Aug232019
Aug232019
Arrow Island asks County for action on Yellowstone erosion
Residents of Arrow Island Subdivision, located near Shepherd, are anxious about the potential of being flooded out by the Yellowstone River should action not be taken to stop the erosion of the river bank. They do not believe there is any time to waste in constructing weirs and re-building the irrigation ditch that has already eroded away. The problem is the project is going to be quite costly. read more
Aug232019
Worden water safety concerns resurface
More testing has been done by DEQ on the Worden and Ballantine water sources. This time it was to determine whether the irrigation collection drain water is being influenced by surface water. This type of testing is currently being done across Montana but due to the recent high nitrate level, testing this area was expedited because irrigation collection water is used as public water for the Worden / Ballantine area. read more
Aug232019
“We’re Digging It!” says industry professionals and local families from first annual DigIt Days
John Deere on display at DigIt Days 2019.
To pull off a “top notch” event in three months that includes heavy equipment that kids and adults can operate in a safe and fun manner actually occurred last weekend. About 1,000 people attended the first ever DigIt Days in Lockwood even though the day started with cloudy skies and other events were occurring at the same time. A one-word text sent to the event organizer from an attendee was “Outstanding.” read more
Aug182019
Adios cow doctor amigo!
Many years ago, Winston Churchill stated that Islam in a man is akin to rabies in a dog. I am truly sorry that the conservative cow doctor will no longer be a weekly columnist in this paper. read more
Aug162019
County’s public Budget hearing set
Yellowstone County Commissioners have set public hearings at which to consider final approval of the county’s 2019-20 FY Budget. The hearings will be held on Tuesday, August 27 at 9:45 am for public comment; and on Tuesday September 3, 9:45 am for further public comment and vote by commissioners. read more
Aug162019
We’re seeking out some fresh perspective!
Folks, there is so much going on this week with MontanaFair and our first ever Yellowstone DigIt Days that I won’t have much time to opine on Carl Wolf’s comments from last week as well as say good bye to our good friend Krayton Kerns with his weekly ramblings column from a Conservative Cow Doctor. read more
Aug162019
Heads up on DigIt Days scheduling dilemma
Dear Editor,
You do realize that your “DigIt Days” is the same day as the 4-H FFA Junior livestock sale at Montana fair. A lot of the rural youth who have a good work ethic and equipment experience and their families will not be able to attend. read more
Aug162019
Krayton, it’s time you know the meaning of “trophy wife”
Dear Editor,
Wikipedia: A young attractive wife who is regarded as a status symbol for the husband. The term is most often used in a derogatory or disparaging way. read more
Aug162019
Be wary of vultures in the wake of the storm
In the wake of any major storm, like the recent hail storm that crushed the county, there is always bound to be a flood of storm-chasing contractors that come into town to repair hail damage to vehicles and homes. Unfortunately, although many of these businesses are reliable and help provide relief after all local outfits are booked solid, there are some that basically act as scam artists. read more
Aug162019
County ravaged by falling sky ice balls
The storm clouds looked ominous Sunday evening as they quickly rolled into Yellowstone County, bringing with them a torrent of rain, winds up to 70 miles per hour, and crushing hail up to three inches in diameter in some areas. At first it seemed like the storm would skirt around the city and leave the area intact. Unfortunately, the winds changed, and the storm hurled towards the Billings metropolitan area at breakneck speed.
Hailstones, much larger than golf balls, hammered the area.
Corn stocks are broken and bent over, as shown here from Dan Vogel’s 900 acres of corn fields in Worden, from the severe hail storm that struck the area on Sunday afternoon. Vogel said the “feed value will be far inferior this year than normal” due to the severe and extreme hail damage. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Aug132019
Obituary: Joe Neville
Joe Neville
Joe was born to Earl and Virginia (Davis) Neville in Roswell, New Mexico, on September 18, 1944. After an almost four year battle with the Big C, he passed away at his home on August 11, 2019 in Billings, Montana. read more
Aug92019
Ramblings’, Krayton Kerns, bids Farewell to YCN
With regret and relief, I am closing this chapter of my life. I published my first column on March 1st, 2006 and since then I have penned over 675 op-eds plus published three books. Were the spirit to grab me, I have enough material to publish volumes IV and V, but those works may remain my unfinished symphony. After great deliberation, I have decided between my veterinary practice, ranch duties, family responsibilities and the pressure of writing a weekly column, I have entirely too much on my plate. It is time to sunset Ramblings of a Conservative Cow Doctor. read more
Aug92019
State asks Yellowstone County for contract, setting jail rates
Sheriff Mike Linder is sending a letter to the state Department of Corrections (DOC) to inform them that the actual cost to Yellowstone County to house a prisoner is $77.22 a day – not the $69.31 that the Montana State Legislature set as a cap of what the state will pay. The real cost is actually higher than that, said Linder, but the state will not allow capital costs to be calculated into the per diem rate. read more
Aug92019
Climate warming is simple science, not politics
Dear Editor,
I am replying to a letter from Dave Scott attempting to refute Carl Wolfe’s assertion that climate warming in the recent past is due to increased amounts of C02 due to human activity. I grew up on the Project and am a retired meteorologist. Mr. Scott makes some false statements and conclusions to bolster his argument. read more
Aug92019
County Economics 2019
2019 is unveiling to be a year of continued growth, according to the state’s premier economist, Pat Barkey of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (UM), in a mid-year update of Montana’s economy, last week. “It’s a good news story,” he told his audience at the Northern Hotel in Billings. read more
Aug92019
Brain Injury rehab hospital, first of its kind in Montana
The City of Billings is now home to the only freestanding rehab hospital in the state of Montana. The Rehabilitation Hospital of Montana was officially opened this Monday at a ribbon cutting ceremony and is designed to help people recovering from stroke as well as brain and spinal cord injuries. read more
Aug92019
Santy takes charge of Red Devils once more
After the untimely resignation of Guy Croy as Head Coach of the Huntley Project Red Devils football team just before the start of football camps, the school was left in the unenviable situation of replacing a coach with a winning record in an unbelievably short amount of time. Croy and school officials both cited “philosophical differences” between Croy and the administration as the reason for his resignation. To fill this role, Huntley Project has gone to their Ol’ Reliable, Jay Santy. read more
Aug92019
Billings Bypass revs up plans to connect the city
The plan is officially underway to link Lockwood and the Heights via the Billings Bypass. This new road system will not only make traveling between the two areas of Billings much faster; it will also make it easier on truckers as they will no longer have to drive down Main Street to continue their truck routes on Roundup Rd. The plan will eventually connect the Johnson Ln. Exit in Lockwood to both Roundup Rd. at the northern end of the Heights as well as HWY 312. read more
Aug52019
Obituary: M. John Sjostrom
M. John Sjostrom, passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of 76 after a courageous battle with cancer. John was born on May 30, 1943, in Custer, Montana to Leo and Hilda Sjostrom. John met the love of his life Alice Dorn in Hardin, Montana in 1960. John and Alice were married in 1962 and have been devoted to one another for the past 57 years. read more
