Aug302024

Water Board Grants 4.95% Wage Increase, Report says Water Sales Up, Expenses Down

Top Stories • Billings

The numbers show that the County Water District in the Heights is doing well, according to the District Manager, Bo Andersson, at the district’s monthly meeting. At the Wednesday evening meeting the board also approved a wage increase for district employees.

Andersson reported that water sales are up 23.9 percent above last year – probably due to inordinately hot weather. Revenues are up 15.8 percent over last year.

Expenses are up 32.8 percent, said Andersson, but that includes the cost of additional water. “If you take water purchases out of operating expenses,” he said, “expenses are actually down 33.9 percent versus last year.”

Andersson further reported that the district currently has eight staff members read more

Aug302024

New BLM Rules Reflect Montanans’ Love of Our Public Lands

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I’ve had the opportunity to live in communities across Montana. While each region of the state certainly has its own unique culture and character, one thing that strikes me is that regardless of our differences – Montanans truly value our public lands. You don’t have to take my word for it. A recent poll from the University of Montana’s Crown of the Continent and Greater Yellowstone Initiative shows 83% of Montana voters say federal public lands are a major benefit to our state’s economy. When you consider the fact that nearly 40 percent of the state is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), we all should be aware of changes to how those lands are managed.

The BLM recently announced new rules to give conservation similar consideration on read more

Aug302024

Between the Lines: Tester Runs as Republican Lite

Montana-Statewide • Politics

Jon Tester is running scared. He’s even running away from his own party.

Tester, seeking his fourth term in the U.S. Senate, is in a tight race with Republican Tim Sheehy in an increasingly Republican state.

Tester already has been running ads pointing out when he has disagreed with the Democratic Biden administration. Then last week he said at a news conference that he would not endorse a candidate for president.

He gave two reasons, according to the Billings Gazette, neither of which made sense. First, he said, he is focused on his own race. Second, he said, “Folks want to nationalize this race, and this isn’t about national politics, this is about Montana.”

You can hear that first reason just about every Sunday on the TV news talk shows — what Calvin Trillin called the “Sabbath gasbags.” It’s the answer politicians give when they don’t want to answer a question. They use it as a pivot to instead answer a question of their own invention.

But politicians, by the nature of their job, are supposed to read more

Aug302024

One Dead After Motorcycle Accident on Yellowstone Trail

Top Stories • Huntley Project

Yamaha street bike involved in fatal accident lays in yard of residence off Yellowstone Trail. (Jonathan McNiven photo)

A twenty-eight-year-old motorcyclist was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident on Yellowstone Trail Tuesday afternoon. Stryker N. Miller of Billings was traveling westbound on Yellowstone Trail on his Yamaha motorcycle when the accident occurred just west of Chipper Lane. Responding Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wilson stated that it appeared that Miller had read more

Aug302024

New Activities Featured at 34th Shepherd Jamboree!

Events & More! • Top Stories • Shepherd

Shepherd Lions Club will host their 34th Jamboree on September 7, 2024, at the Shepherd Community Center. Being the 34th year, the Lions Club has brought in a few new attractions this year that organizer Rebecca Beddes hope with draw in even more people for this important community fundraiser. The Jamboree contributes a large portion of the read more

Aug302024

Conflicting New Polling Numbers Drop in the Tester-Sheehy Race

Politics

In the last week, two major polls have been published, one from Rasmussen Reports and one from the Napolitan Institute.

The Rasmussen Reports poll was conducted from August 14 through August 20 with a sample of 835 likely voters. This poll has Tim Sheehy with a sizable lead of 50% to Jon Tester’s 43%, with 7% undecided. This has been the most favorable poll Tim Sheehy has had yet. The poll is in line with the overarching trend of the race, as late July and early August polls had him up by around just 2 points, and before that Jon Tester led in most major polls. Rasmussen’s poll would suggest that the trajectory of this race has had a somewhat linear and positive trend towards Sheehy.

The Napolitan Institute poll was conducted by RMG Research from August 6 through August 14 with a sample size of 540 registered voters. This poll, with a certain degree of skepticism given the smaller sample size, had incredibly interesting results. The poll has Jon Tester with read more

Aug292024

Rough Bridge Requires Band-Aids Until Scheduled Replacement

Top Stories • Yellowstone County • Huntley Project

Here, quality of patch work all along the Yellowstone River bridge near Huntley raises safety concerns from local residents for vehicles and those traveling over the bridge. This photo was taken August 14, 2024 as the rough surface continues to concern passersby. (Gage McNiven photo)

Community members lament the aging Huntley/Shepherd bridge repairs, with many wondering if the cracks were better than the repairs.  Walt Houghton, Maintenance Chief of DOT Billings Division, has communicated that repair options are limited, and they are attempting stave off the elements until the bridge’s scheduled replacement in the next couple years.  

The Highway 312 Bridge over the Yellowstone River in Huntley was built in 1949, and in November 2023 was nominated for replacement, entering the planning stages. In October this year the Montana Department of transportation (MDT) will meet and decide on its Tentative Construction Plan and whether HWY-312 bridge has found the funding and support needed to make it into the five-year plan. In the meantime, MDT is attempting to read more

Aug282024

My Conclusion is They Only Want Cash

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I’m wondering how many of you are as frustrated as I am with many organizations wanting donations.

I’ve tried several of them – including communities “ravaged by floods.” They do not respond to written letters and/or phone calls. If they do and a date and time is set, they do not come or call. In fact, one told me, “We do not want anything old as nobody wants old things and we couldn’t even give it away.” My conclusion is they only want cash so it can be read more

Aug282024

Jon Tester Affiliated PAC Offered Cash for Athlete Endorsements, Rejected by Women in Sports

Politics

First reported by Lily Meskers of the University of Montana, a Jon Tester affiliated PAC, Montana Together, has been offering collegiate athletes at the University of Montana cash in exchange for endorsing Tester on social media. The group offered between $400 and $2,400 for videos that “inform your audience about Senator Tester’s track record in office and encourage him to maintain his support for these vital policies.”

The irony of this request to athletes has not been lost on many of the women involved in sports at the University of Montana. Senator Tester voted against the 2023 Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act that would have amended Title IX to limit participation in women’s sports to biological women only. Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who was forced to compete against a biological male athlete in the 2022 NCAA championship, held an event in Whitefish last month criticizing Tester for his vote. Katie Whitehurst, a senior track and field athlete at the University of Montana rejected Tester’s offer, saying, “I stand by read more

Aug232024

MSF Purchases Steer at 4-H Auction, Promotes Workplace Safety in Ag

Local • Huntley Project

4H Worden Riverdale student, Bayley Becker stands with her prized steer, Lamar, which weighed 1381lbs. Also pictured, from left to right, Ethan Heverly (Director of Community Relations) and Holly O’Dell, President and CEO of Montana State Fund (courtesy photo)

Montana State Fund (MSF), Montana’s only not-for-profit workers’ compensation insurance provider, announced its participation in promoting workplace safety through a series of events at the MontanaFair in Billings this year. With Montana historically ranking among the highest in the nation for workplace accidents, MSF dedicated resources this year into focusing to reduce these statistics, particularly within the state’s top industry—agriculture. This year, 4-H was a the angle. 

In a press release this week, MSF released the following info. It stated, “Montana State Fund is committed to fostering a culture of safety, particularly in agriculture, and our partnership with 4H and involvement in local events underscores this commitment,” said Holly O’Dell, MSF President and CEO. “We are excited to engage with the community, support local youth, and promote safer workplace practices.”

As MSF insures about  90% of the read more

Aug232024

Missing Man Found Dead in Worden

Top Stories • Huntley Project

Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office (YSCO) received a report of a missing person who was reportedly headed to the Yellowstone River with his dogs and canoe on Wednesday, August 14th. George Stewart, age 63, had missed his check in with family, and a search began of the Yellowstone River. His truck was located at the Voyagers Rest fishing access on Road read more

Aug232024

Worden Fire Dept. to Sell Old Rescue Truck

Top Stories • Huntley Project

Fire Truck to be sold

Worden Fire Department’s ‘White Whale’ rescue truck will be looking for a new home to anyone who may need a hardworking older truck. The department’s late 80s Spartan Rescue truck has been with the department 4+ years and is now looking for greener pastures. Fire Chief Lance Taylor says the department has little need for the rig as they have a newer rescue truck that can access more areas than the Spartan. The Spartan rescue truck, which the fire department affectionately calls the “White Whale,” rarely finds read more

Aug232024

Another County Seizes Stolen Property in Shepherd

Top Stories • Yellowstone County • Shepherd

Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by Yellowstone County deputies, seize more stolen items hebind this property along Shepherd Acton Road, (drone image by Jonathan McNiven)

Carbon County adds itself to the list of counties seizing stolen items from a property out in Shepherd. On Monday, Carbon County detective Ben Mahoney with the assistance of Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) conducted a search warrant and seized irrigation pivot arm tires among other stolen items.    

The property, 4939 Shepherd Acton Rd., was the subject of another search warrant on August 12, where Golden Valley County, Wheatland County, Meagher County, and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office seized a variety of stolen property. Additionally, officers serving the initial search warrant on the Aug. 12 were read more

Aug232024

Obituary: Judy Bovee

Obituaries

Judy Bovee

Judy Bovee passed away peacefully on August 15, 2024 surrounded by her family.

Judy Kay Richardson was born in Great Falls, MT on March 8, 1954. She was the youngest of four children born to James and Hazel Richardson. Judy grew up in Miles City, MT where she enjoyed being a lifeguard, playing the oboe, and spending countless hours with the Pettigrew family. She graduated from Custer County District High School in 1972 and attended Miles Community College where she met the love of her life, Truman Bovee. Truman and Judy were married on April 20, 1974.

They started a read more

Aug232024

Conservative Corner: KIND PEOPLE

Politics

My wife has a card sent from one of her friends with a cover that says, “Kind people are the best kind of people.” This friend happens to be from Minnesota and is obviously one of the ‘Minnesota Nice’ people herself. We have some neighbors down the street who moved to Billings from Minnesota. These folks are also ‘Minnesota Nice’ people.

Our son moved to Minnesota several years ago, fell in love, and married a read more

Aug232024

Between the Lines: Maybe it’s time he told us what he really thinks

Politics

Jon Tester’s Senate campaign has been making hay out of remarks Republican opponent Tim Sheehy made last year about healthcare.

Semafor obtained an audio recording of remarks Sheehy made at a meet-and-greet in Glasgow in August 2023. “In my opinion,” Sheehy said, “we need to return healthcare to pure privatization.”

He added, “Healthcare worked before health insurance existed. Each town had a doctor that would drive to your house, take care of you and you’d pay him. And guess what? It worked.”

Yes, kiddies, it’s true. Our doctor used to make house calls, and he would give us children plastic action figures if we were good, which we always were. And milkmen used read more

Aug212024

“Show Strength and Use Common Sense”: Tim Sheehy Visits YCN & Makes His Case to Be Montana’s U.S. Senator

Politics • Top Stories

US Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy poses in front of the Yellowstone County News office and sign after taking the time to be interviewed on Wedneday August 14th, 2024. (Even Hood photo)

Last Thursday, August 15, United States Senate candidate Tim Sheehy came to the Yellowstone County News office for a quick interview. He discussed current polling numbers, why he entered the race, why he stands out, and his experience as a veteran and business owner.

Q- Jon Tester has won three statewide elections as a Democrat in Montana despite the state going to Trump by 16 and 20 points. Recent polling has you up by 2%. Can you speak to your level of confidence that the trajectory of the election is going your way and address how you differ from Tester’s previous Republican opponents?

A- The trendline of the election has only gone in one direction. I’m a first-time candidate; I’ve never run for anything at all, so it was to be expected that I was going to start behind, which we did by a lot. But now, obviously, we’ve been ahead consistently in every poll for six months, so there hasn’t been a poll showing us behind since March. If it was an aberration that would be one thing, but it’s been a consistent trendline, and I think what that shows is that our grassroots strategy is working. [Tester] obviously has boatloads more cash than we do, he’s outspent us, pick your month, three to one, five to read more

Aug202024

Montana DNC Delegation Led by Former Billings Rep, Tester Still Absent

Politics

On Tuesday, August 20, 24 out of 25 Montana Democratic delegates cast their vote for Vice President Kamala Harris to officially become the Democratic candidate for President of the United States at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The delegation was spoken for by Jon Sesso of Butte and Robyn Driscoll of Billings.

Driscoll is the current chair of the Montana Democratic Party, and had previously served in the State Senate and House from 2005 through 2017 as well as was appointed as a member of the Yellowstone County Commission in Billings in 2016.

Senator Jon Tester is still noticeably absent from the read more