Dear Editor,
It is about time we recognized the true heroes of the Republican Party. They are not the dopey louts who rampaged through our nation’s capital and the moral cowards who still cover for them. read more
Sep172021
Sep172021
Shepherd School Showcases Recent Renovations & Expansions
Kindergarten Classroom (photo by Julie DelCamp)
Shepherd School District is proud to be showcasing the recent improvements due to renovating, remodeling, restructuring and expanding. Superintendent Drea O’Donnell gave Yellowstone County News a tour this week showing the improvements room by room which included expansions, and newly closed corridors. read more
Sep172021
Hit and Run at Blue Cat Bar Raises Questions
Details leading up to and including a hit and run incident that occurred at the Blue Cat Bar parking lot Saturday morning September 11 in Huntley are still emerging Wednesday afternoon as the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol are asking for information to come forward. The call was reported to the Billings 911 Call center at 4:04am. (photo by Jonathan McNiven)
The Yellowstone County Sherriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Worden Ambulance responded to a 911 call reporting of a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash at The Blue Cat Bar located at 139 Northern Avenue in Huntley. The caller reported that a female was hit by a vehicle, but it was unknown if the vehicle was still in the area. The caller said the victim was conscious and bleeding during the 911 call that was placed at 4:04 am. Details leading up to the incident remain uncertain.
Worden Ambulance responded, locating an adult female on scene, who was found to be conscious but sustained obvious apparent injuries and was transported to Billings Clinic Hospital for care according to Worden Fire Chief, Phillip Hackmann.
Yellowstone County Deputy Welton having arrived first and eventually followed by Trooper Moran of MHP arrived on scene around 5:00 a.m. was unable to locate the victim. She had already been transported to Billings Clinic Hospital by that time. The adult female was admitted to Billings Clinic Hospital. MHP Captain Hayter later confirmed that the adult female was moved from ICU as of Tuesday late afternoon. read more
Sep102021
Fake News or Half-Truths? Actually Do Your Own Research
Dear Editor,
Growing up I always heard, “Keep your own nose clean and keep your own backyard clean.” Reading a story, the other day I came across “Mind your own business,” with a Bible quote. Naturally I had to look it up, sure enough that is what it said. (1 Thessalonians 4 :11.) read more
Sep102021
Crow Language Children’s Books Now Available at the Billings Public Library
On Friday, September 2nd the Billings Public Library Foundation announced a generous donation of eighteen children’s books written in the Crow language which was made possible through the Crow Language Consortium and The Language Conservancy. These books will be added to the library’s existing indigenous language collection and will be available for check-out in the children’s section. read more
Sep102021
City Leaders Launch Levy Campaign for Public Safety
City of Billings Mayor Bill Cole speaks about the need for increased revenues to city coffers in order to fight the rising crime rate in Billings. (Courtesy photo)
Officials in the City of Billings launched a campaign on Tuesday to pass a safety mill levy this fall – one aimed at curbing the rapid increase in crime in Billings. read more
Sep102021
County Commissioners Approve New Budget
Yellowstone County Commissioners approved the 2021-22 Fiscal Year budget on Tuesday, after amending it to reduce the number of requested FTE’s by eight. read more
Sep62021
Obituary: Mark Curtis Striegel
Mark Curtis Striegel went to be with his Lord on August 26, 2021 at age 66. He was born July 30, 1955 in Bismarck, North Dakota to Cleon and Audrey Striegel. Mark grew up on the family farm south of Almont with his 3 siblings; Dennis, Brad and Susan. He graduated from Almont High School in 1973. read more
Aug272021
Traitors Then, Traitors Today
Dear Editor,
I need to vomit! I’ve been watching the fall of Afghanistan on TV, and it brings back memories of a good friend of mine as he was evacuated from Saigon at the last minute. read more
Aug272021
Dig It Days Contributes to Success of MontanaFair
Dig It Days far exceeded his greatest expectations, said Bill Dutcher, Metra Park and Montana Fair Manager, as he reviewed the success of fair week.
Local industry equipment dealers from Yellowstone County participated in the 2nd annual Yellowstone Dig It Days at MontanaFair. Here, kids and adults are digging in the ground while learning about the different pieces of equipment Thursday afternoon August 19, 2021. Sponsors for this equipment included RDO Equipment Company, Modern Machinery, Tri-State Truck & Equipment and Tractor & Equipment. See full coverage and more pictures from Dig It Days inside this week’s and next week’s edition of the Yellowstone County News. (Jonathan McNiven photo)
“I think everyone was amazed,” he said about the fundraising event produced by Yellowstone County News’ non-profit foundation Yellowstone Family – but then all of Montana Fair week was amazing. This year’s fair may vie as a record year. read more
Aug272021
Billings Schools Mandate Masks
Superintendent Greg Upham reinstated the mask mandate in Billings School District 2 on August 22, meaning students, staff, and visitors will need to wear a mask while in the school buildings. The mandate came after being notified of a covid-19 outbreak at Skyview High School involving one of the school’s teams. While this is not the only reason Mr. Upham made this call, it is one of the main reasons. read more
Aug202021
Obituary: Neil Henry Oltrogge
Neil Henry Oltrogge
Neil and his twin sister Nancy were born in Billings, November 4, 1952 to Bernard and Betty Lou (Bullett) Oltrogge. He was raised in Ballantine, Montana, and attended Huntley Project Schools. Upon graduation Neil worked several construction jobs before starting work for Burlington Northern Railroad, working as a conductor out of Forsyth, MT. In 1980 he was joined in marriage to Teresa Flamm. This union was blessed with four children: Jessica (Robert Wilhelm), Elizabeth (Troy Vanderlinde), Rebecca (Matt Wilson), and Nathan. They made their home and raised their family in Forsyth. Their union later ended in divorce. Upon retirement Neil returned to the family home in Ballantine to live out the remainder of his life. Neil was the proud grandfather of Dante and Victor, the very loved Uncle Ned to his beloved nieces and nephews, and Lucky Ned Pepper to his brother Doug (Rita). Neil was preceded in death by his parents, sister Nancy, and brothers Timothy and Patrick and his loving cousin, Jon Ditzel. A family gathering will be held on a later date
Aug202021
Feds Approve Montana’s COVID Education Plan and Release $127 Million more to the State
On Aug. 5, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced the approval of Montana’s American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) plan, and it distributed remaining ARP ESSER funds to the state. read more
Aug202021
HP High School 2001 Reunion
Dear Editor,
During the past weekend, the Huntley Project High School Class of 2001 held our first reunion since graduation. It was a fantastic weekend where classmates were able to reconnect and have a lot of fun. read more
Aug202021
Gallatin’s Total Property Tax Values Exceeds Yellowstone’s
Not surprisingly, Yellowstone County has long had the highest total taxable property values in the state, but that all changed in 2019 when for the first time Gallatin County’s total taxable property value exceeded that of Yellowstone County – and that is true again this year. read more
Aug202021
City Council Asks Only for Prohibition
of the Sale of Marijuana within City Limits
In last week’s issue of the Yellowstone County News a portion of the article about the City of Billings putting the matter of legalizing the recreational use of marijuana on the ballot was in error. read more
Aug122021
Pitman Left Marijuana Vote in a Lurch
Dear Editor,
On August 3, 2021, the Yellowstone County Commissioners faced one of its most significant votes in recent memory relating to the recreational marijuana issue as a result of I-90. Whether you were for the Board action, or against it, is was important for each Commissioner to participate. read more
Aug122021
Misinformation About Booking Contract Creates Concern at MetraPark
During the County Commissioners’ discussion meeting on Thursday an issue arose that wasn’t on the agenda. With a cadre of Metra Park leadership in attendance, Commissioner John Ostlund explained that they were there to clear up rumors claiming that the commissioners were going to “privatize” the management of Metra Park. He said that the rumors, which were false, were contributing to low morale at Metra Park. read more
Aug122021
City Votes to put Marijuana Back on the Ballot
While Yellowstone County outside the city limits of Billings will allow the growing, manufacturing and sale of recreational marijuana, whether those activities will be permissible within the city will be determined by Billings’ voters in a ballot measure in November. read more
Aug102021
Obituary: Matthew Wade Grandpre
Matthew Wade Grandpre, 42, went to be with his Savior Jesus Christ, on 26 July 2021, as a result of a motorcycle accident. He was born 18 April 1979 in Coeur d’Alene, ID. He grew up in Osburn, ID, graduating from Kellogg High School in 1997. read more
