Gallatin County plungers raise money for Special Olympics

Mike Greener

Mike Greener/Chronicle
The annual Presidents Day Plunge brought out a variety of costumes and age groups like these two young "pop stars". The event raised more than $25,000 for Special Olympic athletes.

Mike Greener

 Mike Greener/Chronicle Bozeman residents Beka Frome, 16, Katie White, 18, Katie Monson, 17, and Laurel Sabol, 17, left to right, lock arms with a reluctant Luci Brunswick, center, as they make their way down to the large hole in the ice at the East Gallatin Recreation Area pond for the annual Presidents Day Plunge Monday afternoon. The event was held to raise money for the Special Olympics. 

As a deputy many years ago, retired Sheriff Jim Cashell came across an upset man who had developmental delays sitting outside the old county jail. He brought the man inside.
The man had had a fight with his roommate and, lacking the skills to negotiate the dispute, packed up his most precious belongings and just left, Cashell said recently. Cashell asked the man what was in his suitcase – a few pairs of underwear and his Special Olympics medals.
Cashell would later participate in the Presidents Day Plunge annually to raise money for Special Olympics, starting a tradition. And on Monday, Sheriff Brian Gootkin took up where his former boss left off, taking the plunge into icy waters for the first time during the 11th annual Presidents Day Plunge.
“It was the second jump that got me,” Gootkin said afterward. He plunged twice, “because I promised I would.”
Gootkin leaped into the winter-chilled waters of the East Gallatin Recreation Area, also known as Bozeman Beach, for the second time to accompany Special Olympics athlete Mitch Domier, 34, who was doing his best impression of Elvis, wearing a black cape and black wig.
“It’s because of the athletes,” Gootkin said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Dozens braved the water raising more than $25,000.
More than a third of that cash was raised by a team from Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply—$10,600 to be exact.
“We support Special Olympics every year and we are so proud that the Murdoch’s Maniacs raised over $10,000 this year,” said John Parkes, the company’s vice president, who wore a straw beach hat, with his nose coated in zinc-oxide despite the gray skies.
“It’s been a great effort on everybody’s part here,” he said, indicating his dozen or so teammates.
“Why do I think it’s important?” Parkes asked. “It’s the right thing to do. We have awesome people participating in these programs and in the community.”
Costumes and creative team names abounded, including “Angry Amy and the Sassafras Bash” and “There is no ‘I’ in team but there is one in Onesie,” a group of two detention officers and a 911 dispatcher wearing one-piece footie pajamas.
The event was moved to the rec area from Bozeman Ponds this year. The change had organizer and Bozeman police officer Peggy Ash a bit apprehensive, she said after the event.
She was relieved when volunteer divers told her the ice was safe for people to stand on.
The new venue has the benefit of indoor changing areas, more parking and better viewing.
But Ash was also concerned about the hot tub that swimmers had enjoyed in previous years.
Instead of transporting it from across the road, Montana Hot Tub employees had to haul the tub across town and fill it in place. They also had to bring a generator along to keep it warm.
But everything seemed to work out well, Ash said.
Montana Hot Tub has provided the warming tub for plungers every year of the event, but the company’s owner, Tom Walker, watched the zaniness for the first time this year.
“It’s a necessity, I think,” he said with irony as shivering, costume-clad bathers clambered into the tub’s warm water.
He offers the service because “it’s a great cause and a great community event.”
“What was so neat about it, was seeing everyone smiling and laughing and having fun,” Walker added.


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