Madison County

Just over 40%. That’s how many Madison County high schoolers reported to have used an electronic vapor tobaccoless nicotine product, better known as e-cigarettes or vapes. That number was recently published by the Montana Office of Public Instruction in its 2021 Youth Risk Behavior report.

It's been a while since Madison County Public Health Director Emilie Sayler provided a Covid-19 update for Madison County Commissioners, but with cases on the rise statewide Sayler was back at the commissioner’s meeting with an update on August 17.

Madison County is currently seeing an uptick in Covid-19 cases. Madison County Public Health Department Director Emilie Sayler said she’s seen a number of new confirmed cases in the area, most coming in the last days of July.

“It’s bulls and blood It’s dust and mud It’s the roar of a Sunday crowd. It’s boots and chaps It’s cowboy hats It’s spurs and latigo It’s the ropes and the reins And the joy and the pain And they call the thing rodeo.” - Garth Brooks

Harrison area rancher and angus cow breeder Bob Sitz hadn’t bought hay since his father passed away in 1989. Typically, his 40,000-acre operation produces enough hay to feed 1,400 cows with enough excess to sell about 3,000 tons of it each year.

The November municipal general elections may seem far off, but preparations are underway and the candidates slated for the official ballots have been announced. Here’s a breakdown of which Madison County communities will be included in the Nov. 2 election.

Ennis

The sign posted on the Gravel Bar door says it all: “Closed Mondays until further notice. We hate to do it but until we get more help we have no option. Anybody want a job?”

If you’re like me, your days of extreme hiking, rough climbing and sleeping on rocks may now be fond memories. Or maybe not so fond. If I never again carry a backpack for days, subsisting on dehydrated food, that will be OK. Done that. The aging process has slowed down my pace and made me protective of my kneecaps.