The ButteCast with Bill Foley

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  • KC basketball schedule

    KC basketball schedule

    Following is the Knights of Columbus Athletic Club’s four-man basketball schedule for the week of April 29.

    Monday 
    6 p.m. — Shaft Shooters vs. Rosary Rattlers 
    7 p.m. — Cook vs. Poi Time 
    8 p.m. — Cook vs. City Bois 
    9 p.m. — City Bois vs. Hollow 

    Tuesday 
    7 p.m. — Jellyfam vs. Someday Starters 
    8 p.m. — Showtime vs. Maroons 
    9 p.m. — Shaft Shooters vs. Hollow 

    Wednesday 
    7 p.m. — Washington Generals vs. Someday Starters 
    8 p.m. — Washington Generals vs. Parish 
    9 p.m. — Crib Crew vs. Butte Sports 

    Thursday 
    6 p.m. — Showtime vs. Someday Starters 
    7 p.m. — Jellyfam vs. Butte Sports 
    8 p.m. — Parish vs. Poi Time 
    9 p.m. — Maroons vs. Rosary Rattlers

  • Miller, Bridgeman lead Week 3

    Miller, Bridgeman lead Week 3

    Perfection escaped the field Thursday night during Week 3 of the Butte Trap Club’s Spring League.

    Ryan Miller and Josh Bridgeman each broke 49 out of 50 targets to top individual standings. Kevin O’Dell, Riley Rigby and Rial Gunlikson each shot a 48, while Josh McIntosh, Ian Smith, Justin Lerum and Mark Powers each posted a score of 47.

    Rayelynn Brandl’s 46 topped the women’s standings. Mindy McClernan and Rachel Basnaw were second at 42. Lyla Klobucar checked in with a 34.

    Dave Vicevich shot a 45 to lead wobble scores. Les Anderson and Kohlten Long were next at 44 followed by Rich Long at 43 and Mark Hislop at 42.

    Through three weeks, Cooney’s/Vicevich Law leads team scratch standings at 550. Arc Electric is next at 548, and AMBS is third at 542.

    Butte Trap Club – 2024 Spring League – Week 3 Standings
    Team Scratch Standings

    Cooney’s Vicevich Law                   –           550
    Arc Electric                                        –           548
    AMBS                                                 –           542
    Cooney’s Locksmith                         –           538
    FJBCHO                                            –           535
    Baker Auto                                       –           534
    Superior Title                                    –           523
    WET                                                   –           508
    KR Contracting                                 –           496
    Pro Inspection                                  –           485
    Sundance Plumbing                        –           479
    Archibald Co.                                    –           479
    Locker Plumbing                              –           470
    Timberline Security                          –           468
    D-M Ranch                                        –           467
    Pioneer Technical                            –           458
    Pizzer’s Palace                                 –           442
    Clay Howery Construction              –           440
    S&S Plumbing/Hitching Post         –           424
    Trap – Tastic                                     –           416
    12 G Girls                                          –           401
    Edward Jones/Walt McIntosh        –           368
    East Ridge Scrappers                     –           359
    Lisac’s/Jim Lynch State Farm        –           352
    St James Hospital                            –           341
    Maloney’s                                          –           328
    Daddy’s Girls                                    –           245
    …..w/Guns                                        –           172
    J3 Construction                                –           123

    High Individual Scores
    Ryan Miller                            –           49×50
    Josh Bridgeman                   –           49×50
    Kevin O’Dell                          –           48×50
    Riley Rigby                            –           48×50
    Rial Gunlikson                      –           48×50
    John McIntosh                      –           47×50
    Ian Smith                               –           47×50
    Justin Lerum                         –           47×50
    Mark Powers                         –           47×50

    High Lady Scores
    Rayelynn Brandl                   –           46×50
    Mindy McClernan                 –           42×50
    Rachel Basnaw                    –           42×50
    Lyla Klobucar                        –           34×50

    High Wobble Trap Scores
    Dave Vicevich                       –           45×50
    Les Anderson                       –           44×50
    Kohlten Long                         –           44×50
    Rich Long                              –           43×50

    Mark Hislop                           –           42×50

  • No. 184: The Great Butte Explosion

    No. 184: The Great Butte Explosion

    With John Liebel, Lindsay Mulcahy, Jake Hanley

    On Jan. 15, 1895, Butte was rocked by a huge explosion and a devastating fire in the warehouse district.

    Police officer James Steinborn was walking the beat and made the initial call to report the fire from Box 72, on the corner of Utah and Iron streets, at 9:55 p.m.

    Fire Chief Angus Cameron and 15 firemen with a hook-and-ladder wagon and a hose wagon responded. Soon after the men responded to the blaze, the fire triggered massive amounts of illegally-stored dynamite to ignite and explode. That instantly killed 13 of the firemen and three of the four fire horses.

    In all, the explosion fire killed 58 men along with the three horses and a dog that eventually died of a broken heart. The explosion could be heard 60 miles away in Willow Creek.

    While the 1895 disaster was talked about from time to time, and it was the subject of a PBS documentary, it had largely gone forgotten. This Jan. 15, though, a memorial was dedicated outside Butte-Silver Bow’s Uptown fire station.

    A group of dedicated people made sure that this disaster will be forgotten no more. John Liebel, Lindsay Mulcahy and Jake Hanley were among that group.

    John and Jake are firefighters in Butte, so they have an unspoken connection with the men who lost their lives. Lindsay is the assistant director of the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives, so she has a passion to preserve history.

    Listen in as they talk about their passion for the project and how they are not yet done honoring the 58 victims of the 1895 disaster.

    Today’s podcast is brought to you by Casagranda’s Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat.

  • Even a superhero like Eddi Walker can use a hand sometimes

    Even a superhero like Eddi Walker can use a hand sometimes

    The Energizer Bunny has nothing on Eddi Walker.

    That is what we kept saying as we rode in the Butte-Silver Bow Police Department’s mobile command center vehicle and watched Eddi run on Interstate 90. She just kept going and going and going.

    We were part of the Butte team in the Montana Special Olympics Torch Run. We were running the torch from Three Forks to Butte. That is about 60 miles, and every year Eddi runs a good chunk of that by herself.

    Even though there is always a handful of runners who run as far as they can, Eddi usually runs more than 20 of those miles.

    She takes the first leg from the Wheat Montana Bakery in Three Forks to the top of Cardwell Hill. That is about 17 miles — almost entirely uphill, too.

    As we watched her run, Eddi wasn’t breaking any speed records because she was close to 70 at the time. But she kept a steady pace. Like Jason Voorhees chasing a victim through the woods on a spooky night, she just kept going and going and going.

    Without question, Eddi is the toughest person I know.

    No, she doesn’t have a knockout punch, and she certainly isn’t going to body slam you. She weighs close to nothing.

    But Eddi is tough. She is so very tough. She is probably too tough for her own good.

    A couple of years ago, Eddi needed surgery to reconstruct one of her shoulders. She couldn’t lift her arm over her head. It must have been hurting all day and all night, and this suffering went on for months.

    It probably hurt for years, but Eddi wouldn’t show any signs of pain.

    Eventually, Eddi underwent shoulder surgery — but not until she competed in the triathlon she had been training for all year.

    The surgeon had to wait until Eddi was ready because excuses are for other people, not Eddi.

    Not long after surgery, Eddi was back out on the road running again. And running. And running.

    The more remarkable thing about Eddie, though, is how much she gives to others. For so many special functions around town, Eddi is an instrumental part of the team behind the scenes.

    Without her and a few others — like Jim McCarthy, Jim Michelotti and Pat Lee — the Butte Sports Hall of Fame would have probably gone away after the untimely death of Pat Kearney, a co-founder and chairman of the great Butte organization, in 2014.

    Every year, Eddie makes sure we have food and drinks for both nights of the Hall of Fame inductions. She makes sure we have table cloths, balloons, a red carpet and sponsorship money. Without her, I don’t know how we would get along.

    Then, Eddi leaves the event early each night so she can go work at the Silver-Bow Drive-In. She doesn’t even get to enjoy the event that she helps make possible.

    She doesn’t go to work at the drive-in because she is that desperate for money. She does it because she is helping her friends Mark and Holly Hansen put on the show.

    As usual, Eddi puts the needs of others above her own.

    I would say that Eddi is worth her weight in gold when it comes to the Butte Sports Hall of Fame, but she hardly weighs anything at all. She is worth my weight in gold. And your weight. And your overweight neighbor’s weight.

    Her contributions don’t stop at the Hall of Fame, either. Not even close.

    Eddi also made sure the Veteran’s Day Race, Montana’s oldest road race, stayed alive and well after Kearney’s death. She twice had to redesign the course. She also handles so much of the logistics of the race — like making sure runners have awards and people blocking traffic on the busy streets.

    At last year’s race, I really got a glimpse of just how much Eddi gives of herself on Veterans Day.

    She marked the course and then headed to Helena to coach her team in the Montana Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament. She stayed in Helena that night and coached a game in the morning.

    Then, she drove back to Butte to start and then run the race. After the race, she headed back to Helena to coach her team in another game.

    Eddi is behind almost every road race in town — running or biking. So many times, she would be out after dark marking the course. Then she would have to get up at the crack of dawn and do it again because it snowed overnight.

    I could spend all day pointing out the good things Eddi does, but you would run out of daylight trying to read it. It would be like trying to list all the times the Dallas Cowboys choked in the playoffs.

    She doesn’t do any of this to get her name in the paper on or on the television. She would rather nobody know what she is doing.

    Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the great work she does in a column on ButteSports.com, and I thought I was going to have to join the Witness Protection Program.

    I really thought Eddi was going to kill me for pointing out just how great she is.

    The last 11 months or so have been hell on Eddi. It started when she took a bite out of a pork chop sandwich at the State track meet in Butte. She had an allergic reaction, and her throat started to close.

    She made several trips to the hospital before that condition finally stabilized. Then, because Eddi is the most selfless person I ever even heard of, she asked to come on my podcast so she could tell people about the dangers of sesame flower in buns.

    It turns out that most bread and bun makers have turned to sesame for whatever reason, and Eddi didn’t want someone to go through what she went through.

    Typical Eddi. Her first thoughts were with other people — including people she never met before.

    In January, Eddi suffered another reaction, but this time it was even worse. The reactions just kept coming, too. Over and over, she suffered anaphylaxis reactions. The last one got her sent her on a Life Flight to Salt Lake City, where she still is today.

    She was diagnosed with leukemia, and she is awaiting more testing to confirm that diagnosis.

    Eddi runs the 2023 Veterans Day Race in Butte.

    Eddi has helped so many people in so many ways. That is why she was flooded with overwhelming support when word spread of her condition. A modest GoFundMe goal of $30,000 was quickly surpassed.

    That money is helping pay for Eddi’s medical expenses, along with the costs of staying in Salt Lake until she is in the clear. One of her daughters is staying there with her.

    Hopefully, you can dig a little bit and make a donation on Eddi’s GoFundMe because her expenses are rising every day. (Click here to donate.)

    If you cannot donate — or you already gave — then please keep Eddi in your hearts and minds as she battles back to health.

    Simply put, there is not a better person on the planet than Eddi Walker, and I just cannot imagine this place without her.

    But when she comes back to town and laces up her running shoes again — and she will — don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from me for a while. I will be joining the Witness Protection Program because Eddi just might kill me for once again telling people how great she is.

    She will be running after me like Jason Voorhees chasing a victim through the woods on a spooky night.

    — Bill Foley, who is way more afraid of Eddi than Jason, can be reached at foles74@gmail.com. Follow him at twitter.com/Foles74. Listen to him on the ButteCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

  • Holodnick, Rigby, Gunlikson top field during Week 2 of trap league

    Holodnick, Rigby, Gunlikson top field during Week 2 of trap league

    Jim Holodnick, Riley Rigby and Rial Gunlikson each posted a perfect score of 50 Thursday to top individual standings during Week 2 of the Butte Trap Club’s Spring League.

    Rayelynn Brandl, Kohlten Fultz, Dave Vicevich and John Wombvold each shot a 48, while Mindy McClernan, Mark Hislop, Rich Long, Jayson Kress, Tim Cassidy and Ryan Miller each shot 47.

    Brandl edged MClernan for first place in the women’s standings. Colleen Fink shot a 39.

    Rigby also shot a 45 to lead wobble shooting, edging Miller and Stephen Frazee by one,

    Through two weeks, Cooney’s Vicevich Law leads team scratch standings at 383. Baker Auto is second at 373, followed by Cooney’s Locksmith and Arc Electric at 366.

    Teams can still sign up and make up the first two weeks of shooting.

    Butte Trap Club – 2024 Spring League – Week 2 Standings

    Team Scratch Standings
    Cooney’s Vicevich Law                   –           383
    Baker Auto                                       –           373
    Cooneys Locksmith                         –           366
    Arc Electric                                        –           366
    Superior Title                                    –           360
    AMBS                                                 –           359
    Lisac’s/Jim Lynch State Farm        –           352
    Sundance Plumbing                        –           351
    St James Hospital                            –           341
    KR Contracting                                 –           333
    WET                                                   –           330
    Timberline Security                          –           327
    S&S Plumbing/Hitching Post         –           326
    Lockmer Plumbing                           –           319
    Pro Inspection                                  –           311
    Pioneer Technical                            –           305
    D-M Ranch                                        –           301
    Trap – Tastic                                     –           291
    Pizzer’s Palace                                 –           283
    Clay Howery Construction              –           282
    12 G Girls                                          –           267
    Daddy’s Girls                                    –           245
    Maloney’s                                          –           230
    East Ridge Scrappers                     –           218
    FJBCHO                                            –           189
    Edward Jones/Walt McIntosh        –           181
    …..w/Guns                                        –           172
    Archibald Co.                                    –           157
    J3 Construction                                –           123

    High Individual Scores
    Jim Holodnick                       –           50×50
    Riley Rigby                            –           50×50
    Rial Gunlikson                      –           50×50
    Rayelynn Brandl                   –           48×50
    Kohlten Fultz                         –           48×50
    Dave Vicevich                       –           48×50
    John Wombold                     –           48×50
    Mindy McClernan                 –           47×50
    Mark Hislop                           –           47×50
    Rich Long                              –           47×50
    Jayson Kress                        –           47×50
    Tim Cassidy                          –           47×50
    Ryan Miller                            –           47×50

    High Lady Scores
    Rayelynn Brandl                   –           48×50
    Mindy McClernan                 –           47×50
    Colleen Fink                          –           39×50

    High Wobble Trap Scores
    Riley Rigby                            –           45×50
    Ryan Miller                            –           44×50
    Stephen Frazee                   –           44×50
    Ryan Bossard                       –           42×5

  • Podcast No. 183: Joe Gilboy

    Podcast No. 183: Joe Gilboy

    Joe Gilboy could probably be making a lot more money doing something else.

    Thankfully, he is not.

    Instead, Joe Gilboy is the director of the Southwest Montana Aging and Disability Services in Butte. The agency is committed to seniors and adults with disabilities throughout Southwest Montana.

    The agency provides an array of services for the disabled and elderly, helping make their lives just a little bit easier.

    On May 3, the organization will hold a Free Fun Fair at the Star Lanes Family Sports Center. The event is held in conjunction with Older Americans Month, a tradition that dates back to 1963.

    The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will include a free sack lunch, music, entertainment and activities.

    Listen into this podcast as Joe talks about his career working with seniors and disabled adults. Listen to the challenges and rewards of the job. Listen in as he talks about the Free Fun Fair, which is an event you do not want to miss.

    Today’s podcast is presented by Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warnatee.

  • Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Jaxon Williamson, Ashlinn Mullaney

    Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Jaxon Williamson, Ashlinn Mullaney

    Butte High sophomore Jaxon Williamson and Butte High junior Ashlinn Mullaney are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.

    Williamson takes home the boys’ honor after mowing down the Columbus Cougars in a non-conference game Saturday at 3 Legends Stadium. Butte High won 11-1, walking off the game by the 10-run rule in the sixth.

    Williamson pitched the distance, scattering three hits, giving up one earned run, walking none and fanning six batters. He threw 51 of his 77 pitches for strikes. On the season, Williamson is 2-1 with a 2.23 ERA. He has 16 punch outs in 15.2 innings of work.

    Mullaney is the girls’ honoree after a big day at the plate Saturday as the Bulldogs dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Kalispell Glacier at Stodden Park. In the twin bill, she went 4 for 6 with a double and a run scored.

    Mullaney raised her batting average to .444, which is second on the team. She has four doubles and the team’s lone home run through eight games.

    The shortstop/pitcher is back on the diamond for the Bulldogs after missing her sophomore season while recovering from a major shoulder surgery.

    For the second year, Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warranty, is teaming up with the ButteCast to honor the finest student-athletes from the Mining City in an effort to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.

    Photo of Williamson and Mullaney courtesy Alycia Holland Photography.

  • KC basketball schedule

    KC basketball schedule

    Following is the Knights of Columbus Athletic Club’s four-man basketball schedule for the Week of April 22.

    Monday 
    6 p.m. — Butte Sports vs. Shaft Shooters 
    7 p.m. — Showtime vs. Jellyfam 
    8 p.m. — Hollow vs. Parish 
    9 p.m. — Washington Generals vs. Someday Starters 

    Tuesday 
    7 p.m. — Poi Time vs. Butte Sports 
    8 p.m. — City Bois vs. Someday Starters 
    9 p.m. — City Bois vs. Parish 

    Wednesday 
    7 p.m. — Hollow vs. Rosary Rattlers 
    8 p.m. — Washington Generals vs. Showtime 
    9 p.m. — Maroons vs. Poi Time 

    Thursday 
    6 p.m. — Crib Crew vs. Shaft Shooters 
    7 p.m. — Showtime vs. Rosary Rattlers 
    8 p.m. — Cook vs. Jellyfam 
    9 p.m. — Cook vs. Maroons

  • Podcast No. 182: Mick Ringsak

    Podcast No. 182: Mick Ringsak

    For decades, Elton “Mick” Ringsak Jr. was an owner an operator at Miller’s Boots and Shoes in Butte. He and his partner Dan McElroy ran the business decades, and Miller’s was known its high-quality footwear — as well as its cats roaming the store.

    There is a whole lot more than boots and shoes about Mick, though. For one thing, did you know he was once knighted? Yes, we should be calling him “Sir Mick Ringsak.”

    Mick, who grew up in North Dakota, is a decorated Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He has also been a mover and a shaker in the political world. He calls himself an Eisenhower Republican, and he is strong in his conviction that he doesn’t like either major party presidential candidate again in 2024.

    He was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the Small Business Administration’s Region 8 administrator, and he has been a member of the Upper Clark Fork River Advisory Council.

    Mick, whose friendship with staunch Democrat Evan Barrett led Montana Standard writer Mike Smith to call the two the “Political Odd Couple,” is heavily involved in local politics as well. The two are known as “watchdogs,” when it comes to the Superfund cleanup in Butte.

    Mick is very smart, and he is very funny. If you check out this podcast, you will see that.

    Listen into this conversation to hear Mick explain why he was knighted. Listen to hear how he ended up moving to Butte after his service in the military. Listen to where the name “Mick” came from. Listen to how he advised his friend H. Ross Perot to not run for president again in 1996.

    Today’s podcast is presented by Thriftway Super Stops. Sign up for the TLC app and start saving today.

  • Silver B’s honor Verlanic, Demarais

    Silver B’s honor Verlanic, Demarais

    The 2023-24 Butte High Silver B’s Memorial Scholarship will go to Butte High seniors Luke Verlanic and Bo Demarais, Butte High Silver B’s Historian Scott Paffhausen announced today.

    The honors comes with their name on a plaque and a $1,500 scholarship. Verlanic and Demarais will also be recognized at a dinner.

    Verlanic, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound safety, racked up 93 total tackles, 69 of which were solo, in 11 games for the Bulldogs in 2023. He picked off one pass and broke up four more.

    In three varsity seasons with Butte High, Verlanic registered 134 total tackles.

    Demarais, a 6-5, 170-pound quarterback, passed for 2,227 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall. He averaged 202.5 yards per game through the air. He also 244 yards and nine touchdowns.

    Demarais recently signed to play football at Montana Tech.

    In its third year, the Butte High Silver B Memorial Scholarship has now been awarded to five student-athletes. Cole Stewart was the first winner in 2021-22. Last year, Alex Watson and Jonas Sherman took home the honors.

    Photos Verlanic, left, and Demarais courtesy of Alycia Holland Photography.