people attended the event during their lunch break, leaving a donation. St. Paul Pastor Debbie Schmidt said traditionally funds from the event have gone to members of the community in need but funds have also gone outside the county. One example was financial support for the victims of the June 2022 floods that devastated homes and businesses in Red Lodge, Laurel and Gardiner.
St. Paul’s Presbyterian is part of the Granite Parish of churches that Schmidt pastors and also includes Hall United Methodist Church and Drummond United Methodist Church.
Westphal to replace Waldbillig on Granite County Hospital District Board
By Gwyneth Hyndman
Former Granite County Medical Center physician assistant Ashley Westphal will be replacing long-time trustee Jim Waldbillig for a three-year term seat on the Granite County Hospital District Board, following unofficial election results from the May 2 elections.
In other hospital board election results, Doris Gilbertson - challenged by Elena Gagliano - will retain the seat she has held since appointed in January.
The Philipsburg School District elections - an elections held by poll on May 2 - resulted in incumbents Genevieve Kulaski and Joy Lucero retaining their seats against challenger Dave Kessler.
In the Drummond School District elections, the $45,743 elementary schools levy lost in a close race, with 135 voting for the levy, and 137 voting against. In an equally tight race, the $63,061 high school levy passed, with 179 voting for the levy and 172 voting against.
In the Granite County Hospital District, 834 people out of 2184 in the hospital district voted.
Ashley Westphal won 563, to Jim Waldbillig’s 248 - there were four write-in votes. Doris Gilbertson had 611 votes to Elena Galliano’s 186 votes - there were three write-in votes. Kristi Mainwaring was uncontested, taking 694 to 17 write-in votes.
By precinct:
Jim Waldbillig - Precinct 1, 67; Precinct 2, 80; Precinct 9, 45; Precinct 10, 56 - Total, 248.
Ashley Westphal - Precinct 1, 78; Precinct 2, 174; Precinct 9, 117; Precinct 10, 94 - Total, 563.
Doris Gilbertson - Precinct 1, 191; Precinct 2, 203; Precinct 9, 118; Precinct 10, 99 - Total, 611.
Elena Gagliano - Precinct 1, 53; Precinct 2, 45; Precinct 9, 39; Precinct 10, 49 - Total, 186
Kristi Mainwaring - Precinct 1, 210; Precinct 2, 210; Precinct 9, 139; Precinct 10, 135 - Total, 694
Write-in - Precinct 1, 1; Precinct 2; 12; Precinct 9, 3; Precinct 10, 1 - Total 17
Want to read the full story?
Click SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page.
Want to read the full story?
Click SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page.
Water filtration study pursued as concerns grow over Fred Burr Lake by-products
by Gwyneth Hyndman
Continuing water quality concerns at Fred Burr Lake are motivating the Philipsburg Town Council to move forward with a pilot filtration project, as the town hovers on the brink of losing its filtration avoidance waiver for their municipal water source.
Philipsburg is currently one of a handful of municipalities in the U.S. with a filtration avoidance waiver, because of the historic purity of Fred Burr Lake, and instead relies on a chlorination process mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is overseen by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Issues with the chlorination process were raised by former Town of Philipsburg Public Works Director Sam Dennis in mid-December 2022 after water samples showed higher levels of disinfection by-products that put the town at risk of losing its waiver. These are by-products that form when natural organic matter combines with chlorine and can be carcinogenic - but exactly what the organic matter is remains a mystery.
Last Tuesday, May 2, public works employee Ed Roseboom spoke to the council about the continuing high levels, adding that the organic material was still unknown, but he believed that material from old pipes could also be contributing to higher by-product levels.
“I wish I had the answer to this,” he said.
Dennis had noted in previous council meetings that he believed that ash from wildfires settling on the surface of Fred Burr Lake may be at least one source of organic matter. Fallen dead trees surrounding the lake as a result of the mountain pine beetle are also a suspected source.
DEQ Communications Specialist Moira Davin has said this was a possibility, as well as pollen and algae. The DEQ was keeping an eye on the water quality in Philipsburg and was aware that the town was in the process of pursuing a filtration pilot study. This was the first step in “proactively addressing” the filtration requirement, if the town crossed over the allowance level for disinfection by-products, Davin stated earlier this year.
On Tuesday night, town council members voted unanimously to proceed with the filtration pilot study. The council has discussed that this would be funded with a $2.7 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Century-old smorgasbord makes a comeback
by Gwyneth Hyndman
Philipsburg’s long-running annual Salad Smorgasbord was back at the Granite County Museum last Wednesday, May 3, after a three-year hiatus - the only known break for a community fundraiser that is believed to have been going since the early 1900s.
Organizer TJ Vietor, alongside Carol Anderson - who remembers the fundraiser being held in the Philipsburg Senior Center and the previous location of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in the 1950s - said they’d welcome any contradiction to its longevity. But as far as they were aware, it had been held as a St. Paul’s women’s group fundraiser for as long as anyone could remember.
“It’s back by popular demand,” Vietor laughed, overlooking a table of 35 salads - including Anderson’s famous “popcorn salad,” made with water chestnuts, bacon, onion and six cups of popcorn - which also included broccoli salads, Jell-O salads, tossed green salads, but ironically, no potato salads, Vietor pointed out.
Nearly 100 people attended the event during their lunch break, leaving a donation. St. Paul Pastor Debbie Schmidt said traditionally funds from the event have gone to members of the community in need but funds have also gone outside the county. One example was financial support for the victims of the June 2022 floods that devastated homes and businesses in Red Lodge, Laurel and Gardiner.
St. Paul’s Presbyterian is part of the Granite Parish of churches that Schmidt pastors and also includes Hall United Methodist Church and Drummond United Methodist Church.
Westphal to replace Waldbillig on Granite County Hospital District Board
By Gwyneth Hyndman
Former Granite County Medical Center physician assistant Ashley Westphal will be replacing long-time trustee Jim Waldbillig for a three-year term seat on the Granite County Hospital District Board, following unofficial election results from the May 2 elections.
In other hospital board election results, Doris Gilbertson - challenged by Elena Gagliano - will retain the seat she has held since appointed in January.
The Philipsburg School District elections - an elections held by poll on May 2 - resulted in incumbents Genevieve Kulaski and Joy Lucero retaining their seats against challenger Dave Kessler.
In the Drummond School District elections, the $45,743 elementary schools levy lost in a close race, with 135 voting for the levy, and 137 voting against. In an equally tight race, the $63,061 high school levy passed, with 179 voting for the levy and 172 voting against.
In the Granite County Hospital District, 834 people out of 2184 in the hospital district voted.
Ashley Westphal won 563, to Jim Waldbillig’s 248 - there were four write-in votes. Doris Gilbertson had 611 votes to Elena Galliano’s 186 votes - there were three write-in votes. Kristi Mainwaring was uncontested, taking 694 to 17 write-in votes.
By precinct:
Jim Waldbillig - Precinct 1, 67; Precinct 2, 80; Precinct 9, 45; Precinct 10, 56 - Total, 248.
Ashley Westphal - Precinct 1, 78; Precinct 2, 174; Precinct 9, 117; Precinct 10, 94 - Total, 563.
Doris Gilbertson - Precinct 1, 191; Precinct 2, 203; Precinct 9, 118; Precinct 10, 99 - Total, 611.
Elena Gagliano - Precinct 1, 53; Precinct 2, 45; Precinct 9, 39; Precinct 10, 49 - Total, 186
Kristi Mainwaring - Precinct 1, 210; Precinct 2, 210; Precinct 9, 139; Precinct 10, 135 - Total, 694
Write-in - Precinct 1, 1; Precinct 2; 12; Precinct 9, 3; Precinct 10, 1 - Total 17
Want to read the full story?
Click SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page.
Want to read the full story?
Click SUBSCRIBE at the top of this page.
For the complete stories and much more, please subscribe to the Philipsburg Mail today.
Call (406) 859-3223 or e-mail editorial@mullennews.com for subscription information.
To place an ad, email adsales@mullennews.com
Times Change
But you can still re-live our past with the Philipsburg Mail’s
searchable and ever growing list of available archives:
1908 • 1911 • 1932 • 1935 • 1936 • 1938 • 1939 • 2009 to Present
searchable and ever growing list of available archives:
1908 • 1911 • 1932 • 1935 • 1936 • 1938 • 1939 • 2009 to Present
