May152024

Thank you to Billings & Beyond for the Tremendous Support During our 2024 JustServe Community Day of Service

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

We are writing to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Billings and surrounding area for their tremendous support during our 2024 JustServe Community Day of Service.

This year, we were overwhelmed with the response, as over 120 projects were listed on the JustServe.org website for Saturday April 27th. Among these, 42 projects were from 25 organizations included 10 from the Great American Clean Up/Bright ‘n Beautiful Billings were dedicated solely to the JustServe Community Day of Service, including donation wish lists.

The impact of your collective efforts was truly remarkable. Every organization involved expressed profound gratitude for the outcomes achieved, despite any shortage of volunteers. Your willingness to lend a hand made a significant difference in our community. There were 360 volunteers for a total of 920+ hours of service.

A special mention goes to Nick Anderson, Billings Fireman, and Chief Valdez for their invaluable support read more

May112024

Obituary: Wesley Fisk

Obituaries

Wesley Fisk

Wesley John Fisk, 98, passed away peacefully of natural causes in his home, in Shepherd, Mt., Tuesday, March 5th, 2024.

Wesley was born July 6th, 1925 in Bartlett, North Dakota. Wesley was the youngest of four, he had two brothers and one sister born to John Wesley and Nellie Arella Wright Fisk.

Wesley was married to Joan Dorthy Karna on July 31, 1947. They had six children Barbara J. Pate, Nancy A. Hewitt, Ronald D. Fisk, Lesley G. Clark, David W. Fisk and Gerald (Jerry) D. Fisk. Wesley widowed in 2008 and subsequently married Linda DeCamp, they divorced in 2018. Wesley left behind 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Wesley served as a TEC 5 in the US Army from March 1945 to December 1946. Following his military service Wesley made his living in various read more

May102024

Traditional clinical treatment is not accessible, affordable, or even effective on its own

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The definition of insanity is repeating an action while expecting different results. There are few issues with as many missed opportunities as veterans’ health and quality-of-life. Whether lacking creativity or undervaluing individualism, current programs are not fully serving those who served us. Throwing hospitals, doctors, and outreach initiatives at the problem has not inhibited an unacceptably high rate of adverse outcomes for veterans, especially suicide.

Traditional clinical treatment is not accessible, affordable, or even effective on its own. Reintegration requires tremendous vulnerability. Too much time in medical settings is psychologically detrimental. It is a positive feedback loop: “Here I am again. Something is really wrong.” Veterans need to be fulfilled in their lives, engaged in their communities, and comfortable in their own skin. Rehabilitation and counseling centers are just one piece of the puzzle. Over two-thirds of veterans who commit suicide never seek support.

The VHA’s Behavioral Health Autopsy Program studies thousands of suicides, trying to pinpoint warning signs. The three highest risk factors for veteran suicide are read more

May102024

Obituary: Burton Ray Gigoux

Obituaries

Burton Ray Gigoux (Burt)

A Marine who stood tall helping Veterans, Burton Ray Gigoux (Burt), 75, went to meet his Lord and Savior on December 23, 2023, from complications of cancer. He was born in Oakland, California, to Ray Gigoux and Delta Coop.

After graduation from Armarillo High School, he enlisted and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. Upon his discharge, he found the love of his life, besides the Marines, and met and married Anita Moore in New Orleans, LA.  She was his lifelong partner in all of his veteran endeavors. In 1972, Burt took Anita up north to Billings, MT, to start a new read more

May92024

The House needs an independent free thinker like Stacy Zinn

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor and Fellow Constituents,

The United States Congress needs HELP!! The $95 billion foreign aid bill passed by the US House this past week proves why we need strong, honest, conservative leadership willing to fight the battle for the soul of the Republican Party.

Thus far US has sent at least $175 billion to Ukraine. Latest bill: $61 billion to Ukraine; $26 billion Israel which includes $9 billion humanitarian assistance in Gaza; $8 billion to regional partners Indo-Pacific including Taiwan; and TO the US SOUTHERN BORDER $0, YES $0.

There are 218 House Republicans. A 366-58 vote by the House passed this Bill, with only 21 Republicans read more

May52024

Vote Republican!

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Those of us who are happy to live in Montana need to seriously consider who we will vote for in this November to represent us in Washington, D.C. He (or she) will be one of our two representatives in the the House, or one of our Senators in the Senate. While they represent us in the nation’s capital, they are also members of either the Republican or the Democratic parties and are often asked to help support their party’s national agenda – which may or may not serve Montana’s best interest.

The reason I bring up the importance of party affiliation is that the Democratic party beginning with Obama in 2008 has betrayed our nation’s history of patriotism and the love of America that I remember. In his first year of office President Obama declared that the United States was not a Judeo-Christian nation, (guided by the Ten Commandments). He never said whose God he read more

May42024

Having re-read Staley’s article several times, it is rife with progressive jargon for bigger government

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

         I am a small business owner and understand that to stay in business, one has to either control expense or increase prices.

HOW MANY RETIREMENTS DO YOU NEED?

In reading John Staley’s article, he is a retired fire fighter from Quincy, IL; retired A/Fire Chief, Billings, MT; retired Fire Chief, Thornton, CO and retired Fire Chief from Lockwood Fire Department. That is a lot of retiring. It would be interesting to know if Staley receives multiple pensions. Most people are lucky to retire with Social Security and some personal savings.

Staley believes there needs to be more collaboration between the City of Billings (COB) and Yellowstone County (YC). On the surface, that sounds good. Then we get into the details when he says he would like to see “shared services” for public works, code enforcement, parks and recreation ($140 million rec center anyone?) and transportation. Staley believes county residents living outside city limits should subsidize Billings City services. Gee, what could go wrong with that? In terms of public transportation, Met buses with two people on them? Let’s extend that money losing service to the entire county…Don’t get me started on the city buying electric buses.

Where the COB and YC governments can work together, they seem to be doing so. They have recently announced a partnership to read more

May42024

Youth Protests – BACKFIRE!

Letters to the Editor

 

Dear Editor,  Youth Protests – BACKFIRE!

America has gone through a LOT over the years. Good and not-so-good. I personally lived during the Vietnam error. I was fortunate. I served my three years in the Army, primarily in South Korea and Germany. Lots of protests. Lots of conscientious objectors defected to Canada. Those fortunate in coming home from Vietnam, were not welcome back, and yes, even spit upon. Ugly to say the least. These were primarily young college read more

Apr262024

Justice Prevails, Pam Ellis Back on Board, Ming Cabrera Needs to Resign

Features • Meanderings • Politics

Well, well, well, as you can see on the front page of our newspaper, the day of reckoning has come, and Pam Ellis won her case and the CURRENT Heights Water Board agreed to pay some attorney fees as well as place Ellis back on the board as the judge ruled in her and the county’s favor.

If you don’t remember, I’ll take you back in time when this episode of the Heights Water and Sewer District soap opera evolved when Ming Cabrera, Laura Drager, and David Graves were elected onto the Heights Water Board some years ago, and Ming Cabrera was then elected as the head of the board as chairman.

Well, I was fed a big bowl of whiplash as Ming took that entity as the Chairman and ran it even farther down the drain (Yes, pun intended) in the public’s eye as I gave him a chance to turn things around.

YCN originally came onto the scene in covering and following the Heights Water and Sewer District meetings because there were questions from the public as well as board members about how stuff was being done from management, staff as well as a district in general. In fact, there were some that said things were being done illegally and questioned how job bids, procedures, meeting minutes and notices, meeting agendas and meetings in general were conducted. The whole premise of YCN being at those meetings was to document what happened at those meetings as well as report what happened. I feel that is how we as a media and journalists can do our job in reporting and documenting the meetings as well as feature concerns and questions that affect the public, taxpayers and members of our communities while holding elected officials accountable. Overtime, if elected officials are doing things incorrectly, it will read more

Apr262024

Andersson Named GM for Water District; Board Fires Benefits Vendor

Top Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings-Heights

The Heights County Water District Board (CWDB) has offered the position of General Manager to Allan “Bo” Andersson of Cambridge, New York. At their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, the board voted unanimously to offer Andersson a contract.

CWDB President Doug Kary said that Andersson received the highest score in the board’s interviews and evaluations of candidates. The board is offering him $100,000 a year in their proposed contract.

Andersson is a retired business owner, who retired in 2021 as the president and chief executive officer of Flomatic Corp., following a 52-year career.

As the board dealt with other issues read more

Apr262024

Hopefully They Will be Kind Taskmasters

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

I see that Huntley Project Schools has decided to throw in the towel on education moving to a four-day school week. I agree with Tim Ley not being convinced that this is in the best interest of students. In fact, this is part of a further degradation in rigor in our public schools in general. I was one of the better students in my day, but I was really unprepared fully for college at a serious university as a freshman. I would like to know how education levels and higher expectations of achievement in real subjects like reading, writing, and arithmetic are enhanced by these types of changes. I doubt they are. 

When I was a professor in New Jersey and listened to all the complaining American students about the homework required and the actual education that was needed, I decided to teach the point. In my class were several Asian students. Some were from Korea and a few from China. I asked the Asians read more

Apr262024

Vote to Increase Your Freedom and Vote for Mike Vinton

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, 

It’s that time in the election cycle where you, the voter, will head to a search engine to determine the best primary candidate. Hopefully, I can save some homework time for you by endorsing Mike Vinton for House District 40. I have known Mike for just shy of a decade and at every turn I appreciate his hard work and straightforward candor. It is rare to find a truly read more

Apr262024

Stop the Expansion of County Government

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Stop the Expansion of County Government

 I recently read with great interest that John Staley, a candidate for Yellowstone County Commission, supports a five-member board of county commissioners, up from the current three members.  How wrongheaded.

 Back in the 1980s, it was decided by the Board that over a six-year period, which is also the length of a commissioner term, each would serve two years as the chair of the commission, regardless of party.  This working arrangement has served well for almost 40 years.  Imagine with a bloated five-member commission all of the horse trading of support and backroom deals as they all fight for position and chair responsibilities.

 This would not increase representation.  Quite the opposite.  Right now, removing one member through the ballot box can bring about real change.  Not so with five members.  Increasing the board will just lead to more read more

Apr262024

I Want to Give School District 2 Voters Some Things to Consider

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

As someone who wonders if the continual rise of MT property taxes will one day make our home unaffordable, I want to give School District 2 voters some things to consider prior to voting on the safety levy. Ballots will be mailed out soon.

We will be asked to vote on the safety levy for schools, which is a perpetual levy that will only end IF the trustees one day decide we have enough funding and will vote to end it. Who believes that would ever happen? I do not feel this detail has been shared transparently enough to voters.

This levy will fund salaries for mental health counselors due to an i read more

Apr262024

After Moses Endorsed One of the Candidates, I Knew for Sure I Needed to Vote for That Candidate’s Opponent

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I wish to thank Karen Lazetich Moses for her letter to the editor.  I have been mostly unsuccessful in getting info on the two candidates from my district running for School Board.  But after Moses endorsed one of the candidates, I knew for sure I needed to vote for that candidate’s opponent, Jennifer Hoffman.

Moses made it obvious she has either never read the Montana Constitution, or if she has read it, she has no comprehension of what it says.  Moses applauds the Montana Supreme Court for legislating from the bench.  Not only does our constitution not even suggest that the legislature can control the weather, but it also does NOT give the Supreme Court the authority to make legislation.  The Montana Supreme Court has instructed the legislature to control the weather.  Have you ever heard of anything so silly? If the Supreme Court members want to be legislators, then they need to resign from the court and run for the legislature.

Moses then went on to unjustly attack many of our read more

Apr262024

Local Librarian Authors First of Series Children’s Books

Features • Huntley Project

Front cover of the newly released book “Abby the Antelope” that brings out the creative, family-loving personality and character of a young antelope determined to stand out from the herd. This book authored by Edie Vogel and illustrated by Sarah Broesdor is the first of a series called Montana’s Captivating Character. (courtesy image)

After 10 years of sitting in rough draft form, “Abby, the Antelope” has come to life and her character is now available for parents, readers and lovers of children’s books. Loosely inspired by her baby sister Abby, Edie Vogel of Worden has published the first of her Montana series of children’s books called “Montana’s Captivating Characters.” The books are all Montana based creatures, characters or animals and she will “bring them to life with fun stories and personalities and each character has a little quandary, a little challenge in life that they navigate and figure out.”

   “I call children’s books everybody’s books because I think everybody enjoys them,” Vogel said in an interview with Yellowstone County News this week.

In her first book at 32 pages, Abby, the Antelope is a story of a young antelope who wants to distinguish herself because all antelope look the same. Abby lives on the Montana prairie with her family and is determined to stand out from the herd.

“So many life lessons are found in children’s books, so that was my kind of hope with this book in just showing a lovely message for families; it’s a great way for parents to communicate with their kids about some of life’s challenges we navigate read more

Apr262024

Shepherd AD Retracts her Resignation, Board supports AAU proposal for possible AAU Building Location.

Sports • Top Stories • Shepherd

After a more than a month of swirling questions over Athletic Director Tina Downing’s status of her resignation on March 12th (which was published in the March 15th edition of YCN), and Russ Hale pulling his application for High School Head Football Coach, Tina Downing clarified the confusion at the April monthly board meeting.    

“During this whole football situation, I turned in a letter of resignation to Mrs. O’Donnell on the 12th of March. She asked that I take some time to think about it. I have done a lot of thinking and a lot of soul searching, and I will tell you it came down to a conversation with read more

Apr262024

I found Chief Staley to be combative

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I currently serve as your Yellowstone County Commissioner, District 2 (East). While every citizen has the right to decide who to vote for, it helps to have good information in order to make informed decisions. I am writing to provide relevant information concerning the upcoming June primary contest between Mike Waters and John Staley for the open seat on the Yellowstone County Commission.

In 2011, right after Lockwood Fire Board hired John Staley as Fire Chief, I was appointed to the Lockwood Fire Board (LFB). I found Chief Staley to be combative whenever his authority was questioned. After openly challenging Staley on his financial transactions as Fire Chief, I did not seek re-election to LFB.

For FY2024, then Chief Staley assessed taxpayers 163 mills which is 21.69 mills above the inflation adjusted (@2.46%) State of Montana calculated mills of 141.31. These extra 21.69 mills cost Lockwood taxpayers a completely unnecessary $374,849. Recently, your read more

Apr252024

Shepherd School Approves 6th Graders to Play Junior High Football

Yellowstone County • Shepherd

In a special board meeting this week, Shepherd’s Elementary Board members voted to allow 6th graders to join the junior high football program this fall. Josh Casares, the new Head Football Coach who was hired last week for the high school team spoke to the board about his concerns as being on the job for now a week overseeing the school’s football program. “I understand the vision on why we want to do it, but my concern is there’s not many read more