‘Rodeo Barbie’ not your average cowgirl

By MADELEINE SHERRIER/Montana State News

Sarah Wright is not what you would imagine the Montana State Rodeo Team’s All Around Cowgirl award-winning athlete to be like. With long, hot-pink acrylic nails and even longer perfectly curled blonde hair extensions, she does not portray the popular image of a “tomboy” that participating in the rodeo would suggest. And she is proud of it.

Sarah Wright breaks the mold when it comes to rodeo competitors.

Recognizable from the stands by her pink boots and matching saddle decorations, Wright has come to realize the irony in her personality.

“Before I came out here (Montana) everyone in my town just knew the way that I was,” Wright says, “so I never heard anything about it. But now I realize that a girl, who only wears pick, feels naked without fake nails, while driving a pick-up truck and flipping goats around could be considered a contradiction.”

At 19, the sophomore knows how she feels about the stereotype. Wright jokes, “It’s important to me that I don’t allow rodeo to define me. Sure I love it, but I also love the color pink. Is that really such a big deal?”

Kids with needs motivate Eagle Mount staffer

By AUTUMN TOENNIS/Montana State News

Heather Collins is quietly humble. “I’m not one for being in the spotlight,” she said.

Collins’ office at Eagle Mount Bozeman has a beautiful view of the Bridger Mountains; behind her desk hang colorful paintings of more mountains; both things betray her love of the outdoors. “I love to hike, ski, and fish – my husband is an avid fisherman and professional fly-tier,” she said smiling, exchanging a handshake before sitting down at her desk.

Heather Collins has been on the staff at Eagle Mount for seven years.

The road that brought her to Bozeman and Eagle Mount is a long one. Collins majored in Health and Human Performance at the University of Montana, intending to go on to medical school. However, a series of circumstances led her and her family to settle in Bozeman. It was there that she saw an ad in the paper for a position as the executive administrative assistant at Eagle Mount.

“I fell in love with what they do,” said Collins. “And I have always wanted to work with children with special needs.” This month is her seven-year anniversary, and she now is the facility’s development coordinator, working with fundraising, donors, business partners, special events and community partners. Her broad networking skills cover a variety of things.

Technology the realm of modern librarian

By MICHELE McDONALD/Montana State News

Hardback books neatly line the shelves near the Computer Services Desk at the Bozeman Public Library. Behind the desk sits Pam Henley, whose job is to help individuals interested in the technological services offered by the library.

Henley, a graduate of the University of Wyoming and the University of Oklahoma, serves as a technology assistant at the Bozeman Public Library. According to Henley, she started her current career when she and her family returned to Bozeman after living in Japan, Korea and Germany as her husband served in the U.S. Air Force.

While traveling abroad, Henley said she accumulated experience in elementary school libraries which were located on U.S. Air Force bases. According to Henley, public libraries were difficult to find in the nations she visited.

“I never saw a library when I was overseas,” said Henley. “I lived off the base area, so I saw a lot of the economical part of the country. But I never once saw a public library.”

Although libraries did not seem to be numerous, Henley said technological advances overseas surpassed those in the United States. Technology from Japan and Germany always seemed advanced and people in Korea had cell phones before they were popular in the United States, so Henley became comfortable with new technology.

Soprano is the energy behind musical duo

By KAYLEE WALDEN/ Montana State News

“She has an amazing voice,” a young woman in the crowd whispers emphatically to her friend, after the vivacious red-head on stage belts out a show-stopping high note.

Michal Madeline, right, is half of the musical duo ONOMONO.

She stomps a high-heeled foot along with the end of the song, and the crowd erupts into applause. It’s a packed

house at Cactus Records for their Annual Record Store day, and the animated red-head is Michal Madeline, who carefully dismounts the stage as the cheering begins to subside

After several hugs and handshakes, Madeline walks a couple blocks to a bar down the street letting her nerves settle after the surge of adrenaline from being in front of a crowd.

“Jack and Coke please,” she says, waving to a group who yelled their congratulations from the other end of the bar. She tries, to no avail, to tame her “mane,” as she calls it. Fiery red curls stick out in all directions despite her best attempts to secure them back into a pony tail.

“My hair is almost like a metaphor for my life these days,” she says with a laugh, “All over the place.”

Treating disabled modernized in Boulder

By LEVI WORTS/Montana State News

16C—the ward for the most severely mentally disabled at the Boulder River School and Hospital. Infants suffering from large accumulation of fluid in their brains are kept here.  Some do not even have brains, just a brain stem to keep the body functioning on the lowest level.

The facility houses a wide range of persons with intellectually disabilities and mentally illness; the residents include children to adults that vary from completely non-functioning to deaf. Families can show up and drop off persons with mental disabilities for any reason.

This was the state of mental health care in Montana when Gene Haire, the current superintendent of Montana Developmental Center, first arrived in Boulder in the early 70s.

“There were people who should not have been here but were committed because they were deaf,” said Haire. He arrived in Boulder at a time of drastic change in mental health care in Montana. In 1975 Montana legislation changed the rules for committing persons with intellectual disabilities, according to Haire.

Howler’s Inn a haven for wolves and people

By CODIE WYERS/Montana State News

When looking to purchase a bed and breakfast, finding one for sale that comes with a wolf pack is anything but ordinary, but this is just what happened to Montana State University professor Chris Bahn.

“We were looking for a bed and breakfast and just happened to fall in love with one that had a wolf sanctuary,” he responded when asked how his wolf sanctuary came about.

Until he and his wife purchased the bed and breakfast, Bahn claims he didn’t know much about wolves. He said, “When we first purchased the inn, we were immediately taking care of seven adult wolves. I have since become very educated about the animals and have raised five from puppyhood to adults.”

Wolves are now a large part of Bahn’s life, and it seems as if he wouldn’t have it any other way. “Very few people get to interact with wolves. Plus, they are very expressive with affection. My alpha female likes to sit on my lap and suck on my thumb,” Bahn laughs. “They also interact differently than a dog because of their intelligence. It’s a difference that’s hard to explain.”

Fundraiser nets $30,000 for library

By NATHAN VOELLER/Montana State News

The Bozeman Public Library Foundation’s fifth annual Cornerstone Celebration raised a record $30,000 for library related activities, according to Foundation Director Paula Beswick.

Beswick said the money raised at the Cornerstone Celebration will be used for programs and services the foundation provides for the people of Bozeman. In 2012, the Bozeman Public Library Foundation provided 135 programs for the public.

“We do all kinds of programs: even college prep courses,” said Beswick.

Jack Kligerman, a volunteer at the library, listed public book readings, book clubs, music performances, art openings, reading programs for children and computer services as some of the offerings of the library. He said he is personally grateful for the opportunities such offerings provide for community members.

“Life without the library would be too isolated,” Kligerman wrote.

Special Olympians prepare for state games

The annual Flame of Hope torch run across Montana kicks of the Special Olympics State Games.

By MATT PARSONS/Montana State News

Local Special Olympics athletes competed recently in Bozeman and Livingston in the Big Sky Area games in anticipation of the Summer State Games, which will be May 14-17 in Billings.

The games were marked by a variety of sporting events, including traditional Olympic events like track and field and non-traditional events such as bowling and bocce.

After closing ceremonies for the area games in Bozeman, athletes will turn their attention to Billings, where more than 1,000 athletes from around the state will converge on MetraPark for four days of competition and events. Accompanying the athletes will be hundreds of coaches from 75 teams across the state, according to a press release.

“We can’t wait for Special Olympics in Billings,” said Ty Sherwood, a member of the Bozeman Flames team and Special Olympics athlete. Sherwood counts the annual State Games not only as a chance to compete in walking events, but also a place to reconnect with friends he only sees once or twice a year.

Lawmakers expand Montana wolf hunt

By CODIE WYERS/Montana State News

The Legislature passed and Gov. Steve Bullock has signed into a law a measure to expand wolf hunting in Montana.

House Bill 73 allows an individual hunter to hunt more wolves during the given wolf season (dates for the 2013 season are still pending). This bill allows hunters to use electronic calls to entice wolves in and does not require hunters to wear orange like they do during the regular elk and deer hunting season.

This bill also prevents the state wildlife agency from banning wolf hunts in areas around national parks such as Yellowstone; these changes will take effect in the upcoming wolf hunting season for 2013.

Gov. Steve Bullock said this bill was backed by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks saying, “The department did support it, and at the end of the day we need to base these decisions on science, not on politics, and allowing more than one, three wolves to be taken, it fits with the science.”

Clintons picked to open Music on Main season

By ALEX KOMSTHOEFT/Montana State News

The Clintons are scheduled to open for the 13^th annual Music on Main concert series this summer in Historic Downtown Bozeman.

Music on Main is hosted by the Downtown Bozeman Association whose mission is to contribute to the well-being, growth and vitality of downtown Bozeman, according to their website.

The event kicks off on Thursday, June 27 on Main Street from Rouse Avenue to Black Avenue. The music will last from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and continue every Thursday evening through August 15.

This will be the fourth year the Downtown Bozeman Association has selected The Clintons as Music on Main’s season opener. This Bozeman rock band has traveled throughout the Northwest, but usually play in venues hosting 200-600 people.