Yellowstone County

Apr182025

Billings Bypass Bridge to Open July 3, 2025!

Evelyn PyburnTop Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings-Heights

The Montana Department of Transportation is planning to open, on July 3, the Bypass corridor across the Yellowstone River which will connect Johnson Lane in Lockwood to Five Mile Road in the Heights. “We aren’t opposed to opening it sooner,” said Mike Taylor, MDT’s District Administrator in Billings, but there are still aspects of construction of the overpass that must be completed and some are dependent on weather.

Opening of the segment has been a long time in coming, and “it’s a big deal for the read more

Fabricated Bore-Logs Cause HPID to Issue Spectrum Work Stoppage

The Huntley Project Irrigation District (HPID) has ordered Spectrum contractors to cease communication line installations on district easements. According to HPID, Spectrum contractors have bored roughly 85 communication lines under HPID managed lands, and a good amount of the logs … read more

April 18, 2025 Andrew BolerjackTop Stories • Yellowstone County • Huntley ProjectHPID • Huntley Project Irrigation District • Huntley Project Museum • Nemont • Scott Aspenlieder • Seth Katolas • Spectrum • Travis Kamp • USDA’s Water Commodity Savings Program • Vantage Point

Paramount Log Homes Wins Lawsuit on Construction Lien for Unpaid Invoices

On March 19, 2025, the Judge Donald L. Harris of Yellowstone County District Court issued the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order for RG Enterprises, LLC dba Paramount Log Homes (PLH) vs. Angel B. Viren, Matthew E. Viren, … read more

March 28, 2025 Andrew BolerjackTop Stories • Yellowstone County • ShepherdAngel Viren • First interstate Bank • Matthew Viren • Paramount Log Homes • RG Enterprises • Yellowstone County District Court

Yellowstone County State Senator Elected Future President of the National Conference of State Legislatures

Montana Senate Republicans announced in a post on X the morning of Wednesday, August 7th that State Senator Barry Usher of Yellowstone County has been elected to serve as Vice President of the National Conference of State Legislatures, which also … read more

February 20, 2025 Evan HoodPolitics • Yellowstone CountyBarry Usher • NCSL

NWE Plans New Transmission Line to Meet Growth Needs

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 … read more

February 20, 2025 Evelyn PyburnMontana-Statewide • Top Stories • Yellowstone CountyBroadview Substation • Jo Dee Black • Montana DEQ • Northwestern Energy • Yellowstone County

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

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

Potential Scam Alert: Scammers Posing as Fundraising Partner for Huntley Project Schools

Over the last week, two 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 sponsorship packages to the … read more

December 17, 2024 Andrew BolerjackLocal • Huntley Project • Yellowstone County#scam • Huntley Project High School • Mark Wandle • Shantel Oblander • Tim Kaczmarek

Huntley Water Hires Engineer to Map System, Secretary/Treasurer to Step Down

The Huntley-Yellowstone Water District has hired an engineer from the non-profit Midwest Assistance Program to map and enter Huntley’s water system into a geographical information system (GIS). The GIS data will allow operators to quickly and effectively locate valves and … read more

December 13, 2024 Andrew BolerjackYellowstone County • Huntley ProjectDave Hensel • Huntley-Yellowstone Water District • Julie Frieling • Lance Goodman • Sandra Kust

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

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

Multipurpose Building Moving Forward and Longtime Huntley Project District Clerk Retires After 45 Years

At Huntley Project School District’s monthly meeting board members discussed the next steps for the proposed multipurpose building to be built on campus. Beforehand, the board accepted District Clerk Rita Huck’s retirement letter. Huck has served the district for the … read more

November 15, 2024 Andrew BolerjackYellowstone County • Huntley ProjectHuntley Project AAU Wresting • Huntley Project School District • Rita Huck

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

Clerk Resigns at Lockwood to Accept SD2 Position

An award of appreciation was presented to Lockwood School Clerk and Business Manager Laurie Kvamme by board members at their meeting on Tuesday evening. Kvamme has resigned her position, after 17 years, to accept the position of Chief Financial Officer … read more

November 15, 2024 Evelyn PyburnYellowstone County • Billings • LockwoodBillings School District 2 • DeeAnn Nielsen • Don Christman • Emily Brandenburg • Laurie Kvamme • Lockwood School District

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