Publisher’s Note - Fall Issue 2026
We can’t remember ever being as ready for the cool temperatures of fall as we are after this summer. The summer-long heat wave set records across our state, hitting a high of 111 degrees on July 12. Following a mild winter, the extreme heat left the countryside parched and everyone on edge whenever dark clouds passed, promising rain but delivering nothing but lightning.
Not only did livestock suffer from the lack of feed, but wildlife did as well. It wasn’t unusual to see bears making their way into town scrambling to find food. Red Lodge was home to several nuisance bears, and even our neighborhood outside of Billings had a few garbage scroungers.
Speaking of bears, nearly sixty years ago, a tragic night in Glacier National Park was dubbed the "Night of the Grizzlies." While we have not seen a repeat of that event, lack of natural feed and increasing visitor numbers make bear safety and management bear an ongoing concern. In this issue, we take a closer look at what happened that night, how it could have been prevented, and how it permanently changed park policy nationwide.
We also feature Chris and Kristin Grudzinski, an ambitious couple dedicated to supporting Veterans. Through their organization, the Montana Veterans Meat Locker, they distribute frozen meat monthly, to Veterans across the state. As Chris notes, helping others is often the best way to take your mind off personal struggles, and their work is making a meaningful impact for Veterans and their families.
Kristi and Darrel VavRosky are also dedicated to serving others and do it while honoring the memory of their late son, Jace, who passed away from cancer two years ago. Part of their healing process has been supporting families facing cancer and other hardships. Through their foundation, “Live Like Jace,” their mission is to encourage others to persevere and live life to the fullest, just as Jace did.
On the lighter side, we take you to the infamous pig races in Bearcreek, where a creative saloon owner started the event to entertain the locals and boost business, and ended up attracting tourists from around the world. It’s legal, fun and has raised over $185,000 in scholarships for graduating high school students from Carbon County. That’s a lot of bacon…
We hope you enjoyed our social media giveaway event this summer, in which we partnered with local businesses to offer terrific prizes every Friday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It was a chance to get to know our followers a little better and to bless some families. Thanks for tuning in!
With fall ready to arrive, a new season of activities is underway—school is back in session, football games have started, and hunting season is just around the corner. Be sure to get out and enjoy our beautiful state before the snow arrives! (Hopefully there will be a lot of that this year!).
“…We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope.” Romans 5: 3-4