June 2023

NEWS of ENNIS and the MADISON VALLEY, MT for JUNE 2023

MADISON VALLEY JUNE “HAPPENINGS” → What’s happened in Ennis, the Basecamp of the Madison Valley? → The Madisonian, Montana’s oldest publishing weekly newspaper, established in 1873, is still celebrating 150 years of publishing in 2023. https://www.madisoniannews.com/. → Ennis Chamber of Commerce hosted the First Annual BBQ Cookoff & Rodeo. → The Madison Valley Ranchlands Group & the Madison County Weed Board held Noxious Weed Education class. → Virginia City held an Irish Weekend and another Vigilante Music Festival. → The Ennis Arts Association organized an Open Studio Tour, featuring 17 artists in 15 locations! → Virginia City held their annual Brothel Days. → There was a fund-raising Golf Scramble at the Madison Meadows Golf Course to benefit the Ennis Community Children’s School. → The Lions Club hosted their annual Father’s Day Fishing Derby at the park, in spite of rain! → There were several free Tennis Clinics. → The Fan Mountain Frog Dogs entertained at Discovery Park in VC. → There was a fund-raising Jackson Hole Jazz Concert, in VC benefiting the Madison Valley Public Library. → There was a Biocontrol Workshop at Lions Park. → Jack Creek Preserve held a Family Fun Day. → A Bluegrass Festival was held in Twin Bridges at the Madison County Fairgrounds. → The Ladies of the Valley celebrated one year of Madison Valley gals getting together at the Sportsman’s Lodge once a month. A great way to get acquainted.→ Ennis, and the surrounding areas were open and busy!

MADISON VALLEY JULY “HAPPENINGS” → Don’t miss the July Fourth festivities in Ennis, July 3rd & 4th . https://www.ennischamber.com/4th-of-july-rodeo-parade/. → There is a Car Show from 8 AM to 2 PM at the Sportsman’s Lodge on the 3rd and a Rodeo at 7 PM. → The Parade starts at 10 AM on the 4th , but get there early! This year’s theme is, “America Marches On.” → Head to the Veterans Memorial Ceremony at noon. → Then catch lunch at the Lions Club BBQ in the Park. → Head down to the Ennis “Big Sky” Airport for a free Air Show from 2 – 3 PM. →  Another Rodeo at 7 PM. → Then head to Virginia City for Fireworks at dusk! → The annual Wildflower Tour of Gravelly Mountain Range will start at 9 AM from the Madison Ranger District office, on the 6th. For more info: (406) 682-4253. → Check out the Vigilante Car Show in VC on the 8th. → The Jack Creek Preserve will present a Plant ID & Foraging Walk on the 13th. www.jackcreekpreserve.org/events/. → A Brew Fest in Virginia City on the 15th, noon – 6 PM. → The Annual Madison Valley Arts Festival will be held in Peter T’s Park on the 29th. → There will be Music in the Park in Ennis, on Thursday evenings, through Aug 17th, 5:00 to 6:30 PM. → The Virginia City Playhouse will be presenting their 75th season of plays and vaudeville. https://www.virginiacityplayers.com/. → And everyone needs to experience the infamous Brewery Follies in VC! http://breweryfollies.net/. → Emergency fishing restrictions have been adopted for the Big Hole, Beaverhead & Ruby Rivers. → But, you can still fish the Madison, go fishing, boating, golfing, hiking, trail riding, bowling, do yoga & exercise classes, have a facial and a massage, play Pickleball, Mahjongg, or eat, drink, stroll through Ennis, take in a movie, and go shopping! Just do it all!

MADISON VALLEY FUTURE “HAPPENINGS” → Virginia City stuff: Montana Mardi Gras on Aug 5, 1 – 8 PM. → VC Art Show on Aug 11-13. → The Elling House will host a Cowboy Poetry – & Open Mike night on Aug. 16th → Virginia City Art Show, Aug 11-13. → The Grand Victorian Ball on Aug.19th. → VC Gold Rush 5K on Aug. 26th . → Labor Day Poker Ride on Sept. 2. → A Bike Fest in VC on Sept. 23rd. → The annual Noxious Weed Fund Raiser will be held at the Meadow Creek Equestrian Center on Aug. 5th. Call (406 682-3259 for tickets. → The 10th Annual Montana Ride to Remember, Aug.19th with hundreds of motorcycles, riding from Helena, down the US 287 Memorial Hwy, through Ennis. https://www.facebook.com/MTRideToRemember/. → The Jack Creek Preserve will host Stargazing at the Preserve on August 19 – 20th . www.jackcreekpreserve.org/events/. → The annual Fly Fishing Festival on Aug. 26th & 27th. https://www.ennischamber.com/fly-fishing-and-outdoor-festival/. → Hunters’ Feed in Ennis, October 20th . → The Virginia City Playhouse and the Brewery Follies will be performing through Labor Day. → This year will be the 160th anniversary of Virginia City and they will be celebrating all year! https://virginiacity.com/events/, and https://virginiacity.com/history. → The Jack Creek Preserve Foundation is raffling off access for an archery elk hunt for the 2024 season! Only 250 tickets will be sold at $50 each, giving you excellent odds of winning access to the private 4500-acre property + other big-ticket items. Drawing will take place when all tickets are sold or on the evening of Oct. 20th. → The annual Spirit of Christmas Stroll in Ennis, Dec. 8th. → https://www.ennischamber.com.

MONTANA NEWS → Governor Greg Gianforte has signed a $1 billion Tax Rebate tax cut package into law, providing short-term property & income tax rebates and also cutting income taxes on an on-going basis, from the state’s $2.5 billion budget surplus! Montana could show Washington how to do it!

FISHING REPORT → From Big John. July is the month we celebrate America’s Birthday. We do this with parades, rodeos, cook outs, fireworks, car shows and lots of fun. Nobody does it better than here in the Cultural Epicenter of Trout. Ennis has a long history of providing the old-time Fourth of July celebration. What is most important about this holiday is to recognize our freedom, and to celebrate all of our rights. These were given to us in blood, from past generations, and are not guaranteed. With all the division and strife, and everyone wanting a better America, it is easy to lose track of what we do have. All I know is that if you want a better America, be better Americans. The quest for personal excellence can fix all problems.

What I love most about July is the fishing. Lots of insects and good water levels. Currently, the Madison River has a bunch of water in it. The lake is full, and they are letting go water to make sure it does not overfill with a rainstorm. There is almost double the amount of water in the river this year, compared to last July. This trend should continue all month, with good cold water. Fish like water, so this is a good thing. Salmon flies are still hanging around and are mid-river to start the month. This should move quickly and be upstream in a week or so. Fish the big orange dry flies, while you can. It has been good out there, so join in all the fun! Lots of caddis around, river-wide, to keep the fish looking up to dry flies. Golden stones, yellow sallies, and PMD mayflies round out the soup. Remember, when there are this many bugs in the river soup, you need to figure out what the fish want, daily. Sometimes, they like the big chunks of chicken in the soup; and other times, the peas and carrots. Solve the soup riddle daily, and you will be rewarded.

Fishing should stay good all month, with the water flows we are seeing. This is high summer fly fishing on the Madison. This is as good as it gets, so get out and enjoy it. Remember, there are lots of folks out there, wanting the same thing. Be patient at boat ramps and access points. Everyone wants to have a fun day on the river. Conflict and confrontation are not needed. So, relax, don’t worry, and just be happy out there. Stop in the store for the latest fish and bug intel. Also, grab some of our guide-choice flies. Remember, the advice is always free and friendly. Good Fishing and God Bless, John Way http://www.thetackleshop.com) Ennis, Montana, the CULTURAL EPICENTER OF TROUT. (406) 682-4263, or cell: (406) 370-5206.

If people concentrated on the REALLY important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles!

Check out other fishing reports at:

• Madison River Fishing Company at: https://www.mrfc.com/
• Dan Delekta at: https://www.beartoothflyfishing.com/
• The Madison Valley Ranch at: https://www.madisonvalleyranch.com/
• Joe Dilschneider’s Montana Trout Stalkers at http://www.montanatrout.com/
• Yellowstone Fly Fishing at http://www.yellowstoneflyfishing.com/madisonreport.htm.

WEATHER → June is very schizophrenic. We experienced summer, then winter, then spring, and finally “real” summer! Hopefully, it is here to stay! There were at least 16 days with rain and the valley is still verdant and the rivers are full. The daytime high in June was 84°. The daytime low was 56° (same as May!). The nighttime high was 53° with a nighttime low of 29°! (and my tomato plants froze on June 21st!).

REAL ESTATE TIPS. HOT HOME DESIGN TRENDS THIS SUMMER. According to a recent article in Realtor Magazine from 2023 Houzz U.S., homeowners are trying to maximize their space by
taking on remodeling projects geared toward creating new living areas while overhauling their property’s style. Online searches for these features have increased significantly over the past year.

• A Basement Refinish – More homeowners look to turn their large, open spaces into a family or recreation room. Basements are being refinished to create a spot for watching movies, playing
  games, and exercising. The search term “basement golf simulator” posted one of the biggest upticks among home improvement-related searches.
• Bathroom Accessibility – More homeowners are showing an interest in renovating their bathrooms to include accessible features that enable them to live in their homes longer as they age. Houzz found that searches for “age-in-place bathrooms” and “handicap-accessible bathrooms” more than doubled compared to a year ago. Popular add-on features include handheld shower heads, ADA-compliant bathroom vanities and curbless showers.
• Industrial-Style Kitchens – A greater number of homeowners are showing a desire to swap out their pristine, all-white kitchens for something a little more rugged. “Industrial kitchens” are generating greater interest, particularly for features like “kitchen track lighting,” “pull-down kitchen faucets,” “stainless steel countertops,” and a “brick kitchen wall.” There is also a growing interest for “concrete countertops” and “copper kitchen backsplashes” that fit within this style.
• Painted Ceilings – The “fifth” wall is becoming the new place for an accent wall. Paint and texture are dressing up more ceilings. Searches have spiked over the past year for high-gloss,  painted, flat black, and tongue-and-groove ceilings.

HOME FOR YOUR SOUL. FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE MONTH. PREMIER VIEW PROPERTY. This end-of-the road, extra-large, 7.4 acre lot is an ideal place to build your Montana “dream” home. It is in a newer subdivision, with beautiful homes, a community center, equestrian center, strong covenants to protect property values, a well-managed HOA, and just 5 miles from Ennis! Close to all the conveniences of town, but in the country! This lot borders a large ranch which is under a Conservation Easement and can never be developed, preserving your unobstructed views of the valley and mountains. Pronghorn Meadows, Lot 101, $450,000. MLS #383118. And, if you feel you need more space, the adjoining 60+ acre property is also for sale! It includes one 20-acre lot + an adjoining 40-acre parcel for your horses or private playground! This is an incredible, one-of-a-kind combination, bordered on 3 sides by protected land that cannot be developed.

REAL ESTATE NEWS – WASHINGTON (June 29, 2023) – Pending home sales shrunk 2.7% in May from the previous month, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Three U.S. regions posted monthly losses, while sales in the Northeast surged. All four regions saw year-over-year declines in transactions. “Despite sluggish pending contract signings, the housing market is resilient with approximately three offers for each listing,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, “The lack of housing inventory continues to prevent housing demand from being fully realized.”

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) dropped 2.7% to 76.5 in May. Year over year, pending transactions fell by 22.2%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001. “It is encouraging that homebuilders have ramped up production, but the supply from new construction takes time and remains insufficient,” added Yun. “There should be more focus on boosting existing-home inventory with temporary tax incentive measures.”

Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown – The Northeast PHSI climbed 12.9% from last month to 66.7, a decrease of 21.9% from May 2022. The Midwest index dropped 5.3% to 74.4 in May, down 23.5% from one year ago. The South PHSI decreased 4.4% to 94.4 in May, reducing 19.6% from the prior year. The West index lessened 6.1% in May to 58.4, falling 26.6% from May 2022.

The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS: New MLS listings are showing up every day! Some prices are up and some are going down! Big Sky Country Multiple Listing statistics for the Madison Valley area (including Ennis, Cameron, McAllister, Norris, Virginia City, Nevada City, Harrison, Pony), for the month of JUNE were as follows:

• HOMES: 53↑ homes listed ($340,000 to $11,250,000); 12↑ pending sales ($469,000 to $879,000); and 21 homes have sold in 2023 ($305,000 to $3,700,000), totaling $19,161,834 at 95.9%↑ of list prices.
• LAND: 95↑ vacant lots listed ($12,497 to $2,250,000); 12↑ pending sales ($19,497 to $795,000); and 30 lots have sold in 2023 ($10,000 to $925,000), totaling $8,099,000 at 93.3%↑ of list prices.
• COMMERCIAL: 4↓ commercial properties listed ($365,000 to $2,950,000); 0 pending sales; and 4 commercial properties have sold in 2023 ($85,000 to $2,250,000), totaling $4,835,000, at 90.5%↑ of list prices.
• RANCHES: 6↑ ranches listed ($960,000 to $9,500,000); 0 pending sales, and 0 ranches sold in 2023.

MONTANA TRIVIA… Did you know that….The Unabomber still has a strong presence in Montana? Ted Kaczynski, who terrorized the country with package bombs for 17 years and was finally
arrested near Lincoln, MT in 1996, recently died in prison at the age of 81, on June 10th. Books have been written about him, the latest titled, Madman in the Woods, written by a neighbor
of Ted’s. Recently a movie entitled “Ted K,” was filmed on location near Lincoln, where they rebuilt his infamous cabin. https://montanafreepress.org/2023/06/21/27-years-after-arrest-ted-kaczynski-still-holds-montanas-and-the-nations-attention/. Read more at: https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-regional/unabombers-legacy-resonates-25-years-
after-arrest-in-montana/article_1e4cc741-1de7-5670-91d4-2ff0b6fd7904.html?mode=nowapp