Mar232018

Tax abatements, an economic driver

Top Stories • Yellowstone County

Originally published in the 3/23/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News.

BILLINGS — Tax abatements awarded by the City of Billings and the County of Yellowstone over the past few years will generate an $8 billion direct and indirect economic impact on the community based upon the salaries of the jobs the new business growth created.

In an annual report to county officials regarding the status of the tax abatement program and the companies that have received tax relief through it, Patrick Klugman, senior project manager, Community Development for Big Sky Economic Development, highlighted the three companies that received abatements in the 2016-17 fiscal year. They were Home2Suites by Hilton, Billings Flying Service and Heights Eyecare. Two of the businesses expanded and one, Home 2Suites, was new.

In total, the businesses invested $17,098,795 in expanding and building their businesses.

Klugman explained that the tax breaks allow the companies to put more money into their facilities or to hire more employees at higher wages.

Besides the three tax abatements granted in 2016-17, there are about 30 others on the read more

Mar232018

Obituary: William Seymour “Bill” Green

Obituaries

William Seymour “Bill” Green

William Seymour “Bill” Green, wonderful dad to Diane, Mike, Scott and Brad, went to rest with the Lord on March 20, 2018.
He was born to Everett and Marion (Newport) Green in Glenrock, WY, on August 19, 1927. The family moved to a farm outside of Millville (formerly Bucksnort), MO. Dad attended school locally and graduated from Richmond High School. He then followed his brother Mel in joining the Navy in 1945 and was aboard the USS Bairoko as a Seaman Petty Officer 3rd Class Boatsman Mate during WWII. Upon completion of his service to his country he attended Westminster College in Fulton, MO, on his GI Bill because he could. He then went to work at Wilson Meat Packers in Kansas City, Kansas, for a month as a number cruncher. Not liking that, he went to work for GM on the assembly line for a couple months, also in Kansas City, Kansas. Bored with that, he then went to work in the oil fields in Glenrock and Casper (Poison Spider) areas. He moved to Billings and went to work with Uncle Fred Golay at Continental Oil (Conoco) refinery in 1949 until retirement in 1985.
He met Mom while living with Uncle Fred and Aunt Ruth in their four-plex, where Mom lived downstairs. They were married at the English Lutheran Church on October 8, 1950.
They moved to one of three farms on which we were raised in the Shepherd community in 1955. Dad served on many boards and other civic organizations. He was a lifetime read more

Mar222018

City of Billings extends legal ad contract with Yellowstone County News

Top Stories • Yellowstone County

BILLINGS — The City of Billings will continue to publish its official legal advertising in the Yellowstone County News for at least the next year.

City officials extended the one-year contract that began last year, with the new agreement extending until April 30, 2019.

The city’s legal ads are published read more

Mar222018

Obituary: Vera Arlone Sorlie

Obituaries

Vera Arlone Sorlie

Vera Arlone Sorlie, 91, of Pompeys Pillar, MT was called to heaven March 18, 2018. She was born March 9, 1927 in Gallatin Gateway, MT to Fred and Mattie Spike. She was raised and educated in Hettinger, ND from where Vera was the only one of her family to graduate.

On September 12, 1948 she was united in marriage to Darrold G. Sorlie in Hettinger. Vera met Darrold at a dance and he became the love of her life for 63 years. Throughout their marriage they were transferred by Darrold’s company to Minneapolis, MN and Rapid City, SD, retiring in Pompeys Pillar. Darrold passed away in April 2012.

When first married, Vera worked at Pepsi Cola Bottling in Hettinger, was a bookkeeper for the Martins in Nemo for a while and worked betting booths at horse races during Billings read more

Mar212018

National Ag day celebrated on 1st day of Spring?

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

It’s National Agriculture Day (March 20), a day designated each year by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA) to celebrate the accomplishments of agriculture. Montana Farm Service Agency (FSA) joins the council in recognizing farmers, ranchers and foresters for their contributions to the nation’s outstanding quality of life.

This year’s theme, “Agriculture: Food for Life,” spotlights the hard work of American producers who diligently work to provide food, fiber and more to the United States and countries around the world. To ensure a prosperous future for American agriculture, FSA provides continuous support to agriculturalists across the country.

FSA is rural America’s engine for economic growth, job creation and development, offering local service to millions of rural producers. In fiscal year 2017, USDA Farm Loan programs provided $6 billion in support to producers across America, the second highest total in FSA history. FSA also distributed $1.6 billion in read more

Mar202018

Obituary: Cornelius ‘Kearney’ Anton Kautzman

Obituaries

Cornelius “Kearney” Anton Kautzman

Cornelius “Kearney” Anton Kautzman, age 89, formerly of Ballantine, joined the love of his life, Barbara, Sunday, March 18, 2018, surrounded by his family at his residence, Canyon Creek Memory Care. He was born to John and Clementine Kautzman on Dec. 29, 1928, and raised in Mott, North Dakota, on the family farm. On June 19, 1950 he married Barbara Roll, and they were married for 65 years.
Kearney worked on the family farm, later joined the National Guard, where he was stationed in Fort Rucker, Alabama, and served as a cook. After the military, Dad worked for GTA feeds. After work, he came home and helped work on their farm out of Shepherd. In 1969, they moved to Ballantine, where Kearney proceeded to work for Pierce Packing and later started his own lawn business. Dad enjoyed going to auction sales, where he brought home read more

Mar162018

Obituary: George Albert Daylis

Obituaries

George Albert Daylis

George Albert Daylis, 90, passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home in Arizona on March 15, 2018 with his daughter and granddaughter at his side.   He was born July 12, 1927 in Billings, MT to George W and Minnie Daylis. He grew up in Worden, Montana where he later owned and operated The Daylis Dairy and was also a full-time farmer until his retirement.  In July 1956 he married Virginia Gillespie (Hirst) who passed away in 1993.  He re-married in 1995 to Beth Cox until 2018.

He spent most of his life on the Huntley Project and had a few
hobbies aside from farming such as wood working and gardening, but what he enjoyed the most was spending time with his friends and family. He attended Valley Baptist Church for many years before moving to Billings.

He is survived by his read more

Mar152018

Billings Bypass construction to begin as soon as 2019

Top Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings • Billings-Heights

This illustration provided by the Montana Department of Transportation shows the proposed alignement of the Billings Bypass, including a new bridge over the Yellowstone River. Construction on the first phase, Five Mile Road, projected to begin in the spring of 2019. For more information and interactive versions of this and other images, visit the Lockwood Community website, www.lockwoodmontana.com. (Courtesy image)

Originally published in the 3/16/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News.

LOCKWOOD — How truck traffic will be handled through the Johnson Lane Interchange in Lockwood has been resolved in the latest updates from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), regarding the construction of the Billings Bypass.

Engineers and MDT officials expressed confidence in an interview last week, that their proposal for a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) will be a huge improvement to the congestion the interchange now experiences, and that the design will serve growth well into the future.

Several months ago, Lockwood business people made clear at a special meeting with MDT officials their concerns about how the interchange would be designed. Amid a number of options being considered, there were those that the business people believed would be a detriment to the trucking industry upon which many Lockwood businesses depend. (See how a DDI functions at https://vimeo.com/143181922)

It remains a matter of probably five years before construction of the interchange begins – other phases of the project will come first.

The long-anticipated Billings Bypass will begin to take shape in spring 2019, with the commencement of read more

Mar132018

Brad Molnar’s articles are fact-based

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, 

I was impressed with Brad Molnar’s Feb. 23, 2018, “Political Potpourri” article(s). Both subjects, “All the World’s a Stage” and “Immigration Get it Right,” were fact-based and did not favor either major political party — and he pointed out that both sides seem to have a problem with consistency when faced with controversial issues. We could use more read more

Mar102018

State Senator Kary endorses Russ Fagg

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

I am proud to endorse Russ Fagg for the United States Senate. Russ announced that he had received endorsements from over 100 current and former Republican leaders from around the state. I am on that list because I believe that Russ is the only conservative that can beat Jon Tester.

Russ Fagg is a fourth-generation Montanan, a two-term Republican legislator and was a judge in billings for over 20 years. Russ will represent Montana in the U.S. Senate because he is one of us. He understands Montana values and his campaign is Montana-focused.

Unlike some in this race, he is not read more

Mar82018

Will Montana Raillink apologize?

Opinion

Dear Editor,

It’s Tuesday, March 6, and here we go again. Anyone who needs to get from one side of Huntley to the other will know what I’m about to say. A few weeks ago, MRL made an apology for tying up a crossing near Bozeman for 15 minutes. It even made the news.  For everyone who needs to cross the railroad in Huntley, 15 minutes would sometimes be like a Christmas present. Today we had not only one, but two trains block the tracks, one right after the other. It was at the time that people were trying to get to work and the school buses were running. And you know what, we haven’t received an apology.

We’ve had trains stopped on the one and only crossing within 10 miles for up to an hour at a time. We don’t know why the delay, but it may have something to do with the train crew having reached the hours that they are allowed and have to switch out crews. Sometimes it may be for them to switch out cars on a side track. Who knows? If you need to get from one side to the other, the only options are to drive 10 miles to Ballantine, then drive a couple more miles to Worden, then 10 miles to Huntley. If you want, you can drive 10 miles to Billings and go through the Heights and drive another 10 miles to Huntley. And you know what, we haven’t received an apology.

I got very sick last year and was extremely lucky that there were no trains on the track so the ambulance was able to get to me without having to go the detour route. The fire department is just on the north side of tracks and near the crossing. If there is a fire at my house and if the train is blocking the crossing, I would have to wait for a fire truck to come from Worden or Billings. When a train blocks the crossing, we’ve seen cars backed up to the read more

Mar82018

Open house celebrates new LDS building and growth in Billings

Top Stories • Billings

Stake presidents Brian Ludwig, left, Bryan Zaccardi, middle, and Dale Williams, right, stand outside the new meeting house for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a media tour on Friday, March 2. (Judy Killen photo)

Originally published in the 3/9/18 print edition of the Yellowstone County News.  

BILLINGS — Growing membership has led to the creation of a third Billings stake for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

With bigger congregations came the need for a new church building, which has been constructed on 54th Street West south of Rimrock Road in Billings.

Church leaders opened the doors to the new meeting house Friday evening.

Earlier Friday, the three local stake presidents offered a tour for city officials and media.

The building includes a chapel, or sanctuary, that seats about 290 people. Folding doors at the back allow overflow seating in a reception room/gymnasium behind the sanctuary.

“We meet in the chapel as families,” Williams said, then usually disperse for read more

Mar82018

Obituary: Robert L. Jackson

Obituaries

Robert L. Jackson

On February 20, 2018 we lost a very kind and loved soul.  Born August 7, 1947 in Montgomery, Alabama, Robert “Bob” Lee Jackson endured some of our countries most trying times. None the less Bob joined the Navy and served with pride from 1964 to 1967 where he found his passion for and in the culinary arts. After acquiring his culinary arts degree in 1977, Bob managed various restaurants in Indianapolis, Seattle and the Billings area. He really enjoyed cooking in Yellowstone Park where he could showcase his culinary talents.

Bob retired from Billings Parks Department after a change of pace in the 90’s. Bob loved his family, adored his cats and was constantly helping anyone in need. He wore his heart on his sleeve. Even in his later years Bob preferred to perform his own home and auto maintenance when possible.

Bob is survived by one read more

Mar82018

Civic leaders hustling money to fund One Big Sky master plan

Top Stories • Billings

Originally published in the 3/9/18 print edition of the Yellowstone County News. 

BILLINGS — The future for One Big Sky Center (OBSC), which has morphed from a proposed multi-faceted complex into broader development for all of the downtown Billings area, hinges right now on the ability of civic leaders to raise funding for a master plan.

Community partners are being asked by the developer, Hammes Group, to bring $675,000 to the table to help fund a $1.3 million master plan for their vision of a convention center downtown, as well as other development to serve the medical corridor along North 27th Street. The Hammes Group would fund the balance of the $1.3 million.

Big Sky Economic Development’s (EDA/EDC) joint executive boards on Wednesday gave a nod to their director, Steve Arveschoug, to collaborate with others in a downtown partnership to structure some kind of deal in which EDA could make a loan of $400,000 to the master plan development, to be repaid over time with revenues from the downtown tax increment finance (TIF) district.

They hope to have some kind of proposal ready to submit to the Billings City Council at its meeting on March 26, at which time the council is expected to decide on whether the city will contribute $100,000 to the cause.

The loan, along with the hoped-for $100,000 from the city, as well as other read more

Mar52018

Obituary: JOY “LAMAE” MITCHELL

Obituaries

JOY “LAMAE” MITCHELL    SEPT. 11, 1934 – MAR 2, 2018

Joy “LaMae” Mitchell passed away peacefully the morning of March 2nd and joined her husband Pete, family and special friends in a better place.

LaMae was born Sept 11, 1934 to Kermit and Clara Opperud in Wildrose, ND.  She was raised in Alamo ND where she graduated in 1952, excelling in basketball.   She then attended nursing school at Wahpeton, ND and Mercy School of Nursing in Valley City.  She worked in Minneapolis with friend Harriet during her break in nursing school and then began her nursing career that encompassed hospitals in Minneapolis, Williston and Williams Lake, B.C.   Her favorite was pediatrics.

In 1964 LaMae met and married Pete Mitchell.  They ranched south of Sidney.   With Pete, she inherited daughter Laurie.   In Sidney, both sons Pat and John were born.  In 1969 the family, along with Cindy Hasselstrom, a dear family friend, moved to Williams Lake where LaMae continued to nurse.  After 7 years, they returned to Shepherd, Montana in 1976.  They built their home on read more

Mar52018

Obituary: Eva Marie (Reichert) Eddy

Obituaries

Eva Marie (Reichert) Eddy

Eva Marie (Reichert) Eddy passed away at home on February 17, 2018 at the age of 73.

Eve was born into a large, loving family on the Huntley Project in Montana on May 4, 1944 to her parents Frank Sr. & Eva (Roll) Reichert. She married Ernest (Ernie) Eddy on August 29, 1970 in Dillon, MT. She attended Western Montana College in Dillon and earned a degree in business with a 4.0 GPA, all while raising a family with Ernie and working full-time. Eve went on to work at Barrett Memorial Hospital as a bookkeeper until her early retirement due to medical reasons. Following her retirement, Eve and Ernie enjoyed traveling, visiting family, and finding new adventures.

After more than 40 years in Dillon, Eve and Ernie moved to Worden, MT to live near her sister, Julie. It was there that Eve discovered her read more

Feb282018

Friday open house celebrates new LDS church on West End

Local • Billings

BILLINGS — Growing membership has led to the creation of a third Billings stake for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

With bigger congregations came the need for a new church building, which has been constructed on 54th Street West south of Rimrock Road on the west side of Billings.

The new church meeting house will be celebrated on Friday at an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Anyone is welcome, not just LDS members.

A new stake has not been created in Billings for some time, said Tamara Zacardi, a church spokeswoman.

“For us a new stake is kind of big news,” she said. “We’re so happy to see growth, more people to know and love.”

A stake is made up of several wards, or congregations, which meet in the same building, although at different times on a Sunday, she said.

When the church announced plans to build a new meeting house, the idea generated some controversy, Zacardi said. People asked why the group didn’t just use the temple, nearby on Rimrock Road, but she said a church meeting house and a temple have widely different uses. Meeting houses are used for Sunday services and during the week for meetings and other activities, she said. A temple is reserved for certain solemn church occasions.

When they heard that the current meeting houses held services for as many as 900 people on a Sunday, Zacardi said, they better read more

Feb282018

We are looking out for you!

Features

These images were captured near the Yellowstone County News office in Huntley, MT today February 28, 2018.  It’s taken Jonathan 3 1/2 years to get in a position to get some pictures like this since owning the newspaper.

As other opportunities had come and gone in the past, this opportunity just happened as the Yellowstone River was covered with ice due to the cold weather conditions and there were a very few areas that the eagles were watching the open water for breakfast.

Originally, the eagles were not together. In fact, they were in separate trees watching the same area of the river.  Once I got near the first eagle, it decided to fly off of which was hard to get a good picture BUT WAIT, it flew back near the other eagle in another tree of which both eagles decided to land on the same tree limb of which the picture of them together is when the photo op started.  Once the photographer got to close, the National birds decided to take flight and this is when one of the many pictures turned out with the eagle in flight looking down on us.

Rare snapshots to share with our viewers and readers.

So we are sharing the pictures.  Enjoy!