Apr162021
Dear Editor,
The Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the FBI on our reservations have consistently gotten bad press in Montana. What we’ve seen reported is frequent incompetence, slow service (or no service). We’d seen some of the same lack of service in the recent past from the Department of Veterans Affairs (I’m told it is better now). read more
Apr162021
HELENA- The House passed three comprehensive recreational marijuana implementation bills this week. These bills take different approaches to the regulation of recreational marijuana, but they all respect the will of voters and ensure proper safeguards are in place. read more
Apr162021
Pictograph Cave State Park reopened Wednesday, April 14, 2021, two months after it was closed by a rockfall which blocked the access road and several trails. In the months following the rockfall in January, employees and contractors for Montana State Parks have worked tirelessly to clear the road and trails and assess the threat of future rockfalls from the sandstone cliffs that form part of the park. read more
Apr162021
After years of trying to establish some kind of a medical facility in Lockwood, the Lockwood School Board has made a significant step forward to building a St. Vincent Healthcare clinic – but it didn’t happen without some public opposition. read more
Apr162021
The COVID-19 pandemic may end up changing our lives in some significant ways. To cite one example, it’s likely we’ll see a lot more people continue to work remotely, now that they’ve seen the effectiveness of tools such as videoconferencing. Education, too, may be forever changed in some ways. Perhaps just as important, though, is how many people may now think more about the future – including how they invest. read more
Apr132021
David Glenn Rich
David Glenn Rich, age 64, passed away on March 18, 2021. David was born in Billings MT on Thanksgiving, November 22 1956. David attended multiple schools in rural Montana, graduating in Rygate in 1975.His early years were spent working in the oil fields and several years offshore drilling in South Africa. He later began truck driving and spent several years driving across the United States. David met and married Patrice Becker of Ballantine. The Two then started PBR Trucking Inc. David is proceeded in death by his wife, Patrice Rich. read more
Apr122021
Lifelong resident and businessman, Charlie Loveridge has been the first to announce his candidacy for the Billings City Council.
Charlie Loveridge
Loveridge will be challenging incumbent Denise Joy in Ward 3, should she run for re-election. There will be five city council positions and the office of Mayor open for election on November 2, 2021.
Loveridge said he decided to run for city council after having spent time watching the city’s budget proceedings on the city’s “zoom” meetings, and decided “the process did not hold my Montana values.” He wasn’t happy with decisions that were made and decided “I am going to run for this and bring some common-sense leadership from my ward.” read more
Apr92021
One of the announced candidates for the Heights Water District board election has been determined to be ineligible to serve on the board. read more
Apr92021
Registration is now open for the 42nd Annual Heart & Sole Run to be held on Saturday, June 19. The race returns as a live race with social distancing protocol to safely host runners in person. The number of participants will be capped at 1,200 for the 5k and 2-mile race. Runners will participate in waves of 50 people. read more
Apr92021
Dear Editor,
Under the Nuremberg Code, participants in “medical experiments” must be given full informed consent. Have we been given these facts? read more
Apr92021
Outgoing Fire Chief Lance Taylor, right, hands over the reins to newly elected Fire Chief Philip Hackmann, left. (Photo Katrina McNiven)
Following a mass shakeup in the leadership at the Worden Fire Department in solidarity with a probationary EMS provider who was dismissed from the department in February, on Monday, April 5, 2021, new leadership was elected. Chief Lance Taylor, who has served as the Fire Chief in Worden for 13 years, had announced his retirement, but, he said, “I don’t plan on disappearing. We have grants and other things in the works. I’ll still be around a bit.” read more
Apr92021
A controlled burn by a landowner near the 3000 block of Wing Shooter Trail near Huntley blew out of control Sunday evening. Wind whipped the flames up the side of the hill.
This fire twister, also known as a fire whirl or fire tornado, was captured while flames were marching up a hill between Shooters Bluff and Shadow Canyon area in Huntley during the Easter Day brush fire. It is an indication of unstable air in the atmosphere. A big watch out situation for wild land firefighters. These can cause the fire to spread fast in unpredictable directions, according to Retired Caption Robert Guenther of the Lockwood Fire Department. (Photo by Robert Guenther, retired caption of the Lockwood Fire Department)
Apr52021
Dear Editor,
In August 2020, the Yellowstone County Commissioners appointed me as the county representative to the Heights Water Board. One of the commissioners specifically said he had heard multiple complaints from business owners about the fees charged; business owners told him the Heights Water District and board are “impossible to work with.” I affirm that those statements are true. read more
Apr22021
Dear Editor,
Yes, Joe Biden is my President, and I’m a registered Republican, but more importantly, a life-long Conservative. Why bring this up? For the last four years, so many, many people touted that President Trump was “not” their President. read more
Apr22021
Wrong for Montana (WFM), a campaign which fought against the legalization of recreational marijuana, has supported legislation intended to delay the implementation of marijuana commercialization in Monana. As written, I-190 states that rules and regulations for businesses must be in place by October 2021, and adult use marijuana sales can begin by January 2022. House Bill 457, introduced by Representative Bill Mercer of Billings, would have pushed these deadlines back by at least one year. After a public hearing last week, HB 457 was tabled by the House Business and Labor Committee in a 11 to 9. read more
Apr22021
Janice Lynn Webb
Janice Lynn Webb, 61 of Huntley, MT. Died Tuesday March 02, 2021 in Billings, MT. She was born January 27th 1960 to Donald and Geraldine Cleveland in Billings, MT. She went to Billings West High School. She married Lynn Arthur Webb. She retired from the United States Post Office in June of 2020.
Survivors include sons: Kristopher (Emily) Brester of Billings, MT, Jessie Brester of Huntley, MT and Brian Webb of Huntley, MT. Grandchildren: Andruw Brester, Rilee Brester, Alexander Brester and Calvin. Siblings: Le Cleveland of Billings, MT, Jeff (Nadine) Cleveland of Billings, MT, and Scott Cleveland of Billings, MT. read more
Apr22021
In the coming decade there is much that is going to change about travel through the Billings I-90 corridor. Interchanges will change, highways broadened and bridges reconstructed – all are projects in the planning stages, with some already underway.
The Johnson Lane Interchange, pictured here in Lockwood, along Interstate 90 will look completely different once the new diamond Interchange is constructed to accommodate the new traffic from the Billings Bypass. This exit in Lockwood is considered the busiest Interstate exit in the state with all the truck stops and truck traffic that uses that exit. This image of the Lockwood interchange is looking North towards the Yellowstone River. The Diamond Interchange and layout will be the first in Montana. From this Lockwood Interchange on Interstate 90, another project has been approved to expand the interstate from Johnson Lane to 27th street exit to 3 lanes each way on the Interstate. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Mar262021
TJ (Timothy James) Mueller
TJ (Timothy James) Mueller passed away on March 22, 2021, in Billings. TJ was born in Billings on June 16, 1957, to H. Joe and Virginia Mueller. He attended Billings Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1975. Post high school, he attended welding training at Billings Vo-Tech. North Star Auto Body, a family business he owned and operated with his two brothers, Donald and John, was his primary career from 1975 to present. TJ specialized in all aspects of auto body repair and restoration. He had an especially keen eye for color, a necessity for precise color matching. read more
Mar262021
HELENA- This week, the Legislature was able to dig into the latest round of federal COVID-19 funds. Unlike last year when the previous Governor allocated federal COVID funds without Legislative input, we are in session now. read more
Mar262021
Dear Editor,
What of this great experiment called America? It was to make a better world, for all. read more
