🌱 Patch AM: How a Helena farm keeps veterans and their pets together

Cheers Helena! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

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In today's newsletter:

• How a Helena farm keeps veterans and their pets together
• Why hundreds of glowing bags lit up Helena's Capitol lawn
• What a flat 4.7% income tax could mean for Helena

Also on today's calendar: Steak fry fundraiser and 9 more events.

And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Ann M.!

Today's riddle: What do you call a one-legged Big Foot? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Warm with clouds and sun, with a high of 78 and low of 50 degrees.
• Wednesday: Partial sunshine, temps: high: 69, low: 39.
• Thursday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 68 and low of 44 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Rocking Tree Farm boards pets for veterans in mental health care (ktvh.com) — Helena veterans who need inpatient mental health or substance-use treatment can now board their pets for free at Rocking Tree Farm, removing a major barrier to getting care. The Helena nonprofit runs a large kennel where animals stay safely while owners are in VA programs, and they're asking local residents for donations and support to keep the service going.
   

• 'Every name has a story': Lights of Hope brings Montana's cancer fight to the Capitol (ktvh.com) — A moving Lights of Hope display at the Montana Capitol in Helena honored cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers while spotlighting gaps in care across the state. Advocates stressed the need for better research funding, screening access, and support for rural and Native communities, hoping to keep cancer's impact and solutions on lawmakers' radar.
   

• Flat tax advocates seek support ahead of the 2027 legislative session (mtpr.org) — Helena residents recently heard directly from advocates of a proposed flat 4.7% state income tax that lawmakers will consider in the 2027 Legislature. Supporters argued it would boost Montana's competitiveness, while some attendees questioned whether a single rate is fair to lower‑income earners. Any change would affect nearly every taxpayer in Helena and across the state.
   

📸 Around Helena

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Helena

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday September 30
• 2026 MACo Annual Conference - Commission →
  Delta Colonial Hotel, 2300 Colonial Drive, Helena
  8:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday September 30
• 2026 Ignite Conference: Stories That Shape Us →
  Montana Heritage Center, 225 Roberts Street, Helena
  8:30 am
• Basic Life Support (BLS) →
  St. Peter's Health Administration - SimLab, 2500 East Broadway Street, Helena
  9:00 am
• Pay Plan Rules Steering Committee Meeting →
  Lincoln Center, 1325 Poplar St, Helena
  3:45 pm
• Your Vote, Your Constitution: Montana's 2026 Ballot Initiatives →
  Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena
  6:00 pm
• Your Vote, Your Constitution: Montana's 2026 Ballot Initiatives by League of Women Voters →
  Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena
  6:00 pm
• Tom Catmull's Last Resort at Helena Civic Center →
  Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave, Helena
  6:00 pm
• "Your Vote, Your Constitution: Montana's 2026 Ballot Initiatives" by League of Women Voters →
  Lewis and Clark Library, 120 S Last Chance Gulch St, Helena
  6:00 pm
• Helena Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser →
  Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave, Helena
  6:00 pm
• Tom Catmull at Helena Civic Center →
  Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave, Helena
  6:00 pm
• Karaoke Night at The Western →
  The Gold Bar and Western Bar, 406 N Last Chance Gulch, Helena
  7:00 pm
Monday October 12
• Steak fry fundraiser →
  West Main Street, W Main St, East Helena
  5:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• This pup wandered to our house.
  His name is Kona, I can't reach the numbers on his collar. (Nextdoor North Valley Dave's)
• A Sunday thought
  Don't wait until it gets too cold. Get your car winterized now. Anti-freeze Oil, Lube, Winter Windshield washers and fluid. Any tiny windshield… (Nextdoor North Helena)

• O'Reilly Auto Parts posted a job opening for Merchandising Specialist in Helena. Apply here.
• Shodair Children's Hospital posted a job opening for Security Guard- Night shift (9pm-7:30am) in Helena. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Helena here.

🗞 Nearby News

East Helena

• Billings Central volleyball rallies in 4 sets to beat East Helena (montanasports.com)

Butte

• Butte High Football Games Against Helena (kxtl.com)

Ok Helena! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Hop Squatch! (Thank you Terri R. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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