The ButteCast with Bill Foley

Kevin Parvinen was one of the greatest wrestlers in Butte High history. In three years on the Bulldog varsity team, Parvinen posted a 77-2 record. He once held the school mark with 58 straight victories. After taking third place at 98 pounds as a sophomore, Parvinen won the weight class in 1985, posting a 26-0 record. The next year, Parvinen went 30-0 and won the state title at 105 pounds. Those f...

Don 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,...

When 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   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Long 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, th...

This 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...

Once 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...

Today 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 firefig...

On 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  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Casagra...

When 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...

Earlier 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...

The 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...

Noah Thatcher was named head coach of the Butte High boys’ basketball program last month, and he is already off and running. Butte High wrapped up its summer tournament schedule over the weekend. The new coach has a camp set up for late next month. Thatcher grew up in Butte before moving to Great Falls when he was about 8 years old. He moved back to the Mining City as a senior in high school, and...

When Tim Sheehy called my dad and his fellow protesters “un-American” and “communists,” he was being a coward. His words were also as ironic as they come. That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ButteCast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Today we get a behind-the-scenes look at the Mother Lode Theatre with Matt Boyle, Darrion McCracken and Layne McKay. Listen in as they talk about some of the big shows and events the Mother Lode has hosted and the work that goes into them. Listen as they talk about some of the fun events that are coming up this summer and fall. Go to  buttearts.org  to check out the lineup and to get your tickets....

Mike Heard is like family to so many in Southwestern Montana. That even goes for the people who never met him. For the better part of four decades, Mike has come into our living rooms to broadcast the weather on the KXLF and KBZK newscasts. He is good at what he does, and he is so very likable on camera. Last week, however, Mike made his last appearance on KXLF and KBZK. In a statewide downsizing,...

KBZK/KXLF made a huge mistake when it laid off beloved meteorologist Mike Heard. Someday soon, they will see how big. That is what today’s column is about. You can read it for yourself at   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ButteCast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Big 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...

Brittani 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 Camp...

When 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...

Their 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, m...

My 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   ⁠⁠⁠...

Eric 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 1...

Will 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...

Before 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   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ButteCa...

Bernie 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...