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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Episode No. 352: Joe Gibson
Jun 901:07:44Tap to summarizeBig Joe Gibson is a fixture at Special Olympics events in Butte and around the state. Name the sport, and Joe competes in it. He swims, snowboards and plays basketball. He also competes in track & field.That is where Joe will be on display with some of the finest Special Olympians the United States has to offer next week. Joe will compete in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games June 20-26 in Minneapolis.Joe will compete in three events — the 50-meter dash, 100-meter dash and the turbo javelin — at the state-of-the-art Track and Field Stadium on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus.Joe, a 2006 Butte High graduate, is eyeing a meet record in the turbo javelin since he knows has already thrown better than what is on the book for the USA Games.Earlier today, I met with Joe at the Knights of Columbus Hall for a fun conversation. Listen in as he talks about his 20-plus years competing in the Special Olympics. Listen to why he says the Special Olympics and those Olympians are so special.Listen in as he talks about the trip and how he is going to catch a Twins-Dodgers game after he competes.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.
Transcribe →No. 351: Brittani Ferris
Jun 301:23:22Tap to summarizeBrittani Ferris is a Butte girl who wears many hats.One of those hats is that of a clown, as she calls herself. Britt is a standup comedian who has been picking up steam with her hilarious act. She has been invited to perform at a show in New York City in the fall.Britt is also a promoter who brings comedy acts to Butte and around the state. She recently brought highly-renowned comic Jamie Campbell to the Mining City for a fun show.Next Friday, June 12, Britt will be part of an all-ladies show at the Covellite Theatre. She will perform along with Aubrey Juden, Amanda Taylor, Abi Gontarek and Rylie Gonzalez. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8. Tickets are just $20 in advance. Click here to get yours.Last year’s show was incredible, and Britt promises that this year will be even better.Earlier today, I met with Britt inside the vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun conversation.Listen in as she talks about telling jokes on stage and all the work she does to promote shows. Listen in as she talks about why you do not want to miss the “Girls will be Girls” show next Friday at the Covellite.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: Perspective is easy now that it is over
Jun 200:12:30Tap to summarizeWhen it comes to high school sports, camaraderie outweighs wins, losses and playing time. 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. 350: Hellacious Kate and Dino Mac
May 2701:20:02Tap to summarizeTheir stage names are Hellacious Kate and Dino Mac, but you might know them as Katie Lockmer and MacKenzie Christinsen.They are members of the Copper City Queens roller derby team in Butte, and you can catch them in action Saturday at the Butte Civic Center. The Queens will take on the Big Hole Brawlers from Idaho at 6 p.m. That will be the team’s last home bout until October.Kate is a jammer, meaning she is one of the team members who scores the points. Mac is a blocker. Both are tough as nails, as are all the Copper City players.Both are also relatively new to the team that began in Butte in 2014, and they both look to be competing in roller derby for years to come.Tonight I met with Kate and Mac at the Knights of Columbus to talk about roller derby. It was a bit of an educational experience for me. It was also a lot of fun.Listen in to hear how they got their roller derby names. Listen in to hear that Kate actually has two names. She sometimes skates under the moniker “80’s Katie,” and that name makes her take on a much different persona.Listen in to hear how they got started in roller derby and why they have no plans to stop. Listen in to hear why you should be heading to the Civic Center on Saturday night.You can buy tickets on line or from any of the Copper City Queens player in advance of the bout.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 →Tap 'er Light: She told me she was the lucky one
May 2600:11:22Tap to summarizeMy cousin Jody’s daughter Pana Jo passed away on April 21.She was only 35 years old.Pana Jo was as smart and funny as she was adorable. We will all miss her for the rest of our lives.When she was 5 years old, Pana Jo told me how lucky she was. As it turns out, though, we were the lucky ones because she was in our lives.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. 349: Eric Dunmire
May 2101:30:15Tap to summarizeEric Dunmire is a Butte wrestling legend.The 1998 Butte High graduate became the first Bulldog — and just the 10th wrestler in Montana history — to win four individual state titles. He compiled a high school record of 152-2, and he never lost to a Montana wrestler in his prep career.Eric won his first title at 105 pounds in 1995, helping the Bulldogs win the team title for the first time since 1992. He won again at 112 pounds as a sophomore, 119 pounds as a junior and 125 pounds as a senior. The Bulldogs won the team title again in 1997.After beginning his college career at Northern Iowa, Eric transferred to MSU-Northern. He placed third at 141 pounds at the 2002 NAIA National Championships, earning All-American honors while competing for the Lights.Eric was inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.While Eric has not wrestled competitively in more than 20 years, wrestling never left him. He put in countless hours coaching with the Butte Wrestling Club. He also served as an assistant coach at Butte High under multiple head coaches.Earlier this month, Eric was named head coach of Butte Central’s wrestling team, and he is eager to get going even though the season is more than 6 months away.Yesterday, I met with Eric at the Knights of Columbus for a fun conversation. Listen in as Eric talks about his wrestling career that began when he was 5 years old. Listen as he describes the impact his parents, Pearl and Terry, had on his career.Listen as he talks about the coaches who helped him along the way. Listen as he describes why Jim Street was such an incredible coach.Listen in to hear how Eric is ready to take his love of the sport to Butte Central.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.This episode is also available on YouTube.
Transcribe →No. 348: Will McGree
May 2001:09:58Tap to summarizeWill McGree is just finishing up his education at Butte Central.The future Montana Tech golfer is graduating near the top of his class — but not high enough that they will make him give a speech. That is just how he likes it.Will was a three-sport athlete for the Maroons. In addition to playing four years of golf, he competed in basketball for three seasons and track for four seasons. He will be competing in the Western A Divisional track meet this Friday and Saturday in Frenchtown. Since he is a McGree, Will competes in the long jump and triple jump. He also throws the javelin and has run the 100- and 400-meter races as well as the 1,600-meter relay this season.In early October, Will tied with his younger brother Beau for 13th place at the Class A State golf tournament in Sidney. That was good for All-State honors for the McGree boys. A week earlier, the two tied for seventh place at the Western A Divisional tournament in Hamilton.The boys’ sister Mya also qualified for State as an eighth grader last fall.On Thursday night, Will is set to be honored as one of the 18 recipients of the 2026 Mariah Daye McCarthy Scholarship. That award goes to graduating seniors who have lived by the ideals of Mariah’s Challenge. That means they got through high school without drinking alcohol or getting into a car with a driver who has been drinking.I have known Will since he was very young, and I always really enjoyed talking to him. Even as a young boy, talking to Will was like talking to an adult. So, I was extremely proud to see him among the names of the newest Mariah’s Messengers.The 18th Annual Mariah Daye McCarthy Scholarship Ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at Montana Tech’s library auditorium. If you have never been to one of those ceremonies, I highly recommend that you do. You will get a first-hand look at how remarkable these 18 scholarship winners are.Earlier today, I met with Will inside the vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill to talk about the Mariah’s Challenge scholarship and much more.Listen as he talks about growing up a McGree and his years playing sports for the Maroons. Listen as he talks about his plans at Montana Tech, where he will at least start in civil engineering.Listen as he talks about how living up to the ideals of Mariah’s Challenge is just something that came naturally to him.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: Think about the ‘Tony C’
May 1900:11:46Tap to summarizeBefore you teach your baseball players to “wear” a pitch or “take one for the team,” read a little bit about the great Tony Conigliaro and how one pitch ruined a would-be Hall of Fame career.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. 347: Bernie Brophy
May 1501:22:13Tap to summarizeBernie Brophy is heading into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. Again.He was already inducted four times with championship teams — once as a player and three times as a coach.This July, Bernie will finally go in as an individual, and it is a long-overdue honor.Bernie was a three-sport standout for Butte Central in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He started at tight end for the 1969 state champion Maroons football team. A year later, he was a captain who started at tight end and safety. He earned first-team offensive and defensive All-Conference honors that season. For some strange reason, however, an All-State team was not selected that year.He was selected to play in the 25th annual Montana East-West Shrine Game in 1971.During his senior season, Bernie started all 18 games for the Butte Central basketball team. He excelled in track, winning the city championship in the 100-yard dash. He also ran the anchor leg on BC’s third-place team in the 800-yard relay at the Class A state track meet.Bernie concluded his athletic career playing safety on the Montana State University football team under the legendary Sonny Holland.Bernie was an assistant coach for the 1981 and 1982 Butte Central girls’ and boys track teams. The girls’ team won the state championship in 1981 and 1982. The boys won the state title in 1982. Bernie was also an assistant coach on the 1981 BC football team that advanced to the state championship game. After a brief career as a teacher, Bernie went into the granite business. He owned and operated Butte Granite Works for three decades, and his incredible work helped honor the lives of so many.He has also long been known for being one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.Yesterday, I met with Bernie at the Knights of Columbus for a fun conversation. Listen in as he talks about some of the incredible athletes that he competed with and some of the legendary coaches he played for.Listen as he talks about growing up in Butte and how the Mining City was just full of incredible athletes. Listen as he talks about coaching great players like Brian Morris.Listen in to hear as he talks about the honor of being called to the Butte Sports Hall of Fame.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.
Transcribe →Tap 'er Light: A piggyback ride down the ‘family run’
May 1200:11:27Tap to summarizeFriday will mark 38 years since my cousin Jerry D’Arcy was killed in a crash in the highlands. He was only 20.So, today I am bring back a column that I first published on May 14, 2013.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 →