Aug72024

Tester Praised Image of Dead Trump and Destroyed Monuments

Politics

In the wake of a harrowing assassination attempt in which former President Donald Trump came within fractions of an inch of losing his life and retired fire chief and father Corey Comperatore was killed just three weeks ago, many Americans are wondering how our political environment came to be so toxic that violence seemed acceptable for certain individuals. Many on the right have pointed to violent rhetoric and messaging from prominent Democratic figures. A recent Washington Examiner piece explored Montanan Senator Jon Tester’s history of rhetoric, especially pertaining to a controversial poster from a fundraising event in 2018 that he later praised.

In 2018, the rock band Pearl Jam held a fundraising concert for Tester in Missoula, which featured the following artwork which could be seen here done by the band’s bassist Jeff Ament:

 

The image depicts a burning down White House and read more

Aug32024

Get the T-Shirt! Win Cash! #digitdays

Features • Yellowstone County

Over 1,500 Dig It Days 2024 T-shirt will be given away for free to kids, teenagers and adults until shirts are gone.

Getting a Dig It Days t-shirt has come to be a tradition at MontanaFair. This year’s t-shirt is a bright green, one that you won’t want to miss.

Among the many give-aways at Dig It Days are one thousand t-shirts each of the two days – Friday and Saturday, August 16 and 17. There was a shortage of larger sizes last year, so more of the larger sizes were ordered this year. They are given away on a first come, first serve basis so don’t miss getting your t-shirt.

All our major sponsors are recognized for their tremendous support of Dig It Days with logos placed on the back. Dig It Days would not be remotely possible if it weren’t for the contributions and hard work of our sponsors, so be sure and tell them thank you when you have an opportunity.

Everything at Dig It Days is free, and this year entry into MontanaFair can also be free by picking up a complimentary ticket at one of our sponsor locations.

Dig it Days is meant for kids, teenagers and adults to have fun and learn about the construction and energy industries. It’s an opportunity for read more

Aug32024

You Can Trust Your Vote Will Count. Just Don’t Listen to the Whiners.

Politics

by David Crisp:

Two things we can be sure of about the 2024 election: Millions of Americans will be disappointed, and Donald Trump will accept the results only if he wins.

Trump has never backed down from his claims that the 2020 election was stolen, even though no solid evidence of that has surfaced. Dozens of lawsuits failed. Recounts confirmed that Trump lost. “2,000 Mules,” a widely promoted documentary arguing election fraud, was withdrawn by its distributor this year after read more

Aug32024

“Can Do Diesel” Repair Shop to Open in Ballantine

Huntley Project

Jeff Anderson, owner of Can Do Diesel poses for a picture in preparation for the announcement of his diesel repair shop. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)

A new diesel repair shop has opened in Ballantine. The shop, Can Do Diesel, focuses on everything diesel including but not limited to diesel pickup trucks, semi-trucks, tractors, combines and much more.

The shop owner and operator, Jeff Anderson, has worked on diesel engines for twenty years and counting. Starting as a diesel mechanic in the United States’ Navy and attending diesel mechanics school, Anderson has seen many different diesel engines and has worked on almost anything. After leaving the Navy, Anderson also worked for other diesel repair shops to help gain more experience on different vehicles. Now, he has read more

Aug22024

President Donald Trump to Hold Rally in Bozeman, MT

Politics • Top Stories

President Trump waves to the crowd at a rally in Billings on September 6, 2018 (Photo by Jonathan McNiven)

Just three weeks after an assassination attempt in which he was shot in the ear, President Donald Trump is set to make a high-profile appearance in Bozeman, Montana, with a rally scheduled for August 9, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. Trump will be joined by Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy. The event will take place at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse at Montana State University. The event was confirmed by Sheehy in a video posted on his official campaign X account.

As the 2024 campaign season rages along, Trump’s visit to Montana is an interesting strategic decision. In 2020 President Trump beat President Biden by 16 points here, and in 2016 he beat Hillary Clinton by 20. Montana’s presidential electoral votes are likely secure for Trump. However, there is one specific election in Montana that has a chance to change the entire makeup of the federal government: the Senate race between Jon Tester and Tim Sheehy. read more

Aug22024

13 year old Taliyah Rodriguez, of Billings, Brings Home the Gold

Features • Sports

Taliyah Rodriguez

Taliyah Rodriguez, a 13-year-old high school student, and has brought home the Gold Medal from the Olympic trials which were held in Wichita, KS during June 22-29, 2024.  Taliyah is a boxer with the Billings Elite Amateur Boxing Team, managed by Steward Strever, and will be entering the 9thgrade at Billings Senior High School this year.  

Taliyah weighs in at 124 lbs. and actually fought in the 132 lb. class.  She won the Gold Medal in her second bout, going the distance, yet giving her opponent 2 standing eight counts with “body shots” to the mid-section. 

Taliyah has been developing her “body shots” for the last read more

Aug22024

“Art for our Park” Raising Funds for Park Improvements

Events & More! • Huntley Project

Live music, auctions, raffles, and a wine and whiskey pull, the community fundraiser “Art for our Park” aims to raise funds for improvements to the park. Festivities kick off at 5pm, September 6 at the Rhoadside Event Center and tickets for the event can be obtained at R&R Trading Post in Huntley. Entrance tickets cost $50, providing access to dinner, entertainment, and the auction.

All proceeds of the event will fund improvements to the park, with one planned project being a covered patio. According to Park Board member Becky Robison, the park board is read more

Aug22024

They Have Since Returned to Their Aggressive and Unfounded Rhetoric

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, 

Two weeks ago, a former president and leading political candidate was nearly assassinated. For a brief moment, political pundits, television hosts, and celebrities retracted their baseless claims that President Trump was a modern-day Hitler and wished him well, ultimately confessing their accusations were manufactured, designed only to instill fear to get votes. Unfortunately, they have since returned to their aggressive and unfounded rhetoric in their desire to win this historic race.

Montanans usually remain uninfluenced by their inflaming oratory due to our disdain of being told how to think. We prefer to see reality and act accordingly. This quality not only gives us our frontier ingenuity, but truly makes Montana the last best place because we’ll be the last state to be told what to do.

However, it is disconcerting, to say the least, hearing former Montana Supreme Court Justice James C. Nelson’s statement on the assassination attempt on President Trump. He expressed that the attempt was the result of Trump’s “bad karma” and that there would be no well wishes from him. Such partisan, hateful and read more

Aug22024

Laurel Generating Gas Station Now Serving NorthWestern Energy Customers

Montana-Statewide • Top Stories • Yellowstone County

This image of the new NorthWestern Energy Gas Plant in Laurel shows the amount of pipes and engines it takes to support the plant in Laurel. (Evelyn Pyburn Photo)

Although NorthWestern Energy’s Yellowstone County Generating Station is going through final performance testing, it is in full operation and serving customers. A group of media folks were given a tour last week, accompanied by several company representatives, including Josh Follman, the generating station’s project manager and Director of Project Development for NorthWestern Energy (NWE).

The new $310 million generating station is comprised of 18 reciprocating internal combustion engines that are capable of generating a total of 175 megawatts, which helps close the read more

Aug12024

McNiven Meanderings: Ready, Set, Go!!!!! 

Sports • Meanderings

Here, compact sports cars line up to race in the finals at Big Sky Speedway Saturday July 20 2024. , Chas Matye was the feature winner of the IMCA Sport Compact race. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)

Well, Folks, I’ve had a lot going on the last couple weeks, but I want to take this week to focus on the Big Sky Speedway. Last year, I got hooked on going to the car races as I was invited to go as a guest and now I go every weekend. It’s located 16 miles north of Billings on Highway 87 going to Roundup. I’ve taken my kids, friends and locals as many of them have never been to the races before. It’s been fun to enjoy a local event each weekend during the summer time.

I’m usually doing something all during the daytime, but then it read more

Aug12024

Team up Against Trump, Harris and Kinzinger can do it.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

In most election years the candidates for Vice President have little real effect on election outcomes. The most often cited exception to this is the presence on the long ago 1960 Democrat ticket of Senator Lyndon Johnson, who probably carried Johnson’s home state of Texas for the Kennedy – Johnson ticket. People now on Social Security were barely born in that year of JFK and LBJ.

The rollicking politics of this year, however, may set the stage for a real and meaningful selection for Vice President.

The emergence of dynamic and charismatic Kamala Harris now read more

Jul272024

Makes Private Education Look like a No-Brainer.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

In so far as Daylis Stadium goes, I don’t know what is more discouraging – its current condition or the fact that school district 2 was allowed to let this happen!

One needs to look no further than Lockwood or Laurel – two class “A” schools – for better facilities hosting track meets and football games. Billings Central plays at the Rocky Bowl (good call!). Meanwhile, the three home class “AA” schools, with the help of a donated scoreboard and playing field, get closed bleachers. Not to mention moldy dressing rooms. Makes me think someone read more

Jul252024

Obituary: Earl H. Stene

Obituaries

Earl H. Stene

Earl H. Stene passed away peacefully at his home on July 18, 2024.

Earl was born in Livingston, Montana, on May 29, 1936, to Nora and Arne Stene. The family moved to Huntley in 1939. He graduated from Huntley Project School in 1954. Earl joined the U.S Air Force in 1955. He was a Communication Center Specialist. He spent time in California, Wyoming, Greenland, Newfoundland, Turkey and Greece. He was very proud to serve his country. After the service he went to work at Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative as a power line worker advancing to lineman, foreman and retired as plant manager. His love for the outdoors had him planting trees and shrubs for the Yellowstone Conservation Service. He then started mowing the Billings City Parks for 12 years. September 26, 1959, Earl married the love of his life Karen Weidinger. Together they raised three daughters–Tana, Michelle and Renee. He was the BEST read more

Jul252024

There is a Place for Political Violence in America?

Letters to the Editor

I was amazed to learn from Mr. Crisp there is a place for political violence in America.  Who would have ever guessed that?  In his circular reasoning he somehow comes up with the illogical conclusion that since there is political violence in America, then there is a place for political violence.  I guess only a socialist/democrat could ever follow that logic!  It is unfortunately true that we have political violence in America, but that certainly doesn’t make a place for it in a civilized society.  It is just a fact of life that we need to counter at every opportunity!  His logic makes as much sense as “word salad Kamala” explaining to us that blue is blue because blue has always been blue and therefore blue is blue!

Crisp notes a few cases of political violence in our history.  What he glosses over is the read more

Jul252024

Jon Tester “Demands” Border Security, Since When?

Politics • Meanderings

Jonathan McNiven

Well, Folks, I’ve been trying to see both sides here, but I’ve got to comment and call out the BS when I see the hypocrisy (IMO). While watching some online videos, commercials and campaign propaganda from Jon Tester and his campaign the last couple weeks while I was watching the Republican National Convention online (which was the first time in my entire life), I’m dumbfounded that Jon Tester starts showing up this year as his campaign for re-election is underway and starts focusing on border security.  But wait, his campaign ads now talk about border security as well. Is this because the top three issues among voters in the country are inflation, immigration and the economy? I imagine these issues are even more on Montana voters minds now. 

This is typical and understandable at the same time as it’s re-election time for politicians but both sides do it. However, he touts the “Montana way of life” in his campaign commercials which is fair as he’s a “third generation Montana dirt farmer” and how he’s just like one of us and cares about the same big issues like securing the border, fiscal responsibility and illegal immigration, for example. But in his seventeen years in Congress, I find it interesting that he’s NOW focusing and voicing his support on the border issue, immigration and “demanding” it be a priority even January of this year as it feels like he’s transitioning into campaign mode and not the normal Jon Tester Democrat mode he’s been known for from his voting record. Yes, he might voice Montana values while verbally saying he’s pushing back on the Biden/Harris agenda now, but his voting record is different. He might be a good, nice guy but his voting record Is different.

Is it a coincidence that he’s “demanding” the southern border be secure this year? I’m read more

Jul252024

Dig It Days Presents Checks to Local Groups

Features • Local • Billings

Dig It Days presented checks to several local non-profits. Jonathan McNiven, Yellowstone County News, (left) presented a check for $7500 to Michelle Cohens of Sletten Construction, President of the Education Foundation for MCA and Hailee Olsen, Workforce Director for MCA. He also presented a $3500 check to Brian Dennis, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Yellowstone County, who stands on the far right next to Evelyn Pyburn, Yellowstone County News.

Each year proceeds from Dig It Days are disbursed to local worthwhile causes in the community – most of all for scholarships for young people planning to enter the building and construction trades. This week some of the proceeds from last year’s event were presented to a number of local organizations.

For Yellowstone Family and Yellowstone County News, who produces the event, Dig It Days is meant to be a time for family fun and education while connecting industry professionals with kids, adults and career seekers. Any revenues generated are donated to organizations which exist to support, in some manner, families in the community.

This year, Dig It Days will be held at MontanaFair on Friday and Saturday, August 16 and 17, 2024. Sponsored by dozens of local equipment dealers and contractors and others involved with the construction industry, the event, which is totally free, features all kinds of big equipment and machines for kids to explore – and to even operate a backhoe.

This past week, at a small gathering at RDO Equipment in Billings, a check for $7500 to fund scholarships, was presented to read more

Jul252024

45 Cows Illegally Seized from Holden Ranch

Local • Huntley Project • Top Stories • Yellowstone County

Six Yellowstone County Deputy cars, a brand inspector and a cattle pot sit in the driveway at Steve Sian’s feedlot after confronting Charlie Holden and Steve Sian. (courtesy photo)

Forty-five head of cattle were seized from Holden Ranch on June 10th. At around 8:45 a.m., six police officers, a state livestock agent, and a cattle pot (a trailer for transporting cattle) drove into the feedlot where cows of the Holden Ranch were being housed and backed the cattle pot into the cattle shute. As officers talked to Charlie Holden (the owner of the cows), Steve Sian (the owner of the land), and others with them, they made it clear that they were there to take the cattle. Holden asked them if they had a warrant of which they did not but claimed that a lien was filed which allowed them to come onto private property and take the cows. A lien is a legal right to possess another’s property until a debt is repaid or an obligation is met. “The lien,” Holden claimed, “was not legitimate.” The lien in question was an agister’s lien, which didn’t allow officers to take the cattle because the livestock had to be in control of the one filing the lien. Because the cattle weren’t in control of the person who filed the lien, it was unlawful to take the cattle off private property. Holden disputed this claim with officers and continued to ask for a warrant, which they didn’t have, but read more

Jul252024

County Invokes Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

Top Stories • Yellowstone County

Given the extreme heat of the past couple weeks, the country side is drying out, creating a tinder box of dry vegetation that can leap into flames at the slightest spark. The conditions are such that Yellowstone County Commissioners urge extreme caution and are implementing Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

The restrictions have been recommended by read more