Aug52022
Are we in a recession yet? Whether we are– as has been the national debate about the technical semantics of it all — according to Montana’s premier economist, Dr. Pat Barkey, “It doesn’t feel like a recession yet….but there has been a significant decline” in the country ‘s production levels. “It doesn’t look like we will make it up in the next quarter.” read more
Aug52022
Magic City Blues, touted as an urban music festival for a rural state, has been lighting up Billings since 2001. This year’s line-up will be no different, except one major change. This weekend, August 5 and 6, the music festival will be held outside at MetraPark’s fairgrounds, offering up more space for the thousands of music fans who come from around the country for the event. read more
Aug12022
How’s a kid to know?
It’s a really big question. When asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” How can a kid answer without knowing the possibilities?
Now-a-days, hands-on experience or information about how things are made is non- existent for most kids, and yet they are expected to know at an incredibly young age, from the unfathomably huge number of occupations, what career choice is best for them.
Build Montana graduates: (L-R) Rebecca Watson; Tyler Harakal; Olivia Parker; Bennett Petersen; and Noah Neice. (courtesy photo)
Jul292022
Dear Editor,
Jonathan: Interesting to read in your latest edition that you are adding David Crisp to your writers’ staff. I consider Crisp and Ed Kemmick (and a couple of others) among the very few literary/journalist Gazette contributions to Montana. read more
Jul292022
What happens when the signature section of the return envelope for a mail-in ballot isn’t there?
Yellowstone County News received a few phone calls from voters after the primary election, who had that experience and wanted to know how that could happen and how the county election department handles the situation. read more
Jul292022
by Michael J. Marino
Several programs are now available to Yellowstone County residents and small businesses that were affected by the 500-year flood after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Montana’s request for individual assistance. read more
Jul222022
Dear Editor,
I thought I would send a quick message and tell you how much I enjoy the newspaper since you took over. I had several questions answered from articles just this week. Very informative. Thank you for the effort and work you put into putting out a quality product. The paper has come a long ways!
Cynthia Spence
Shepherd, MT
Jul222022
A missive that was sent out recently to the Billings Clinic leadership regarding the implementation of new mandates has caused a stir among clinic employees who believe the privacy of their health information has been violated by the process pursued.
Zach Benoit, Billings Clinic’s Community Relations Coordinator, says that no one’s HIPPA rights have been violated, and the healthcare facility is dealing with the misunderstandings internally — “to make sure people have the right information.” read more
Jul222022
Inflation – Part II Local Effects
by Michael J. Marino
Inflation – a concept that some have called “the 800-pound gorilla that we can do little about” and others have said is like “a bull in a China shop.” Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Michael Vondra dubbed it the economy’s “little devil,” and he said that although it’s possible the economy could turn around soon, it’s more likely to “get a lot worse” in coming months.
Vondra, who works with clients at Edward Jones, explained how the lower end of the income scale has already been hurting this year, but now he said, “It’s goi read more
Jul162022
by Michael J. Marino
Homes that were significantly damaged by the 500-year flood in June are now eligible for financial assistance from American RedCross (ARC) by calling 800-272-6668 and scheduling an appointment with a caseworker. read more
Jul162022
Dear Editor,
Citizens have been telling ousted Commissioner Denis Pitman and Commissioner Don Jones since 2021, NOT to privatize MetraPark management, and/or that they should have a third party evaluate private vs. public management. Pitman did not listen. Instead, he pursued a course of action to secure private management for his and Jones’ preferred contractor, OVG – a company located in California. Pitman constantly claims that he is for open and transparent government. Yet his words have been repeatedly betrayed by his actions to secure the contract for OVG. After consistently saying that this whole idea and pursuit came up last summer, he was recently quoted in the Gazette as saying, “This process is the completion of something I’ve been working on for years.” read more
Jul162022
Now that its production and sale is legal in Yellowstone County and many other areas of the state, a marijuana trade show shouldn’t be a surprise.
MetraPark officials made a point of making Yellowstone County Commissioners aware that Wesley Jenks, President of GC Production, LLC, on behalf of Xpocanna, Cannabis Conventions and Exhibitions, has contacted them to reserve dates sometime in May 2023 to hold the first ever tradeshow for entrepreneurs and health professionals and others involved in the production, marketing, and sale of marijuana and its associated products. read more
Jul162022
by Darrell Ehrlick
Dr. Jeff Golini, the owner and executive scientist of All American Pharmaceuticals showcases two infant formula products that are made in his manufacturing plant, yet he’s prohibited from making his own product to help ease the formula shortage. (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan)
As America continues to scramble for more baby formula following a Michigan plant shutdown that hobbled the nation’s supply, a Montana manufacturer in Billings stood by, ready to ramp up production only to be stymied by federal red tape, and then watched the market welcome foreign product
Jeff Golini is the owner and executive scientist at All American Pharmaceuticals. In addition to inventing and manufacturing a number of proprietary sports supplements and products, his company contracts with a number of other companies to manufacture products, including baby formula for export to China.
The facility with a substantial footprint in Billings Heights is FDA certified and approved. It’s even certified by the Chinese government for making products for that country. He has the required formulary the U.S. government mandates for baby and infant formula (baby formula is for 0 to 12 months, while infant formula is for children older than 12 months). read more
Jul152022
Patricia Glee (Gillen) Walker March 20th 1938 – June 24th 2022
Patricia Glee (Gillen) Walker
Packy Walker took the hand of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and entered the Kingdom of God for her heavenly homecoming the early hours of June 24th. The room was filled with love, and she was holding the hands of her sons as she left this world. Packy was a one of a kind, made in Montana girl who truly knew the value of hard work and loving thy neighbor. Packy was given her nickname from her father who was proud of his Irish heritage. Her parents, Thomas and Frances (Kosak) Gillen, were both born in Montana. Thomas, born in Butte growing up in Red Lodge, and Frances, born in the small coal mining town of Bear Creek, MT. Frances’ parents emigrated to the US in 1904 from Yugoslavia. Frances learned English in grade school in Roundup and grew up near the No.3 Coal Mine where her father worked.
Packy remembers growing up making Poteca, a traditional Slovenian sweet bread, with her mother and aunts, a treasured tradition that Packy passed down to her granddaughters. You counted yourself blessed to receive a loaf of poteca for Christmas from Packy.
Packy was born in Wolfpoint but mainly grew up in Roundup where she graduated from high school in 1956 as the Valedictorian. Packy was the class Vice President, participated in student council, chorus, twirling, pep club, tumbling, rodeo staff, panther parade staff and was prom queen. Packy and her mother Frances hold the distinction of being the only mother-daughter team to both be crowned May Day Queens at Roundup High School. read more
Jul152022
Wesley Jackson Orahood
Wesley Jackson Orahood was born August 31, 1928, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Harry and Louise (Eskelson) Orahood, the third of three children. Wesley left for greener pastures Friday, July 8, 2022, to meet up with friends and family who have gone on before.
Wesley moved with his family to the ranch on Tallow Creek in Montana at six months old. He attended several primary schools in the Content community before going to Malta High School, graduating in 1946.
He cowboyed in southern Phillips County until he was drafted into the Army in 1953 during the Korean Conflict returning to Tallow Creek in 1955.
In 1957 he met Marlyn Gloyne at the Long X. They were married March 28, 1958, five months and five days after they met. They raised four children at the ranch on Tallow Creek. Ludell, Lynne, Lori and Jim. Wesley and Marlyn spent the next 40 years raising hell, horses, cattle and kids! In 2005 they moved to Malta. read more
Jul152022
John James Clark
Dad left the homestead on July 7, 2022 for the last time. He was proud to be the third generation on the site and still living in the original home (although it had been added onto as the family grew).
John James Clark was born on May 6, 1939, in Billings, Montana, to Jack and Bobie Clark, one of four children, and the only boy! He may have been a little extra protected by his father against all those girls, but he and his youngest sister were pretty good at entertaining themselves and keeping grandma on her toes.
He graduated from Shepherd High School and shortly thereafter he met the love of his life, Peggy Cumin at the KitKat Cafe. They were married on June 21, 1960. Together he and Peggy worked on a ranch in Rygate, logged in the mountains of White Sulphur, worked the sugar beet campaign, drove semis, dump trucks, and worked construction for various companies.
They had three children, Bobbi, Billee, and Jared, who were raised in Billings Heights, before it was considered within the city limits. So they had a little bit of everything that makes life wonderful. They were sure the neighbors didn’t appreciate the snowmobiles or mini bikes roaring up and down the road and they were sure the horses were glad to see us go back to school after Christmas breaks spent pulling sleds for all the kids. read more
Jul152022
Madelyne Carol
(Nelson) Miller
Our loving Mother, Madelyne Carol (Nelson) Miller, 83, of Worden, Montana, passed away peacefully to be with our Father in Heaven on July 8, 2022.
Madelyne was born October 16, 1938, in Yakima, Washington. A daughter to Warren D. Nelson and Geraldine D. (Wilson) Nelson. At a young age, Madelyne moved to Billings, Montana, graduating from Billings Senior High School in 1957, where she met her high school sweetheart Bernard G. Miller whom she married in Waukegan, Illinois, on June 14, 1958, and together they celebrated 54 years of marriage. Madelyne was a supportive wife of a career naval husband, spending the majority of her adult life living in Chula Vista, California, until 1981, when she moved to Worden, Montana.
Madelyne or “Maggie” as her family and many friends knew her, had many interests that included genealogy, gardening, and attending weekly luncheons with the “seniors” groups in her community of Worden and Huntley, Montana. She was a talented seamstress, including crocheting and knitting, and she enjoyed growing beautiful plants and flowers, especially African violets, which she often gave away as gifts. read more
Jul112022
Parking for Homesteader Days concert 2022 Friday night. Cars and trucks lined both sides of the railroad tracks from Road 7 to Road 8. about a mile in length captured in this drone image. (Image by Jonathan McNiven)
The annual Homesteader Days events would not be complete without all the food, games, parade, entertainment, concert and pig wrestling contest. Not to mention all the friendships the locals and visitors get to reconnect with each year.
Friday night always brings a big crowd to the concert to kick off Homesteader Days and then the parade and kids festivities kick off on Saturday after the parade.
Here are some pictures, images and and the winning video from the Homesteader Days events and winning team for the Pig Wrestling Contest this year. This team of four kids called 406 Hillbilly’s won the pig wrestling contest in catching the pig and placing it in the plastic garbage can in a whopping 20 seconds. Each team has 1 minute to try to capture and place the pig in the garbage can in order to win the contest. Here is the winning video read more
Jul82022
Dear Editor,
The June 24th reporting on the June 15th Heights water board meeting by the Yellowstone County News was accurate, but as my name was mentioned in the article, I thought further context was in order. read more
Jul82022
Denis Pitman will run as a write-in candidate for Yellowstone County Commissioner
County Commissioner Denis Pitman isn’t ready to give up quite yet.
Having lost his primary bid to be the Republican candidate on the November General Election ballot, incumbent county commissioner, Denis Pitman, is registering as a write-in candidate. Pitman said that he is registering so voters have an option, and so that the votes will count for all those who have said they will be writing in his name on the General Election ballot. Write-in votes do not count unless the candidate has registered with the Elections Department. So, all those votes for Mickey Mouse do not get counted. read more
