Mar112022
Well, Folks, I’d like to write a little about the newspaper industry in today’s market. Just like other businesses in the free market, we all have to be flexible and adjust to the market in ways that help increase our product for the masses, for our readers and advertisers. However, some newspapers have been hit in different ways. read more
Mar112022
Dear Editor,
It always frustrates me that some businesses have their meetings on Wednesday nights during Lent. read more
Mar112022
Mark Wesley Keller
One of the good guys was called home on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Mark Keller, 69, of Billings, was born on Dec. 19, 1952, to George and Ellatena “Tena” Keller. He graduated from Billings West High School in 1971 and married the love of his life in 1974.
Mark worked in the beer business for over 40 years and has been employed with Intermountain Distributing since 1985. He truly enjoyed all the relationships he formed over the years with both his co-workers and his accounts. Everyone he knew was a friend.
Mark’s pride and joy was his family. Nothing put a bigger smile on his face than being involved in their lives. Whether it was their sports, their jobs or family events, he was ALWAYS there!
Mark was notorious for all the special little things he did for those he loved. If you know him, then you know. He will be remembered by how he made you feel and that contagious smile.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah “Debbie” Keller; son, Kevin (April) Keller; daughter, Kristin (Jason) Pinter; mother, Tena Christensen; stepfather, Harlow Christensen; stepsisters, Paige Clendenin and Kelly Erickson. Mark is also survived by his four grandchildren who were at the center of his world. They are Jaxon and Jaron Pinter, and Kyra and Kinley Keller.
Preceding him in death was his father, George Keller; sister, Deborah C. Keller; grandparents Andreas and Jacobina Reich; grandparents Pete and Mary Keller; plus many aunts, uncles and cousins.
A celebration of his life will be at 10 a.m. Monday, March 14, at American Lutheran Church, 5 Lewis Ave. A reception will follow at the Knights of Columbus, located at 2216 Grand Ave.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Montana Hope Project, PO Box 5927, Helena MT 59604, www.montanahope.org.
Condolences may be made at www.michelottisawyers.com.
Mar42022
Last week a meeting of local governmental entities held a joint meet to compare notes and keep everyone informed about what each is doing. The county commissioners, some Billings city council members and some school board members, as well as staff people for each, attended the luncheon meeting at Lincoln Center, School District 2’s administration building. read more
Mar42022
As of press time, it was being estimated 300 trucks would be arriving late Wednesday afternoon in Lockwood as part of the People’s Convoy, which has been inspired and is being organized similar to the Canadian trucker’s Freedom Convoy.
The convoy began in Spokane Wednesday morning with plans to stop in Missoula around noon and then later in Belgrade and then on to Billings at about 7 pm. Plans were being made in some communities to herald truckers along the way from overpasses in locations such as Livingston, Big Timber and Columbus. read more
Mar42022
Dear Editor:
A couple of weeks ago I heard Mark Levin talking about the Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison. Although I was not able to listen to everything he had to say, I realized that he and I were on the same page about this case. Thomas Jefferson started criticizing this case shortly after it was decided in 1803 until almost the day he died on July 4, 1826. Jefferson predicted because of this case Judges would become despots(i.e. Dictators). Not only did that happen but the legal profession itself became what I see as a force for tyranny against the citizens of this country. I have always felt that this case sowed the seeds of tyranny although it took it many decades to mature. It is the reason that many lawyers consider the Constitution a living and breathing document something that our founders had never envisioned it to be. read more
Feb232022
Richard William Covington
Richard William Covington, age 80 of Huntley, MT, passed away at his home surrounded by family on February 21, 2022.
Richard was born on March 19, 1941, in Detroit, MI, to Richard and Emma Covington. He graduated from Bald Knob High School in Arkansas in 1959.
Richard married Mary “Sue” Burrus on April 4, 1960. During their 61-year marriage, they were blessed with seven children: Rick Covington, Cindy Ward, Ann Daniel, Tabby Covington, Sandie Rush (Chris), Jason Covington (Theresa) and Stephen Covington. He leaves behind 21 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by one grandchild, Adam. read more
Feb182022
Dear Editor:
Commissioner Pitman’s guest editorial in the Billings Gazette on February 13, 2022, does not shed light on the MetraPark discussion. He states within the last five years, there was significant deterioration of Metra property and buildings. “We began by doing an assessment of the property and cost of saving barns and the grandstands.” Who is the ‘we’ and where is the report on this assessment? Next, he talks about “…this new footprint.” What new footprint? Has Metra Advisory Board formally presented a footprint for adoption? read more
Feb182022
Montana and Billings were among many school districts that lifted their mask mandates over the past week. After two years of having to wear masks in school – in the classroom and on the playground– the happy, jubilant faces of children were visible this week going to school and playing on playgrounds. read more
Feb182022
Huntley Project team, coaches and managers pose with their newly awarded 1st place state trophy and hardware at MetraPark’s First Interstate Arena on Saturday, February 12, 2022. The last time Huntley Project wrestling one the state tournament was in 2000. This is the seventh time Huntley Project has won the state championship in school history. (Photo by Roger Nay)
The Huntley Project Wrestling Team achieved another milestone with winning the state Championship trophy and first place in last week’s State Wrestling Tournament at MetraPark Arena. This is the first time since 2000 when Huntley Project took the state championship status and the seventh time Huntley Project’s wrestling team has won the State Championship in school history.
“After coming up short the last two years with a second-place finish,” said Head Coach Tim Kaczmarek in his 13th year at the helm, “we separated ourselves this year and extended our lead in the Saturday morning matches which helped us win the state tournament as a team.” read more
Feb182022
Christina Carlson (Richter)
January 11, 1930 – February 14, 2022
Christina Carlson (Richter)
Christina Carlson, 92, formerly of Selz, ND, passed away peacefully in her sleep February 14, 2022, in Billings, MT, surrounded by her three children and family.
Christina was the 9th of 12 children born to Michael and Barbara Richter. She lived a full life spending most of her time in WY, MT, WA, and AZ. She grew up on a farm outside of Selz, ND. She married Leo Thomas on October 4, 1948, and they had 3 children. They farmed by Wellsburg before moving to Upton, WY, where she worked at the Upton Gazette as a typesetter. She married George Falk of Upton, WY, and enjoyed taking care of and riding horses. She fulfilled one of her desires and had her last horse ride the summer before she turned 80.
She worked at the Jones’ truck stop, and it was during this time she developed her love for cooking and held positions at various restaurants as a sous chef over the years. Her most enjoyable employment came as a personal chef on the Taylor Ranch outside of Kirby, MT. She married Dave Carlson, an independent truck driver, and got to see most of the United States as they traveled around the country. After Dave retired, they relocated from Startup, WA, to Yuma, AZ. They purchased a motorhome and continued to travel during the summer months. After Dave passed away, she moved to Billings, MT to be close to her family. read more
Feb112022
While the proponents of the Montana Property Tax Initiative, CI-121 await word from the courts about the validity of their petition — a wait that is now weeks long – “a large, diverse, and unconventional coalition of Montanans has come together to oppose CI-121,” reports the Montana Chamber of Commerce. read more
Feb112022
Dear Editor:
As a person full of misinformation, I thought the US Constitution gave states the ability to govern their own state. When I was in high school, Montana drafted a new constitution. Part of that document stated air and water quality standards. A few years later the state had to change the standards for the sake of jobs or out-of-state investors’ profits. About the same time the drinking age changed, the federal government said if we wanted interstate highway funds, we had better change the drinking age to 21. read more
Feb112022
Yellowstone County Sheriff, Mike Linder is recommending citizens come forward if their pet has passed under suspicious circumstances. read more
Feb112022
The Billings Heights Water District has selected Peyton Brookshire as its new manager, following a search for candidates that brought over 40 applications of which four were interviewed by the board. read more
Feb72022
James “Jim” Allen Grosskop
James “Jim” Allen Grosskop, 69 of Huntley, Montana, died on January 29th, 2022 at his home on the farm. He was born on August 26, 1952, in Billings Montana to Harold and Lou “Madeline” Grosskop
He graduated from Billings West High School in 1970, attended MSU Bozeman and studied Ag Business/Economics. From 1972-1974 he was in the Peace Corp in Nepal working on the “Farm Seed Project.” Jim worked as a loan officer at Yellowstone Bank for seventeen years. He then worked for Hulcher Services as a laborer on a train wrecking crew. On this job he made some life-long friends, who he viewed as family and shared many great adventures with them on the job. read more
Feb42022
Economically, Montana had a “fantastic” year in 2021, and 2022 is being forecast to be much the same, but there are challenges.
At the forefront of his forecast, Montana’s premier economist, Dr. Patrick Barkey, Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana, is projecting a decline in the seven percent inflation rate – “a stunning number” — to something closer to 3.5 or 4 percent, which is still “a lot of inflation.” Skyrocketing energy prices are contributing the most to the inflation rate. Some commodities have actually declined in price. read more
Feb42022
Dear Editor:
METRA
There certainly seems to be a lot of views, opinions and disagreement regarding whether or not to keep the Metra Management under the guidance of the County or to Privatize? When one of the commissioners asked me about my personal thoughts, here’s what I shared with him. read more
Feb42022
Billings Police sent an update Friday, January 28th, releasing additional public criminal justice information to clarify developments in the double homicide investigation. read more
Feb42022
Two of the companies that are likely to submit proposals to manage MetraPark have asked for more time to prepare their proposals – a request that the county commissioners put on the agenda for next week. indicating a willingness to extend it by two weeks. The deadline is currently Feb. 4. read more
