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JUNE 2023 THE
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE A BLESSING TO THE WORLD OF EDUCATION Mrs. Rieger Goes the Extra Mile
Public schools are the backbone of our communities in Montana. Despite ranking 31st in per pupil funding, Montana public schools rank first in the graduation rate at 94%. I would not be able to serve the people of this community without having benefitted from the support my community placed in our public school in Columbia Falls, Montana. The people who make this significant difference in our public schools are teachers — and they’re often taken for granted. At Foust Law Office, we want to recognize these hardworking professionals. Although our teachers rank 34th in average pay, Montana students regularly achieve well above the national average. We are excited to begin by acknowledging the hard work of educators in Belgrade’s elementary schools. The more I interact with and get to know today’s educators in our local community, the more excited I get for our children’s future. Like Mrs. Rieger, a kindergarten teacher at Saddle Peak Elementary School in Belgrade, Montana. Mrs. Rieger was born in California but has been a Montana resident since the age of 3, and was raised in the Belgrade area. Having attended all the Belgrade schools, she notes how interesting it is to experience the area as an adult and a teacher in the same schools. There’s nothing better than having a teacher as familiar with and dedicated to our community as Mrs. Rieger is! One particular teacher, Mr. Spadie, impacted her sixth-grade year when she was a student. “I struggled a bit in my middle school years,” Mrs. Rieger tells us, “but Mr. Spadie was awesome and helped to pull me out of my funk. My drive to become a teacher stemmed from a job I had in college. I worked at Reach in Bozeman, a nonprofit organization designed to help adults with disabilities, and hearing some of the stories of how they were treated in their early school years was heartbreaking. While we’ve come a long way as a society, I knew I wanted to make sure nobody felt this way and had to go through that.” Mrs. Rieger kickstarted her career teaching special education in Anaconda, Montana, as her husband was also a teacher in the area. After nine years, the teaching duo returned to Belgrade, and now, four years later, they are thrilled to work with the best
groups of children in Belgrade and Manhattan, Montana (where her husband is the school librarian and yearbook teacher). “Today, I love teaching kindergarten because this age group has so much love to give. It’s so magical to watch them absorb everything like little sponges and experience the excitement of being in school for the first time,” Mrs. Rieger says. “I love their sense of humor at this age, too.” When Mrs. Rieger isn’t busy in the classroom or assisting with the Building Leadership teams, math curriculums, or family nights, she enjoys baking cakes and cookies. She firmly believes in waking up every day with the aspiration to make that particular day the best it can be — and this always involves her students!
Mrs. Rieger, you are such a blessing to our community! We thank you for all your hard work, passion, and dedication. Our Montana students are so blessed to experience your love, skill, and devotion to the incredible world of education.
– Lucas Foust
406-587-3720 • 1
illnesses to become more likely. In all stages of the cooking process and behind-the-scenes prep work, cross-contamination can occur. While it might be difficult to see how your food is being prepared at a restaurant, some signs of cross- contamination that occur in the dining area include waiters and waitresses carrying plates by the rim instead of the bottom of the plate, hair dangling into the food, using a glass to scoop ice, and forgetting to sanitize towels between each use. Unsanitary Restaurant Exterior and Interior As mentioned, restaurant guests typically aren’t invited back into the kitchen, but the dining room and exterior of the restaurant are on full display. Is there trash around the exterior that could potentially attract rats and pests? Are there cracks and crevices in the walls? Is there stagnant water, debris, or places for pests to hide? Are blinds and window sills dusty? Is there dirt, trash, or food particles on the floor? All of these signs may point to poor cleanliness in the kitchen. Employee Presentation You might never actually see the chef and the cooks on the line, but you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the rest of the staff. Are employees wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE)? Are they tidy, in proper uniform, wearing aprons, with their hair tied back appropriately? Are their hands free of debris, food, and dirt? As a general rule of thumb, employees should not be eating in dining and food preparation areas. If you ever catch your waiter sneaking a bite of a breadstick, this could also be a cause for concern. While it may be difficult to pinpoint whether or not a restaurant is lacking in the health code area, these are some great identifiers to keep an eye out for. They may even reveal whether or not the establishment and its protocols are up to snuff — so you can feel comfortable and confident indulging in a great meal there. Happy dining! Common Restaurant Health Code Violations That Doesn’t Look Quite Right
If you’re a foodie, then you may agree with other restaurant enthusiasts when they say that the top deterrent to dining at a particular food establishment is an adverse health inspection. When a restaurant is plagued with that on their record, images of rats, mold, filth, and grime may pop into your head — and then your appetite tanks. Restaurants must comply with a health code designed to ensure that their food is safe and customers don’t experience foodborne illnesses. When restaurants violate this code, they expose themselves to potential fines and sometimes forced closures. If you’re a person who enjoys dining out, it’s important to be familiar with some of the most common health code violations. Here are some signs to be on the lookout for. Cross-Contamination Cross-contamination takes place when bacteria are transferred among different people, objects, and places, causing foodborne
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TAKE A BREAK
Change the Way You Save What to Expect From the SECURE 2.0 Act
Beach Burgers Cycling Father Juneteenth Music
Get ready for more savings! Last year,
Pearl Pride Refugee Sailing Solstice Waterski
the SECURE 2.0 Act added new provisions that may change how you
prepare for retirement. In order to
increase your savings come retirement, these changes aim to make
Inspired by ThePioneerWoman.com HOMEMADE DOLE WHIP
saving more manageable and enticing. They also lower the cost for employers
to offer savings plans within the company. Now, it’s more attractive for employers to offer savings plans for their employees, and employees will have better plan options to choose from! Here’s what you need to know! RMD Age Extended One of the most significant changes involves required minimum distributions (RMDs). The previous rules stated that retirees were required to make withdrawals from their retirement accounts when they turned 72 years old. Now, the RMD age is 73, providing you an extra year to save in your tax-free retirement accounts instead of taking those taxable distributions early. On Jan. 1, 2033, this threshold age will be raised again to 75. Penalties Cut in Half In the past, if you missed an RMD deadline, the penalty was 50% of the amount you should have taken. This penalty has been reduced to only 25% of the amount. If you fix your mistake within two years, the number could be reduced to 10%. Pre-Death Requirement Eliminated In 2024, the pre-death requirement for Roth 401(k) accounts will be removed. This means Roth IRA accounts are not subject to the RMD rules if the account holder passes away before the required distribution age. These changes to RMDs are just a few things the SECURE 2.0 Act has set in motion. To learn more about how to continue saving through your golden years, set up a strategy session with your trusted financial advisor!
The summer heat is on! And what better way to cool off after a long day in the sun than a refreshing bowl of Dole whip? This frozen treat has everything you need in a summer dessert: the tangy sweetness of pineapple and the creamy taste of vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp lime juice • Pinch of sea salt
• 3/4 cup pineapple juice • 1 cup vanilla ice cream • 2 cups frozen pineapple
Directions 1. In a high-powered blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth, stopping to push the pineapple chunks down into the blender as needed. 2. Transfer to a bowl; cover and freeze for 30 minutes. 3. Scoop and serve. Alternatively, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, then pipe into small serving bowls. (This method will make it look like it came out of a soft serve machine.)
406-587-3720 • 3
Foust Law Office
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.lucasfoustlaw.com 406-587-3720 Fax: 406-879-4400
3390 South 30th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Let’s Feature Our Teacher of the Month
Watch Out for Restaurant Health Code Violations
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Homemade Dole Whip More Ways to Save Are Coming!
A Wheely Good Time at the Drive-In
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A Poppin’ Night at the Drive-In The Best Seats in the House
Do you remember the days of packing up snacks, hopping in the car, and heading out for an evening under the stars at the drive-in? Every year on June 6, we celebrate Drive-In Movie Day. Although movie-going has seen some modifications over the last few decades, drive-in movie theaters are still around and continue to draw a crowd! If you’re interested in reliving some of your best memories and watching a movie at your local drive-in, here are some tips to make the most of the evening. Pack the snacks. Most drive-in theaters have maintained the look and feel of the retro movie experience, so you may need to bring your own munchies and refreshments. So, before you go, pop the popcorn and refrigerate your soda. If you’re bringing your kids or grandchildren, you may want to pack some extra M&M’s and gummy bears along with their favorite juice box! Pocket some cash. For drive-ins with a concession stand, be sure you have cash on hand, just in case they do not accept cards. Before your movie, you can always call ahead to get the scoop on whether or not they have a concession stand and the rules and options.
Dress appropriately. The temperatures can get a bit chilly depending on where you live, and the bugs may be on the loose! Long pants and sweatshirts are a great option to stay comfortable, warm, and protected from the bugs. Tote along some chairs. If you’re with a large group of people, or your car feels a bit cramped, take the party outside: Set up a viewing area with some foldable chairs right around your car. If you have a truck, you can back into the parking spot and put chairs in the truck bed, too! When you arrive prepared, the drive-in is a fun activity all ages and generations can appreciate. As always, ensure you get there early to enjoy the previews, too — many argue it’s the best part of the entire experience!
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