Yellowstone County News June-12-2015 complete issue download
Jul122015
Jul92015
County officials continue compensation board work
by Evelyn Pyburn-originally posted in the Yellowstone County News Newspaper
BILLINGS — Two more hearings have been set for the Yellowstone County Elected Official Compensation Board. Following their rejection of the Board’s earlier recommendation Yellowstone County Commissioners are asking the board to reconvene to make another recommendation.
The board met Monday and will meet again at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at the Yellowstone County Courthouse in the Commissioners Conference Room on fourth floor.
The commissioners also re-appointed the read more
Jul52015
June 5th, 2015 complete issue (.pdf)
Jun302015
Accounting error in State Audit ???
“In my fourteen years on Audit this is the first time the financials for Montana shouts of incompetency within the department.”
Guest Article – by Senator Dee Brown, Legislative Audit Committee
The financial audit for the State of Montana revealed some disturbing problems today in front of the Legislative Audit Committee in Helena. The audit detailed that the Department of Administration does not have adequate internal controls to ensure accuracy of our finances, nor are they properly reviewed or issued in a timely fashion.
Some of the examples include: transportation expenses overstated by about $220 million, capital grants and contributions for Natural Resources understated by $445 million and transfers of about $47.8 million which were omitted entirely.
The hundreds of millions of dollars not accounted for properly are huge red flags for anyone reading the audit, but the one that made my eyes bulge was the overstatement of approximately $1 billion of accumulated depreciation related to infrastructure. Yes, that’s with a ‘b’ as in billion.
The errors have been read more
Jun292015
County labor negotiations nearing conclusion
BILLINGS — Yellowstone County is negotiating with two unions to renew labor contracts. The negotiations have been going on since March and have gone smoothly, according to Dwight Vigness, the county’s human resource officer. He told county commissioners in a discussion on Monday that they are coming closer together and he expects a conclusion relatively soon with the MPEA (Montana Public Employees Association) and the county attorneys.
Vigness explained that he hopes to get four-year contracts with both read more
Jun242015
Rep. Tom Richmond assailed by critics at Pachyderm lunch
Tom Richmond
Also calling Richmond to task for some of his positions was Barry Usher, who was a contender to fill the House seat to which Richmond was appointed following the resignation of Jonathan McNiven. Usher said that Richmond was appointed based upon his answers regarding his positions on several issues. Usher claimed that Richmond’s voting record was not in keeping with those answers.
About expanding the state’s Medicaid program to reach an additional 70,000 recipients, Richmond said, “I was in a box on this. I pledged not to advance Obamacare,” but this bill helped people who could not afford insurance, and it still required that they pay a premium. The legislation created the HELP program, which, he said, “isn’t read more
Mar202015
Honcoop nominated for Goldwater Scholarship
Aubree Hancoop works with MSU-B associate professor Tom Lewis on biochemical research. (courtesy photo)
MSU BILLINGS — Aubree Honcoop has accomplished more than most people her age.
She has graduated from high school, has three years of college under her belt and, most recently, was nominated by Montana State University Billings for the nationally competitive Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.
Honcoop, who is from Huntley, is 17.
The Goldwater Foundation seeks scholars committed to careers in science, math or engineering who are planning careers in read more
Mar172015
Former Yellowstone County Museum director admits to stealing at least $30,000 from museum
Billings – The former director of the Yellowstone County Museum has pleaded guilty to felony theft in Yellowstone County District Court.
Charles “Chas” Weldon was the museum’s director from 2008 to 2013.
In a plea agreement negotiated between prosecutors and defense attorneys and approved by District Judge Ingrid Gustafson, Weldon admitted to stealing more than $30,000 beginning in read more
Mar152015
Cell phone dispute lands student in court
Billings – A Shepherd High School student has been charged with assault after a scuffle over a cell phone at the high school.
James Herring, 19, will appear in Yellowstone County District Court at 9 a.m. March 20.
According to a Yellowstone County sheriff’s report, Herring attacked a teacher who tried to take his cell phone from him at school on March 5.
Shepherd schools superintendent Dan Jamieson said Herring allegedly violated a school regulation forbidding cell phone use in classrooms or during instructional time. The school handbook states that read more
Feb212015
Grant to Shepherd music
Shepherd Elementary School music teacher Dawn Sherseth accepts a grant from the Montana Masonic Foundation delivered by Lewie Fletcher, a member of Huntley Project Masonic Lodge 144. (Jonathan McNiven photo)
Shepherd Elementary School music teacher Dawn Sherseth accepts a grant from the Montana Masonic Foundation delivered by Lewie Fletcher, a member of Huntley Project Masonic Lodge 144. (Jonathan McNiven photo)
Feb192015
MetraPark events benefits go beyond facility improvements
Billings – The significance of MetraPark co-promoting events was clarified by Sue DeVries, MetraPark’s assistant manager, during the meeting of the MetraPark Advisory Board.
Following kudos for “hitting a real home run” with the landing of Motley Crue, (appearing July 26) a concert that sold out before the end of January, Devries answered a question about how much money MetraPark is making as a co-promoter of the event.
Co-promotion for MetraPark is not so much about making money, said DeVries.
“We aren’t going to lose money and we will make some money, but the coup is getting the event and improving our relationship with the promoter, who is responsible for a huge number of events,” explained DeVries.
The area in which MetraPark does well with any sold-out event is in the sale of read more
Feb162015
Lockwood PTA receives playground grant
LOCKWOOD – The Lockwood PTA announced the receipt of a $20,000 donation for the building of a new Lion’s Lair from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation. Also, with the grant was the notice that the Foundation will match up to an additional $10,000, donated from other sources during the ensuing year.
The PTA had already raised $56,000 toward a goal of $230,000 to read more
Feb142015
The Outdoors Column
by Carl Wolf- Outdoors Correspondent
Courtesy photo
Looking for a housekeeper? Look no further than your local forest. There you will find Tamias which is the Greek name for housekeeper or treasurer. Yep, chipmunks are found in the taxonomic group called Tamias because they are little collectors and storers of food for winter use just like grandma used to do. The common name originally may have been spelled “chitmunk,” referring to the sounds they make. They are also referred to as read more
Feb132015
Jim Reno announces re-election bid
BILLINGS – Yellowstone County Commissioner Jim Reno has announced that he will run for re-election in 2016. A Republican primary contender, Denis Pitman, a Billings City Councilman, has already announced his intention of challenging the three-term incumbent.
Reno said that he wants to “finish the job you hired me to do. . . There is a lot of work yet to do.”
But Reno’s main reason for running for re-election is that he read more
Jan272015
Official: Montana economic boom slowing
Montana’s overall economy is going to be “hard pressed” to hit the 3-percent growth mark forecasted by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, reported Patrick M. Barkey, head of that agency at the University of Montana.
The boom that Montana has been experiencing is showing signs of slowing, said Barkey in a report in the Montana Business Quarterly. The new trends will be important factors for state decision makers as they head for the Montana State Legislature, he said.
Barkey will explore what’s in store for the state in depth during the 2015 Economic Outlook Seminar, which the bureau will hold in Billings on Feb. 3. The seminar will focus on the impacts of the energy boom on Yellowstone County and the state.
“It’s an energy read more
Jan132015
Commissioners seek comments on Musselshell Trail Road
BILLINGS — A public hearing will be held regarding a plan to realign a portion of Musselshell Trail Road.
Yellowstone County Commissioners set a hearing date for Jan. 6 at 9:30 a.m. at the courthouse to accept public comment about realigning a portion of Musselshell Trail Road as it passes through Junction City Ranch.
The realignment will improve the safety and drivability of the road, by eliminating some sharp curves of the road.
The owner of the Junction City Ranch, Richard Brown, has agreed to extend easements to the public for the new alignment. Once the road has been constructed, the commissioners will act to abandon the old alignment of the road
Jan92015
Yellowstone County Deputy Involved Shooting
From: Sheriff Mike Linder – Yellowstone County Sherriff
On January 8, 2015, at approximately 4:35 PM, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Deputies were responding to a reported burglary at a residence on Justice Trail, south of Huntley Mt. At the time of the report, the homeowner did not know if the suspect(s) were still in the residence.
While en-route to investigate the burglary, the responding Deputies observed an older model SUV leaving the area that matched the description of a vehicle which was reported stolen out of Billings earlier that day. The Deputies attempted to follow the vehicle on White Buffalo Road but got stuck in the snow. The stolen SUV drove out of sight.
With the help of local citizens, The Deputies were able to free read more
Jan62015
Worden Fire Department awarded LifePak from AHA
WORDEN — The Worden Volunteer Fire Department was recently awarded funding for a LifePak 15 defibrillator from “Mission: Lifeline,” an American Heart Association initiative aimed at improving the system of care for heart attack patients throughout rural Montana.
Joy Eshleman said the department put in for the grant for the LifePak 15, which costs about $25,000, to replace an older LifePak version it now uses.
The LifePak 15, which is now considered the new standard in emergency care, helps Worden Fire Department members monitor a patient’s condition in real time (heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure and oxygen saturation in the blood) in order to identify whether or not that person is having a heart attack.
Eshleman said the LifePak 15 also has EKG, blood pressure and carbon monoxide monitors, and the battery system is much more dependable than the former model.
“Ours doesn’t have all the bells and whistles like some,” she said. “But these can be used to run all kinds of equipment, even in hospitals.”
The training for the new machine is basically the same as for the older version, but the printout will be different and may take some time to get used to. Eshleman said the LifePak 15 also has a modem the transmits information to hospitals through Verizon.
“When we received this, we were just asked to donate our LifePak 12 to a smaller department,” she said, explaining that Broadus will receive the unit.
According to the American Heart Association, the LifePak 15 grant was made possible thanks to a $4.6-million gift from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, one of the nation’s largest foundations, to Montana to implement a three-year “Mission: Lifelife” initiative.
Jan32015
County officials sworn into office on Tuesday
BILLINGS — The common theme of elected county officials sworn into office on Tuesday morning is that they all have years of public service under their belts. Even the only newly elected treasurer, Sherry Long, has worked many years in several different positions as a public employee.
In opening the swearing-in ceremony, County Commissioner Jim Reno noted the long years of service that every elected official had served and recognized the value they bring through that experience. Judge Mary Jane Knisely, who administered the oaths of office, also noted the long terms of dedication to public service and underscored its challenge, and said that their positions are much more than 40-hour work weeks; they are always on the job.
Long was among six elected public officials who took the oath. She replaces retiring Max Lenington in the multi-office of county treasurer, assessor and superintendent of schools.
Justice of the Peace Pedro Hernandez was among those re-elected and being sworn into office — marking 42 years serving in that role.
Judge Hernandez’s wife, Debby Hernandez, was also sworn in for a third term as county auditor.
John Ostlund was sworn in for a third six-year term as county commissioner. He also is a long-time employee of the county, having first worked many years in the Public Works Department.
Mike Linder was sworn in for a read more
Jan22015
Meanderings
Meander means: 1. To follow a winding and turning course: 2. To move aimlessly and idly without fixed a direction. 3. A circuitous journey or excursion; ramble. Often used in the plural. 4. An ornamental pattern of winding or intertwining lines, used in art and architecture.
Jonathan McNiven
Happy New Year! It’s that time when we analyze the year before and start with New Year’s resolutions; well, at least for a month or so. My wife and I have now completed three months of running the read more
