Jul82022

What a Hail of a Storm!

Local

Hail larger than golf balls and even as large as baseballs were captured near Pryor Creek Golf Course and Yellowstone Trail in Huntley Tuesday morning July 6th in an early-morning hour’s storm. Hail smashed windshields, dented vehicles, damaged homes and ravaged crops in the unusual early-morning severe thunderstorm. This type of storm at those hours are unusual for this area for this time of the year, according to weather officials. See more images of hail inside this edition of YCN. (Courtesy photo by Kymm Stark)

by Michael J. Marino

Balls of hail measuring as large as 2.5 inches in diameter, relatively the size of a human palm (see photo at right), ended the 4th of July weekend causing extensive damage around Yellowstone County.

The force behind the unprecedentedly large hail was heightened by high wind speeds, which gusted up to 53 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Billings

A meteorologist with NWS stated that these types of thunderstorms are not uncommon for this area, but noted the timing was a bit strange. He explained that the Yellowstone County area has “tapped into a deeper moisture pool” this summer, and added, “we just have a lot more moisture [than usual] running over top of us.” It was reported by NWS that an irregular amount of energy – brought on by a trough to the northwest of this region – is the reason that such a tremendous storm occurred this early in the season. read more

Jul52022

What a Hail of a storm!

Top Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings-Heights • Huntley Project • Shepherd

Hail stones measuring nearly the size of a Tennis ball in Worden. (courtesy photo)

A severe thunderstorm moved through the Yellowstone County area early Tuesday morning with rain and hail covering the surrounding area. At about 2:30 am Tuesday Morning July 5, 2022. A severe read more

Jul12022

Nearly 4,000 Attend Billings Pride Event Downtown 

Top Stories

 by Michael J. Marino 

The weather was close to perfect for the some 4,000 people who celebrated LGBT Pride
Month in downtown Billings this Saturday, June 25, 2022. (Photos by Michael Marino)

Close to four thousand people packed downtown Billings on Saturday, June 25 for the annual LGBT Pride Parade. The parade was followed by a festival under the SkyPoint and adjacent streets and that included live entertainment and music, food trucks, and various information and activity booths.  read more

Jul12022

Obituary: Michael “Mikey” Huck

Obituaries

Michael “Mikey” Huck

Michael “Mikey” Huck, one of the world’s greatest people, passed away on Friday, June 24th, at the age of 29.  He was born May 25th, 1993, to loving parents Patrick and Shanon (Lahn) Huck. He was born into a family with a loving sister, Michelle, and was soon joined by his brother, Nathan, and twin sisters Lillian and Heather. 

Michael was born into a massive, loving family, with over 30 uncles and aunts, and was always loved by those around him. Michael had many friends over the years, and could brighten up any room with his infectious smile, laugh, and his hilarious and warm personality. He attended school at Lockwood until the 8th grade, and went on to graduate from Senior High in Billings, with the class of 2012. Michael loved working in the restaurant industry, and everyone who ever tasted one knew Mikey could whip up a pretty awesome pizza from scratch. read more

Jul12022

Obituary: John Ancil Stark

Obituaries

John Stark

John Ancil Stark passed peacefully in the presence of his family on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Riverstone Hospice Home.  

John was born at home on the Moss Ranch near Pass Creek in Parkman, WY, August 29, 1933, to Keta and Floyd Stark.  During the following two years his brother Gene and sister Betty joined the family.  John received his education from Parkman School, Indian Arrow School, Lincoln and Billings Senior High, and from growing up on the Moss ranch and later the family ranch on Indian Creek, east of Billings.  At the age of 17, John decided he “no longer liked the smell of paper and pencils” and with the approval of his parents, he enlisted in the United States Army where he proudly served in the 504th Air Division and became a paratrooper.  He was honorably discharged in 1954.  John then began his mason career carrying hod and mastering the trade of laying brick and block and building fireplaces in the surrounding areas of Billings, Hardin and Grass Range.  read more

Jun282022

Make Hay While the Sun Shines, Well…. what’s left of the sun

Features

The saying “make hay while the sun shines” is not only literal for farmers and ranchers but also figuratively for those who want to make the best of the situation.  Here, Montana is not only known for the Big Sky Country by also for it’s calming and mesmerizing scenery.  While cutting hay, this sun set was caught in the read more

Jun242022

Brown’s Position Lacks Clarity

Opinion • Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Responding to Mr. James Brown’s denigration of a Convention of States in last week’s Yellowstone County News.  Mr. Brown believes the problem with our federal government can be solved if the states just really start to enforce the Constitution now.  Some additional information is needed.  Article V of the US Constitution provides two means to amend the Constitution.  read more

Jun242022

Heights Water District Soap Opera Continues; Pam Ellis Voted off Board, County Attorney Calls Vote Illegal

Local • Top Stories

Heights Water District Board member Pam Ellis, right, stands up as law enforcement escorts her away from the board table after being voted off the board by board members Wednesday evening June 15, 2022. Board President Ming Cabrera, pictured left sitting in chair, had law enforcement remove Ellis. Ellis was appointed to the Height Water District by County Commissioners as a County Representative. Deputy county attorney says the vote was illegal. Read full story, see differing emails, and actual letter sent to County Commissioners about Ellis on page 4 & 5. (Photo by Evelyn Pyburn)

Three members of the Heights County Water District Board unanimously voted Board Member Pam Ellis off the board with a vote of no-confidence, last Wednesday. Whether they have the authority to do so is a point of contention. Ellis was appointed to the board by Yellowstone County Commissioners and the County does not agree the board has the authority to remove her.

On Tuesday, County Chief In-House Counsel Jeana Lervick sent an opinion to the commissioners that said, “…the Heights Water Board cannot ‘remove’ Ms. Ellis from the Water District.  Ms. Ellis is the County’s appointee to the District.  Both Montana Code (Title 7, Chapter 13, Sections 22 and 23) and the Water Board’s bylaws state that directors may only be removed subject to recall by the electors of the District.  This applies to both elected as well as appointed directors, which would include Ms. Ellis.  The reasons that a director may be removed would include neglect, refusal to perform duties, felony conviction, decision of a court declaring the incumbent’s election or appointment void, etc…  As such, the Water Board’s action taken is not valid and Ms. Ellis remains on the Board.” read more

Jun222022

Obituaries: Everett Glenn Lane

Obituaries

Everett Glenn Lane

Everett Glenn Lane, 80, died June 9, 2022.  He was born Christmas Day, 1941 to Elwin George Lane and Maryanna Irene Hamilton Lane at a farmhouse near Fairfield, MT.  His early years included time in Mountain Home, ID; four years at the homestead of his grandmother, Clara Bump, north of Winnett, MT; a year in Brooks, MT, kindergarten and first grade in Lewistown; second grade in Winnett, third and fourth grades in Cat Creek; back to Winnett for fifth grade; sixth grade in Lewistown; and finally back to Winnett long enough to graduate at 18.

After serving with the National Guard, Everett began driving for Hanlon Oil Company hauling crude from Roundup’s Devil’s Basin to the Mosby refinery.  He was working with Ed Livingston Drilling in 1962 when he married Lana Berg.  After moving to Billings and being by hired by Wardell’s Truck Stop, the family increased with the birth of daughter, Barbara.  The establishment of a truck stop/cafe in Jordan, MT by father-in-law, Lloyd Berg, drew the little family there.  The failure of that business resulted in a move back to Billings and Wardell’s followed by a divorce. read more

Jun222022

Obituaries: Richard “Max” Bullock

Obituaries

Richard Bullock

When asked how he would want to be celebrated, Lt. TJ Hall, Max’s Wingman, said, “Fast, Loud and Awesome!” While he’ll be celebrated this way, he’ll be remembered as generous beyond belief, a genuine friend, passionate and relentlessly positive, and fearless.

Lt. Richard Max Bullock was born on February 13th, 1993, in Butte, Montana, and died on June 3 during a training exercise, when the FA-18 Super Hornet he was flying crashed near Trona, California.  While taken far too soon, Max packed more into 29 years than most could ever imagine. He would start everyday with an intent on figuring out how to make the world a better place.

Max was generous. He spent his early life in Butte, Montana, helping his family build the Jeremy Bullock Memorial Soccer fields, a tribute to his brother who was also taken too soon. He continued to support the Jeremy Bullock Foundation throughout his life. Max was also an entrepreneur. By age four, he was caught tolling his dad’s coworkers for access to their offices; by 15 he formed his first company, and when he passed, he had multiple real estate holdings and was the force behind an investment collaborative with his siblings and parents. read more

Jun172022

  500-Year Flood Rages along Yellowstone 

Top Stories

Aerial drone image of Cowboys Bar & Restaurant in Huntley taken Wednesday morning with very high winds pushing debris, logs and water all around Cowboys property, driveway and into outbuildings. Officials recorded the river volume to be flowing at 82,800 cubic feet per second (CFS), and a high mark of 16 ft. 5 in. on Wednesday, June 15 This 500-year flood level is effecting Huntley worse than both the 2011 and 1997 flood levels, according to officials. (Drone image by Jonathan McNiven). See more drone images and flooding pictures throughout the paper.

The Yellowstone River drainage is experiencing a 500-year flood event. “We have never seen anything like this before,” said a Carbon County official.

Notices flew out across Yellowstone County, late Tuesday, that the Yellowstone River was expected to crest at Billings at 15.1 feet by 7 pm. With local folks watching the water come at them for the past couple of days, as it devastated communities upstream, the report was no surprise. Wednesday morning it was being reported that the Yellowstone River had reached 16.4 feet, the highest level ever reported – 15 feet on the Yellowstone is considered flood stage. read more

Jun172022

Obituary: Gertrude Strand

Obituaries

Gertrude Strand

Gertrude (Gert) Strand, 92, of Scobey died on January 12, 2022, at the Daniels Memorial Hospital in Scobey. She was born April 14, 1929, in Plentywood, Montana, to Esmer (Roderick) Fink and John Peter Fink.

Gert attended St. Thomas in Great Falls her freshman and sophomore years winning the Geisey Foundation award her freshman year. She attended Plentywood High School her junior and senior years and graduated from there.

On March 31, 1953, Gert married Roger Lee Iorge. To that marriage one child Brenda Ann was born June 08, 1954. They divorced July, 1956. Gert married Marvin (Buzz) Strand November 08, 1962. His children Deborah and Terrie came to live with them; Brenda was adopted by Buzz, making a family of five. read more

Jun132022

Floods Rage at High Elevations; Flood Warning for Lower Yellowstone

Top Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings • Huntley Project

The Yellowstone River is running out of its banks in this 6/13/22 drone image near Shepherd at Arrow Island. More Drone images at end of story. (Drone image by Jonathan McNiven)

As of 5 pm on Monday, June 13, the National Weather Service issued flood warnings for the Yellowstone and Stillwater Rivers. The warning follows two days of significant flooding of streams at higher elevations – flooding that is devastating the town of Red Lodge and has closed roads in numerous places including Yellowstone National Park, the upper Stillwater, and the highway between Gardiner and Livingston.

Flood levels measured on the upper Yellowstone River are beyond record levels.

Flooding is threatening the town of Joliet and residents are being asked to prepare for evacuation.

Some reports claim that the Clarks Fork River is at record flood levels.

Rock Creek in Red Lodge has broken through its banks and waters are flooding more than half the town from the creek at the town’s eastern edge to beyond Main Street where river water is flowing two feet deep.

Yellowstone Park announced that it read more