April

April, the last month of the legislature and the first month of real spring. The month was one of transition from mostly indoor assignments with difficult lighting and less-than-visual activity to being outside on assignments that celebrated being outside. I had the opportunity to spend time in a couple of women's kitchens as they told me stories of travelling abroad and how they bring those experience back to their home kitchen. On the flip side of that coin, I had to respond to a possible bomb scare at two federal buildings in Helena- which turned out to be an unidentified package. And on the first day of May all of Helena gathered in it's center as high school students celebrated the town's history in a parade.

March

Due to lack of time in the day, I plan on making monthly photo updates rather than the intermittent daily updates I used to. Instead of just posting images, I hope to provide more behind the lens commentary and context to the images I present. Here is what happened March:

Among the crowd at the buffalo rally earlier this month was this father and son, I made the photograph and carried on covering the event. 

I couldn't resist the light from this construction site lamp. It's not often a subject is lit from below.

Carroll College football player compete in a pancake eating contest on National Pancake Day.

Grandpa Whitey, known to fellow WWII soldiers as "white dog" for his ruthless fighting ability, now volunteers his time tutoring elementary student five days a week.

Medicaid Expansion is one of, if not, the most contentious issues during this legislative session. The day the bill was introduced, the Capitol had rooms full of people waiting to testify in favor or opposition of the bill.

A golden sunrise after a spring snow dusting.

Visiting Conductor Dusty Molyneaux of Great Falls Public Schools congratulates a seventh grade band  during a middle band festival.

This spring has been very good to anglers on the Missouri River.

First-ever smudging room at St. Peter's Hospital.

A live production of the Junie B. Jones book series enthralled local grade-schoolers.

Those at the Capitol go all-out in celebration of St. Patrick's day.

Science Circus

A long line on headlights during a weekday morning commute.

A Montessori class recanted the Great Depression for week. Here they cleaned up the school's garden area as a study of the Conservation Corps part of the New Deal.

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Self-proclaimed Osama Bin-Laden killer Rob O'Neill gives Helena High Schoolers some dangerous advice on life.

Local master gardener students take to downtown Helena's cigarette-butt filled garden beds for some much needed rehab.

Faith Johnson, 15-year-old singer-songwriter. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpd-ZsrEPec

A little fun in the studio with a local singer who won a 1,000 dollar singing competition

A couple living completely off the grid out side Wolf Creek, Mont.  

The following few images are from the local high school rodeo. These kids have guts.

These dogs and cats get read to by elementary students. The animals love it, the kids love it and they become better readers.

John Spindler is shrouded in light as he and nearly 30 other WWII veterans were honored at the Military Appreciation event at the Capitol. Spindler served from 1942-47' on the Naval destoyer the USS Rodman. When asked about his service during WWII, he remarked, 'Atleast I got to see a lot of France.'

Sen. Jon Tester D-Mont., left, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald, right, speak to each other Tuesday, March 31, 2015 during a town hall meeting in which the secretary and Sen. Jon Tester D-Mont. led a panel discussion at Montana National Guard headquarters near Helena's Fort Harrison VA hospital.