Nov202016

HP volleyball dynasty continues to bring home state hardware

Sports
The Huntley Project Lady Red Devils placed second at the state volleyball tournament at Montana State University-Bozeman. Pictured in the back row (l to r): Ashton Albrecht, coach Billie Schaff, coach Sarah Reynolds, Josie Peterson, Alana Graves, Mollee Krum, Kamille Reynolds, Heidi Cranford, coach Iona Stookey, coach Chris Geck. Front row (l to r): Loran Murphy, Hailey Poole, Kama Thom, Kenzie Seitz, Shae Swenson, Addy Hultgren and Maggie Taylor. (Jonathan McNiven photo)

The Huntley Project Lady Red Devils placed second at the state volleyball tournament at Montana State University-Bozeman. Pictured in the back row (l to r): Ashton Albrecht, coach Billie Schaff, coach Sarah Reynolds, Josie Peterson, Alana Graves, Mollee Krum, Kamille Reynolds, Heidi Cranford, coach Iona Stookey, coach Chris Geck. Front row (l to r): Loran Murphy, Hailey Poole, Kama Thom, Kenzie Seitz, Shae Swenson, Addy Hultgren and Maggie Taylor. (Jonathan McNiven photo)

by Jonathan McNiven-Originally published in the print edition 11/18/16 of the Yellowstone County News.

BOZEMAN — The Huntley Project Lady Devils continued the long-standing tradition to bring home another state trophy at the State Class B Volleyball Tournament in Bozeman last Saturday, Nov. 12, at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

Saturday’s second place finish marked a long day of playing volleyball for the Lady Devils as they played through the loser-out bracket after losing to the Red Lodge Lady Rams in Friday’s undefeated semi-final game.

Saturday’s third place game win against Thompson Falls allowed the Lady Devils to replay the Red Lodge Lady Rams. HP handed Thompson Falls their third place finish in four sets, 19-25, 7-25, 25-23 and 15-25. Setter Heidi Cranford completed 43 of 50 total team assists along with Kenzie Seitz digging up the ball 17 times against Thompson Falls in preparing HP for a rematch with Red Lodge in the championship game.

Saturday’s championship games were sure to require additional energy and endurance as the Lady Devils beat Red Lodge in the first championship game 25-21, 26-24, 16-25, and 25-12. Hailey Poole, Kenzie Seitz and Shae Swenson all contributed ace serves in the game, while Ashton Albrecht contributed 17 kills in the game. Alana Graves led the team in blocks with 26. Setter Heidi Cranford completed 46 of the team’s 53 assists, which led to the final championship game due to double elimination rules in the tournament.

Huntley Project fell short in read more

Nov192016

MT GOP Chairman update – Guest Column

Politics

Originally published in the print edition of Yellowstone County News on 11/18/16.  

The dust is now settling on one of the most successful elections for the Montana Republican Party in modern times. I want to report what we accomplished, who we all want to thank for their contributions of time and treasure, and what our plans are for the future.

Statewide — federal

Montana Republicans were successful in 6 of the 7 statewide races on the ballot. Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton by nearly 100,000 votes in Montana, and Congressman Zinke beat Denise Juneau by 16 percentage points. I am happy that Nancy Pelosi burned $500,000 in her wasted effort to help Juneau, revealing the lack of appeal of the Democrat message in Montana.  This was a huge strategic mistake for Montana Democrats and with Trump’s election Juneau now has no backup plan.

 

Statewide— state

Montana Republicans were successful in winning four of the five races for the Land Board. Corey Stapleton was elected Secretary of State, where he will lead an effort to restore integrity to our election process, including eliminating the improper practice of strangers collecting voted ballots and adopt measures to insure that people are not voting in multiple states.

Tim Fox was re-elected as Attorney General, where he can continue to fight government overreach by the EPA and other agencies.

Matt Rosendale was elected Auditor, where he will be busy implementing whatever comes out of the new Congress and President to Repeal and Replace Obamacare. And finally, Elsie Arntzen was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, where she will be returning control to our local school boards and parents. Our only loss was that of the governor’s race.

Greg Gianforte fought a hard and expensive race, but was unable to overcome millions of dollars in spending by the Democrats and their Dark Money allies. However, the fact that his race drew all the fire enabled us to elect all our other candidates by huge margins. We owe Greg and Susan a debt of gratitude. Thank them when you see them.

 

Public Service Commission

I want to first congratulate Tony O’Donnell for read more

Nov182016

Property tax notices arrive, due Dec. 15

Yellowstone County

Originally published in the weekly newspaper print edition of the Yellowstone County News.

BILLINGS — Property tax bills arrived in mailboxes across the county this week, with many taxpayers seeing adjustments to their tax bills after school districts recertified their mill levies.

County Treasurer Sherry Long said the first half of property tax payments are due Dec. 15. The second half is due May 31, 2017, she said.

She wanted to clarify that school district budgets did not read more

Nov112016

Meanderings 11-11-16

Meanderings

Jonathan McNiven

Well, Folks, what an election and upset that I did not even see coming until the evening before the election when I posted on my Facebook page. (See my Facebook posting on the eve of Election day to the right). And, in fact, I did not see really any HOPE until the evening before and I’ll explain why.

But first, I want to assure those who were supporting Clinton that I completely know what you are thinking and feeling as I went through the exact same feelings four years ago when I was on the Montana Mitt Romney campaign.  In fact, I was read more

Nov102016

Rural America awakens; Silent Majority speaks —Voters select President-elect Donald Trump

Politics • Top Stories • Yellowstone County

Originally published in the Yellowstone County News Print Edition.

Donald Trump speaks at a rally at MetraPark on May 25, 2016. The Republican nominee went on to win the general Presidential Election and the White House in Tuesday night’s historic and upset general election. (Jonathan McNiven photo) Click to enlarge image.

Donald Trump speaks at a rally at MetraPark on May 25, 2016. The Republican nominee went on to win the general Presidential Election and the White House in Tuesday night’s historic and upset general election. (Jonathan McNiven photo) Click to enlarge image.

HUNTLEY — Donald J. Trump easily won Montana’s three Electoral College votes on his way to the national presidential win.

National Republican Party officials said their candidate succeeded because he appealed to rural voters and the Silent Majority, who turned out in massive numbers to vote for the political outsider.
The Republican ticket of Trump and running mate Mike Pence won 260,460  votes in the Big Sky State, with Democrats Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine totaling 160,838 votes with about 80 percent of Montana votes counted by Wednesday morning.
In remarks on Wednesday, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus congratulated President-elect Trump.
Priebus said Americans wanted a “bold new direction” and that Trump’s victory showed Americans wanted to “take the country back into their own hands.”
Republicans also won control of both House and Senate seats. Democrats were in control of the U.S. Congress when Barack Obama was elected president in 2008.
“Donald Trump’s candidacy inspired millions of Americans to join his quest to give a voice to those who have long felt silenced,” Priebus said.
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines said, “Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on winning Montana and the presidency. Now the hard work really begins as we bring our nation together and move our country forward for hardworking families.”
Incumbent Gov. Steve Bullock fended off a challenge by Greg Gianforte, a Bozeman Republican, in a race that went into Wednesday as vote counting continued. On Wednesday morning, Gianforte conceded the race to Bullock.

GOP candidates and fans watched returns from Tuesday's general election at Lone Wolf Energy in Billings. Billings residents Dave Malek, left, and retired U.S. Army veteran Dave Scott, right, pose with their Trump sign.

GOP candidates and fans watched returns from Tuesday’s general election at Lone Wolf Energy in Billings. Billings residents Dave Malek, left, and retired U.S. Army veteran Dave Scott, right, pose with their Trump sign.

In unofficial results from Yellowstone County, Gianforte narrowly edged Bullock with 32,692 votes to Bullocks 32,194 votes.
“I’d like to congratulate Gov. Bullock,” Gianforte said Wednesday morning. “While this is an incredibly close race, the voters of Montana appear to have spoken.”
Gianforte thanked his campaign volunteers and supporters and congratulated Republican candidates Tim Fox, Corey Stapleton, Matt Rosendale, and Elsie Arntzen.
“I knew taking on an incumbent read more

Nov62016

NorthWestern tax settlement delays county tax bills

Top Stories • Yellowstone County

by Evelyn Pyburn-Originally published in the print edition of Yellowstone County News.

YELLOWSTONE COUNTY — Property tax bills will be a little late in November as several county school districts apply for recertification as a consequence of a tax dispute settlement between the Montana Department of Revenue and NorthWestern Energy.

The office of Yellowstone County Treasurer Sherry Long is in the process of adjusting tax bills, as some school districts readjust their mill levies to reflect the decline in the state’s assessment of the taxable value of NorthWestern Energy’s property in the county. Long said that the goal is to have the tax bills mailed no later than Nov. 15. Taxpayers are required to pay taxes within 30 days of that date.

Long said that the adjustment is making but a slight difference in the levies – varying from the addition of .30 mills to 1.83 mills. Not all school districts are recertifying.

Schools which recertified their elementary and high school levies include – Custer (0.92 mill increase), Broadview (1.83), Huntley Project (0.88), Lockwood (0.66), Pioneer (0.40), Shepherd (0.91), Independent (0.53), Molt (0.94), Morin (1.25), Laurel (0.45 mills) and Billings (1.32).

Elementary schools which send their high school students to SD2 will experience read more

Nov22016

YCN dispenser missing from Worden

Huntley Project

Newspaper Dispenser -2The Yellowstone County News is looking for a newspaper dispenser that was stolen from Valley Farmer’s Supply in Worden between the dates of 10/20/16-10/25/16. The Yellowstone County News and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office is currently looking into video from inside and outside of the store.

If anyone has any information about the missing newspaper dispenser, please contact the Yellowstone County News office at 406-348-2650 and/or the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s office at 406-657-8200.

One can reference the case # 16-727414.

Oct242016

Main Street: Boosting business on state’s busiest road

Top Stories • Yellowstone County

by Judy Killen-Originally published in the print edition of the Yellowstone County News Newspaper.

The former Reiters Marina site is being transformed into a Town Pump. (Jonathan McNiven photo)

The former Reiters Marina site is being transformed into a Town Pump. (Jonathan McNiven photo)

BILLINGS — A wave of construction is transforming Main Street in the Billings Heights.

New projects include an Altana Federal Credit Union near Wendy’s at 1280 Main Street and a new Hardee’s at 548 Main Street in the neighborhood of Albertsons and ProBuild.

Also coming on line is a new Town Pump in the 400 block of Main Street and Splish Splash, a large car wash near MetraPark.

Statistics generated by the Montana Department of Transportation show that Main Street through the Heights is Montana’s busiest road. Traffic is projected to increase over the next few years with construction of the Billings Bypass, a connector from Lockwood and Interstate 90 to the Heights.

Crews move dirt to prepare to install underground water tanks at the site of the new Splish Splash Car Wash. MetraPark is visible just to the south.

Crews move dirt to prepare to install underground water tanks at the site of the new Splish Splash Car Wash. MetraPark is visible just to the south.

The Hardee’s will be the third restaurant in Billings, with one downtown on North 27th Street and one at 24th and Central Avenue. The St. Louis-based franchise will open at the site of the former Acme Auto.

John Grevey of Radix Construction told the Yellowstone County News that the project broke ground with demolition of existing buildings on Sept. 12 and framing may begin in three weeks, weather permitting and the restaurant may be completed as early as January.

The Town Pump is going up at the site of the former Reiter’s Marina at 450 Main Street. Demolition continues at that site with the new gas station, convenience store and casino scheduled for completion in summer of 2017.

The new Hardee’s on Main Street will be the third in Billings. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)

The new Hardee’s on Main Street will be the third in Billings. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)

Tom Moritz, foreman at Hoffman’s R and M Services of Butte, said his crews are doing the demolition and dirt work at the site.

Approaching colder weather could impact all the construction projects, since it would hamper concrete and asphalt paving.

The Splish Splash Car Wash promises a quick, friendly car wash with a brushless, touchless system. The car wash is under construction on land just north of MetraPark.

Oct222016

Leiser fundraiser brings in $84,000

Events & More! • Shepherd

Originally published in the print edition of Yellowstone County News Newspaper-by Judy Killen

Kamrey Leiser, center, takes a turn on the dance floor with Macey McCann as Kirk Brumfield and Joe Link play with the Bucky Beaver Ground Grippers on Sunday. Also dancing are Hailey Mathews and Bailey Hofmann. (Judy Killen photo)

Kamrey Leiser, center, takes a turn on the dance floor with Macey McCann as Kirk Brumfield and Joe Link play with the Bucky Beaver Ground Grippers on Sunday. Also dancing are Hailey Mathews and Bailey Hofmann. (Judy Killen photo)

SHEPHERD — The “Lift up the Leisers” fundraiser at the Vermilion Ranch raised almost $84,000 to help the Leiser family with medical costs and help their 10-year-old daughter, Kamrey, recover from serious injuries she suffered in a June rockslide.

Organizer Becky Anderson said live and silent auctions at the event generated close to $60,000, as people bid on everything from Disneyland, Napa Valley and Mexico trips to paintings, a motorcycle and even a pan of enchiladas.

“It was awesome,” she said of Sunday’s event. “It was so much fun.”

Becky’s dad, Roger Jacobs, was the auctioneer. Becky said Roger has done other benefit auctions but this was the easiest one because people were so willing to give.

Jacobs even sold leftover pans of salads, which Babe Goggins purchased to donate to shelters in Billings.

She estimated that 500 people attended the event, buying $10 admission tickets, $5 raffle tickets, “Kam Tough” bracelets and stuffing cash in donation jars.

The Leiser family, who spoke to the audience before the live auction began, expressed gratitude and thanks.

“We just want to thank anybody that had anything to do with this,” said an emotional Brian Leiser, Kamrey’s father.

Kamrey enjoyed the evening, posing for photos with Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte and dancing with friends as Bucky Beaver Ground Grippers played “You Are My Sunshine.”

Gianforte said he attended the event with his wife, Susan, because he wanted to help the Leiser family and the community that is standing behind Kamrey.

He asked her how she feels now, and she replied, “95 percent.”

“It’s been overwhelming and awesome,” Anderson said of people

Kamrey Leiser enjoyed a chat with Greg Gianforte and his wife Susan, who bought a painting at the live auction. (Judy Killen photo)

Kamrey Leiser enjoyed a chat with Greg Gianforte and his wife Susan, who bought a painting at the live auction. (Judy Killen photo)

who donated items, helped clean the barns, the Shepherd High School students who helped deliver food, run games and help guests. “Far more than ever we could have dreamt.”

Kamrey Leiser enjoyed a chat with Greg Gianforte and his wife Susan, who bought a painting at the live auction. (Judy Killen photo)
Kamrey Leiser enjoyed a chat with Greg Gianforte and his wife Susan, who bought a painting at the live auction. (Judy Killen photo)
The $84,000 “far surpassed” their goal when they first started planning “Lift up the Leisers,” Anderson said.

Kamrey Leiser suffered severe injuries in a June 11 rockslide while hiking with her family south of Big Timber.

She was hospitalized in Billings and later transferred to Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Finally, in late August, after 42 days in pediatric ICU and 24 days on the pediatric unit, Kamrey was able to return home in time to start fifth grade at Shepherd Elementary with her friends. Kamrey has had to relearn how to eat, talk and walk. She continues with speech, occupational and physical therapies. Doctors expect Kamrey’s recovery to take approximately one year.

Oct162016

Lockwood, School District 2 wrangle over upcoming high school legislation

Features • Top Stories • Billings • Lockwood

Originally published in the print edition of Yellowstone County News on 10/14/16 – by Evelyn Pyburn

LOCKWOOD — The trustees from Lockwood School Billings School District 2 held a joint meeting Monday evening at Lockwood Middle School, to determine whether the two districts can iron out their differences in regard to passing legislation that will lift the moratorium on new high school districts in Montana.

During the last state legislative session, a bill (SB 107) that would have done that, went down to a narrow defeat. Lockwood and East Helena are collaborating on re-introducing the legislation. Hellgate in Missoula was part of the effort two years ago, but will not be this time.

Montana has had a law against the creation of new school districts for decades. In recent years, burgeoning communities like Lockwood have come to the point of believing their children would be better served in schools closer to their own communities. During the legislative debate on the issue, the larger school districts – such as School District 2 – who serve the students of the satellite communities, came out strongly in opposition to the legislation.

The point of the meeting on Monday was to determine what would need to change in the legislation to eliminate SD2’s opposition to the bill, explained Lockwood Board Chairman Tim Sather.

SD2 Superintendent said that even if the legislation were more acceptable to the Billings board, it would probably just not oppose it and take a neutral stance, rather than actually support it.

“We don’t necessarily need your support,” said Lockwood Superintendent Tobin Novasio; eliminating the opposition would be enough. A suggestion was made that SD2 representatives be invited to help write the legislation. Novasio explained that Lockwood currently is partnering with East Helena representatives in drafting a bill, but they would very much like input from SD2. read more

Oct162016

Former rivals, now teammates, prepare for LDS missions

Local • Huntley Project • Shepherd
Huntley Project High School graduate Emma Cranford and Shepherd High School graduate Hyrum Hanson meet in the middle on the Yellowstone River Bridge at Huntley. Both student athletes and 2016 graduates, they are preparing for LDS Church missions. (Jonathan McNiven photo)

Huntley Project High School graduate Emma Cranford and Shepherd High School graduate Hyrum Hanson meet in the middle on the Yellowstone River Bridge at Huntley. Both student athletes and 2016 graduates, they are preparing for LDS Church missions. (Jonathan McNiven photo)

Originally published in the print edition of the Yellowstone County News-by Judy Killen

HUNTLEY — A few months ago, they competed for rival high schools and cheered on the Mustangs and Red Devils.

Now, recent graduates Hyrum Hanson of Shepherd and Emma Cranford of Worden are preparing to represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on missions far from home.

Hyrum was called to his mission with only 44 days to prepare. After a church farewell on Oct.16, he departs for mission training on Oct. 18 before his eventual arrival in Bokolod, an urbanized area on an island in the Philippines.

Emma has longer to prepare; she leaves Dec. 27 for training for her mission to Ecuador.  Cranford will be gone for 18 months as Hanson will be gone for 2 years.  

Both had to receive a series of immunizations, but Emma said she’s already traveled internationally with Huntley Project School groups and so she needed only boosters.

Hyrum, a Shepherd graduate, spent his summer working construction but was wrapping up at his job last week.

Emma and Hyrum both think their missions will prepare them well for the rest of their life, while requiring them to tackle the unknown — both expect culture shock, but are excited to meet the people and learn the customs of their new countries. read more

Oct142016

First of Honors/Sports pages in published in YCN

Sports

hphonorpages12ycn10142016The first of many Honor/Sports pages have been published in the Yellowstone County News print edition in the 10/14/16 edition.  The first of the pages are published before the teams, entities or groups attend either tournaments, festivals or conventions through out the school year.  These special pages are published in the Yellowstone County News for the schools of Shepherd, Huntley Project and Custer.

The different groups that are featured through-out the year include Cross Country, Football, Volleyball, Cheerleaders, Speech & Debate, Wrestling, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Media, BPA, FCCLA, FFA, Band & Choir (Music), Track & Field, Golf and Softball.

The first group to go to tournaments this year are the read more

Oct142016

Worden firefighters burn down house

Features
Flames erupt from the second floor of an empty house near Pompeys Pillar Saturday. Worden firefighters burned the house as a training exercise. Click on image to enlarge. (Carrie Killen photo)

Flames erupt from the second floor of an empty house near Pompeys Pillar Saturday. Worden firefighters burned the house as a training exercise. Click on image to enlarge. (Carrie Killen photo)

POMPEYS PILLAR — An unoccupied house on Lower Canal Road became a training site for Worden firefighters, who burned it down Saturday morning.

The house off Fly Creek Road south of Interstate 94 was donated to the Worden Volunteer Fire Department for training. The family who owns the property plans to build a new home at the site.

In a meeting Saturday morning at the Worden fire hall, Chief Lance Taylor told firefighters he wanted them to concentrate on safe hose handling techniques and practice using air tanks.

“We’ll get her down to the ground fairly quickly,” Taylor said.

At the site, EMTs with the Worden ambulance checked each firefighter’s vital signs read more

Oct142016

Absentee ballots in the mail Friday

Politics • Top Stories • Yellowstone County
Click on to enlarge the sample ballot that went out in the mail Friday for Yellowstone County.

Click on to enlarge the sample ballot that went out in the mail Friday for Yellowstone County.

BILLINGS — Absentee ballots for the upcoming general election will arrive in Yellowstone County mailboxes over the next few days.

Bret Rutherford, the county’s elections administrator, is preparing to mail about 58,000 absentee ballots on Friday, Oct. 14. He said they are likely to be delivered within a few days and asked voters to wait until Wednesday before they call to report their ballot missing, since it could take the postal service time to process that much mail.

Rutherford said about 7,000 more people requested absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 general election than received them for the June primary.

“There’s been an uptick,” he said. “It’s a presidential election. That’s normal.”

Voters who applied to be on the list for absentee ballots before the primary will receive one for the general election, he said. Voters who applied for only a primary election ballot will not, unless they read more

Oct92016

Billings Bypass, becoming a reality soon

Local • Billings-Heights • Lockwood • Top Stories • Yellowstone County
The yellow line in the illustration shows the intended route of the Billings Bypass, which could begin construction in 2019. (Courtesy image)

The yellow line in the illustration shows the intended route of the Billings Bypass, which could begin construction in 2019. (Courtesy image)

BILLINGS — It is really going to happen.

Longtime residents of the Billings area have heard about the Billings Bypass for so many years that many no longer believe reports that it is finally going to be built — but they will soon be surprised. The first dirt moved for the project is most likely to happen in 2019.

The Billings Bypass is a proposed new route that will connect the north end of Main in the Heights and Johnson Lane Intersection in Lockwood, including a new bridge across the Yellowstone River.

Although it’s not very visible, a lot of work has been done on the Billings Bypass since the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) contracted with DOWL to develop the design, about a year ago. Designs for the first phase of the project are expected to be completed in time to have it to contract in 2018. A lot of data gathering has been going on, reports project leader for DOWL, Todd Cormier, P.E., PTOE. The data is essential in developing a design and planning construction.

Cormier, MDT District Administrator Stefan Streeter and Gary Neville, MDT engineer, met this past week for an update with Yellowstone County News. MDT Engineer Consultant and project manager for the Billings Bypass, Fred Bente, was on conference call for the meeting.

Teams have been gathering detailed information regarding soils, flood plain, traffic patterns and types, and surveying, since the Record of Decision (ROD) was issued in July 2014. Acceptance of the ROD gave the project a green light, following 10 years of research and public comment for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which identified a prospective corridor for the new route.

“We will design the bypass within read more

Oct62016

Proposed TEDD covers 570 acres in Lockwood area

Top Stories

Originally published in the Yellowstone County News print edition by Evelyn Pyburn.  

LOCKWOOD — Boundaries for the proposed Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) in Lockwood have been set and the process to create the special tax jurisdiction is nearing completion. The Comprehensive Development Plan for the TEDD will now go to the City/County Planning Board for review, which will forward it with their recommendation to the Yellowstone County Commissioners, for ultimate consideration in November.

About 30 people attended a public meeting last Monday evening in Lockwood to see the finished comprehensive plan that the engineering firm, Sanderson Stewart, was contracted to develop for Big Sky Economic Development Authority (EDA), the county agency that initiated the proposal.

Most of the questions posed to presenters by citizens at the meeting had to do with how the tax increment financing of the TEDD works. The financing is needed to help develop an industrial park near the Johnson Lane Interchange, which has been proposed by EDA to attract industry and manufacturing to the area.

Lauren Waterton of Sanderson Stewart explained that new tax revenues generated within the district because of new economic development are used to develop infrastructure in the district, which is necessary for businesses to locate there. With the creation of the TEDD, a base is set at the taxable value of property within it. That base generates tax revenues that flow to all regular taxing entities in the community, such as county government, schools, roads, EDA or MetraPark. Future tax revenue increases, which come from increased property values above that base, are retained by the district and applied to development within the district boundaries.

The theory is, explained Waterton, most businesses cannot afford to build the necessary infrastructure and will not locate in the area without water, sewer, and transportation systems in place. The TEDD helps to finance those systems to generate economic growth that might not occur if businesses had to pay for those improvements themselves.

The study area that was scrutinized during the process of developing the comprehensive plan involved 1,850 acres in the northwest quadrant of the intersection of Johnson Lane and Interstate 90. Of that area, 570 acres are included in the proposed TEDD. It is an area of primarily read more

Sep302016

Candidate responses printed incorrectly

Politics • Top Stories

The special edition of the Yellowstone County News Candidate Questionnaire has gone to press this week 9/30/16.  However, one candidate’s answers were printed in place of another candidates.

Yellowstone County News inadvertently printed Democrat Sue Olson’s responses in place of Republican Sue Vinton’s responses.

We are terribly sorry for the misprint of that magnitude in our paper.  We will be reprinting her responses in the paper next week with the correction.

In the meantime, we have printed the correct responses for the House District 56 race here as well as the online websites of www.lockwoodmontana.com, and www.huntleyproject.net as voters in that district live within Huntley, Lockwood, and Briarwood areas.

We apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. Below are the correct responses for the Candidates in House District 56.  Read all about the other candidate’s responses in this week’s print read more

Sep222016

In case you missed it

Montana-Statewide • Politics
gov-dept-2nd

Governor Steve Bullock and Republican Challenger Greg Gianforte wave to the packed crowd at the end of Monday night’s 2nd debate at Petro Hall on Montana State University-Billing’s Campus. (Photo Jonathan McNiven)

Guest Editorial by Evelyn Pyburn-Originally published in the Yellowstone County News print edition

If you have missed it, there’s more “to-do” about Gov. Steve Bullock’s misuse of the state plane than what hits the accounting books. His most regular travel companion is what is raising eyebrows, and who that is dovetails with rumors that have been flying around Helena since before Lt. Gov. Angela McLean resigned.

If travel with the governor to all corners of the country and beyond are any measure, then commerce in Montana should be in very fine shape, because Montana Department of Commerce Director Meg O’Leary has traveled more with the governor than any other member of his department.

O’Leary traveled with Bullock on the state plane 56 times – two and a half times more often than the next frequent flyer, Jason Smith, who flew 20 times with the governor. (All but a paltry $1,500 was at taxpayer expense, of course.)

The Paul McCartney concert in Missoula is one of those joint trips made by the governor and O’Leary, which must have raised as many eyebrows then as it has since. The blatancy of it singles it out as most interesting. While issues of prudent use of taxpayers’ dollars abound about flying to such a nearby destination, and about whether the trip was for business (which the governor says it was, even though the time frame would hardly have allowed for a business meeting), but the thing is, O’Leary was not invited. Montana’s first lady Lisa Bullock was, according to research conducted by Matthew Monforton, an attorney, former judge and legislator.

Since the governor was allowed a guest (with the expectation of it being Mrs. Bullock), O’Leary was welcomed, but she is the only member of the governor’s cabinet who attended. Others, like O’Leary, received no invitation to an event that had no business items on its agenda.

But, who knows, maybe Lisa Bullock is no fan of Paul McCartney.

This was not the only time that O’Leary was the governor’s travel read more

Sep212016

Lockwood sewer expansion drawing interest

Yellowstone County • Lockwood

by Evelyn Pyburn-Originally published for the print edition of Yellowstone County News.

LOCKWOOD — With 21 property owners having applied and paid fees to connect to the Phase Two of the Lockwood Sewer within a two-week span, Lockwood Water and Sewer (LWSD) Board members were quite pleased. During their monthly meeting last week, staff said that they are receiving at least one call a day wanting details about connecting to the system, which was completed last month.

Notices were sent out two weeks ago to property owners announcing that they can now connect to the new sewer line. Ten contractors have also submitted paper work to the district to be approved as qualified to install systems for homeowners.

Other discussion by the board centered on more business for the sewer system, the district’s prospective agreement wit h Exxon Mobile to also connect to the system to transport up to 2 million gallons of waste a day to the Billings treatment plant.

Exxon is approaching the deadline for greater restrictions on discharging into the river, which means they will have to read more

Sep182016

Final numbers show successful MontanaFair

Yellowstone County

by Evelyn Pyburn-oringally published in the Yellowstone County news print edition. 

BILLINGS — The numbers show MontanaFair had another very successful year.

MetraPark Manager Bill Dutcher reported the fair numbers to Yellowstone County Commissioners on Tuesday. MetraPark depends on fair revenues to fund about a fourth of its annual budget.

With 226,333 people attending the fair, Thomas Carnival had another stellar year, said Dutcher. Although the carnival did not set a new record, following five record- setting years, they did have total sales of $973,325, of which MetraPark gets $380,330.

Night shows did, however, have a record-setting year, with total ticket sales of $687,311.

Outside vendors generated $107,000 in sales.

Midway food sales also set a new record of $201,500 in sponsorships. They sold 4,166 value passes for $248,000.

Having had no major problems for the nine-day event must be considered as another measure of a successful fair, said Sue DeVries, assistant manager for MetraPark.

MetraPark staff also tore down the fair and prepared within a week to host 10,000 Gold Wing motorbikers – another measure of success for MetraPark.

The Gold Wing event generated MetraPark $13,329 in concession sales, $12,000 in outside vendor sales, $19,000 in camping space rentals, and $48,000 in the rental of MetraPark, which resulted in over $9,000 going into the capital improvement fund.