4th of July Activities Remain on Chamber Agenda
Author: mt43news staff reporter
4th of July Activities Remain on Chamber Agenda
MT43 News Staff Reporter
At a March 19 meeting of Townsend Area Chamber of Commerce, member Doug Sitton reported that he had secured Heritage Park for Saturday, July 4 for a celebration to possibly include a military flyover and a venue for businesses, the school and nonprofit organizations to take part.
He emphasized that since the holiday is on the weekend, he feared participation may be low since many people will not be in town. Tim Pool, head of American Legion Post #42 committee for the celebration, emphasized that the Legion plans to lead the parade, not organize the parade, according to Sitton, who has also contacted someone to perform a fireworks display. He encouraged organization heads to contact him if they are planning to be involved in the day’s activities, even though the Chamber is not officially heading up the celebration.
Eve and Vern Parrow of Extreme Plumbing and Heating, Belgrade, will be organizing the 2026 Canyon Ferry Walleye Tournament. Chris McFadden of Townsend Marine led the event last year. This tournament, headed for many years by TACC vice chairman Doug Breker, started in 1999.
Mrs. Parrow, who is a veteran Walleye tournament organizer, said she will try to make this a much bigger event this year by reconnecting with other walleye groups in Montana. This event is part of a Walleye tournament circuit, which has members all over Montana. She will work with TACC members through fundraising and executing the event, scheduled for June 26 and 27. “Our job is just to get the event in front of the locals as well as bring in fishermen from other groups in the circuit,” she emphasized.
In recent years, tournament participation has been down. The Canyon Ferry tournament’s unique draw in past years has been its $10,000 prize pool, based on participation. “We must have 125 teams to meet that goal,” according to Breker, “hopefully with Eve and Vern’s leadership, we’ll see that many folks come to fish.”
Chairman of the Upper Missouri River Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, Sam DesChene, was also present at the meeting. He said he has contacted Montana 4-H groups to get them involved in sports fishing.
In news of other planned Chamber activities, Sitton said he was unable to reserve the Broadwater County Fairgrounds for the annual All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), slated for June 6 and 7, as the dates had already been filled. He confirmed that Top Gun Auto and AdaZ businesses had generously offered their parking lots north of town for the event. Still to confirm with the US Forest Service, Townsend District, is the route. Open registration begins April 1st.
Secretary Rachael Brug, owner of Reading Leaves bookstore, encouraged members to get involved in the Southwest Montana Tourism organization, which encourages tourists to visit our area. Brug is currently the president of the board. She is also Broadwater County’s ambassador for the Montana Nonprofit Association. Southwest Montana Tourism held its quarterly meeting at the Legion in Townsend on March 26th.
Also discussed was the possible takeover of the county-wide garage sale, scheduled for July 18 this year. Missouri Valley Marketing headed the garage sale but is no longer a working group.
The next chamber meeting is scheduled for 6:00 pm, April 16, at Rocky Mountain Mini Cabins at 7843 Hwy 287.
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PhotoCredit: Rachael Brug, Secretary, Townsend Area Chamber of Commerce
Image 1 Caption: Chamber sign on Highway 287 promoting Townsend activities and events
Photo Credit: Rachael Brug, Secretary, Townsend Area Chamber of Commerce
