The ButteCast with Bill Foley

Fritz Daily has long been Butte's biggest supporter and Butte's biggest cheerleader. Simply put, he loves Butte as much or more than anyone who ever called the Mining City home. Fritz wants nothing more than for Butte to get the Superfund cleanup it deserves. He is not afraid to be outspoken about that fact, either. Listen in as Fritz talks about growing up in Butte, his work in the Montana Legisl...

Chris Tippett is known as the "Iceman." He is also known to give 100 percent on everything. That probably goes double when Butte's Forrest Gump is out running. Listen in as the "Iceman" talks about growing up in Butte and learning his work ethic from his father. Listen to him talk about the athletic achievements of his children. Listen to how he describes his wive. Today's podcast is brought to yo...

Butte Central senior Brooke Badovinac teaches us a valuable lesson. Never leave a game before it is over. Today's bonus podcast is brought to you by Park Street Liquors . Make your story legendary. Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com . For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com .

Rob O'Neill is the Butte native and former Navy SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden in the forehead. Thrice. I knew Rob long before he was a war hero who hangs out with Dave Growl, Jim Jefferies, Kid Rock and Tim Montana. I knew him when he was a dorky kid with a head way to big for his body. He was just like me, only he had a bit of that Opie Taylor look going for him. When he turned out to be an excep...

John "Harp" Cote will turn 100 years old in October. He is one of the greatest of the "Greatest Generation." Harp served in the Navy in World War II. He ran a supper club in Meaderville, and he worked for New York Life for a half century. He and his wife Esther, who passed last January, have been known for their kindness and generosity. They have given in the shadows, and Harp's fingerprints are a...

Riley (Kenney) Ungaretti was a three-sport star for the Polson Pirates before she went to the University of Montana in Missoula and eventually moved to Butte. She is now a St. James Sports Medicine athletic trainer at Butte High School. Ungaretti also has deep family roots in the Mining City. Both sides of her family are from Butte, including her father Tom, who was a star on Butte Central's 1984...

Bill Rundle started working with Evel Knievel when he was just 14 years old. He worked as the crew chief for Robbie Knievel for 35 years. When Robbie had a crazy idea for a jump, Bill had to figure out how to make it happen. Listen in as Rundle discusses his days working with Evel and Robbie. Listen as he talks about creating Evel Knievel Days in his hometown. Today's podcast is brought to. you by...

I saw Robbie Knievel jump Jack Ferriter's El Camino in Butte's 1979 Fourth of July parade. I was mesmerized by him ever since. "The Kaptain" passed away after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer last week. He was 60. That has to be at least 130 in Knievel years. Today's bonus podcast is brought to you by Park Street Liquors . Make your story legendary. Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from...

Rick Sparks is a Butte Central coaching legend. Before that, he was a Butte High Bulldog. "Sparky," as he is affectionately called, was an All-State center for Butte High's undefeated state championship football team in 1964. He is one of seven members of that team inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame. He then went on to play for the Montana Grizzlies before returning to Butte to coach the...

Blake Hempstead has been the voice of the Anaconda Copperheads for more than two decades. He has also been the Smelter City's biggest defender and supporter. Listen in as he discusses growing up in Anaconda and how much the town has changed over the years. Listen to him discuss the many great athletes Anaconda has produced. Listen to his man crush on Butte Central coach Brodie Kelly. Today's podca...

If there is a silver lining to the Damar Hamlin scare, it is that maybe some people will start to see the human being inside the uniform. Today's bonus podcast is brought to you by Park Street Liquors . Make your story legendary. Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com . For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com .

Bernie Boyle is the man behind the MAC and the Knights of Columbus. Listen in as Bernie discusses his love affair with the KC and all the great things the organization does for the community. Listen as he discusses his 30-years as a fireman and what stopped him from storming the court when Butte Central's boys' basketball team won the Class A State title last March in Missoula. Today's podcast is...

Shawn Wetzel is the unofficial mayor of Montana. That should probably become an official title. Listen in as the sixth generation Montanan talks about his legendary grandfather, Walter "Blackie" Wetzel. Listen as he talks about how he treats every person like he has known him for years. Listen as he discusses his long road to the Mining City. Today's podcast is brought to. you by Thriftway Super S...

Kevin Denny left us too soon on Christmas Day. That loss will be felt in the Mining City for decades to come. Listen in for a nod to the great James "Gus" Janhunen, too. Today's bonus podcast is brought to you by Park Street Liquors . Make your story legendary. Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com . For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com .

Father Patrick Beretta was born and raised in Paris. He was educated in France, Ireland and Italy. He also owned fine-dining restaurants in Southern California. Yes, Father Beretta just might be the most interesting man in town. He could star in his own Dos Equis commercial. Listen in as Father Beretta discusses his education to become a Roman Catholic priest. Listen as he talks about his brief 22...

You might know him as "Touchdown Tommy," but Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott is about so much more than scoring touchdowns. Listen in as one of the greatest Butte High Bulldogs of all time discusses his career with the Bulldogs, playing quarterback for the Bobcats, what it is like to be saddled with that nickname and his viral words following the Cat-Griz Game. Today's podcast is brought t...

Dougie Peoples' huge performances in the Class A State championship game is the story of the year. But it had some competition. Today's bonus podcast is brought to you by Park Street Liquors . Make your story legendary. Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com . For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com .

Whether you are talking about an athlete or a coach, nobody was better than Meg Murphy when it comes to girls' and women's sports in the Mining City. She was part of three team state titles (two in track and one in basketball) in her playing days at Butte Central. As a coach, she led the Maroons to five state titles in two sports (1997, 1999 and 2000 in softball and 2011 and 2016 in basketball).&n...

Thomas Dilworth, a boys' basketball coach in Big Sandy, Montana was apparently sidelined because he shared his story about battling mental illness and depression with his players. That really pisses me off. Today's bonus podcast is brought to you by Park Street Liquors . Make your story legendary. Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com . For more from...

A longtime radio man and musician in the Mining City, Tom O'Neill is also the older brother of world-famous former Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill.  Known affectionately as "Tommy O," the older O'Neill is the public-address announcer for the Butte Central Maroons, Butte High Bulldogs and Montana Tech Orediggers. He is a member of Butte's middle-aged sensation High Ore Road, which will be playing New Ye...

Sheriff Ed Lester has been working in law enforcement in Butte for 33 years, the last 10 of which he has served as sheriff. Listen in as the 1984 Butte Central graduate talks about his days in law enforcement, his days as an athlete and what it was like to watch his son be part of a state and regional American Legion baseball championship. Today's podcast is brought to you by Casagranda's Steakhou...

Luke Powers is entering his third year as the head coach of the Belgrade boys' basketball program. The 2002 Butte High graduate also coached four seasons at his alma mater. Listen in as Powers discusses his days as an athlete at Butte High, his coaching beginning in North Dakota and his new outlook on basketball — and life — after leaving the Bulldogs. Today's podcast is brought to. you by Thriftw...

As of about three weeks ago, I am a member of the Montana Officials Association to referee basketball. I have to say, so far I am having a blast. Today's bonus podcast is brought to you by Park Street Liquors . Make your story legendary. Opening music by Tim Montana. For more from the Elk Park native, go to timmontana.com . For more from Bill Foley, go to ButteCast.com .

Coach Jim Street is a true Butte legend. He led the Bulldogs to 15 Class AA State titles in wrestling. That includes 13 straight from 1980 through 1992. Coach Street was also a standout on Butte High's undefeated 1964 state championship football team.  Listen in as Coach Street discusses his great influences, his great teams and his so many great wrestlers. Today's episode is brought to you b...

Johnny Robbins is the new owner of Butte Sports . The Butte native is jumping into the new gig with some great enthusiasm. Listen in as Robbins talks about his plans for the website, which is in its 11th year covering sports in the Mining City.  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 nativ...