Obituary: John Patrick Carney

John Patrick Carney

John Patrick Carney

John Patrick Carney, age 60, of Ballantine, Montana, passed away on October 19, 2020, from complications related to lung cancer. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Smith Funeral Chapel. A celebration of life will take place on May 25, 2024 at MetraPark. It is being held over Memorial Day Weekend as John viewed it as a special and significant time.

John was born on May 14, 1963, in Marengo, Iowa, to Janice (Starks) and Leonard Luverne Carney. He was raised in Parnell, Iowa. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Iowa, in 1981. He went on to serve in the United States Air Force in the Red Horse Squadron, where he would eventually be stationed in Great Falls, Montana, at Malmstrom Air Force Base. This was where his life read more

Re-elect Roy Neese

Dear Editor,

Reelect Roy Neese to Billings City Council Ward 2.

I have known Roy for many years and have been impressed with his commitment to the City of Billings. He has served as Chairman of the Heights Task Force for two terms and brought many issues from the Heights to council members. Roy has helped shape the future of Billings, supporting the completion of the inner belt loop to Zimmerman Trail as well as the first phase of construction for the outer belt loop.

As a former legislator, I heard from read more

Voting is a privilege & Responsibility

Dear Editor,

Voting is a privilege, with privilege comes responsibility. We have a year before a general election to prepare.  Voting is a process requiring study, and involvement.  Getting registered early is helpful; DMV and government class may help with registration; however, sometimes registrations are not turned in in a timely manner.  The election office needs a couple weeks to input your information.  The office will send you a card as to which precinct you are in.  Keep the card or remember the number.  Nothing worse than getting to the polls late in the afternoon and not being found in the register, the list of voters for that precinct. 

The voting process requires an ID.  One will be surprised as to how many people have the same read more

Thank You & Those Who are Praying

Dear Editor,

We have a dear friend from Wisconsin, John, who has lived in Jerusalem, Israel, for many years.  He shared in the form of prayer requests a little more about Israel’s war.  Also, this week, Tuesday, the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, declared a day of prayer and fasting for Israel. These are indeed serious days!

Here is John’s letter in part:

“’For such a time as this…’ (from the Bible book of Esther), it would be good to pray into the following for Israel at this critical point in the war:

Renewal and hope in all devastated hearts which will produce faith in God.

That those who hope in the LORD would not lose their joy.

Pray that other enemies such as Iran’s Hizbullah from Lebanon or Syria would not enter the war with Hamas.  Assad and family have moved to their secret residence and last night 24 buses of Muslim women and children from Judaea and Samaria traveled to Jordan without their men. 

Pray that Judea and Samaria (Jordan calls it their West Bank) would be read more

Obituary: Darrell Eugene Chenoweth

Darrell Eugene Chenoweth, “Mr. Hotsy”, passed away peacefully on Oct. 21, 2023, in the family home.  Darrell was born May 6, 1948, in Worland, WY, to Loren and Eunice Chenoweth.  After high school Darrell served on the USS Daniel Boone submarine for five and a half years. While during his service in the Navy, he met his wife Bonnie, and they were married and sealed on May 9. 1970, in Cardston, Alberta, Canada.  Darrell and Bonnie started their Hotsy business in Rigby, ID, in 1974, continued on to Worland, WY, then to Billings MT, in read more

Your Vote Counts in These Local Elections

Dear Editor,

VOTERS GET TO DECIDE:

Ballots on the Parks, Trails and Recreation Center Bond are being mailed on Oct. 18 for a citywide ask of $143m.  There are various aspects of this proposal which have not been part of the public conversation.  I want to share basically an overview:

The priority of the City is public safety.  This ballot question changes that focus as now the City is moving towards a 20-year debt of over $200 million.  How will this multimillion-dollar bond address public safety needs? 

Timing is a major issue for taxpayers.  With increased property taxes, rent, and inflationary costs on everyday necessities, the proponents are asking you to pay more, and, read more

BLM is now the face of murdered babies … and Billings is watching!

Dear Editor,

Black Lives Matter (BLM) is now the face of baby decapitations, rape and all atrocities upon Israel.  BLM has condemned Israel and lies about Hamas.  Amber Palmer was one of the organizers of Billings’ Black Lives Matter on June 7, 2020, for the protests in downtown Billings.  Yes, it was peaceful, yet spurious/faux… but now BLM’s message is unpretentious support for devil-possessed Hamas.  Can you imagine that?  How cruel and insensitive can BLM be, when so many Israeli babies, toddlers, kids and grandparents are being horrendously disemboweled and burned alive by Hamas?  Americans included.

Cheered on by BLM!  Don’t believe me?  Watch Fox, Newsmax or Victory News for the truthful reporting on how BLM has come out in support of these satanic Muslim murderers.  KULR, KGHL and the Billings Gazette will NOT truthfully report anything that appears as truth and ACTUAL lack of action by your Cadaver In Chief, (the Dumocrats UI).  Yes, Biden is to blame for this attack on Israel, and Black Lives Matter supports these demonic crimes by Hamas.

I won’t ask the question “What is wrong with you BLM people?” I know what is wrong with you.  You subscribe to Satan’s ideology.  You have NO read more

Signal Peak CEO Responds to Environmental Groups’ Latest Complaint

Subsidence cracks located within 2 Lazy 2 Ranch, in the Bull Mountains near
Roundup pictured Nov. 4, 2022. (Boyd Charter drone image)

Conservation groups sent a citizen complaint last week to state and federal agencies alleging that Signal Peak Energy (SPE), which runs the Bull Mountain Coal Mine near Roundup, is not complying with parts of its mining permit. The complaint alleges SPE is causing “subsidence cracks,” which have damaged land in and around SPE’s permit area. It further alleges that SPE is “failing to comply with permit requirements to reclaim lands affected by this subsidence, including failures to protect topsoil and vegetation.”

“These treacherous cracks on my land are an inevitable part of underground mining, and they risk serious injury to people, cattle, wildlife, and even wildland firefighters, who were just here in read more

Huntley Project School Gets $13k Donation from Lions Club

Huntley Project Lions Club presented Huntley Project School District with a $13,000 donation at the school board meeting held Monday, October 16.

Board member Clint Johannes said last year, the Lions Club committed to a similar donation to help with costs associated with playground equipment, track repairs, softball diamond upgrades, and other high school sports-related expenses.

Superintendent Mark Wandle said on behalf of the entire read more

Obituary: Rollen J. Stookey

Rollen J. Stookey (RJ)

Rollen J. Stookey (RJ) passed away on Oct. 13, 2023, at the age of 91 in the Sheridan Rehab Center in Sheridan, WY, on his oldest son’s birthday.

He was born in Helena, OK, on Feb 12, 1932, to Rollen and Bertha Harris Stookey, the youngest of four children. He joined three sisters, Lorena Clayton, Dortha Dunkin, and Marilyn Hungerford to complete their family. He grew up and attended school in Helena, graduating in 1950. He went to college for one year and then enlisted in the US Army in 1952 and served for two years during the Korean War. He was a member of the American Legion in Custer and then in Hysham.

After being honorably discharged from the service, he became a doodlebugger for a seismograph crew out of Oklahoma. In 1956, the crew came to Montana, working around Roundup and Billings, and in May eventually landing in the country north of the river around Custer. That’s where he met his wife, Juliette, through her father, Julian Weinzetl. He and Julian were sitting at the bar when she came in. “Whoa! Who is she?” It was read more

Obituary: James “Jim” Chapel,

James “Jim” Chapel

James “Jim” Chapel, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather took his final ride into the sunset Wednesday evening, September 27, 2023.

Jim was born on September 7th, 1942, in Anaconda, Montana, when his mom Marie was visiting her sister. His father Eugene “Gene” Chapel and mother Marie Gale Chapel raised him and his brothers in the Gibson country of Sweetgrass County south of Shawmut, Montana. He attended a one-room grade school called Knob Hill through 8th grade and then attended high school in Big Timber, Montana. He spent his summers working dude ranches as a teenager. After graduating high school, he joined the Army Reserves and guided hunters in the winter.

On September 25, 1962, Jim married Freda Widaman of Livingston, Montana, in Saint Anthony, Idaho. Together they had one daughter and two sons. During that time, they lived in Melville, Montana; Big Timber, Montana; Billings, Montana, and the current home place in Ballantine, Montana.

Growing up on the family home place in read more

VOTERS GET TO DECIDE:

Dear Editor,

VOTERS GET TO DECIDE:

Ballots on the Parks, Trails and Recreation Center Bond are being mailed on Oct. 18 for a citywide ask of $143m. There are various aspects of this proposal which have not been part of the public conversation. I want to share basically an overview:

The priority of the City is public safety. This ballot question changes that focus as now the City is moving towards a 20-year debt of over $200 million. How will this multimillion-dollar bond address public safety needs?

Timing is a major issue for taxpayers. With increased property taxes, rent, and inflationary costs on everyday necessities, the proponents are asking you to read more

Meadow Lark Transport Closes after 40 Years

Meadow Lark Transport

Billings-based Meadow Lark Transport Inc., a trucking company that has done business in Billings for forty years, has closed.

The company released a statement, “We share the sad news of Meadow Lark’s closure with a heavy heart. We have formed many lasting partnerships and friendships since delivering transportation services across the nation for 40 years. Due to unforeseen events in 2022-2023, which included banking and funding issues, cyber and identity theft, higher costs with lower rates, and read more

More Details Emerge on J & J Homes

More Customers Come Forward; Records Reveal History of Bad Business

On September 29, Yellowstone County News (YCN) reported on the story of several Huntley homeowners who met in August to discuss their many complaints against a Billings home dealer, J & J Homes, owned by Jason Wilcox. Three families shared their stories, which all follow a common theme: several delays to the original move-in date, followed by the shock of walking into a “new” home riddled with construction defects, followed by even greater shock when J & J disregarded their requests to fix these problems.

It became clear after publishing the Sept. 29 article that there was more to the story involving J & J Homes. Several more people – some from other areas of Montana or even out of state – came forward with their stories of buying a home through the business after the initial article was released. In addition, new details have been extracted from court records and other official documentation.

The Other “J”

Who is the other “J” in J & J Homes? The answer is Jeffrey Roberson of Rolla, Missouri, who agreed to answer questions via email for this story.

Roberson said he and Wilcox became partners in 2010 in Williston, North Dakota, where they started doing business. J & J Homes was formed the same year, and Roberson said he takes care of the books for the company.

Roberson gave a specific response to each customer from the September 29 article.

Regarding the Freemans, he said, “We did not sell these customers a home. This customer is upset that they do not get free irrigation water. They can choose to buy irrigation water or could choose to haul irrigation water themselves.”

Regarding the Bensons, Roberson said, “These customers tried to purchase a home from us a couple years ago, but could not get financed. We agreed to rent them the home for a period of 15 months or until they could… obtain financing.” He continued, “They were not able to fix their credit score, were unable to obtain a loan for the home, and fell behind many months in rent. We are currently in the eviction process in court, and the legal process should play out, and that will be resolved soon.”

Court documents for the Benson’s case tell the story in a different light. The Benson’s attorney, Michael Eakin, argues the family should be allowed to stay in their home because they are not actually behind on rent, and because the $50,000 they paid to J & J “must be presumed to be a security deposit” under state law. So, the contract provision that the company asserts makes the deposit “non-refundable,” is null and void.

Regarding the Berchtolds, Roberson said Allison Berchtold “has some legitimate warranty issues with her home.” However, he claimed, “We have agreed to fix any and all warranty issues and have documentation that states this fact. We have no idea why Mrs. Berchtold has not provided us a time to address her warranty issues and resolve the matter, still we are happy to address any/all warranty issues as soon as she contacts us.”

YCN has text messages between Berchtold and Wilcox which show that Berchtold has reached out to J & J Homes on multiple occasions regarding her warranty issues.

Concluded Roberson, “J & J Homes, along with Adventure Homes, provides affordable quality housing options. J&J Homes, as well as Adventure Homes, stand behind the craftsmanship of our homes as well as the warranty.” Adventure Homes is the home building facility from which J & J obtains many of the homes they sell to their customers. It is based in Garrett, Indiana.

‘A Living Hell’

Vicki Eades of Lewistown, Montana, came forward after reading the September 29 story, and detailed her experience with J & J Homes, beginning in October 2020.

Eades said, “We put a small down payment on a house; I signed a contract for it. But because it was coming up winter, he told us that he would keep it on the lot until we could get stuff done in the spring.”

When the spring of 2021 arrived, said Eades, “We’d had the hole dug for the foundation for that house. They were going to come in a couple days later and pour the footing. And [Wilcox] called and told us… that his partner sold our house out from underneath of us.” So she and her husband had to pick another house from the lot, sign a new contract, and wait for it to arrive. The home’s expected delivery date was November 2021, Wilcox had told them at the time.

“I actually did not get my house until May of 2022,” said Eades. She added, “The day they shipped my house, [Wilcox] called and told us we owed him more money because the price of houses went up. So, he took my house to Billings until we gave him more money. And, we had to sign a third contract.”

After all that, Eades described numerous issues she discovered in the house, including stained carpets throughout, cracked windows, ceiling issues, a door that reportedly “came completely off the frame when you open it.” Even worse, she stated that insulation blows into the house through the ducts and ceiling, which can cause detrimental health effects if breathed in for long periods of time.

She feels Wilcox and the home builder have resolved very few of her home’s problems, though she did note the builder sent her “some” new carpet (not enough to cover the whole area) and Wilcox repaired her ceiling.

Eades went on to say that Wilcox now refuses to speak with her; he will only talk to her husband. She described her experience with J & J Homes and Wilcox as “an absolute nightmare,” and said, “He’s made my life a living hell.”

Amy Fox

YCN visited Amy Fox at her modular home off Road 8 in Huntley, which she and her husband bought from J & J Homes earlier this year. The home was delivered in July with siding that was installed incorrectly, which is visible in photos . A construction expert said the siding is likely to fall off and/or need to be replaced entirely.

Inside the home, the issues are much the same as the previous families. Specific to Fox’s case are missing items – items she says were paid for accordingly. These include a pasta faucet in the kitchen sink and upgraded shelving in the pantry. Other issues Fox noted: rather than actual paint on the walls, there is “tinted primer,” a mixture that easily chips and smears; there are several cracks in the walls; and missing electric panels. The ceiling fan in the master bedroom is falling out of the ceiling, as well.

Reportedly, Wilcox blames his subcontractors for being “unreliable” and “not holding the proper licenses” when Fox inquires as to why no progress is being made with repairs. She claims that if a contractor does show up at her house, they do very little work and then disappear.

“It’s all just very poorly put together,” said Fox. “It’s lazy work. If they took the time to do it right the first time, this would all be taken care of by now.”

Elite Homes

Jason Wilcox previously owned a business called Elite Homes which provided essentially the same service as J & J Homes – to sell modular homes directly to customers by acting as a middleman between the home builder and customer.  According to local court records, at least two consumer lawsuits were filed against Elite Homes before it closed.

In 2015, Carla and Allyn Helland filed a complaint in District Court alleging Elite Homes “induced [them] to pay a higher price than they otherwise would have” for a modular home, based on the notion it would be a “custom” modular home. Wilcox simply bought a pre-manufactured home which was built before the Hellands had even signed off on their floor plan, says the complaint, and then purported it to be the “customized” home the Hellands had paid for.

The suit also claimed, “Defendant Elite Homes breached the contract to deliver and finish the Helland’s home by failing to finish the house so as that it could be habitable, by failing to deliver a defect-free house, failing to construct decking and fulfill other commitments called for in the… agreement.” 

The Helland lawsuit was settled in 2017.

In 2013, John and Loretta Tillett from Lovell, Wyoming, filed suit in Yellowstone County District Court against Elite Homes and Jason Wilcox individually. In this case, the plaintiffs allege they signed a contract with the company for the purchase of a modular home which included “a furnace, a hot water heater, duct work, interior and exterior finish work, hickory cabinets throughout, and touch-up paint on the interior and exterior of the home.”

The Tillett’s complaint said after they paid in full for the home and it was delivered, it did not contain a hot water heater as agreed. The suit further claimed that Wilcox and his associates tried to manipulate the … Read full story here. 

Pray for Israel at this Critical Point in the War

Dear Editor,

We have a dear friend from Wisconsin, John, who has lived in Jerusalem, Israel, for many years. He shared in the form of prayer requests a little more about Israel’s war. Also, this week, Tuesday, the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, declared a day of prayer and fasting for Israel. These are indeed serious days!

Here is John’s letter in part:

“’For such a time as this…’ (from the Bible book of Esther), it would be read more

Obituary: Joseph M. Feist

Joe Feist

Joe Feist, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away on September 18, at the age of 89. Born in a farmhouse in Emmons County, North Dakota, to Martha and Mike Feist on November 20, 1933, he was the fifth of nine children. He attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse and high school at St. Benedicts both in Strasburg, ND. After graduation, Joe left the family farm when he enlisted in the Air Force to work in communications and served at read more

Nightmare Off Yellowstone Trail

A group of some 21 Huntley homeowners in the Yellowstone Trail subdivision met August 26 to decide how to address a litany of complaints they have against one Billings company, J & J Homes, which sold them their houses. The subdivision is comprised of homes on Lynette Lane and Lenny Lane, located along Yellowstone Trail near Pryor Creek Golf Course. All but two of those who live within these homes agree: they are fed up.

Despite small differences in everyone’s story, they all have a common theme: a move-in date that gets delayed several times, followed by the shock of walking into a home riddled with structural defects ranging from cracked walls to buckling flooring to improperly installed doors that leak water when it rains.

The next step, of course, would be to reach out to the owner of J&J Homes, Jason Wilcox, to address these issues. As can be seen in the stories to follow, this was just the beginning of a nightmare that continues to plague the residents of Yellowstone Trail…

 

The Berchtolds

Allison Berchtold bought her home in the 3600 block of Lynette Ln. in August 2021, but she said she and her late husband were not able to move in until April 2022.

Berchtold quickly found the delayed move-in date was just the beginning. “When I walked through the house, I just started crying,” said Berchtold. “It was a hot mess. And we paid extra money for all the ‘bells and whistles.’”

Bells and whistles? None to be found. Problems? “The list is read more

Commenting on “…Children’s Lawsuit” from 9/8/23 YCN.

Dear Editor,

Commenting on “…Children’s Lawsuit” from 9/8/23 YCN. Prominent climate scientists, William Harper of Princeton University and Richard Lindzen of MIT, have stated in their court case against the EPA, “All the models that predict catastrophic global warming fail the key test of the scientific method: they grossly over predict the warming versus actual data. The scientific method proves there is no risk that fossil fuels and carbon dioxide will cause catastrophic warming and extreme weather.” Further, Harper says, “That was already an embarrassment in the ‘90s, when I was director of energy research in the U.S. Department of Energy. I was funding a lot of this work, and I knew very well then read more