Podcast
The ButteCast with Bill Foley
Hosted by Bill Foley · EN
Let's get to know some of the characters who make Butte, Montana the "Richest Hill on Earth."
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No. 362: Don Peoples Jr.
1w ago01:19:30Tap to summarizeDon Peoples Jr. appeared on episode No. 98 of the ButteCast in June of 2023.So much has a lot changed since then for the president of the Butte Central Foundation, superintendent of Butte Central Schools and head coach of the BC football team.In November of 2023, Peoples nearly left us. In fact, he briefly did leave us during a massive heart attack while on the road to watch his brother, Kevin, coach with the University of Missouri’s football team.Thanks to CPR performed by his daughter, Mollie, and a fast-acting team at the emergency room in Columbia, Missouri, Peoples joined the very small fraternity of survivors of the dreaded “widow maker” heart attack.Peoples lost his father, the legendary Don Peoples Sr., this past March. Fortunately, the elder Peoples was able to hang on long enough to see his son selected for induction into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame.Peoples and the Class of 2026 will be inducted during ceremonies July 24-25 at the Butte Civic Center.Earlier today, I caught up with Coach Peoples at the Rotunda at Butte Central Catholic High School for a fun conversation.Listen in as Coach Peoples talks about his years as coach of the Maroons and the many successful students and athletes who passed through the school. Listen as he talks about surviving that major heart attack and the new lease on life the experience gave him.Listen as he talks about joining the long list of Butte sports immortals as he is inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame.Today's podcast is brought to you by Thriftway Super Stops. Join the Thriftway Loyalty Club today and save big. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: First she called me an idiot
1w ago00:12:48Tap to summarizeWhen you cheer the separation of families and deportations without due process, you are at risk of finding yourself on the wrong side of history. When you sit silently, you are every bit as complicit.That is why we should all read the poem "First They Came" by Martin Niemöller.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →No. 361: Mike Rapp
2w ago01:16:04Tap to summarizeLong before Mike Rapp was the superintend of the Falcon Crest Golf Club near Boise, Idaho, he had one of the best titles any person could have.He was a Muni kid.Mike grew up playing golf at the Highland View Golf Course in Butte. He golfed and golfed and golfed.He spent so much time on a golf course, that he decided to make that his livelihood. Mike started working at the Butte Country Club, then he earned a degree in horticulture at Montana State University.That led him to Boise, where he has spent the last few decades.Mike was a member of Butte Central’s 1989 Class A State championship golf team. The other members of the team were Joe Stimatz, T.J. Harrington, Brian Noctor and my brother, Don FoleyMike led the Maroons that in State tournament at Fairmont Hot Springs, finishing in a four-way tie for third place. After a playoff, he finished fourth, one spot below Anaconda’s Jim Stergar, who is once again the state championship basketball coach at Billings Central.In August of 1995, Mike shot a 6-under-par 64 at the Muni. That tied our childhood hero Dave Cashell for the course record. That record stood a for 20-some years before it was eclipsed by Kaven Noctor.In this episode, we talk about how Mike three putted on the 18th green to settle for a tie. For years, he blamed me. At least in part.I played the back nine with Mike that day, and I made a comment midway through the nine about the course record. It was kind of like telling a pitcher he’s got a no-hitter going into the eighth inning.That is not the right move to make.If you listen to this episode, though, you will see that Mike does not hold that against me. Well, at least he doesn’t anymore.This episode is also available on YouTube. Find it on ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →No. 360: Joe Wren
2w ago01:23:30Tap to summarizeThis is easily the most visual of the 360 episodes of the ButteCast.Today, KXLF legend and Anaconda native Joe Wren joined the show via Zoom from Mitchell Stadium in Anaconda.In addition to a great conversation, Joe provided us a bit of a tour of one of the greatest high school football stadiums in the state.Of course, you have to watch on YouTube to see that. (Check out a link at ButteCast.com.)A 1979 Anaconda High School graduate, Joe became a household name in these parts in the late 1980s and early 1990s as he became part of KXLF’s live newscast at 5:30 and 10 p.m. He brought a cocky, yet fun approach to the sports report.Joe brought us Chopper 4, which fooled a lot of people into thinking that KXLF really was flying him around in a helicopter to cover all the games in the area. The truth is that Joe had a handful of people screaming across the highways with cameras to bring us highlights.After leaving KXLF, Joe moved to a much bigger market in Salt Lake City. He did the news and sports. He even was part of a sports radio show in Salt Lake.He got to meet Michael Jordan, O.J. Simpson and Muhammad Ali. He also got a kiss from a largely popular woman during the Olympic Torch Run in 2002.Today, Joe is known as “Papa Joe.” He and his wife, Nancy, have four children and 14 grandchildren. And a decade or so after flatlining during a major heart attack, Joe is appreciating life more than ever.He clearly is appreciating the beauty of Mitchel Stadium and the Smelter City.Today’s episode of the ButteCast is presented by the Jewelry Design Center. Let Brian Toone and Co. be your jewelers for life. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: Healthy fear of a knuckle sandwich used to keep us in check
2w ago00:13:23Tap to summarizeOnce upon a time, people had a healthy fear of getting punched in the teeth for saying something awful to another person.Social media eliminated that fear, and society is worse off because of it. A healthy society needs people to think they might lose a few pearly whites for saying something racist, sexist or homophobic. For so long, that is what kept us in check. Now it is probably gone forever.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →Episode No. 359: Guns & Hoses
3w ago01:19:53Tap to summarizeToday we are talking softball with Butte police officers Jorey Thatcher and Ben Girdler and Butte firefighter Aaron Facincani.These three brave men are getting ready for the Guns vs. Hoses softball game, which will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Stodden Park. The game is set up as a fundraiser for Mariah’s Challenge.The game will pit Butte’s police officers against Butte’s firefighters. The Finest vs. the Bravest.The event is free and open to the public. The players will be raising money to play in the game, much like they do to participate in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge.Donate via Venmo by using the QR code below.After checking out the lineups of the teams so far, I am establishing the firefighters as a slight favorite. At first, I was thinking the line should be set at 3 runs, but we are going to move it down to 1 and a half. However, I’m pretty sure you will struggle to find any bookie or service to take any action on the game.One sure bet, though, is there will be a whole lot of smack talk between the rivals. We got a glimpse of that today when I met with Thatcher, Girdler and Facincani inside the vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun conversation.Listen in as they talk about the preparation for the game. Listen in to hear which players are the ringers and which ones will be doing the most talking. Listen in to hear that the cause is very near and dear to the hearts of all involved.Today's podcast is brought to you by Leskovar Honda, home of the friendly non-commission sales staff that always has your back. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →No. 358: Remembering Mick Ringsak
3w ago01:17:50Tap to summarizeOn Tuesday, the Mining City lost a legend with the passing of Sir Elton “Mick” Ringsak. The self-described Eisenhower Republican was 83.Today, I’m bring back Mick’s April 2024 appearance on the ButteCast as we remember a Butte Legend and hero whose work went well beyond the boarder.Today's podcast is brought to you by Casagranda's Steakhouse. Eat where the locals eat. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: A case against Seth Bodnar
3w ago00:13:04Tap to summarizeWhen my daughter and other young women at the University of Montana needed help to protect them from a sexual predator and stalker, Seth Bodnar looked the other way.Even worse, he and his staff tried to intimidate the victims to keep them silent about the story. He did not know my daughter, and now Bodnar wants to be our senator.That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at ButteCast.com.Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com.
Transcribe →No. 357: Alani Bankhead
4w ago01:11:44Tap to summarizeEarlier this month, Alani Bankhead basically came out of nowhere to win the Democratic nomination in Montana’s U.S. Senate race.Bankhead is a self-described military brat who lived all over the country before settling down in Montana. She says Montana is the first place she chose to live.Now, she is in a four-way race to replace outgoing Sen. Steve Daines. She will run against Republican nominee Kurt Alme, Libertarian candidate Kyle Austin and independent Seth Bodnar in the November election.Bankhead got in the race because she feels like it is her duty to fight for the people of Montana. That comes after serving more than 21 years in the Air Force, where she wore many hats. That includes hunting terrorists with special operations, chasing spies internationally, and serving as a senior bodyguard for one of the top Pentagon leaders.Since Bankhead is such an unknown, rumors spread that she was running a campaign to help Bodner, who has support from former Democratic Montana senators. Some speculated openly that she was going to drop out of the race when her campaign announced a major event Monday at University of Montana Oval.Instead, Bankhead came out swinging at Bodnar, pointing out his many allegations of sexual discrimination as the president of the University of Montana.To paraphrase Dr. Evil, she had me at hello.That night, I sent her a Facebook message to share my story of Bodnar. I told her how he and his staff refused to protect my daughter, her roommates and other female students at the University of Montana from a female sexual predator and stalker. He could not be bothered to even answer a phone call or email. Jon Krakauer might have to write a sequel.That conversation led to Bankhead agreeing to be a guest on the ButteCast, and we met up for a great conversation over Zoom on Thursday morning.Listen in as Bankhead shares some of her experiences from the military and why she chose to live in Montana. Listen as she talks about the sense of duty that got her in this race.Listen in to hear that she has a history of standing up to bullies and defending people who cannot defend themselves.Listen in to hear a great American underdog story.Today's podcast is brought to you by Thriftway Super Stops. Join the Thriftway Loyalty Club today and save big. Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.This episode is also available on YouTube.
Transcribe →No. 356: Westside Shriners
4w ago01:55:26Tap to summarizeThe 79th Montana East-West Shrine Game will be played Saturday at Naranche Stadium in Butte.Captains for the Westside were voted on by the players and named Wednesday night. Those captains are Hagen Paddock of East Helena, Evan Pyron of Missoula Hellgate, Henry Griffin of Frenchtown and Asher Knopik of Kalispell Glacier.Knopik and Paddock are the offensive captains. Knopik will play running back for the Westside, but he will be a linebacker at Montana Tech. Paddock will play receiver for the West and Carroll College.Pyron and Griffin are the defensive captains. Both will play defensive line for the West. Pyron will play the same position at the University of Montana, while Griffin will compete in track & field at Montana State.I met with the four captains after their selection in the Team Room of the Metals Sports Bar & Grill. I talked with Knopik and Paddock before talking with Pyron and Griffin.Then, we caught up with all six coaches on the Westside staff. First up were head coach Tyler Murray and J.D. Ferris of East Helena. Then Dan Lacey of Anaconda and Connor Sullivan of Three Forks joined in before Jim Hogan of Helena Capital and Seth Mason of Frenchtown.We caught up with Shriners Wynn Randal and Joe Sidor before closing the show with West team coordinator Jeff Hartwick.Make sure to check out the parade, which starts Saturday at 10 a.m. in Uptown Butte. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. If you can’t make it to Naranche, you can watch on the local CBS stations.Make sure to call in the telethon for a donation, too.Today’s podcast is presented by the Kvichak Fish Co. Think of it as salmon and halibut gone Girl Scout cookie. Place your order today.Intro music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com. For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com.
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