🌱 Program Connects Student Teachers & Rural Community + $43M Project

Hi all. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Bozeman Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: A snow shower; not as cold. High: 40 Low: 23.
• Saturday: Clouds and sunshine. High: 37 Low: 12.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Bozeman who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories in Bozeman today:

1. Montana State University has introduced a new program aimed at helping student teachers form meaningful connections in rural areas. The Rural Pathways program is part of the university's Center for Research on Rural Education and provides students with a stipend, peer support, and additional mentorship from retired teachers during a 15-week student teaching experience. The program is designed to encourage students to consider completing their student teaching in rural areas and has been praised by participants for its positive impact on their confidence in the classroom. (Montana State University)
2. The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $43 million contract to NW Construction to modify Fresno Dam in Montana due to differential settlement-driven cracking and internal erosion, which poses a risk. The modification includes adding a sand and gravel filter, a toe drain system, an embankment fill overlay, and a vertical sand filter trench. Once the construction begins this April, Tailwater Fishing Access Site will be closed to the public. (KBZK News)
3. The Belonging in Bozeman Equity & Inclusion project is a go, aimed at ensuring everyone feels welcome in the Montana city. Bozeman has been working on the initiative for three years, identifying gaps in access to housing, health care, economic security, and education. The city has urged residents to join in creating the plan, with Mayor Cyndy Andrus saying, "We hope you'll bring your friends and colleagues and neighbors into the process of making Bozeman a place that is welcoming for everyone." (NBC Montana)

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Today and tomorrow in Bozeman:

Friday, March 10

• Toddler & Preschooler Storytime At Bozeman Public Library (11:15 AM)
• Wine For A Cause At Blend - A Bozeman Winery (6:00 PM)

Saturday, March 11

• 2023 Montana Youth Organizing Summit At Rialto Bozeman (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Thinking of dipping your toes into the housing market? Check out the list of open houses happening this week in the Bozeman area at the link. (Bozeman Patch)
• The 38th annual Montana Science Olympiad was held at Montana State University (MSU), with 70 teams competing in 28 science-related events. Students spent weeks designing and building their devices, and two ninth-grade students from Hamilton High School won the bronze medal in the Scrambler event. (Montana State University)
• Bozeman School District 7 closed on Monday due to a suspicious email, and Superintendent Casey Bertram stated that it was a difficult decision to close all district schools for staff and student safety. After eight staff members received a suspicious email on Sunday night, the district took action, and law enforcement found an open door at Bozeman High School, leading to the closure of all schools for safety purposes. (KBZK News)

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Featured events:

• Taxes in Retirement Webinar on March 13th and 15th (March 13)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.