May32019
Dear Editor,
Over 15 years ago my wife Sherry and I were living back in California for a while. We went to a presentation on the Muslim religion put on by one of the local catholic parishes. An individual who was identified as an Imam from one of the local Muslim congregations spoke to us. There was a question and answer session. I asked him if Muslims believed in original sin. Of course, the answer was no. read more
May32019
Well, folks, another week, another good announcement coming. This is now three weeks of good announcements. Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll find something positive and exciting to announce to the masses next week as well (unless Carl Wolf is getting tired of all the good news). read more
May32019
It took a sharp-eyed citizen to catch an almost $80,000 error in the City of Billings finances. An outside review of a citizen’s complaint confirmed the error, and concludes there is no evidence that it is the result of deceit or fraud, according to a release from city officials. read more
May32019
by Parker H. Jimison
On Friday, April 26th, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sent out a letter to Riverside Contracting, Inc stating that they have “extended the review period for an opencut mining permit application for a 74-acre site known as Donnes, located one mile east of Shepherd in Yellowstone County,” for an additional 60 days after receiving a torrent of public comments, both during the meeting two weeks ago at Shepherd High School and via mail and email, revealing significant issues concerning the permit application. read more
Apr302019
D
HELENA – The Montana Department of Environmental Quality released the following statement and update regarding the highly contested proposed gravel pit in Shepherd Tuesday morning.
The DEQ state that it “has extended the review period for an opencut mining permit application for a 74-acre site known as Donnes, located one mile east of Shepherd in Yellowstone County. The permit application has been submitted by Riverside Contracting, Inc.”
The extended time to submit comments to the DEQ is now 60 days. DEQ extended the review period after receiving numerous public comments, both during the public meeting at Shepherd High School and via mail and email, that revealed substantial issues regarding the permit application.
More details will be in this week’s edition of Yellowstone County News.
Apr232019
Martin (Red) Beckman
was born on November 21, 1928, about 20 miles south of Lemmon, South Dakota in a little town called Shade Hill. The farm where he was born is now under the waters of the Shady Hill Reservoir. As a young child, his parents, James Edward and Johanna Beckman moved to Belgrade, MT. Other than a few years spent in Virginia, Martin spent most of his school-age years in the Three Forks and Bozeman, Montana areas. To his parent’s joy, Martin committed his life to his Lord Jesus at a young age. read more
Apr222019
Raul Sanchez, 75, passed away April 16, 2019 at his home in Lockwood where he was cared for consistently by his loving wife, Pam, beloved daughter, Gabrielle, and the light of his life, grand-daughter Nevaeh.
He was born in Billings on March 25, 1944 to Ysmael and Librada (Garcia) Sanchez. Raul was the oldest of eight brothers and two sisters. He grew up in Lockwood attending Lockwood School and graduating from Billings Senior High in 1962. Raul served eight years combined in the United States Army and National Guard as a tank commander. He spent his career, of 52 years, working for Yellowstone Paper Co as a salesman. Raul married his life partner, Pam Flowers, on July 26, 1986. read more
Apr222019
1939 – 2019
Russ favored green, but the life of this remarkable man is a portrait in full color!
Russell Vernon Salisbury was born in Great Falls on July 26, 1939 to Ralph and Verneva (Lewis) Salisbury. On February 10, 2019, he died refusing to follow the doctors’ orders, being stubborn and coloring outside the lines for nearly eight decades. Russ met death as he lived; on his own terms along the banks of the Missouri River in the golden fields of Floweree that captivated him. read more
Apr212019
by Elisa Schlosser
Local Volunteers are taking action to clean, restore and renew Yellowstone County during the Bright n’ Beautiful Great American Cleanup. The event will kick-off at Billings Community Center on Saturday, April 27, 2019. The Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program. read more
Apr202019
Dear Editor,
I would like to address a few things regarding the Shepherd School bond issue. I’ve attended a meeting at the school and talked to different people, both for and against. Not all were fully informed.
Our property taxes are $2250 per year. With the proposed increase they would be $2858 per year. That’s an extra $50 per month for the next 20 years. This also works out to be a 27% increase. This also doesn’t take into account any other increases caused by our being reappraised every two years. I’ve never heard anybody mention this percentage in all of the talk about it. Whether you are for or against it, we need to be open about the full impact. When you vote to approve this, because you think you can afford it, you are also voting to impose it on your neighbor. Their finances, may place them in a much more precarious position than you. Through no fault of their own they may have high medical bills or other unforeseen expenses that create an extreme hardship financially.
I was also struck by Mr. Carter’s statement that he had no plan for a scenario where this vote fails. I would simply disagree with his approach to leading the school. This vote may certainly fail. It failed last time with over 60% opposition. Whether you agree with that or not, I believe the responsible thing to do is plan for the very possibility of that happening. He simply stated that we will pay through permissive levies if we don’t pass this bond.
I would say that Becky Anderson and Jeff Kanning represented their interests well at the meeting I went to. Becky Anderson said that no matter the outcome, we need to be good neighbors afterword. A classy statement and something that we could all learn from. It’s obvious that the school has issues that need addressed. I don’t think people that want this whole package are bad people. I simply don’t agree with the expense of it. Other ideas have been put forth that may be less perfect but also cost a lot less. I don’t believe that makes me a bad person either.
Richard Morris
Shepherd, MT
Apr202019
In 2019, Tumbleweed announced they have already identified 89 young victims of trafficking in the City of Billings. MSUB and Zonta Club of Billings have come together to participate in an international effort to bring awareness to human trafficking with the Billings’ Red Sand Project. read more
Apr202019
Dear Editor,
In 1963, I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master degree in 1991. After my 1963 graduation, I was hired to teach in the reading clinic at EMC. I also taught in the Shepherd, Roundup, and the Billings school districts. When not teaching full time, I substituted in all but one school in Billings, including the career center. Now, I feel it is time to save taxpayers money without causing children to have less of an education. read more
Apr192019
Dear Editor,
The other night I listened to Trey Gowdy pontificate and expound on the rule of law. I felt that I had been taken back to Nazi Germany during the Second World War and was listening to Hans Frank . Hans Frank was one of Adolf Hitlers chief lawyers and traveled throughout the country lecturing on the rule of law. Adolf Hitler was a great believer and proponent of the rule of law.I think you will find that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are staunch believers in the rule of law. read more
Apr192019
Even though there are no definite plans about the fate of the emergency sirens that have served the county for years, county officials have been surprised with the response from citizens concerned that they might be silenced. read more
Apr192019
A ruling by District Court Judge Gregory Pinski in Cascade County has made a suit by six Billings residents against the City of Billings into a class action lawsuit. The suit, which claims that the City of Billings illegally collected a franchise fee on water, wastewater and solid waste disposal bills, will now have approximately 35,000 other residents as plaintiffs. read more
Apr192019
Well folks, it’s been a busy week once again. There’s a lot to write about this week, so I’ll keep my comments short from last weekend but then focus on the Best of Yellowstone County Awards that we are releasing this week as well as announcing my first ever Editor’s Choice Award in this edition. We also have a new monthly column coming your way each month. read more
Apr172019
Kathryn A. Zurbuchen
Kathryn A. Zurbuchen – Kay of Billings Montana Died April 16, 2019, at Riverstone Health Hospice Home of congestive heart failure. Mom was born the 12th of 13 children of Frederick Nipple and Edith Tracy on the family farm in Rosebud County on February 28, 1919. Upon graduating Forsyth High School she went to Beauty School and worked at Dorothy’s Beauty Shop in Forsyth, MT. In 1944 she enlisted in the US Navy serving until 1946. She came back to Billings MT and worked at the Morrison Eye Clinic as a bookkeeper until 1948. On May 3, 1947 she Married Alpheus W. Zurbuchen, together they enjoyed the fellowship of Masonic affiliations, and raised 2 boys. She went back to work in 1964 as cosmetologist and worked at St. Johns nursing home until 1967. Upon Al’s death in 1977 she went back to the Morrison Eye Clinic until 1993.
Apr142019
Dear Editor,
Recently, I drove my son through the Shepherd Schools. A few years ago, I had the chance to eat lunch with my nephew in the same lunchroom where I ate lunch 30 years ago. Now I can’t do that because they eat in classrooms. I then found out that the building where I used to sing in choir is now condemned.
In thirty years, my beloved Shepherd school has not seen any significant updates. There hasn’t been a death from fire in a school since 1958, the old building doesn’t need those upgrades. We need to prevent someone from being able to pull a kid out of school or someone coming on campus to harm kids. In the USA we average about 10 school shootings a year with 375 of these resulting in deaths or injuries. This bond helps that by creating secure entries and by limiting outside transitions.
Overcrowding isn’t only about number of graduates. The number of students requiring special services has increased. These are the students relegated to closets and hallways. This is a disservice to students that need a little more help.
Shepherd has done a phenomenal job as stewards of our schools. The fact that I can walk through most of the facilities, and they look as same as they did thirty years ago is both promising and troublesome. To suggest that this school doesn’t need TLC outside of typical maintenance is completely ignoring common sense. Can you imagine not having to do any type of major work in your home for 30 years? Now imagine you have had thousands of kids running through it. The kindergarten building is now condemned. Part of the school is an old restaurant. This is a good indication of Shepherd’s responsible use of funds that both lasted this long.
It is not lost on me the actual financial impact of the imposed taxes on Shepherd citizens. My family will pay, and some will have trouble with an increase in taxes. They support this bond because they love this community. Shepherd doesn’t get the support from businesses as other communities. That is the cost of living in the community without businesses. Shepherd community members have an obligation to support their town.
It is time to provide the community of Shepherd the school it deserves. Trust that the architects and educators have put together the needs of our school, with the education of the students in mind. These are the qualified professionals that know what they are talking about. Vote YES for this bond. Make sure Shepherd continues to provide a quality educational facility that matches the quality of the educators that work there and the community that supports it. Now is the time to take care of our community.
Mark Beddes
Shepherd, MT
Apr142019
Dear Editor,
So what’s the big deal about the government defunding Planned Parenthood? Don’t they provide valuable family planning and medical services to women – including those in the predicament of an unplanned pregnancy? Many large companies (through matching employee 501c3 funds) and private donors already contribute to this organization, but should they also continue to receive money from tax payers, regardless of ideology? read more
Apr132019
Dear Editor,
Shepherd and Pioneer School district community members, as many of you have heard, we will be running an election on May 7th to vote on some much-needed repairs and upgrades to our Shepherd School facilities. read more
