Top Stories

Apr262024

Andersson Named GM for Water District; Board Fires Benefits Vendor

Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings-Heights

The Heights County Water District Board (CWDB) has offered the position of General Manager to Allan “Bo” Andersson of Cambridge, New York. At their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, the board voted unanimously to offer Andersson a contract.

CWDB President Doug Kary said that Andersson received the highest score in the board’s interviews and evaluations of candidates. The board is offering him $100,000 a year in their proposed contract.

Andersson is a retired business owner, who retired in 2021 as the president and chief executive officer of Flomatic Corp., following a 52-year career.

As the board dealt with other issues read more

Shepherd AD Retracts her Resignation, Board supports AAU proposal for possible AAU Building Location.

After a more than a month of swirling questions over Athletic Director Tina Downing’s status of her resignation on March 12th (which was published in the March 15th edition of YCN), and Russ Hale pulling his application for High School … read more

April 26, 2024 Jonathan McNivenSports • Top Stories • ShepherdBryan Anderson • Carl Openshaw • Darcy Stracke • Drea O'Donnell • Josh Casares • Luke Knaff • Megan Logan • Rawley Butler • Scott Berens • Shepherd AAU • Shepherd School District • Tina Downing

County Responds to City’s Offer On Temporary Holding Facility

In advancing the agreement between the city and the county in the building of a short-term holding facility (STHF), the County Commissioners responded this week to the Billings City Council’s offer in February to contribute a total of $2 million … read more

April 25, 2024 Evelyn PyburnTop StoriesBillings City Council • Billings Police Department • Hulteng CCM • Shane Swandal • Shultz Foss • Yellowstone County • Yellowstone County Commissioners • Yellowstone County Detention Facility

Anderson Sewer Services Sells after 40 Years Under Original Owner

March 22 marked the first day that Matt and his wife Brittany Carter took over Anderson Sewer Services as the new owners. Matt and Brittany Carter purchased the well-known business based out of Shepherd from longtime read more

April 25, 2024 Jonathan McNivenTop Stories • ShepherdAnderson Sewer Services • Brittany Carter • Matt Carter • Stuart Anderson

Signal Peak Closure Would Mean Loss of 260 Jobs

Signal Peak Coal Mine near Roundup is “in jeopardy”, President and CEO of Signal Peak, Parker Phipps, told Yellowstone County Commissioners last week. And, if it is in jeopardy, so are the jobs of its 260 workers – two thirds … read more

April 19, 2024 Evelyn PyburnMontana-Statewide • Politics • Top StoriesBoich Cos • Bull Mountain Min • Earthjustice • FirstEnergy Corp • Gunvor Group • John Ostlund • Montana Environmental Information Cente • Musselshell County • Northern Plains Resource Council • Parker Phipps • Signal Peak Coal Mine • Singal Peak Energy • US District Judge Donald Malloy • Western Environmental Law Center • Yellowstone County

Ellis to Remain on County Water District Board Following Court Decision that Board Lacked Authority to Remove Her

Following a closed session of the County Water District board, last Wednesday, Board President Doug Kary announced that the board had unanimously agreed to accept a settlement offer from Pam Ellis and Yellowstone County. The County Water District accepted the … read more

April 19, 2024 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Billings-HeightsBrandon Hurst • David Graves • Doug Kary • Frank Ewalt • Heights Water District • Jeff Essmann • Judge Colette Davies • Laura Drager • Ming Cabrera • Pam Ellis • Yellowstone County

Despite Opposition, Commissioners Approve Laurel Growth Policy

On Tuesday, Yellowstone County Commissioners gave their stamp of approval to the Growth Policy developed by the City of Laurel. The public hearing drew comments from a number of citizens opposed to its adoption, believing that it advances the construction … read more

April 5, 2024 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Yellowstone CountyCHS Refinery • City of Laurel • Kurt Markegard • Laurel Public Works Director • Yellowstone County Commissioners

HP School to Move to 4-day School Week for 2024-2025 School Year

In a vote of four to one Tuesday morning in a special board meeting, the Huntley Project School Board voted to move towards a modified four-day school week starting in the 2024-2025 school year. With the recommendation from School Superintendent … read more

April 5, 2024 Jonathan McNivenTop Stories • Huntley ProjectBill Cook • Clint Johannes • Corrinne Hammond • Huntley Project School Board • Superintendent Mark Wandle • Tim Ley • Zeth Bann

UPDATE: Heights Water Board Rejects All Applications to Replace Drager on Board

A quorum of the Heights County Water District Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, March 26, with the intent of interviewing candidates who had applied to fill the position of Laura Drager, who resigned, on March 20, in order … read more

March 29, 2024 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings-HeightsDoug Kary • Frank Ewalt • Heights Water and Sewer District • Heights Water District • Laura Drager

State Proposes Adding 3 Judges to 13th District Court

The Montana Judicial System and Yellowstone County officials are organizing an effort to ask the next Montana State Legislature to fund three additional District Court Judges for Yellowstone County. Yellowstone County’s 13th Judicial District Court has the highest case load … read more

March 22, 2024 Evelyn PyburnMontana-Statewide • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyBeth McLaughlin • Don Jones • Judge Jessica Fehr • Kevan Bryan • Mark Morse • Yellowstone County Commissioners • Yellowstone County’s 13th Judicial District Court

Shepherd School Confirms Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Resignations

After posting a message on social media that read, “As of this morning, I have been let go as the football coach at Shepherd High school. I’ll post a video later today addressing what I know.” Assistant Coach Russ Hale’s … read more

March 15, 2024 Jonathan McNivenTop Stories • ShepherdAthletic Director • Drea O'Donnell • Russ Hale • Shepherd School District • Tina Downing

Engineers Discuss Issues with County Water District

Three representatives from Interstate Engineering were guests at the Heights County Water Board work session, last Wednesday morning. In an over view of what the engineering company does for the water district a wide range of subjects were discussed, including … read more

March 14, 2024 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Billings-HeightsBrad Boehm • Doug Kary • Heights County Water • Lowell Cutshaw

Frozen in Time: Subzero Cold Cancels School, Sports, and More

Last week was marked by closures and disruptions caused by dangerously cold temperatures and copious amounts of snowfall impacting people in the Billings area and across the state. Normal temperatures for this time of year in Billings are around 36 … read more

January 18, 2024 Michael MarinoLocal • Top StoriesMontana Weather

Huntley Bulk Water Closes Indefinitely

Huntley Water & Sewer District announced Saturday, January 6 that their Bulk Water Depot, also known as the Huntley Coin-Op Water Station, was closed due to a leak in the underground line. District Secretary, Julie Frieling, said the location and … read more

January 13, 2024 Jonathan McNivenTop Stories • Huntley ProjectHuntley Water Depot Closes Indefinitely • Julie Frieling

Water Advisory for Huntley Water Users Has Been Lifted,

The Boil Water Advisory issued for Huntley Water & Sewer District customers on Monday, Dec. 18, has been lifted as of Wednesday December 20, 2023. A fiber optic company accidentally hit one of the district’s main distribution lines Monday morning, … read more

December 20, 2023 StaffTop Stories • Huntley ProjectHuntley Water District • Water Advistory

Shepherd Residents Voice Concern Over Pacific Steel’s Proposed Repository/Landfill

A great deal of animosity was evident Thursday, November 21, from the Shepherd community at a public meeting regarding the idea of Pacific Steel & Recycling (PSR) building a repository to store scrap metal waste near the corner of U.S. … read more

December 4, 2023 Michael MarinoTop Stories • ShepherdKirby Farner • Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality • Pacific Steel & Recycling • Shepherd High School

DEQ Finds Signal Peak Complaint ‘Unsupported by Facts’

Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) responded November 17 to a citizen complaint filed against Signal Peak Energy’s (SPE) Bull Mountain Mine last month, calling it “unsupported by the facts,” and chastising the complainants for their “repeated misuse of the … read more

December 1, 2023 Michael MarinoTop StoriesAnne Hedges • Dan Walsh • Earthjustice • Montana Environmental Information Center • Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality • Northern Plains Resource Council • Signal Peak Energy • Steve Charter • Western Environmental Law Center

Judge Sets New Dates for Water District Case Against County, Ellis

Following something of an impasse at a court hearing on October 23, District Court Judge Colette B. Davies said she would allow the County’s appointee to the County Water District Board, Pam Ellis, to file a counter suit against the … read more

November 10, 2023 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Billings-HeightsHeights Water District • Jeanna Lervick • Ming Cabrera • Pam Ellis • Yellowstone County

Water District Plans to Delay Manager Search; Debate Bylaws and Recall Issue

Step by step the Heights County Water District Board went through the bylaws of the organization at a special work session last Wednesday. They also discussed finding a replacement for general manager, given the resignation of Peyton Brookshire, as well … read more

November 7, 2023 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Billings-HeightsFrank Ewalt • Heights Water District • Jeff Essmann • Ming Cabrera • Pam Ellis • Peyton Brookshire • Susan Swimley • Tom Zurbuchen

Signal Peak CEO Responds to Environmental Groups’ Latest Complaint

Conservation groups sent a citizen complaint last week to state and federal agencies alleging that Signal Peak Energy (SPE), which runs the Bull Mountain Coal Mine near Roundup, is not complying with parts of its mining permit. The complaint alleges … read more

October 20, 2023 Michael MarinoTop Stories • Yellowstone County