Jul102020
Tuesday, Billings voters passed the elementary general fund levy for School District 2, which will provide support to the district as it wrestles with a structural budget deficit. It will cost $9.79 per $100,000 in assessed property value to fund the requested $1.6 million. read more
Jul102020
The coronavirus pandemic has closed hundreds of businesses and events across the country. However, the popular Homesteader Days, hosted by the Huntley Project Lion’s Club, is moving forward, to the delight of the locals. The event coordinator, Bethany Hein commented, “Our goal is to provide another great event with social responsibility and safety for all at the forefront of our planning. Personal accountability for all parties is important for us to have a successful event.” read more
Jul102020
Montana is seeing a spike in coronavirus cases in the recent weeks. Yellowstone County was reported to have the most active cases of COVID-19 in the state with 140 on Monday, and by Tuesday that number had climbed to roughly 199. This comes in at well over two times the second place amount in Gallatin County which is 84. read more
Jul102020
Rimrock Auto Group sold their Chevrolet location in Laurel to Don Jones on the tenth of June. All the employees of the location were able to retain their positions in the shift, which helped facilitate a clean transition. read more
Jul102020
The Montana Department of Transportation announced that Wadsworth Brothers Construction was awarded the contract to build the bridge across the Yellowstone River that will be part of the Billings Bypass project. read more
Jul62020
Linda Burns
Linda Burns, 77 of Billings, formerly Ballantine, passed away Friday, July 3, 2020 at Edgewood Vista.
Linda was born September 19, 1943 in Great Falls, MT to Aloysious and Olva Biallas. They later moved to Billings where she graduated from Billings Senior.
She worked as a secretary for read more
Jul42020
Jonathan McNiven
Well, folks, time is flying and so are the flags. it will be Independence Day this weekend and a time to celebrate the 4th of July. I’ve really been thinking a lot about our freedoms, our US Flag (and what it represents) and how blessed we, as a country, are to live here and be able to exercise our freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, freedom to petition our government along with many other freedoms while living in the best country in the world. I also know that the freedom I enjoy today did not come without a cost by those who came before me. read more
Jun262020
Silent Majority
Jun262020
Dear Editor,
I believe that Greg Gianforte is facing competition not only from the left but also from the right. Many Republicans view Gianforte as a big time RINO because of many of his votes in the U.S. House. read more
Jun262020
Last Friday, Governor Steve Bullock announced that Montana’s unemployment rate had improved considerably in May due to strong job growth. It dropped 2.9 percentage points to 9.0%. Back in April, the unemployment rate in Montana was at 11.9%. While this was considerably higher than the current level, it was still below the national unemployment rate of 13.3% in May. read more
Jun262020
“We finally have a plan, and we are ready to execute it now,” Metra Park and Montana Fair Manager Bill Dutcher told County Commissioners on Thursday while announcing that there will be 17 days for Montana Fair this summer – 8 more days than the nine usually held every year. read more
Jun262020
Roland “Rollie” Sannes
Roland “Rollie” Sannes, 79 of Billings MT passed away peacefully June 22, 2020 surrounded by family.
Jun262020
Dear Editor,
In the course of human events, on July 4, 1776, 244 years ago, Americans set out to form a new government. In the process of instituting this new government the founders of our country placed restrictions on politicians and government. They declared that no authority or politician has the power to make laws restricting religion, speech, press, or assembly. read more
Jun212020
Revisions made to last year’s ordinance for massage businesses in Billings do little to fix its issues in the eyes of many licensed massage therapists. Last year, a city ordinance was introduced with the intention of inhibiting sex trafficking in the form of brothels disguising themselves as massage businesses. read more
Jun202020
You can expect ballots arriving in your mailboxes this Friday and Saturday for a proposed $1.6 million elementary school mill levy for School District 2. If passed, the levy will be directed towards operational costs for the kindergarten through eighth grades, according to Billings School District 2 Superintendent Greg Upham. read more
Jun192020
Updates on the progress for planning for Montana Fair were announced at the end of last week by Manager Bill Dutcher. Fair organizers are attempting to produce the event in compliance with Health Department protocols for social distancing and hygiene practices that will minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Dutcher stated that as the biggest annual event in Montana,MontanaFair has been adapting, changing, and working hard to provide an Open and Safe fair in 2020. Physical distancing guidelines and capacity restrictions have required a lot of changes to this year’s event.
Physical changes at MetraPark are having a large impact on the way MontanaFair can operate, he explained. The impending removal of the Grandstands for safety reasons is the largest change. The Grandstands removal process will be halted and the work area fenced for MontanaFair.
When the removal decision was made, MontanaFair planned to move all Grandstand based night show entertainment—rodeos and Supercross—into First Interstate Arena. The pandemic put those plans on hold as 4-H and FFA livestock needed additional physically distanced space for their program. Putting animals in the arena removed any opportunity for these popular shows.
All major concerts, rodeo, and supercross are now officially canceled for 2020. Advance ValuPass ticket holders will have options to refund or roll over their tickets to another option beginning June 22.
MontanaFair is scheduled to begin August 7.
Jun192020
Dear Editor,
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.”—Patrick Henry read more
Jun192020
Built in 1911, the kindergarten building has served Shepherd School faithfully for generations, until two years ago when it was found to have a mold infestation. Since that discovery the building has not been able to be used, and had to be torn down. (Courtesy photo: Drea O’Donnell)
Shepherd School is being revamped via a large multiphase construction project that has been long overdue. The project encompasses many renovations; however, one can expect to see some large changes and additions that will help both staff and students once they’re completed. read more
Jun192020
The design for the improvement planned in 2022 for the Underpass Avenue at 6th, Central and State Avenue in Billings, is complete. The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) announced that the newly-designed project incorporates new traffic signals, storm drain, lighting, improved pedestrian facilities, and upgraded signing to enhance these intersections, promote accessibility and improve safety. read more
Jun192020
William Frederick Tryan
William Frederick Tryan, (Bill, Billy, Wild Bill), son of Winnifred Krassin and Albert Tryan, was born in the Smoke Creek area south of Flaxville, March 3, 1931. He attended the Smoke Creek School and resided in the same area that he was born, until moving 1 mile north in 1956. read more
