Dreamers & Doers: The Stories Putting Northwest Montana on the Map

This week on News Now, host Taylor Inman dives into some of the best feature stories coming out of Northwest Montana - and this episode has everything from reality TV to community pride to a kid businessman who's already shipping products nationwide.

Kalispell pitmaster Stephen Kina of 406 BBQ is competing on the Food Network's brand-new series Chopped Castaways - an eight-episode island survival cooking competition with a $100,000 grand prize. Kina shares how his military background, Hawaiian roots, and love of fire cooking carried him into one of the most challenging experiences of his life, and why he's proud to represent both Montana and Hawaii on the national stage.

Then, we take a look inside Two Eagle River School's 24th Annual Art Slam, a vibrant celebration of Indigenous student creativity featuring original paintings, beadwork, poetry, song, and unforgettable performances from the heart of Lake County.

Meet retired Kalispell firefighter Alan "Gus" Gustafson - the self-appointed keeper of the Kalispell Fire Department's history. Now 80 years old and more than two decades into retirement, Gus is still on the hunt for lost artifacts, driving a 1925 American LaFrance fire engine, and training the next generation of historians to carry on the legacy.

And finally, Duke Rauscher, a Kalispell Middle School student, just won a statewide entrepreneurship award for Rapid Fire Montana - his eco-friendly fire starter business he launched at age 9 and is already shipping across the country.

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Transcript

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Hello and welcome to News Now. I'm your host, Taylor Enman. This week we're going over some of our recent feature stories, stories that cover people and community news around Northwest Montana. Callspell Stefan Kina was born and raised in Hawaii, so he's not unfamiliar with island terrain and weather, but he admits that when he originally applied to be on Chopped Castaways, he thought it was going to be more of a barbecue competition. Advertised as live fire cooking on an island, the owner of 406 Barbecue thought it was up his alley as someone who considers himself a pitmaster. When he got the final casting call and it was clear that it was part of the Chopped franchise, he had doubts he'd be able to stand against other chefs in the competition. But he decided to go through with it, adding that, quote, it doesn't matter if there's a challenge in front of you or if you're faced with obstacles out of your comfort zone. If you have a chance to do it, you should make the best out of it. Chopped Castaways combines reality TV style games with classic Food Network cooking competitions. Battling the elements across two grueling cooking rounds each week, competitors must build a working kitchen from basic supplies, earn their signature chopped ingredient baskets through intense physical challenges, and cook entirely over open fire, according to a release from the Food Network. The premiere aired on May 12th. The eight-episode series pits 12 chefs against each other on a remote island where they compete for the $100,000 grand prize. They will start out in teams before dissolving into an individual battle. There were a few things Kina felt confident in before heading to the island, like his skills cooking over fire. His dishes at 406 Barbecue use those same techniques, where guests are able to see his cooking process in real time, using no electricity over hot coals. Kina's talent has won him recognition at barbecue events and competitions across the U.S., but he still considers himself somewhat of a newcomer. He said he only started barbecuing four years ago and started to dabble in the culinary world about a year ago. There are also physical challenges to prepare for, as each episode opens with survival-driven physical challenges like archery, spear fishing, or diving. He said he was super comfortable in the gym, running and working out a lot. But there is no way to fully prepare for what the island had in store. Kina told the Inner Lake, quote, I know I can't go into too much detail, but everything that I did to prepare for the show went out the window as soon as the first challenge started. And I know all my other competitors are the same. Everything we expected was completely different, and I think that's what made this feel so fun. But it wasn't something he was totally unfamiliar with as someone who grew up on an island. His background in the military proved useful as he could mentally withstand being in an uncomfortable environment. Keena's love of barbecue was fostered during his time in the military and from living on the East Coast. When he moved to Montana in 2020, there weren't very many barbecue options, and he always wanted to open his own food truck. He went full-time with the venture in 2022 after being open for about five months. He said he faced challenges as an Asian American man cooking Southern style barbecue in Montana. Though many glossed over the operation at first, he eventually won people over with the food and became one of the top barbecue joints in the Flathead Valley. Though he's found success outside of the region, he's always giving credit to the place where his dream started. He feels honored to represent Montana at nationwide barbecuing events and even more proud to represent both the Treasure State and his home state of Hawaii in the Chopped Competition. Learn more about 406 Barbecue at 406-barbecue.com and catch episodes of Chopped Castaways on the Food Network. The Commons inside two Eagle River High School were filled with color, voices, and bold acts for the 24th annual Art Slam event. Displayed throughout the Commons were paintings, beadwork, quilts, and photographs created by students. Along with the exhibited artwork were student performances of poems, songs, and monologues showcasing their emotions, both joyful and sorrowful. The work and performances revealed aspects of their personality and life stories. Students kicked off the show with a reading of a personal poem by Sedica Long, titled Letter to an Elder about her father, who had cancer. Arlene Adams also read the 1970s Inn by XIT. Students also brought excitement to the stage with Bryce Roberts' performance of Ocean Man by Ween, where he demonstrated his solo kickline. Students sang along, cheered, and made a phone light wave in the audience. See a full list of winners at lakecountyleader.com. Retired firefighter Alan Gus Gustafson is preserving the Kalisbell Fire Department's history. On a damp April morning, Gustifson was on a mission. The energetic 80-year-old strode through the Kalisbell Public Safety Building looking for a 2,200-pound bell that once hung from the fire department's hose tower, ready to summon firefighters in an emergency. The retired firefighter's first stop was the first floor offices of the Kalisbell Police Department. When that proved fruitless, he headed across the lobby where he said the bell was once on display to question the staff at the Kalisbell Municipal Court. A few minutes and one flight of stairs later, Gustifson was in Fire Chief Jay Hagen's office, asking if he knew of the bell's whereabouts. Hagen didn't, but he was sure that if Gustafson had set his mind to it, he'd make it happen. Gustifson, who still serves as the department's historian more than 20 years into his retirement, had a personal connection to the bell, which he later located around the corner at the Northwest Montana History Museum. Firefighters were still ringing it when he joined the department in 1971. The bell isn't the only piece of the department's history that Gustafson enjoys a personal connection with. The Crown Jewel of its historical collection, a 1925 American LaFrance fire engine, was still in service when he first donned turnout gear. Other items in the collection include metal helmets, axes, lanterns, leather buckets, and one of the fire alarm boxes installed on telephone poles across the city in the first half of the 20th century. In case of a fire, a bystander could alert the department by pushing down a lever on the box. Back in the fire station, a ticker tape machine would be running, holes punched out and the material denoted a number that corresponded with the location in the city. The department had no history when Gustavson joined it, and there didn't seem to be much interest in hanging on to worn out or obsolete gear either. About five years into his career, Gustifson, who collects and builds vintage and custom motorcycles and cars in his spare time, started hanging on to pieces of the department's past. He said if he doesn't save it, no one else will. The city acquired the 1,000 gallon a minute pumper on April 1st, 1925, under the tenure of Mayor A. E. Bormann. It came equipped with two sources of ignition, magneto and electric, in case one failed, and was outfitted with a honeycomb radiator. Every inch of it was painted by a hand holding a brush, he said. Though he's in good shape, Gustafson has four members of the department in training to replace him as historian when he's ready to hang up the title. They've learned to drive the vessel under his watchful gaze, and he expects they will care for it in the future. He said all of them have an interest in the piece of history and more importantly, how it runs. He credits the American LaFrance with landing him the title of fire department historian. He said, quote, there is no such thing as a fire department historian. It didn't exist. It was just me collecting junk and my love for the fire engines. Calliswell Middle School student Duke Rouscher was named a state winner in the Montana Chamber Foundation's Prospects Competition for his small business, Rapid Fire Montana. He earned the top spot in the existing business idea category for grades K through 8 in the virtual statewide entrepreneurship competition. The prospects competition challenged K through 12 students to pitch their business ideas and growth plans. Rousher was recognized for the business model, financial success, and growth plans he presented to judges for Rapid Fire Montana. The business produces eco-friendly fire starters made from paraffin wax and recycled cardboard sourced from local businesses to reduce waste. Rousher said in a press release that he's already proven himself starting the business at age nine and now shipping fire starters all over the country. He said he is just getting started. Rousher founded the business three years ago while devising a solution for starting fires in his family's wood stove. His business has grown into an enterprise that includes partnerships with local stores such as Rocky Mountain Outfitters and Kalispell and a presence at regional craft shows. In addition to a written business plan, he made a video showing the production process and utility of his fire starters, which are designed to withstand rugged backcountry conditions. For more information about Rapid Fire Montana, visit rapidfiremontana.com. Thanks for joining us. News Now is a podcast from the Daily Interlake. We're proud to be the largest independent newsroom in Montana and the longest continuously published newspaper in the region. Today's story is written by Daily Interlake editor Derek Perkins, Lake County Leader Reporter Emily Messer, and yours truly. You can read the full versions of these stories at dailyinterlake.com, and if you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube channel to never miss an episode of The Pod. Everybody stay safe and have a great week.