Yellowstone County News was awarded Yellowstone County’s legal advertising contract by Yellowstone County Commissioners on Tuesday in a unanimous vote. read more
Oct182019
Jul172019
Crash claims another life on Hwy 312
Emergency Medical Services Personnel are reponding and attending to multiple injuries at a crash along hwy 312 and road 8 in Worden. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Two vehicles were involved in a T-bone collision just after 3pm on Wednesday, July 17thon Highway 312 and Road 8 in Worden with Montana Highway Patrol confirming at least one fatality and multiple serious injuries resulting from the accident. Help Flight was dispatched and MHP blocked off a large section of 312 in both directions while read more
May142019
OFFICIAL 2019 BEST OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY WINNERS
Well Folks, the ballots are in and we have some winners! Actually, we have 40 winners to be exact plus my Editor’s Choice Award winner that we will be announcing in next week’s edition of Yellowstone County News. Thank you for your patience and to all the readers and voters that participated in the process. We’ll be announcing even more things to come in the near future so keep your eyes glued to your paper as those announcements come to light.
Until then, Congrats to the winners of the Best of Yellowstone County Awards from our readers and subscribers.
JDM
Auto Repair/Auto Body – Blue Body and Paint
Bank or Credit Union – Stockman Bank
Car Dealership – Hertz Car Sales
Chiropractor – Heights Walk In Chiropractic
Dry Cleaner – Valet Today Cleaners
Farm & Ranch Supplier – Shipton’s Big R
Floral Shop – Evergreen IGA
Grocer/Grocery Store – Albertsons
Hair/ Beauty Salon – JJ’s Hair Fashion
Funeral Home – Smiths Funeral Chapels
Jeweler – Gold Smith Gallery
Child Care Center – Kountry Kare
Sporting Goods – Scheels
Home Furnishing – UFS Used Furniture Store
Tattoo & Body Piercing – Eagle Tattoo
Law Firm/Attorney – Crowley Fleck Law Firm
General Contractor – Langlas & Associates
Local Insurance Agent – Frontier Insurance, Ed Melcher
Landscaping – Good Earth Works
Sewer Services – Anderson Sewer
Electrician – Taylor Electric
Professional Photography – 406 Memories
House Keeping/Cleaning – Becky Carlson- Billings
Real Estate Agent – Chantale Hale EXP Realty
Steakhouse – Feedlot Steakhouse
American Restaurant – Bull Mountain Grill
Mexican Restaurant – Guadalajara
Asian Restaurant – Grand Garden
Health Care Provider – St. V’s Dr. Nichols
Alternative Health Care – Yellowstone Naturalpathic
Dentist – Prill Dentistry
Veterinarian – Lockwood Vet Dr. Jody Anderson
Massage Therapy – Chantel Hale
Gym – YMCA
Golf Course – Pryor Creek Golf Course
Museum – Yellowstone Art Museum
Educator – Cindy Sundheim, Shepherd Schools
Mar222019
Best of Yellowstone County ballots are in! Awards coming!
Well, Folks, it’s been a whirlwind of a week as there is so much going on that I don’t have enough time to get it all done.
However, here are a couple things to be aware of. The Best of Yellowstone County Awards has finished and we will hopefully announce those winners in the next week or two so stay tuned. read more
Mar222019
CodeRED is active
CodeRED is active
Yellowstone County’s emergency services are fully operational as participants of CodeRED. Now, to make the emergency alert system completely effective for the county requires the participation of citizens by downloading the CodeRed app.
The county’s Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator, KC Williams, explained that the focus of area emergency services leaders is to get the word out to get as many people as possible to register with CodeRED which will make notifications of emergency situations more effective than ever. In that effort they will be explaining the system to high school students, who will hopefully carry the information home to their parents and grandparents, he said.
There is no charge to get the app, and once registered on a land line or mobile telephone number it will notify the recipient of all alerts within a 25 mile radius – alerts regarding weather, missing persons and all kinds of other emergency situations.
The Yellowstone County CodeRed Emergency Notification System provides the public with the ability to receive voice, test and /or email notifications generated by government and public safety officials.
To register for the service (app) go to http:// www. co. yellowstone .mt.gov / des/
For assistance call the Yellowstone County Emergency Management Information Line at 406 256-2775.
Mar52025
Just saying ….
It must be said. People losing jobs — as many federal government employees are– is a difficult and very bad turn of events for the individuals involved — no matter who you are or for what entity you were working. It is not a new kind of malady. OK, maybe it is for government, but it isn’t for the private sector.
For all the wringing of hands, crying and lamenting on media about the layoffs of thousands of government workers – not to mention law suits being filed declaring that their employer has no right to fire them – one has to be amazed at the incredible angst that so many are exhibiting. Where was that concern — all those tears and media blitzes — during and after COVID when millions of people lost their jobs and even lost thriving businesses because of government coerced layoffs and the inhibition of people’s freedom to even leave their homes?
Government bureaucrats were actually the ones read more
Feb202025
HP Wrestles into Fourth Consecutive Championship
During the 2024-2025 Montana High School Association’s Class B/C State Wrestling Tournament the Huntley Project Wrestling Team made history by securing a fourth consecutive championship title with a record 277.5 points. Huntley managed to send 14 competitors to the podiums as well, securing the record for the most Class B state placings. When asked about the state tournament, Activities Director and Wrestling Head Coach Tim Kaczmarek stated, “It was a great state tournament. Our kids competed extremely hard.”
Huntley Project Wrestling Team Placings were: read more
Feb202025
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 means he will assume to role of President starting in 2026. The NCSL is a bipartisan organization of state legislators across the nation that aim to both increase the effectiveness of state governments, and to promote read more
Feb202025
February is “Black History Month.” Really?
Dear Editor,
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your loyal readers and subscribers, not the least to mention customers and advertisers. It takes all kinds and all of us to make it work, what ever “it” may be. Me, I like to mix a little play in along the way!
Anyway, February is “Black History Month.” Really? Which month is “Yellow History Month,” or “Red” or “White,” or whatever color? Perhaps the NAACP could clarify, please?
Back to case in point. Growing up watching the civil rights movement, I can read more
Feb202025
The Responsibilities of Board Members are …
Dear Editor,
The responsibility of board members in the County Water District of Billings Heights (CWDBH) is to work with the staff to provide clean, reliable water cost effectively.
CWDBH contracted with Interstate Engineering to write two Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER) totaling $830,000. By comparison, the City of Laurel spent $54,000 and Lockwood $100,000. The initial CWDBH report did not provide an read more
Feb202025
Shameful for Elected Officials to do their Job?
Dear Editor,
So, you and Miss Pyburn think it is shameful for elected officials to do their job? Each bill should have the several W questions asked. Who is this bill intended to help? Why is read more
Feb202025
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 $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
Feb202025
Meanderings: Basketball, MT Senate Chaos, Wasteful Cleanup are all Underway
Jonathan McNiven
Well, Folks, there’s a lot going on, so I’ll write the cliff notes version this week about the Montana Legislature, National DOGE savings and Democrats whining, and we’ll broadcast all the basketball games this week on YCN Sports and Radio. read more
Feb202025
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 Michael Macki.
The top three vote getters will read more
Feb192025
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 School partaking in their first girls’ flag football team this last year. Shepherd is set to begin their first season next fall with an interested student/parent informational meeting set for early spring to begin building a team.
SHS is set to receive free read more
Feb142025
Conservative Corner: Words Matter
When I was in grade school, we were taught how to think. When we said the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, we all said, “…one Nation under God,…” When I learned the Lord’s Prayer, we would say “…forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us…” We learned that the United States of America was a Judeo-Christian Republic. Carbon dioxide was just the result of photosynthesis. Climate simply meant we lived in a semiarid climate.
My first recollection of “other” climate was from read more
Feb142025
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 to discuss potential proposals where Intermountain Healthcare could provide a 24/7 EMT service for the Huntley Project area. The meeting represents one of the first talks held with interested parties according to WVFD Board President Leif Olsen. According to Fire Chief Lance Taylor, read more
Feb132025
WHAT A STORY
Dear Editor,
Last week, Q-2 “aired” a segment regarding a Miles City Basketball Player dealing with and overcoming a couple tragic events. The first being involved in an ATV accident that resulted in the amputation of part of one leg. Participating on the Miles City Cowboys (as a freshman) basketball team meant everything to him. So, when he came to the realization that he’d have to have a prosthetic leg, he was determined to again, not only participate in basketball, but to earn a place back on the Cowboy’s roster/team.
If that wasn’t enough, his mother died. His mother was a coach at read more
Jan252025
Obituary: Theodore “Ted” Wayne Jensen
Theodore “Ted” Wayne Jensen
Dr. Theodore “Ted” Wayne Jensen, 80, of Billings, Montana passed away on December 24, 2024. Born on August 31, 1944, in Sacramento, California, he grew up in Great Falls and is preceded in death by his beloved wives, Myrna Jensen, and Maria Beltran; his devoted grandchild, Stella Gordon; and his parents, Mary Irene James, and Joseph Blaine Jensen; and his infant brother James Jensen.
Ted is survived by his children, Blaine Jensen (Sarah Butts), Elizabeth Gordon, and Brenda (Jeremy) Huck, grandson, James Huck, and sister Zelna Anderson of Great Falls.
Early this year, Ted commented to his son that he hoped people would read more
Jan252025
Obituary: Patricia Yvonne Elliss
Patricia Elliss
Patricia Yvonne Elliss passed away on December 12, 2024, after a long illness. She is survived by her five children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was a kind and loving mother, and although she suffered with mental illness throughout her life she always tried to read more
Jan172025
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 help the district with a current audit as well as formalities with the ongoing USDA water savings project. The board also announced they had selected read more
Jan152025
McNiven Meanderings: MT Legislature & HS Basketball
Jonathan McNiven
Well, Folks, here’s my cliff notes for this week: MT legislature and high school basketball.
1. The Montana Legislature is underway, and I was able to get time to go up to Helena last week in between and get a Yellowstone County Delegation 2025 photo. Getting a picture with everyone is a big feat, but to get the majority of them minus a few is incredible, in my opinion. So, the front page of this week’s paper is this legislative session’s delegation from Yellowstone County. I hope you take the time to see if you recognize your state rep and state senator. In addition, how many of them from Yellowstone County do you recognize?
2. Go, Paige, Go! Huntley Project’s Senior Paige Lofing has now surpassed the highest school career points at now 2,034 and is on track to pass the 9th place Marti Kinzler at 2,053. At the rate Paige is going, she is well on track to read more
Jan152025
Paige Lofing Places in MT Top 10 With 10 Games Left! Go, Paige, Go!
Paige Lofing, (HP Shutterbug photo)
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 in Huntley Project history by scoring the most individual points for the school; the last record was held by Monica Hollowell with her 1,979 points in 2009.
With now 2,034 points, Lofing has surpassed read more
Jan142025
Obituary: Dorcas “Dori” Elise Kimball
Dorcas “Dori” Elise Kimball
Dorcas “Dori” Elise Kimball April 25, 1963 – January 8, 2025
Dorcas “Dori” Elise Kimball, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2025. Born on April 25, 1963, Dori dedicated her life to her family and the simple joys that brought her happiness.
She is survived by read more
Jan102025
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 because their daughter, a Shepherd High School student, had recently been cut from the team while eighth graders had been brought up to play on the high school team. The Stahls were quick to address their daughter’s absence at one of the tryout practices, stating that they understood the reasoning behind the cut but questioned the overall cultural implications of the decision.
The Stahls stated their daughter greatly benefited from the routine and discipline instilled by the basketball program and had hoped the school district might encourage the growth of those values rather than punish students for lapses. The Stahls stated that read more
