Top Stories

Feb202025

NWE Plans New Transmission Line to Meet Growth Needs

Evelyn PyburnMontana-Statewide • Top Stories • Yellowstone County

NorthWestern Energy has announced plans to build an additional 230 kV transmission line that will serve customers in Yellowstone County and the region that will provide “critical” additional electric transmission capacity.

The 21-mile long line – expected to cost between $25 million and $30 million – will run from NorthWestern Energy’s existing Shorey Road substation and head northwest, ending at NorthWestern Energy’s existing Broadview substation. The project includes upgrades to the Broadview Substation and Shorey Road Substation, both north of the Billings Area with construction anticipated in read more

Six Candidates File for Heights Water District Board

Six candidates have filed to fill the three vacant seats on the Heights County Water District Board, which will be on the May 6 ballot. The candidates include Pam Ellis, Greg Erpenbach, Ming Cabrera, David Graves, Delbert “Butch” Baily and … read more

February 20, 2025 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Billings-HeightsDavid Graves • Delbert Baily • Doug Kary • Elections • Greg Erpenbach • Michael Macki • Ming Cabrera • Pam Ellis • Tom Zurbuchen

Shepherd School Set to Kickoff Girls Flag Football Next Fall

At their regular monthly school board meeting Shepherd School District approved the formation of a high school girls’ flag football team. Shepherd High School’s entrance into the sport marks a growing trend in Montana communities, with rivals Huntley Project High … read more

February 19, 2025 Andrew BolerjackTop Stories • Shepherd

Worden Fire Considers EMT Solutions

With less than five emergency medical technicians (EMT) to respond to medical calls, Worden Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) is considering proposals for third party EMT services for the Huntley Project area. On Thursday, February 6, WVFD held a special meeting … read more

February 14, 2025 Andrew BolerjackLocal • Huntley Project • Top Stories • Yellowstone County24/7 EMT Service • EMT • Lance Taylor • Leif Olsen • Lockwood • Shepherd • Worden Fire Department • Yellowstone County

Dennis Adams Resigns, HPID Announces New Interim Board Member

At their monthly regular board meeting on January 8, the Huntley Project Irrigation District announced the resignation of Commissioner Dennis Adams. Adams stated he decided to step down from the position due to personal reasons but plans to continue to … read more

January 17, 2025 Andrew BolerjackTop Stories • Huntley ProjectCody Kunz • Dennis Adams • Dennis Adams Resigns • Huntley Project Irrigation District • Huntley Project Museum • Marc Vogel • Montana Freedom of Information Hotline • Montana’s Open Meeting Act • Nemont • Sandra Rush • Travis Kamp • Yellowstone County News

Paige Lofing Places in MT Top 10 With 10 Games Left! Go, Paige, Go!

After scoring 15 points versus St. Labre at Huntley Project on January 11, Senior Paige Lofing has earned her place in the top ten all-time scorers for Montana High School Association’s Girls’ Basketball individual records. Lofing continues to earn her place … read more

January 15, 2025 Andrew BolerjackSports • Top Stories • Huntley Project2000 points • Huntley Project Basketball • Huntley Project Lady Red Devils • Monica Hollowell • Montana High School Association • Paige Lofing • Taylee Chirrick • Top 10 List • YCN Sports & Radio

Parents Address Shepherd School District About Girls Basketball Policies

The regular board meeting of Shepherd School District (SSD) started with a passionate hearing of the public as Sari Stahl and her husband brought forward their concerns about the high school girls’ basketball program. The Stahls were spurred to speak … read more

January 10, 2025 Andrew BolerjackTop Stories • ShepherdAutumn Arlian • Carl Openshaw • Drea O’Donnell • Rich Hash • Sari Stahl • Shepherd Girls Basketball • Shepherd School District

McNiven Meanderings: Lives of Yellowstone County

Did You Know Them? Well, Folks, last week’s paper was our Christmas Edition as this week is our “Lives of Yellowstone County” special edition. This is our 3rd time we’ve done this special publication and paper honoring, remembering and reflecting … read more

December 27, 2024 Jonathan McNivenFeatures • Meanderings • Local • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyLives of Yellowstone County • McNiven Meanderings

Alleged Scammers Posing as Fundraising Partner for Huntley Project Schools

Over the last week, multiple local companies have been approached by an individual claiming to be fundraising for the Huntley Project Football team according to Activities Director Tim Kaczmarek. Kaczmarek stated that the individual was offering promotional, marketing and sponsorship … read more

December 20, 2024 Andrew BolerjackTop Stories • Yellowstone County • Huntley ProjectBrian Cox • Columbia Public Schools • Elite Sports Promos • Huntley Project Football • Huntley Project School District • Joey Joseph • Joseph Elkhitab • Shantel Oblander • Tim Kaczmarek

Joy Named to Replace Kerr-Carpenter in House District 46

On Tuesday, Densie Joy, a member of the Billings City Council, was selected by Yellowstone County Commissioners to fill the House District 46 position left vacant when the County Commissioners selected Emma Kerr-Carpenter to fill the Montana Senate seat vacated … read more

December 20, 2024 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Yellowstone CountyAnne Ross • Denise Joy • Don Jones • Dr. Mark Nicholson • John Ostlund • Kathy Kelker • Mark Morse • Yellowstone County Commissioners

MetraPark Awards Contract, Purchases Tent

Yellowstone County has awarded the bid for the dirt work for the MetraPark Outdoor Events Arena to Knife River. The contract price is $374,944.25. The county is investing $2.5 million to build an outdoor arena and grandstands which will provide … read more

December 20, 2024 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Yellowstone CountyKnife River • MetraPark • Stoney Field

Court Strikes Down Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements

After months of being pelted with reminders that they must comply with reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act and provide beneficial ownership information, businesses received an early holiday gift, as a Texas court has acted to block the Congressional … read more

December 13, 2024 Evelyn PyburnMontana-Statewide • Top StoriesBusiness Beneficial ownership Reporting • Corporate Transparency Act • Department of Treasury • Erica Hanichak

MT Republicans Elect Next Leadership, Yellowstone County Dominates Senate Leadership

Montana House and Senate Republicans have elected their leadership for the 69th Legislative Session with Senator Matt Regier of Kalispell to serve as the next President of the Senate and Representative Brandon Ler of Savage to serve as the Speaker … read more

November 22, 2024 Andrew BolerjackMontana-Statewide • Politics • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyBarry Usher • Braxton Mitchell • Daniel Zolnikov • Montana State Senate • Rep. Jedediah Hinkle • Rep. Katie Zolnikov • Rep. Marta Bertoglio • Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick • Rep. Steve Gist • Senator Ken Bogner • Senator Matt Regier • Senator Tom McGillvray • Senators Dennis Lenz • Sue Vinton • Yellowstone County • Yellowstone County Republicans

Huntley Project Wins Historic 16th State Volleyball Championship

During their 25th straight season attending Montana’s State B Volleyball Tournament, Huntley Project managed to take home their 16th championship title in Head Coach Iona Stookey’s tenure. The team entered the tournament as something of an underdog according to Stookey, … read more

November 22, 2024 Andrew BolerjackSports • Top Stories • Huntley ProjectHuntley Project High School • Huntley Project Volleyball • Iona Stookey • Madison Akins • Montana High School Association

Woman Found Dead in Shepherd Residence, Likely Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

On November 11, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO), Shepherd Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD), and American Medical Response (AMR) responded to a sick or injured call at an address on Brookhaven Place in Shepherd where the person who had reported the … read more

November 16, 2024 Andrew BolerjackTop Stories • ShepherdShepherd Volunteer Fire Department • Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office

Man Found Dead at the Top of Pompey’s Pillar

Jennifer and Randel Bonifay came upon a gruesome sight Monday afternoon when they climbed the steps of Pompey’s Pillar National Monument. The couple, who had never before been to the top of the monument, spotted a man sitting in a … read more

November 16, 2024 Andrew BolerjackLocal • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyJenniger Bonifay • Mike Linder • Pompeys Pillar National Monument • Randel Bonifay

Sign Violated the Spirit of Election Day, if Not the Law

A huge electronic billboard, promoting the passage of CI-126, dominated the MetraPark parking lot on Election Day, in front of Election headquarters, for much of the day – just as flyers promoting the campaigns of Judge Katherine Bidegaray and Judge … read more

November 15, 2024 Evelyn PyburnPolitics • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyCI-126 • Yellowstone County Commissioners

City Hires Firm to Audit Utility Billings System

Having struggled for months to get its new automated billing system to work properly, the City of Billings has engaged SL-serco from Minneapolis to conduct an audit of the system. The process has already begun with consultants visiting Billings homes, … read more

November 15, 2024 Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Yellowstone County • BillingsCity of Billings • Debi Meling

Yellowstone County Majority Remains Red

A “red wave” could be considered something of an understatement regarding the Montana general election on Tuesday and the same held true for Yellowstone County where late registrations on Election Day pushed the total number of voters to record levels. … read more

November 8, 2024 Evelyn PyburnPolitics • Top Stories • Yellowstone County2024 • Montana Elections • Yellowstone County Election Results

Sheehy Dethrones Tester, Republicans Sweep Statewide

Among record Montana voter turnout, Montanans made themselves heard Tuesday night. Republican candidates swept the statewide races for Governor, U.S. Senate, and both U.S. House districts. The Gubernatorial race was the first to be called, with the Associated Press announcing … read more

November 8, 2024 Evan HoodMontana-Statewide • Politics • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyGreg Gianforte • Jon Tester • Montana Elections • Montana Republicans • Tim Sheehy • Troy Downing