Photo courtesy of Flickr/Johnd4u

“Missoula is losing the game. We are a sad, broken community that is fully capable of making comeback, even if we feel like we are in the last quarter.” – Justin Bowler (longtime Missoula resident)

Now is the time to execute the right plays, otherwise we will continue to live in a city that has a lackluster track record of success. Teamwork and a positive outlook on the future of our town rests solely on the players willing to get in the game. It’s not too late to turn this losing streak around.

I compare the current mindset of this city’s residents to that of a bullied gym class student. We’ve taken numerous beatings. Bruised from the continued, and frankly, unjustified punishment and abuse on the court and in the locker room. Heavy blows from rogue reporters, like cocky school seniors, setting foot into our town to make sweeping judgements about our community, losing money from major companies that closed their doors and leaving hard working team players in the dust, and even outsiders questioning if our town is a safe place to play in. Much like a coach in drafting season, we lose focus on the previous good qualities of an currently losing athlete forgetting that one day they will improve, regardless of if we are constantly beaten down by rivals in the process. It’s almost enough to make us want to sit this next game out. We are confused, hurting, and we feel alone.   

“Nearly everyone I connect with in Missoula has something painful that they are trying to hide. Sure, we are all smiles on the outside, but deep down a majority of Missoulians are simply masking the depression they feel.”-Anonymous local

Granted, this is something America in general is going through as a whole. On a recent road trip to Oregon I noticed that every little town along the way had a metaphorical (and in most cases, not so metaphorical) layer of dust upon it’s streets. It’s almost as if everyone has given up the fight. We are out of money, we have to work three jobs to make the same income we once had, and along the way we’ve simply disregarded the small things that make out towns beautiful. We don’t have time to sweep out sidewalks, our cars are dinged up because we can’t afford the repairs. We drink in excess to curb the current state of our emotions and as a result aren’t treating our bodies as well as we should. The result? A nation in decay, with Missoula hit just as hard.

“We are down, but not out. Don’t bench us yet, there is still plenty of time left in the game.”- Paul Franklin (Missoula)

This city seems to be living out it’s own football game, if you will. Similar to the last few times the Griz went to the playoffs, leading the pack and blowing out the competition along the way. Controversial off-field choices aside, the Grizzles have gone so far only to unfortunately lose out near the last quarter. What we seem to forget is that we were in the playoffs! We’ve come so close to victory but would rather focus on the loss. But stop and think about this: Sports players are similar to that of the town they represent. Our teams have brought success, enough to take us to a level of competitive notoriety. Shouldn’t we apply our real-life successes to that of our own teams? Yes, we’ve lost, time and again, but we’ve won many small battles. We can choose to brush off the dust (metaphorically, and not so metaphorically) and play again, just like our team does each season. Re-invent. Apply the things that work, discard the things that may be setting us back.

If I can leave you with one last piece of advice, take a moment to reflect on the good things this community has to offer and offer assistance to those who may not share the same perspective. Be a team player, much like our own Grizzlies! We often tend to focus on our own needs, and yet the neighbor down the street may be in far worse shape than you. Take time to help, return favors, open doors. Granted, it may take time away from your personal needs but the universe works wonders for those who give back. Trust me, you’ll be rewarded for the offerings towards others in our community.  I can’t explain it, it just works. Then, and only then will Missoula be able to resurrect itself from the dust we’ve allowed to accumulate and put our losing streak behind us.

“Go Griz”- The People who still love Missoula

Photo courtesy of Flickr/Cultofmac

I love stories like this. It reminds us of the time that Santa’s little helper swooped into town to pay off layaway items at our Brooks street K-Mart. This anonymous donation, however, can certainly help towards a brighter future for many area students. 

According to our friends at KPAX, “An anonymous donor is putting more than 140 iPads into the hands of Paxson Elementary School students and on Thursday night students, parents and teachers explored how the tablets can enhance learning and engage students.”

Seriously. How cool is that? Imagine being able to interact with students on a much more current media platform? Plus, it also gives mom and dad a chance to have their own iPads to themselves (admit it, your iPad really is THEIR iPad, right?) .

I remember how excited I was when I was issued one of those bulky scientific calculators for my high school math class. As a young kid, with such a powerful device I felt empowered and able to take on any arithmetic problem that was thrown my way. How long was recess? 15 minutes? Cool..how many seconds is that? BAM! Solved. How many ounces in a cup of cafeteria macaroni? BAM! I can only imagine how an iPad would rock my younger years in school. And the fact that someone came along and donated 140 of them to a local school makes this story all the sweeter.

To whomever that anonymous donator was: you, my friend, have earned your place right next to Steve Jobs in the afterlife, rightfully so. First things first, however, for the sake of the children’s attention span, we must find a way to disable Angry Birds.

Empty Flower Basket (Image by Danny D!)

There’s a reason Missoula is nicknamed the ‘Garden City,’ we have more trees, more parks and now more flowers lining the streets downtown.

Flower Baskets (Image by Danny D!)

During the winter months, the various flower baskets hanging downtown are fairly easy to miss. Take a look at this photo and you’ll see what I mean. Yesterday several volunteers, including myself, took to the task of filling those empty baskets – all 90+ of them! I felt like a bee, moving from flower basket to flower basket. At the end of the day, my arms were like spaghetti and my legs were nicked up from banging them on the latter, but it was all worth it. Downtown Missoula has officially been flowered! Here’s the final result of one of the 90+ hanging baskets.

Flower Baskets (Image by Danny D!)

Finished Flower Basket (Image by Danny D!)

We could see crescent shadows like these during Sunday's solar eclipse. (Photo courtesy of Cantavestrella/Flickr)

When it comes to astronomical events, it seems like I’m always a day late and a dollar short.

Over the years, I’ve missed comets, meteor showers and the Northern Lights, and although I recall seeing a shooting star once when I was a kid, I’m now fairly certain that it was actually just an airplane.

But now I have another chance to experience one of the universe’s great natural phenomena: a solar eclipse.

For the first time in 10 years, a rare kind of eclipse known as an annular solar eclipse is projected to be visible over Montana. According to scientists, the event will be most visible in our area between the hours of 6:14 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. — with a peak time of about 7:20 p.m. — on Sunday, May 20.

During the eclipse, the moon will pass between the sun and the Earth, covering as much as 94 percent of the sun and producing the “ring of fire” effect commonly associated with eclipses.

Unfortunately, Montana is a bit north of the zone where sky-watchers will see the most defined ring of fire, but it is definitely worth a look. Those wishing to view the eclipse should use protective eye gear such as eclipse glasses, welder’s goggles or an astronomer’s filter made for sun observation, as the sunlight given off during an eclipse is still blindingly bright and could cause damage to the naked eye.

The eclipse also can be observed using binoculars or telescopes to project an image of it on a blank surface. Simply point the binoculars or telescope at the sun — without looking through the lenses — and aim the other end at a piece of paper or cardboard.

Evidence of the eclipse also will be visible in the shadows. Experts suggest looking at the beams of light beneath leafy trees. They will appear crescent-shaped due to the partial blockage of the light given off by the sun.

Brooke is a 2010 graduate of The University of Montana, where she ran track and cross country for the Grizzlies. She is currently working as a writer and editor in Missoula.

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If you want your spouse to be faithful, don’t let him or her drive Toyotas or Hondas. That’s according to a survey done by infidelity site AshleyMadison.com, whose tagline is “life is short, have an affair.”

In an unscientific poll of 2,500 men and 1,000 women, the site found that among its users, men are most likely to drive Toyotas, while the majority of the women own Hondas. The second most-popular car manufacturer for both is Ford, which kind of pokes a hole in the theory that cheaters always drive sleek foreign sports cars.

In a statement, AshleyMadison CEO Noel Biderman said, “Cars can represent a lifestyle, denote financial success and show personality but our survey clearly proves that people having affairs are everyday people.”

Here are the top five most popular cars among men:

Toyota (20.9 percent)

Ford (12.3 percent)

Chevy (10.2 percent)

Honda (7.1 percent)

BMW (6.4 percent)

And here are the top five among its female users:

Honda (22.3 percent)

Ford (13.4 percent)

Toyota (10.3 percent)

Chevy (7.3 percent)

Mercedes (6.6 percent)

[USA Today]

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Montana…

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you may live in Montana.

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t even work there, you may live in Montana.

If you’ve worn shorts and a jacket at the same time, you may live in Montana.

If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Montana.

If “vacation” means going anywhere south of Missoula for the weekend, you may live in Montana.

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Montana.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Montana.

If you have switched from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ in the same day and back again, you may live in Montana.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Montana.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both doors unlocked, you may live in Montana.

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Montana. If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Montana.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -you’re going 80 and everybody is passing you, you may live in California.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Montana. If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you may live in Montana.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Montana. If you find 10 degrees “a little chilly”, you may live in Montana.

If you actually understand these jokes, share this link so all of your Montana friends and others can see, you definitely do live -or have lived -in Montana.

(See this articles hilarious companion “You Know you are from Missoula if..”)

Will we be the generation to end HIV? You can help make it a reality. Do you know your status?

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Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Disco diva Donna Summer has died at 63. The singer passed away this morning (May 17), after a battle with cancer.

TMZ reports that Summer passed away in Florida. The site also states that she had been trying to keep the extent of the condition private. A source who was with Summer just a few weeks ago said that she didn’t seem near-death and that she was even working on an album and attempting to finish it.

Summer was a disco icon, known for her string of ’70s dance hits such as ‘Last Dance,’ ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘Bad Girls’ and her songs remained popular for decades afterwards, especially at wedding receptions.

Summer enjoyed pop-friendly hits after the disco decade, with her ’80s comeback tunes ‘She Works Hard for the Money’ and This Time I Know It’s Real.’

The singer nabbed five Grammys in her career. She won Best R&B Vocal Performance Female for ‘Last Dance’ in 1979 and Best Rock Vocal Performance Female for ‘Hot Stuff’ in 1980, which is interesting in and of itself because she crossed genres with the wins.

She was also the first artist to have three consecutive double (!) albums reach N0. 1 on the U.S. Billboard chart and had four No. 1 charting singles within a 13-month period in the U.S. She also enjoyed 12 Gold-selling singles throughout her career.

Summer was the first African American female performer to receive an MTV VMA nomination for the video and choreography of ‘She Works Hard for the Money.’ She was nominated for two Golden Globes, winning one for ‘Last Dance.’

She was married to Brooklyn Dreams vocalist Bruce Sudano. They had two daughters. Summer also had four grandchildren.

R.I.P. Donna Summer.

Watch the Donna Summer ‘She Works Hard for the Money’ Video

Watch Donna Summer Perform ‘Last Dance’ Live

Source: PopCrush.com

This year’s N.R.P.T. Scholarship has been awarded to Austin Blank. Austin has demonstrated tremendous leadership and academic excellence throughout his time at Frenchtown High School. As a member of National Honors Society and Student Council, Austin will graduate with High Honors. With plans to attend the University of Montana in the fall and later transfer to Montana Tech to pursue an education in engineering, there is no doubt that Austin’s future is very bright.

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ed yourdon, flickr

Riding a bicycle is no longer just for kids without a driver’s license or adults carrying around the burden of a DUI.

These days, more and more Americans are jumping on their bikes as a way to get some much needed exercise, as well as an alternative to driving or using public transportation.

With respect to May being National Bike Month, the people at Walk Score, which is a website that rates neighborhoods for their “walkability,” has just released its list of the top 10 most bike-friendly cities in America. These cities were rated by the number and quality of bike lanes and trails, destinations and road connectivity, and number of bike commuters and hills.

The highest possible rating that could be awarded was 100, although the top-rated city this year, Minneapolis, could only muster a 79.

So if your city made the list, congratulations. If it did not, Bike Score invites you to air your grievances.

America’s Most ‘Bikeable’ Cities:

1. Minneapolis
2. Portland, Oregon
3. San Francisco
4. Boston
5. Madison, Wisconsin
6. Washington, DC
7. Seattle
8. Tucson, Arizona
9. New York City
10. Chicago

[TIME]

Tony Hart

A women in Superior, WI not only offered to sell off her ex-husband and his junk, but she also tagged a GMC Yukon with lots of bright graffiti and bad words. There’s also a flat tire on the vehicle. Warning: the photos are NSFW. But they sure are funny, as she calls him out for being a “cheater,” “a douche” and a “f—er.” We almost feel sorry for the car.

Not since Linda Barrett got revenge on Mike Damone and his (what-looked-like-a-Gremlin) car in ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ for impregnating her BFF Stacy by spraypainting “prick” on the door have we had such a hearty laugh at a scorned woman expressing her rage and wrath on a vehicle. You’ve never…go watch it right now. We’ll wait.

Local radio station MIX108 and its quick snapping photog captured the images, including ones of the cops arriving on the scene around 4PM to inspect the debris. There was also a pile of ash on site, which would indicate that the angry woman set her ex’s things on fire and that which she didn’t burn, she left strewn in a heap.

The truck was removed about an hour later, but his stuff remained on the lawn. Everyone has to air their dirty laundry once in a while and express their rage, but this mess makes the property values plummet!

Nope, we can’t stop humming that Carrie Underwood song either.

Tony Hart

Tony Hart

Tony Hart

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Source: GuySpeed.com

Photo courtesy of Wagner's Home Furnishings.

He’ll be 60 years old next May, but is celebrating with a little facelift this year. No he’s not some Hollywood big shot, but he is somewhat of a Missoula celebrity. No, it’s not the mayor. In fact, it’s not a person at all. It is a well-known, and well-respected, local company. Wagner’s Home Furnishings is undergoing what you might call a face lift. They are getting a brand spanking new storefront.
In order to make this change, they took the entire front of their store off and built a brand new one. This renovation gives the store a more residential and homey feel, instead of a big box store feel. The new design reflects the arts and crafts design that Wagner’s has been known for.
They also want to make Wagner’s Home Furnishings the nicest place you ever shop. The goal for Wagner’s renovation was to reinvest in Missoula by using only local businesses, craftsmen and products. In all, Wagner’s employed 24 different local businesses to aid in the renovation. First Security Bank, Quality Construction and Gavin-Hanks Architects are just a few of the local companies they employed.
Wagner’s has been proudly serving Western Montana and Missoula by offering “quality home furnishings and excellent customer service since 1953.” They have “a sincere desire to help you make your home the nicest place you ever go.”
Wagner’s will be holding an open house to celebrate the completion of their new store front from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 17, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 p.m.

Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of The University of Montana, animal lover and writer.

Photo by Lorna Wall

KGVO Radio just received some good news. The Montana Morning News show is a finalist once again for the best newscast award by the Montana Broadcasters Association. Peter Christian was also named a finalist for best news story for his coverage of sexual assaults on the University of Montana campus.

Also named finalists in other categories were Angel from 96.3 The Blaze and Aaron Traylor from 1075 Zoo FM. Winners will be announced at the Montana Broadcasters Association state convention at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish in June.

Photo by Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images

With near record temperatures in the Bitterroot Valley this past week, local, state
and federal fire managers are cautioning local residents to use extreme care
when building campfires on the National Forest or when burning slash and other
debris around their homes and on their property. 

Fire crews have also reported finding abandoned campfires on the National Forest
during the past few weeks.  Users of the National Forest are reminded that
leaving abandoned campfires is a violation which carries a fine of up to $5,000
and six months in jail.  During this high fire danger period, these campfires,
if left burning, could result in a wildfire that may threaten the safety of
those responding to the fire as well as the public, their homes and property,
and adjacent natural resources. Comments from Fire Manager Rick Floch are below.

Photo courtesy of Flickr/thebusinesspursuit

“Hate” is one term tossed around often by locals whenever I hear that someone from California has moved into our neck of the woods. Part of me wants to believe that Montanans are saying that word with a tounge-in-cheek approach. Because we are, aren’t we? For decades, Californians have been the target of many local, somewhat harmless jokes. We don’t really mean any harm. Right? Help me understand.

First off, “hate” is a pretty strong term, so for the sake of this healthy conversation I wish to downgrade that word to “strongly dislike”, if you don’t mind. I’m sure you really don’t HATE them, it’s just that you must find something unappealing about people from California to begin with. This is what I’m trying to wrap my head around.

I noticed this more so yesterday when we broke the news that singer John Mayer is now living in Bozeman, MT. I’m not exaggerating when I say that nearly all of the comments concerning that article were overwhelmingly negative. Comments like “oh great, another one” or “man, can’t they just leave us alone?” were tossed around far too often. Granted, Mayer does have a bit of a douchebag-ish aura about him (we weren’t the first to say it) but it is a characteristic that he himself has addressed and is hoping to improve upon. Perhaps Montana can change him? What’s so wrong with that? Maybe our lifestyle changes everyone for the better?

Aside from just John Mayer, most Montanans “strongly dislike” Californians. Now while I’ve only lived here for about a decade (a Washington transplant myself) I still can’t quite comprehend the mindset that the people born and raised here have towards people from places like L.A. and Beverly Hills.

Wouldn’t it be fair to say that anyone from outside of our area moving here is a good thing? I’ve always envisioned this valley to be like a Tupperware bowl full of Honey Nut Cheerios. We, as current residents, the Cheerios, tend to stick around at the bottom of the bowl living happily together, soaking in the same flavored milk, floating around in nutritious harmony, and unless something else, like a slices of bananas or fruit come along to give us more flavor we start to become, well, soggy. Not to say that Californians are fruity, but…you get what I’m trying to say.

The point I’m trying to make with that analogy is that people from out of town bring money, new ideas, and often inspires the people around them. What is the harm in that? Is it a certain attitude that they bring along with them? The pollution that their cars bring to our roads? What is it exactly?

Let’s have a polite discussion here. Please be kind with your words in the comment section below.

No longer will Missoula be labeled something we are ashamed of. The movement has begun. Are you in?

These are the faces of people in Missoula who are ready to take their town back. The first brave few who have made a solemn public oath that they refuse to live in what is being t

outed as the “Rape Capital of America”. These locals realize the value of living in a small community and yet are fully aware of the dark secrets that lurk around any corner, not just our city.

Missoulians are good people. The majority of us know when ‘no’ means ‘no’, we do not take advantage of the people around us to fulfill our fleeting and selfish desires, we don’t dress in a certain way to ‘get attention’, and we most certainly are not alone. There are much more of us than you’d like for the others to believe.

I was born and raised in Missoula.

I refuse to live in “the Rape Capital of America”.
I commend and respect terrified victims willing to face their attackers.
I refuse to believe how you dress, where you go, or your actions constitutes rape.
I refuse to be afraid to be alone in my hometown, at home or out and

about.
I refuse to tolerate rape, child abuse, or domestic violence in my hometown.
I pledge to keep my children, my friends and family, and even strangers safe to the best of my ability.
I pledge to teach my sons to respect all people, especially women.
I pledge to take back the “Garden City”.
WE are not alone.

-Yolanda Johnson

More Related Articles-

• Is Missoula on the List for “Most Dangerous Cities For Women”?
• 7 Ways to Protect Yourself from Rape in Missoula
• POLL- Is Missoula Truly The Rape Capital of America?
• UM Sexual Assault Victim Drops Investigation

Aaron "Tallest DJ in America" Traylor

Will Decshamps

Christine Tolhurst

Danny D

Denise Harmon

Christy Michelle Seymour

Donnie Brickyard

Dr. W.A.R.

Frodie

Hunter Fred

Megan Jessop

Jake Overy

Jamie Kelly

Jordan Dawson

Kevin Kirk

Jeremy Basler

Kimberly Beatty

Missoula Nightout

Nathan Kosted

Ray Massay

The Clean Riders

Wendi Biggs

Chelleay Treichel and friend

Missoula Men of Strength

Who’s next? Upload your photo to our Zoo FM Facebook Fan Page or email it to tallestdjinamerica@gmail.com and we will share your photo for all to see.

Colleen Asby (Image courtesy of Miss Montana)

Will Missoula be the home of the next Miss Montana? Colleen Asby has qualified as a finalist and will take part in the three night Miss Montana Scholarship program June 14th through the 16th. The Miss Montana Scholarship Program is held in Glendive and talented young ladies from across the state will enjoy a week of rehearsals, appearances and fun.

Colleen is the daughter of Lynne Towns. She is currently attending the University of
Montana pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Education with a Special Education
Endorsement. Colleen would like to teach health and physical education on the high
school level and create a nonprofit organization to help improve the health of our youth.
Her platform is “Harvesting Healthy Habits: Growing Gardens in Public Schools.”

[button href="http://www.missmontana.com" title="Miss Montana Website" align="center"]

(Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Glacier Anglers will hold its Fun on the Fly! Youth Fly Fishing Day Camp on Saturday June 9th and again on Saturday, June 30th, from 10:00am to 3:30pm. Kids between the ages of 12-16 are invited to check out the Glacier Outdoor Center and enjoy an educational day of fun and fly fishing and casting. Camps cost $69 and includes everything you’ll need for the day including equipment and lunch. The pros at Glacier Anglers know the sport of fly fishing can be intimidating to get into, so they hope the kids-only camp will make it super easy and fun for kids to learn a new hobby.

Kids will learn the basics of casting, knots, fly selection and will practice catch and release methods. The day wraps up with a fun casting competition and awards ceremony with great prizes. Here’s the best part: while the kids are doing their thing, parents can enjoy a discounted half-day raft trip for just $32.

For more information or to register for the Fun on the Fly! Youth Fly Fishing Day Camp, call Glacier Anglers at 1-800-235-6781.

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Montana is for Badasses

As staggering 61,000 fans have liked this page. The name alone is worthy of a thumbs up but it’s the content that keeps us coming back for more.  From controversial polls like “Who’s makes the best steak in MT?” to thought provoking discussions like “What do you call it, Soda or Pop?” this is one badass page that needs to be in your news feed.

The University Of Montana

Constantly updated with news and photos from the heart of campus. Everything you need to know including sporting events, registration info for new enrollments, and announcements straight from the presidents desk. You can find it all here. Many alumni also use this page to post fond memories on its wall, too.

Missoula Nightlife

I’ll take credit for this. This was a group I personally created 3 years ago and has since then grown to be over 4,000 members strong. Each day, promoters and partiers post the latest events and reviews to entice you to break away from your computer and do some actual (gasp!) social interaction. What’s convenient about this particular group is that each time someone posts an update it goes straight to your inbox so you will always be in the know of the latest happenings around town.

Newstalk 1290 KGVO

I give props to this page because I personally see the amount of hard work that goes into our sister stations AM Newstalk social feed. The very skilled KGVO news staff dive deep into the latest local headlines and bring an unbiased approach to the  most current daily news. Chock full of breaking information, interviews and audio from their daily broadcasts can all be found on one convenient page.

Missoula, MT online Yard Sale

Is Craigslist just too creepy for you? Not getting a good enough offer at the local pawn shop? Put your things for sale up on this group page and you’ll most certainly have a better chance of selling whatever is collecting dust around your house. Plus, the most convenient part? You don’t have to ship it! Just meet up with the buyer (in a public place, we recommend)  and unload the trash upon someone that might consider it to be their treasure!

Other notable pages to recommend:

The Badlander

Missoula Public Library

KPAX-TV

Missoula Downtown

Done liking those pages? Check out..

The Best Missoula Facebook Profiles you Really Should “Like”