Oct142022
Better Learning Outcomes, Healthier Kids
by Michael J. Marino
As eight energetic boys run, play and holler as kids tend to do, Michael Devaney says, “I try to teach them you can be crazy and run around outside, but when we’re inside, it’s house rules.” read more
Oct142022
by Evelyn Pyburn
Both defendants of the suit filed by the County Water District of Billings Heights — the County Commissioners and Pam Ellis — have responded to the complaint and both essentially deny the basic charges made and continue their contention that Pam Ellis remains a member of the board. read more
Oct142022
by Evelyn Pyburn
Mark Morse running for County Commissioner is the only challenged Yellowstone County candidate in the coming election, on November 8. Candidates for all other open elected county offices are Republicans standing unchallenged by any Democrat contenders. And, even Morse is being challenged by another Republican who failed to defeat him in the Primary Election. Incumbent County Commissioner Denis Pitman is running a write-in campaign for the General Election. read more
Oct72022
Dear Editor,
Gun purchasers beware: the gun control movement has found a backdoor way to register your gun. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express categorize the purchases you make with their cards. Currently gun sales are listed under ‘Miscellaneous’. read more
Oct72022
by Evelyn Pyburn
Yellowstone County Commissioners have received six applications for the open position of County Elections Administrator, a vacancy created with the resignation of Bret Rutherford who has served in the position for over 16 years. Several of the applicants were from out of state. read more
Oct72022
Regulations Extended
by Evelyn Pyburn
The marijuana business in Yellowstone County is operating under temporary zoning regulations put into place prior to the election last spring in which voters gave approval to make legal the growing, production and sale of marijuana in the county. Last week, the county commissioners said that they would extend those regulations for another year while the City County Planning Department aids in writing new ones. read more
Oct72022
by Evelyn Pyburn
Rumors have been rampant around Billings the last couple of weeks about the federal government building a processing center in Billings to deal with illegal aliens. Some aspects of the rumors began almost two years ago, and nailing the rumors down has been a challenge, but indeed ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is building new offices at 1711 6th Avenue North in Billings, which includes at least two detention cells. The facility will process non-citizens alleged to have committed crimes as they await proceedings. read more
Sep302022
by Michael J. Marino
The disgruntled Dorothy Lane neighbors (from top left to bottom right): Wesley Dunn, Amber Dunn, Sean Callahan, Jacquelyn Garcia. (photos courtesy Community 7-TV)
Mayor Bill Cole announced at the Sept. 19 Billings City Council session that Robert Morris, one of the alleged “problematic neighbors” of Dorothy Lane, was arrested early last week and released on bail a short time later. This was part of his conversation with county attorney Scott Twito, in which Twito provided a prosecutorial update on the Dorothy Lane complaints.
During public comment, Wesley Dunn apologized for “disrespecting Council’s time last week.”
Wesley mentioned a man, Anthony Felton, stating, “You didn’t really inherit this problem (appearing to point to city administrator Chris Kukulski), but the Council did.” Several times he referred to Felton as “this problem,” and several times saying “something needs to be done” about “this problem.”
Who is Felton? Inquiry revealed that he does have some criminal history dating back to 2017. In relation to Dorothy Lane? That answer is unclear; he is alleged to have been “spotted” on the street, but the neighbors have not made any precise allegations, nor do the publicly available call logs correlate Felton to any of the listed incidents. He was ordered by Yellowstone County District Court Judge Jessica Fehr to attend a drug treatment program in early 2021, though not due to any new charges. The judge told Felton he has “the capacity to do some really good things in this community,” during this hearing. read more
Sep302022
Dear Editor,
With all the ranting and raving by so many factions, especially the younger generation about how “oppressed” and “unfair” our system has become living here in the United States of America, which the main stream media almost nightly perpetuates and provides them a platform to vent, which somehow, someway, validates that it is fact, is making it worse!! read more
Sep302022
Governor Greg Gianforte fielded questions from county commissioners from across Montana during MACO conference. (courtesy photo)
A wide range of issues were discussed and debated by several hundred county commissioners from throughout Montana who were in Billings this week for the annual conference of the Montana Association of Counties (MACO).
On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Gianforte spoke to the commissioners, who he recognized as being those most fundamentally involved in government. Having just completed a 56-county tour of the state, Gov. Gianforte said that the issue most on the minds of Montanans is that of drugs and crime. read more
Sep302022
Robert Carlyle Toombs
Robert Carlyle Toombs
Robert “Bob” Carlyle Toombs, 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, September 14th due to complication from a broken hip. He was born on May 14, 1932, in Harlowton, Montana. He spent his younger years growing up at Fort Peck, MT, while his dad and uncle helped build the dam.
The family moved to Bremerton, WA, where he proudly had three paper routes and set pins manually at the local bowling alley. His family relocated to Sacramento, CA, where he attended Grant Union High School and was active in ROTC and played the trumpet in the marching band. He fell in love with the head majorette who was his soulmate and lifetime love. Nola Jean Moore.
He had a strong patriotic love for this country and enlisted in the Army at age 17, serving in 1st Calvary Infantry. His unit was the first deployed to Korea to fight in the Korean War. He was awarded several Medals for his bravery including the Army Presidential Unit Citation Award with Silver Star and Korean Presidential Unit Citation Award.
Upon returning to the states, he had to get his mother’s permission to marry Nola due to the laws in California at the time. They were married in Carson City, NV on April 19, 1952, and were blessed with six children. They renewed their wedding vows and cruised to Alaska for their 50th Anniversary. This year they celebrated their 70th Anniversary. read more
Sep302022
Danny Fraser, 89, of Billings, passed away on Sept. 22, 2022, at his home.
Danny was born on March 25, 1935, to Dan and Margret Fraser in Ronan. Dan worked for RB Fraser, managing ranches and working some of his own; thus moving 10 times by the time Danny was a senior in high school. Danny had three brothers, Bud, Rich and Bill, and a sister, Peggy.
All of the boys helped on the ranches learning to ride — work cattle and horses, learning from some of the hired men and their dad.
Danny Fraser
The last six weeks of high school, Danny moved to Big Timber to start colts for Al Buckley. That summer (1952), he won the Bull Dogging at the National High School rodeo, placed in the cutting on a horse he trained and placed in the calf roping.
He served in the army, earning his wings in the 11th Airborne.
In 1961, he graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. He also competed and lettered on the Rodeo Team.
Danny married Judi Woosley. They had two children, Jodi (Mike) Knight and Wylie (Kelly) Fraser, and one grandson, Ryatt Fraser. read more
Sep232022
Dear Editor,
Yes, it is nice they are working on the intersection of Nahmis and Hwy. 312. read more
Sep232022
by Michael J. Marino
The Huntley Project School Board narrowly approved a new policy which allows 8th grade students to be considered for high school level sports positions at their September 19 meeting. read more
Sep232022
by Evelyn Pyburn
The Heights Water District’s new chlorination plant will be completed by the end of the week, announced District Manager Peyton Brookshire, and staff will begin training on how to operate it. read more
Sep232022
by Evelyn Pyburn
Two proposals to serve as the company that would manage MetraPark in the future were opened and recognized by Yellowstone County Commissioners at their regular weekly meeting on Tuesday. Shortly after, Gene Jarussi, a noted attorney in Billings, filed suit against the county commissioners for the process that has been pursued in the effort to privatize the management of the county-owned facility. read more
Sep232022
Edward W. Christman
Edward W. Christman was born to William (Bill) and Matilda Christman (Hutzenbiler) in Bridger, Montana, on May 11, 1931. He resided in the Carbon County area most of his life. He was drafted into the Army in 1955. During this time Ed met and married the love of his life, Nancy Miller, on Dec. 27, 1955. He was honorably discharged in Aug. 1957 with reserve duty until 1963.
Ed worked as a farmhand in the Carbon County area and at the sugar beet factory until 1980 when he became custodian of the Belfry Public Schools. He was employed at Belfry Schools from 1980 until 1998.
During his lifetime he enjoyed fishing, dancing, riding his trike, horseshoe pitching, bowling, playing cards, telling jokes, hauling sugar beets for local farmers and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and other activities which included helping with the Belfry Schools, sports and other extracurricular activities. He was also active in the Belfry Chapter American Legion and the Belfry District Water and Sewer Board.
He will be dearly missed by his five children: Butch (Jeanne), Mark (Tricia), Jann, Dale (Cindy), Than (Tina); his brother Carl (Janice); his 23 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Nancy, brother Don (Duck), and two great-great granddaughters.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, Sept. 23, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bridger, MT. Burial will follow in the Belfry cemetery.
In memory of Ed, donations can be made to the Belfry Chapter, American Legion.
Sep232022
Gary C. Messick passed away this week. Mr. Messick was originally from Glenalden, Pennsylvania, but he spent his final days here in the Yellowstone Valley area. He was adopted by his parents Charles Kenneth and Ruth Kensahjo-Messick. read more
Sep162022
Obituary: Lola Mae Reser
Lola Mae “Chic” Reser was born in Ekalaka, MT to Laura and Lawrence Webster on May 13, 1943. She was the youngest of five and the first to contract Chicken Pox, hence the nickname that stayed with her to the end. Chic had a true Montana work ethic and held many jobs, mostly service work as a waitress or bartender. In her forties, Chic worked in a lumber yard throwing wood around like a teenager, and later spent several years as a school custodian for Huntley Project schools in Worden, MT. She led the hard life of the Western Woman. Nearly died in a house fire as an infant, but was saved by her older sister, Mary. One of the youngest at the time to receive open-heart surgery at, I believe, age thirteen. Lost her second child, Frank, a few short hours after his birth. Her youngest child, Lana Mae, died at 33-years-old from cancer. Chic was twice widowed, first in the winter of 1979 and again in the fall of 2005. read more
Sep162022
Janet Kay Anderson
Janet Kay Anderson, 83, passed away peacefully in Billings, MT, on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Janet was the second of three daughters born to William and Helen Wharton. She was raised in Billings and graduated from Senior High School in 1958.
Janet married Ronald William (Andy) Anderson on July 3, 1958. They settled in Ballantine, MT, on a small farm raising livestock and hay. Together they had five children. While raising her children, Janet worked part-time as a waitress at the El Chaparral Restaurant and was also employed at the Northern Hotel serving banquets. Janet was a long-time member of the Huntley Project VFW Auxiliary Post 7407 in Worden, MT. She served as the President of the HP VFW Auxiliary Post, and she also served for a time as the District 3 President. Janet enjoyed gardening, playing the piano, reading, traveling, camping, and playing pool for a local league. She also enjoyed baking, cooking large family dinners for birthdays and holidays, as well as spending time with family and friends. read more
