The Billings Chamber of Commerce responded to Billings City Council voting not to approve amending their contract with Landmark Development, LLC on Feb. 27th with the following excerpt from their full statement: read more
Mar12019
Mar12019
Shepherd Meeting explored bond options
by Norma McNiven
Sponsored by the Shepherd Community Education Committee(SCEC), a public meeting was held on Feb. 20, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the Shepherd Community Center on Haynes Rd. to inform the public about the new school bond issue. Conducted by Becky Anderson, the meeting was attended by about 40 members of the community. Three architects from Collaborative Design Architects were in attendance to show their conception of what the proposed changes are and how they would affect the Shepherd schools. read more
Mar12019
Parents urged to vaccinate children
by Elisa Schlosser
BILLINGS – In light of the measles outbreak in Washington State and an outbreak of mumps in Bozeman, RiverStone Health, Yellowstone County’s public health agency, is working with school districts to contact parents of children who are not immunized against measles and mumps.
RiverStone Health wants to ensure all students are vaccinated against these preventable diseases and that parents and guardians are aware of consequences a measles or mumps outbreak could have on their child’s attendance at school and at school events. read more
Mar12019
The tip of the proverbial iceberg
Folks, I know I’m hammering away at the idea of looking at an iceberg. If you can see just the tip of the iceberg in regards to where we are going as a newspaper, imagine what you can’t see? Imagine what is happening in the background in order to get to this point? However, we are going to hold off on our announcement for one more week for a couple of reasons.
First, we want to use our front page to announce our good exciting news but with all the local news going on this last week, we will hold off so we can focus on the important local news. read more
Mar12019
One Big Sky Center Amendment Dead
by Evelyn Pyburn
The failure of the Billings City Council to approve an amendment to its agreement with Landmark has created a hiccup in plans for One Big Sky District (OBSD), but it’s not going to alter plans by the community “partnership” to continue to push for passage of legislation that would provide incentive for the development. read more
Mar12019
Opinions are like armpits
Dear Editor,
It has been some time now that I have wanted to weigh in on the “Outdoors” issue. However, I had trouble putting my finger on what was bothering me. Mr. Jose Bustos’ s letter in the January 18, 2019 issue helped clarify for me. As a side note, our entire family would like to see Mr. Bustos as a regular contributor to the paper. read more
Mar12019
Carl Wolf is a treat!
Dear Editor,
Coming in from frigid sub-zero weather after helping with chores, brewing a fresh pot of coffee, and sitting down next to the kitchen window to read the YCN Feb. 15, 2019 issue, I so enjoyed the inspirational column “The Outdoors” written by Mr. Carl Wolf. His gifted choice of words describing a magnificent morning as he viewed his world warmed my toes and my heart. read more
Mar12019
Americanese not a unique idea
Dear editor,
Trump’s idea about a wall is not unique. Of course, the Americanese wall was a euphemism for restricting immigration. It is, however, still highly relevant. read more
Feb252019
Obituary: Gary Lawrence Jarrett
Gary Jarrett
Gary Lawrence Jarrett, 71 of Anaconda, formerly of Ballantine, passed away of natural causes on February 20, 2019.
Feb252019
Obituary: Esther Fox
Esther Fox, 92, of Worden passed away on February 19, 2019, with her family by her 
side at the Riverstone Hospice House.
Esther was born on April 23, 1926, in Laurel to Henry and Mollie (Thiel) Ostwalt. She married Alex “Shorty” Fox on September 21, 1946.
They farmed in Laurel and moved to Worden in 1951 where they continued to farm. She helped on the farm and also raised their 3 children, Susie, Larry, and Tammy. Esther lived there until her time of death. read more
Feb242019
Malfeasance of liberal run media
Dear Editor,
The 60 Minutes interview of Andrew McCabe by the snarky little Scott Pelley was compelling. When I sat down to point out the many falsehoods and lies by McCabe as well as Pelley, there were so many, I didn’t know where to start. So I will broach another malfeasance of our FBI,DOJ and liberal run media. read more
Feb232019
Juries not legally bound sheep
Dear Editor,
I understand that Karl Marx wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln congratulating him for being elected president again in 1864. I have always felt that part of the reason that Marx wrote this letter is because of Lincoln referring to the government of the United States as being “of the people and by the people.” read more
Feb232019
Lockwood Water & Sewer discussion postponed
by Evelyn Pyburn
The Lockwood Water and Sewer District Board postponed a planned discussion about reducing reserve treatment capacity for the Lockwood Sewer System, because only three board members were present at their meeting Wednesday evening. The decision is important enough that all the board members should be given a chance to weigh-in said Carl Peters, Nancy Belk and Stu Deans, the board members who were present. read more
Feb222019
Shepherd School Board moves on bond levy
by Norma McNiven
In their rather lengthy monthly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, the Shepherd School Board moved forward in preparation for the May 7 bond election, rehired all three principals for next year, created a new position of District Transportation Assistant and approved the person to fill the position, listened to and questioned Bridget Ekstrom from D.A. Davidson about taxes on the new and old bond issues, and aligned the contract of the curriculum director to match up with the date on the superintendent’s contract. read more
Feb222019
Yellowstone Area Chamber announces Lobbyist and releases pro-business guide
BILLINGS–The new Yellowstone Area Chamber of Commerce (YACC) announced the name of their first lobbyist to help push their pro-business agenda during the Legislative session in Helena. EJ Redding, known lobbyist, for conservative and pro-business issues in Helena will now represent the new Yellowstone Area Chamber that was formed just one month ago. read more
Feb222019
McNiven’s Meanderings; big news around the corner!
Well, folks, last week was a blur and this week seems to be the same with meetings during the day and additional work at night. However, success does not come overnight as I’ve learned it’s by the small and simple things that are done that contribute to the whole big picture. read more
Feb222019
Airport Road & Main Street getting upgraded
by Evelyn Pyburn
Public meetings were held, this week, to give the public a peek at preliminary designs for the Airport Road and Main Street intersection in Billings. The Montana Department of Transportation is seeking public feedback regarding their plans to improve safety and relieve congestion of what is probably the busiest intersection in the state.
The area involved in the plans for reconfiguration and construction extend along Main Street from 4th Ave. West, in front of Metra Park, including the intersection with 6th Ave, and then further along Main Street incorporating its intersection with Aronson Avenue, Airport Road, Bench Blvd. and Lake Elmo. It will also involve Aronson Avenue and its intersection with Airport Road and the Sixth Street Bypass. read more
Feb222019
Get back to education, less cosmetics
Dear Editor,
My hat goes off to Vic Feuerstein and his editorial of February 15, 2019. The details were right on about the proposed bond for the Shepherd Schools. This is the first time I have heard, in detail, what it is like to be a tax payer in Shepherd. read more
Feb222019
From where Mr. Kerns left off…
Dear Editor,
To go on from where Mr. Kerns left off:
These Dems, Liberals, Rhino Republicans… can’t see past their noses. All they want is to turn this country into socialism. Expanding Medicare, free amnesty , free college, don’t have to be a citizen to vote, open borders, drugs, murder (re: abortion), they want to sell the soul of America. read more
Feb172019
Bustos, please re-read my letter
Dear Editor,
In response to Jose Bustos, of Billings, MT., Feb. 8, 2019
letter: Mr. Bustos, please re-read the letter that I submitted
to YCN. I did not criticize anyone. read more
