Enterprise photo by Angela Schneider
	Ryan McCormack, of Livingston, throws a stick for dogs Happy, left, and Poppy at the dog park near Mayor’s Landing, Friday morning, March 12.

Following are the week's top stories. This digest is updated once a week, by early Friday evening.

Published 3.8.2010

Pair busted on meth lab charges
By Camden Easterling, Enterprise Staff Writer

Two North Carolina residents are in Park County custody after being arrested Sunday on allegations of operating a methamphetamine lab just outside Livingston city limits.

Lisa Lafferty, 28, and Calvin Mann, 39, made initial appearances in Justice Court Monday morning on one count each of felony attempted criminal production or manufacture of dangerous drugs. They remain in the Park County Detention Center, each on a bond of $50,000.

The Park County 911 Dispatch Center on Sunday morning received a call from a family member of Lafferty’s whom she and Mann were staying with in an apartment in the View Vista Village complex, according to dispatch records. The apartment complex is off View Vista Drive, just south of Livingston city limits.

The family member told law enforcement that she wanted Lafferty and Mann to leave the apartment and that she suspected drug-related activity, said Tim Barnes, a detective with the Park County Sheriff’s Office who is assigned to the Missouri River Drug Task Force.

“We were in the process of removing them when we found some evidence,” Barnes said Monday morning.

A subsequent search turned up evidence of a meth lab, Barnes said.

The couple had been in Montana about three weeks but hadn’t completed the process of manufacturing the drug, he said.

Producing meth requires various chemicals and creates risks such hazardous gases and explosion, Barnes said. After finding the lab on Sunday, law enforcement workers notified nearby apartment residents that they should evacuate the area while a team of contractors trained and licensed to dispose of meth lab materials worked on the apartment.

“We’ve had to go through a lot of steps for public safety,” Barnes said.

Nearby apartments, though, likely were not harmed during the lab’s operation because the units do not share common duct work that meth vapors can travel through, he said.

“It was good work by the deputies,” Park County Sheriff Allan Lutes said Monday. “That’s one less place for meth in this community.”

Other regional, state and federal agencies assisted in the investigation and disposal efforts.

Man apparently kills self on Mol Heron Road
By Enterprise Staff

A hiker discovered the body of a Minnesota man in a vehicle Saturday morning near Mol Heron Road.

Eric Earl Johnson, 37, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Park County Coroner Al Jenkins said Monday.

Jenkins said he did not know why Johnson, a resident of St. Paul, Minn., was in the area.

A hiker reported to Park County law enforcement Saturday around 11:15 a.m. that he noticed vehicle tracks leading into the woods, according to records from the Park County 911 Dispatch Center. The man said he followed the tracks and found a truck with the man’s body and a firearm inside.

Mol Heron Road is south of Cinnabar Basin Road, between Tom Miner Basin and Gardiner.

Man who says laws don’t apply to him is charged
By Camden Easterling, Enterprise Staff Writer

An Emigrant-area man who says state laws don’t apply to him due to his religious affiliation is in jail on theft, drug and weapon charges.

Park County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Love Thomas Wright Cooper during a traffic stop Saturday night. He remains in the Park County Detention Center but has not had bond set due to his refusal to cooperate with court proceedings, Park County Attorney Brett Linneweber said Wednesday.

Cooper, 30, was in Justice Court Monday for an initial appearance. But he would not participate “to the judge’s satisfaction,” Linneweber said.

Cooper has told law enforcement officials that as a member of the Sovereign Church of Christ, he is not required to abide by Montana laws, according to court records.

A Web site for the church that lists Cooper, with a title of “Pontiff,” as a team member calls the group “an alternative governing body.” The site states that the Emigrant-based group also has a church fellowship that is separate from its government entity.

The license plate displayed on the vehicle Cooper was driving Saturday reads “Pontiff” and was found to be a fictitious plate, court records state.

During Monday’s proceedings, Cooper “denied being subject to the laws” he is accused of breaking, according to court records. He and “a colleague attending the appearance” also disrupted the court and the colleague falsely posed as an attorney, legal documents state.

Consequently Cooper will remain jailed without bond until March 15, when he is scheduled to appear in District Court, Linneweber said.

District Court Judge Nels Swandal typically reviews matters such as entry of pleas each Monday. District Court handles felonies, although defendants often make initial appearances in Justice Court, which handles misdemeanors, before transferring to District Court.

On Saturday, a deputy pulled Cooper over for allegedly speeding on U.S. Highway 89 South, according to court records. During the traffic stop, Cooper told law enforcement that his affiliation with SCC means he isn’t required to have a items such as a driver’s license or proof of insurance, according to court papers.

During the stop, he also said he was scared to step out of the vehicle and that the matter was one of illegal search and seizure, legal documents state.

Cooper was charged with several alleged violations, including theft of the vehicle he was driving, carrying a loaded and concealed weapon, driving while his license was suspended and marijuana possession.

The drug charge, his second such offense, and the theft count are felonies. The rest are misdemeanors.

Due to a prior felony conviction for assault in Virginia, Cooper is prohibited from owning a firearm, according to court records. Park County law enforcement workers have notified the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of Cooper’s case.

City to consider zoning rules for pot shops
By Camden Easterling, Enterprise Staff Writer

What to do about medical marijuana production and sales within Livingston city limits?

The Livingston City Commission is slated to begin addressing that question at its Monday night meeting. The discussion follows a Thursday decision by City of Bozeman officials to temporarily restrict where new medical marijuana businesses can operate within that municipality.

On Friday, Livingston City Manager Ed Meece said he and a couple of Livingston commissioners have talked about how medical marijuana businesses might affect the community. He decided to put the item on the commission’s agenda to begin conversations on the matter, he said.

“I think we want to be sure we’re on track with the situation as it evolves,” Meece said.

Where medical marijuana is produced or sold could have impacts the city might need to consider in its zoning regulations, Meece said. For example, such businesses might influence whether other kinds of merchants or service providers choose to — or choose not to — locate their offices or shops in a given area.

The issue of medical marijuana production and sales is a complicated one because the substance is prohibited at the federal level but allowed by state law for medical use with certain restrictions, Meece said. But state law doesn’t give cities much guidance on some considerations, such as how to handle zoning for medical marijuana businesses, he said.

Montana law requires that medical marijuana caregivers be registered with, but not licensed by, the state, Livingston Chief of Police Darren Raney said.

In Livingston, medical marijuana producers or providers are not required to have city business licenses, city officials said Friday.

Like other businesses, though, medical marijuana providers must have fire inspections by the Livingston Fire Department for their business outlets, Meece said.

One such business in the last month has acquired a business license despite not being required to do so, said Pam Payovich, who handles the city’s business licenses.

Payovich said that to her knowledge, about five medical marijuana providers have had fire inspections in recent months.

Fire Chief Alan Davis could not be reached Friday morning to provide additional information on inspection numbers.

The Bozeman City Commission on Thursday adopted a temporary zoning restriction that prohibits new medical marijuana companies from operating within 1,000 feet of a school, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. The commission also spelled out that already existing businesses temporarily will not be allowed to accept new clients.

The Livingston City Commission on Monday will review information on how other cities, including Bozeman and Hamilton, have handled zoning for medical marijuana operations.

Also on the agenda:

• A resolution to allow the city manager to sign a contract worth roughly $518,000 for The Good Earth Works Co. Inc. to begin work on the Northside Park and Soccer Fields project. The Livingston Youth Soccer Association is providing funding for the project.

• A discussion on a draft ordinance that would amend the commission’s procedures for how it fills vacancies on the commission.

To view the full agenda, go to www.livingstonmontana. org or view a hard copy at the Livingston-Park County Library.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the City-County Complex. If front doors are locked, use the building’s back doors.

Casino robbery suspect enters guilty plea
By Camden Easterling, Enterprise Staff Writer

One of the two men accused of robbing a Livingston casino last fall has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the case.

Joel Stephen Boyce, 29, of Tennessee, entered a guilty plea in District Court Monday afternoon in response to an amended list of charges against him. This fall he pleaded not guilty to a longer list of charges, including felony counts of conspiracy or accountability to commit aggravated burglary and kidnapping.

Prosecutors have said that in October, Boyce and another man, Joel Kent Kenens, also of Tennessee, robbed Yellowstone Charlie’s Gaming Parlor on West Park Street.

Boyce is accused of aiding Kenens, 31, in the crime. Kenens has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed in the Park County Detention Center.

Prosecutors have said that Kenens carried a gun and forced a casino employee to let him into the building. Once inside the building, he allegedly bound the worker and barricaded her in an office while he took money and destroyed evidence.

The men were tracked down and arrested in Tennessee just days after the robbery. Evidence recovered included cash, jewelry, an assault rifle and clothing consistent with that of the man who robbed the casino, according to court records.

As part of a plea agreement with the office of the Park County Attorney, Boyce on Monday pleaded guilty to felony counts of obstructing justice and conspiracy or accountability to commit theft.

The obstructing justice charge reflects his admission of knowing about the robbery and taking actions with Kenens to conceal the crime, according to court records.

Boyce in court Monday said he was asleep in a car near the casino and didn’t know what was happening inside the building until Kenens returned to the vehicle.

“I found out right after the robbery that he had done it,” he said.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will drop additional charges but will require Boyce to assist them in prosecuting Kenens.

Boyce was released on his own recognizance Monday on the condition he live with his sister, who resides in Gallatin County.

He will be sentenced at a later point.

	Mr. PHS
	Blair Rath makes a face during his “One Man, One Prop” performance during the Mr. PHS contest at Park High School Tuesday evening, March 9. The students were judged on the categories of physical fitness, swimsuit, talent, poise and interview questions. Eleven male students from the school competed for the title. Cain Rinehart was named Mr. PHS 2010. Enterprise photo by Angela Schneider

Suspect in attempted burrito theft changes plea
By Enterprise Staff

A 51-year-old Livingston man has changed his plea to no contest and received a suspended sentence in a case of attempted burrito theft.

Douglas Dean Thumm entered a no contest plea in District Court Monday afternoon in response to a misdemeanor count of theft, third or subsequent offense. He also pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault.

In exchange for his no contest pleas, which have the same effect as guilty pleas in relation to sentencing for crimes, the office of the Park County Attorney dropped a felony charge of burglary.

Prosecutors say that in November, an employee at TJ’s Gas N Convenience on East Park Street confronted Thumm after seeing him shove burritos in his pocket.

Thumm allegedly pointed his finger in the shape of a gun at the employee and told her, “Put your hands up, this is a stickup,” according to court records. He also allegedly yelled at and frightened another employee.

District Court Judge Nels Swandal on Monday sentenced Thumm to six months’ imprisonment for each charge, with the terms to run consecutively, with all the time suspended except for the 100-plus days he has already served and for which he will receive credit.

When a defendant receives a suspended sentence, he or she will not have to serve certain terms of the sentence, such as jail time, if he or she abides by conditions like obeying all laws.

But if a defendant violates the conditions of a suspended sentence, the terms come back into play and the defendant could end up serving the previously suspended sentence.

School likely to ask for May bond vote
By Camden Easterling, Enterprise Staff Writer

Nothing’s final yet, but voters in the Livingston High School District likely will be asked to vote in May on funding roughly $13.5 million to $15 million dollars worth of improvements to Park High School.

The Livingston School District Board on Tuesday night discussed details of a bond election it plans to mail to voters in late May.

Board members on Tuesday narrowed down to two choices a list of options of what to propose to voters. The two options are to ask voters to approve either one overall price tag of about $15 million or to allow voters to choose between a $13.5 million option and a $15 million figure.

District officials in recent months have discussed plans for improvements they say the district needs to make at the high school and its nearby McLeod Field sports facility.

In 2009, a facility assessment of the high school showed that the building needs major improvements to its plumbing, heating and electrical equipment. Estimates put the cost of that work at roughly $7.5 million, district officials have said.

After reviewing the assessment, the officials considered what other improvements Park High School might need to accommodate future generations of students. Board members worked with Montana firm CTA Architects & Engineers to draft plans for basic work on the school as well as improvements to the building’s interior and upgrades at McLeod Field.

In recent weeks, school trustees have discussed the project’s particulars, such as how to fund improvements or what options to ask voters to review.

School officials initially said they might ask voters in the Livingston Elementary District to share the cost of the project because work at the high school or sports complex would benefit all age groups.

But officials on Tuesday night said they will ask only those voters in the high school district to approve the bonds needed to work on the high school campus. The project is one primarily for the high school, trustees and district staff said Tuesday.

School board members on Tuesday said that at a March 25 meeting, they will vote on which of two options to put to voters in May.

One option is to present voters with a ballot that asks them to approve about $15 million in bonds to pay for improvements. The project includes repairing aging mechanical systems; reconfiguring interior school space to better reflect trends in teaching and education; and improving the track complex that is used for sports ranging from track to football to soccer.

The other option is to give voters a ballot that lets them choose whether to fund just $13.5 million worth of improvements or to fund a project that totals $15 million.

The $13.5 million would fund some upgrades, such as overhauling mechanical systems and redesigning the school’s interior. But a separate box on the ballot would let voters opt to fund an extra $1.5 million — bringing the total cost to $15 million — to pay for improvements at McLeod Field.

The track project, though, would be contingent upon voters approving the initial $13.5 million in funding.

“I favor the giving a choice on the track and field improvements,” board member Druska Kinkie said.

But other board members said they worry that if the sports complex portion is broken out as a separate price tag on the ballot, voters will hesitate to fund the project.

“I think if they have the choice,” board member George Bornemann said, “they are going to pick one or the other.”

School district officials on Tuesday presented the board with samples of what the language on the ballot might look like. District administrators, though, are in the process of finalizing the wording, including dollar figures for and interest rates on the bonds, before the March 25 meeting.

Hunting Initiative 161 draws fire and support
By Matt Dettori, Enterprise Staff Writer

Enterprise photo by Matt Dettori

Tim Bowers, owner of Bear Paw Outfitters in Paradise Valley, guides Babe, his quarter draft horse, at his home Saturday, March 6. Babe is one among many expenses Bowers incurs in his outfitting business. If Initiative 161 is placed on the November ballot and passes, nonresident hunting fees will increase, which Bowers said will negatively affect his business.

Billings resident Kurt Kephart has been an avid hunter almost his entire life — and he’d like to keep it that way.

But Kephart said his longtime “family value, hunting” is threatened by commercial outfitting, which is why he is sponsoring a ballot initiative that would open more land for public hunting access and increase the state’s revenue.

Initiative 161 is an amendment to the Montana nonresident and outfitter hunting regulations.

If passed, I-161 would abolish outfitter-sponsored, nonresident big game and deer combination licenses, replacing the state’s current 5,500 outfitter-sponsored tags with 5,500 additional general, nonresident big game licenses.

On average, in recent years, there have been just over 23,000 general, nonresident tags issued each year, according to Montana, Fish Wildlife and Parks.

An outfitter-sponsored nonresident hunting tag is obtained after both the outfitter and client sign a written contract agreeing to the hunting trip. The client then sends a deposit to the outfitter, which is then sent to the state, said Paradise Valley outfitter Tim Bowers on Saturday.

The deposit ensures the client gets the necessary hunting tags and commits to the guided hunt.

It also ensures that the outfitter will guide the client.

The initiative will also increase the nonresident big game combination license fee from $527 to $628 and the deer combination license fee from $328 to $527.

Money received by I-161 will increase state revenue for the next four years by an estimated $700,000 annually, Kephart said Monday. The initiative will also bring an estimated $1.5 million annually for habitat preservation and restoration, “assuming that all nonresident hunting licenses are sold,” he said.

Much of the money will go toward opening more land for public use through block management, Kephart said.

The majority of money received from hunting permits is placed into “blocks,” he said. The block money is used to reimburse landowners for opening their property up to public use for hunting.

More revenue would allow for more public land hunting access, Kephart said.

Right now, most of the state’s block management revenue comes from Montana outfitters, he said. What he is doing with I-161 is “cut the tie between (Montana) Fish, Wildlife & Parks and outfitters,” Kephart said.

“Montana outdoorsman aren’t represented (in legislation) as well as outfitters are,” he said.

Paradise Valley outfitter Tim Bowers, of Bear Paw Outfitters, has also hunted almost his entire life and now uses hunting to make a living.

His outfitting business is threatened by I-161, Bowers said.

“Initiatives take away rights,” Bowers said. “The economy is bad enough right now. Why take something else away? It’s taking away the stability of the business.”

Bowers said people won’t be able to afford hunting trips because of the increased fees.

Most of his out-of-state clients are “blue collar” workers who save up their money over a period of months, even years, to afford a trip, Bowers said.

Along with the increased license expenses will be decreased income for outfitters, as fewer hunters choose to book trips with outfitters, Bowers said.

A lot of outfitting revenue is spent on supplies, gas, tires for trucks and trailers, stock, feed, horseshoes and general upkeep, “not to mention the amount it costs to get an outfitting license,” he said.

Outfitters will lose money if nonresidents can’t afford to hunt in his area, Bowers said.

Public access isn’t an issue with him because he spends 95 percent of his time outfitting on public land, he said. He started hunting when he was 12 and now, at 56, has harvested only one animal on private land, Bowers said.

“I’ve always looked at (outfitting) as going into the backcountry on the pack mules,” he said. “That’s what got me into the business.”

Hunting in Park County has diminished greatly since wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, Bowers said.

“Where were these guys during that?” he said of I-161 proponents like Kephart. “Now, the Gardiner hunt is no more.”

Idaho passed a law similar to I-161 in 2009.

Idaho Fish and Game raised the price of nonresident big game tags last year. The Idaho Fish and Game Communication Bureau sent out a survey to more than 30,000 previous nonresident tag holders. About 3,000 responded with three main reasons why they would not return to Idaho to hunt the next year.

Two of the three reasons were finance-related — the economy and the increased fees — said Idaho Fish and Game Communication Bureau Chief Michael Keckler, Monday. The third reason had to do with wolf impacts on hunting opportunities.

Idaho sold 39,698 nonresident big game hunting tags in 2008. In 2009, that number dropped to 32,142, according to the Idaho Fish and Game Licensing Bureau.

The state’s tag sales revenue dropped by about $1 million, Keckler said.

In order for Initiative 161 to be placed on the November ballot, its sponsors must first obtain 24,337 signatures, or 5 percent of the state’s registered voters, according to the Montana Secretary of State’s Office.

Senior Center moves ahead with new look
By Matt Dettori, Enterprise Staff Writer

Construction crews working on the Senior Citizens Center of Park County have started to shift gears from demolition to construction — starting with the thrift store.

The center has been gutted, asbestos has been safely covered or removed, and construction crews have started to renovate the downtown Livingston building.

The Senior Center renovation started in November. The project is made possible by several “big” grants that total about $1.1 million, said Senior Center Treasurer Rick VanAken.

The next step is to get the center’s thrift store operational, “hopefully by Easter,” he said.

The store, which was located in the building’s basement, will now be on the main floor in the corner, he said.

Once opened, the thrift store will again generate needed revenue for the center, VanAken said.

There are unanticipated costs when a building is remodeled, which is a hurdle the center has faced, he said.

“If we can get the thrift store running on the ground level in that corner, we should be able to triple our sales” and help cover those expenses, he said.

One of the costs the center faces is bringing plumbing and wiring up to date to meet building code standards.

Donations toward the project and general operating expenses are always welcome, VanAken said.

“Any contribution will help, so that the center doesn’t have to borrow any more money than needed,” he said.

Construction on the upstairs living area will begin soon after the main-level store area is ready.

The upstairs holds 24 apartments and houses 25 tenants.

The apartment area will get a new sprinkler system and updated, energy-efficient windows.

Some of the tenants will be taking family vacations while construction is under way, Van Aken said, and some will be temporarily housed at the Frontier Assisted Living in Livingston.

“I’ve been absolutely amazed at the tenants and how patient they have been about understanding the major project,” VanAken said. “It takes a lot of work, and the place is going to be so much better when it is complete.”

VanAken expects the project to be complete by late May to June.

“It’s been a long haul, but I feel like it’s coming along,” he said.

The center serves about 150 seniors around the community. In years past, it served as many as 300 people, VanAken said.

Memberships are available to people 50 years or older. The membership fee is $10 a year.

Put to the text: Teens face off in messaging competition
By Camden Easterling, Enterprise Staff Writer

When Lisa Sukut planned a texting competition for the young, hip and technologically inclined teens of this community, she didn’t anticipate the situation that materialized Wednesday afternoon at the Livingston-Park County Public Library.

A handful of young adults gathered in a room. But there weren’t enough cell phones between them to hold a truly fierce contest.

“Where are all your phones?” Sukut, the library’s young adult services librarian, asked the kids from the generation known for frequent text messaging. “You guys are constantly texting!”

In honor of Teen Tech Week that celebrates young adults using technology, Sukut had planned a contest to see which young adult was fastest at sending text messages via a cell phone.

“For Teen Tech Week,” Sukut said, “I always try to do something to emphasize newer technology.”

But of the few kids that showed up at the library’s Teen Room, the majority were not packing cell phones and instead had come to use either the library’s computers or its Wii gaming system.

“See, I’m learning how engaged kids are technology,” Sukut said, “and it’s less than what I thought.”

The slim showing of cell-savvy teens left Jeff Jewart, 18, and Mykala Killian, 14, as the text-off’s lone participants.

Sukut timed how long each teen took to type in — with whatever abbreviations the texter deemed appropriate — and hit send on a lyrical passage readily familiar to members of older generations.

“You can’t always get what you want, but you can try sometimes and you might find you get what you need,” read the slips of paper Sukut handed to the teens.

“A little Mick Jagger,” Sukut smiled.

A few minutes after looking at the paper, Jeff recognized the words.

“Hey, this is a song!” said Jeff, a Park High School senior.

Despite the recognition, Jeff’s time of 60 seconds fell far short off Mykala’s blistering 40-second finish, for which she took home a $5 gift certificate to Coffee Crossing.

Before the competition began, Jeff acknowledged she would likely be tough competition due to his own lack of recent practice.

“She will probably beat me because I haven’t texted in forever,” he said.

Mykala, on the other hand, mentioned that she is something of a seasoned professional.

“Texting’s like, my life,” said Mykala, an eighth-grader at Sleeping Giant Middle School. “I do it all the time.”

But after the young competitors left the Teen Room, Sukut told an Enterprise reporter and photographer, ages 29 and 25 respectively, that she was curious to see how their texting abilities compared to those in younger generations.

Both photographer and reporter posted texting times of 25 seconds or less for the same Rolling Stones’ quotation, showing that perhaps younger doesn’t always mean faster.

Or that perhaps age can be an advantage when it comes to having long ago memorized words to lyrics and not having to consult a piece of paper when asked to quickly retype them. :)

USDA officials impressed with Livingston’s Farm to School program
By Matt Dettori, Enterprise Staff Writer

Representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture Tuesday applauded Livingston’s Farm to School program.

Members of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service were in Livingston to get a better feel for how Livingston’s Farm to School program was working, said USDA Food and Nutrition Service Regional Director Darlene Sanchez Tuesday.

During a 75-minute meeting Tuesday, Denver-based USDA Food and Nutrition Service officials visited with about 15 representatives of various community organizations as well as school administrators, a Livingston HealthCare food specialist and teachers during a meeting Tuesday at the East Side School library.

The USDA representatives heard that the Livingston School District’s menus this year have been a little different than previous years now that some of the items are grown and distributed locally, which started in August, said School District Food Service Director Dan Hardy at the meeting.

Farm to Schools is a program that allows the district to seek locally raised produce. Various community organizations, including the Livingston Food Pantry, Farms for Families and the Park County Community Foundation, have had a hand in the new program, Hardy told the USDA representatives.

Farms for Families has been a “tremendous help,” he said. That organization, led by Mark Rehder, has been a food supplier for both the school district and Food Pantry.

Hardy said his decision to seek local food has been a big step in a positive direction.

Using locally raised items provides the schools with more healthy options and supports local businesses, Hardy said.

So far, he has been able to serve fresh, local produce throughout the school year and just received more, including a large donation of fresh lettuce, Hardy said.

Sanchez said she and her fellow USDA employees are traveling around the country’s mountain and plains region to see how various school districts are using the Farm to School program.

“We chose to come to Livingston because (Farm to Schools participants) are right in line with what our Farm to School program is about,” Sanchez said. “I want to commend the community for joining together and creating some good successes.”

The USDA members also chose Livingston, because the program is feasible in a small community, Hardy said. Large school districts, such as Bozeman or Billings, are not as capable to prepare and serve locally-grown items as easily as smaller schools, due to the large number of mouths to feed, he said.

Livingston’s program is unique, Sanchez said.

Farm to School programs aren’t just between the farmer and a school, she said.

“I’m excited to see the level of community commitment and pride (in Livingston),” Sanchez said of the program.

Healthy food means healthy families, and healthy families who can support local growers creates a healthy economy, she said.

“It’s wellness coming together,” Sanchez said of Livingston’s FTS program.

Hardy said Tuesday’s meeting was inspiring.

“We need community awareness,” he said Wednesday, “and meetings like yesterday’s will do that. I’m really excited to be doing what I’m doing.”

Having School Superintendent Hannibal Anderson and the School District Director of Curriculum and Instruction Todd Wester want to see the FTS happen is a tremendous support as well, he said.

“It’s a bit more expensive to buy local, and there is a ... gap between prices, but farmers and ranchers need to make a living also,” Hardy said. “So we are taking baby steps to make (the Farm to School program) a win-win situation for everybody.”

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OBITUARIES
The following obituaries appeared in The Enterprise the week of March 8-12, 2010:

• John William Durden, 78, of Livingston, died March 4, 2010, at his home after a short illness.

• Howard John Wood, 91, of Stevensville, Mont., and a former longtime Livingston resident, died at Bitterroot Valley Living Center on Saturday, March 6, 2010.

• Donna M. Nelson, 78, of Livingston, died Monday, March 8, 2010, at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

• Edwin Nordstrom, 95, of Livingston, died Saturday, March 6, 2010, of natural causes at his home.

• Erma G. Murray, 93, formerly of Great Falls, died Thursday, March 4, 2010, on the Latvala Ranch south of Clyde Park.

• Alice M. Brown, 99, of Livingston, died at Seeds of Love Adult Care early Thursday morning, March 11, 2010.

• Harry Zachary Grabow, 0, formerly of Livingston, died Tuesday March 9, 2010, in Palm Springs, Calif.

• Vikki J. Lowe, 49, of Livingston, died Friday, March 5, 2010, at Frontier Assisted Living Community in Livingston.