May172018

Billings group files class action lawsuit against City of Billings

Top Stories • Billings

BILLINGS — Six Billings residents have filed a class action lawsuit against the City of Billings, claiming officials are illegally collecting franchise fees on city utility bills.
At issue is a practice used by City of Billings officials since 1993 that levies franchise fees as part of city utilities bills.
“It’s an illegal tax,” said Roger Webb, one of a group of six citizens that formed to oppose the franchise fee. “If it’s designated for a specific purpose, they could get by with it.”
The fee is 4 percent on water and sewer services and 5 percent on solid waste disposal. It goes into the city’s general fund, which is where Webb says the problem lies.
The group also includes Billings read more

May152018

Shouldn’t we expect you to do the same during your political campaign?

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Mr. Fagg, because you insist on referring to yourself as “judge” during your political campaign, I would like to bring to your attention Rule 1.3 of the Montana Code of Judicial Conduct, which states “a judge should not abuse the prestige of judicial office to advance the personal or economic interest of the judge or others or allow others to do so.”

By reading the comments explaining the rule, it is black and white to me that you have in fact violated read more

May142018

Dr. Al is the only one candidates who has consistently demonstrated both passion and purpose

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Passion. Purpose.

These are the two things that I have seen in every successful person I’ve been fortunate enough to be around. These are the things that I look for in candidates for whom I will cast my vote. This year, I will be voting in the Republican primary for Dr. Al Olszewski for Senate.

Dr. Al is the only one of the four candidates who has consistently demonstrated both passion and purpose. He has shown that he wants to campaign on the issues and knows what it will take to address those issues. There are some things I may disagree with him on, but as a candidate myself, one of them is *not* his desire to run a positive campaign. Sure, he’ll go after Tester, but on the issues — not because he plays read more

May142018

I am supporting Troy Downing for U.S. Senate

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

I am supporting Troy Downing for U.S. Senate for the following reasons:

Troy Downing is a U.S. Air Force combat veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan in a combat search and rescue squadron. He has built businesses in multiple industries with his start in high tech, merging his startup company with Yahoo! in the late 90s. Troy Downing is the only candidate running that has not held public office or is currently serving in office; he is NOT a career politician. Troy believes 100percent in protecting the sanctity of life, protecting the Second Amendment, and supporting President Donald Trump’s America First Agenda. Troy is married to his wife Heather and they have four children between them.

As a United States Senator, Troy Downing read more

May132018

Three million Americans stutter

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

National Stuttering Awareness Week begins May 7, 2018. Did you know more than three million Americans stutter? That’s more than the populations of Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, and Washington, DC…combined.

One percent of your readers stutter, and up to 5 percent of children stutter for a time during their early developmental years.

In the spirit of spreading awareness, the most important thing you and your readers can do for someone who stutters — or for anyone you are speaking with — is read more

May62018

Fiction?? Fact?? Trivial??

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

To Jonathan, Tana and staff members: Fiction?? Fact?? Trivial?? Came across this and thought it interesting. YCN viewers, and you, may find it otherwise:

Near 50 years ago, Green Belt Maryland astronauts checked planetary positions in future years.

The information was necessary, when sending long-lived objects into orbit, to forestall potential collision. This complex data was fed into a computer and repeated stoppages ensued. No equipment fault was found. Detailed study revealed an unaccounted for one-day time lapse in program calculations.

One team member recalled a time in Sunday School when the teacher talked about the sun sanding still.

He found a Bible read more

May52018

Russ Fagg is the best all-around candidate

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Russ Fagg is the best all-around candidate to be Montana’s next U.S. Senator. I am pleased to endorse him. I have had the opportunity over the last several years to get to know Russ on much more than a superficial level. We have served together in leadership of the Billings “Walk to Emmaus” weekends. Russ possesses an amazing servant’s heart. In conversation, he listens intently to learn what the other person has to say. His personality, as well as his 22 years as a District Court judge and his years as a Republican legislator, enable him to calmly evaluate complex issues. His intellect and caring help him sort out the read more

May42018

Don Jones, the Right Choice for County Commissioner

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Don Jones, the Right Choice for County Commissioner

I have served with Don Jones in the Montana Legislature since 2013, and while he will be missed in Helena, Yellowstone County has been given a great gift in his decision to run for County Commissioner.

As a member of the budget committee, and chairman of the Education Appropriation sub-committee, Don was a steadfast and consistent, hard-working colleague. He has a read more

May32018

Dr. Al Olszewski will best represent Montana!

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Dr. Al Olszewski will best represent Montana! He has the longest history of service to the state (as a veteran, doctor and state legislator), is articulate and can clearly defend conservative interests, and has a good sense of humor. He is an effective leader, respectful, and incredibly likable!

Dr. Al does not have to bring the other candidates down as leverage to prove his worth, which is so refreshing. He also doesn’t have to drone on and on about his accomplishments or money or endorsements as the reasons why a person should vote for him.

He talks about read more

May32018

Huntley community cleanup already a go for next year too

Local • Huntley Project • Lockwood • Top Stories

Volunteers pick up trash along Interstate 94 just west of Huntley on Saturday during the first annual Enuff Is Enuff Let’s Clean It Up community cleanup. A bus from Huntley Project Schools waits in the background to deliver volunteers along the route. (Jonathan McNiven photos)

Originally published in the 5/4/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News.

HUNTLEY — Saturday’s community cleanup was so successful that Ryan Roen is ready to give it another go.

“I just really want to thank the people that came out,” Roen said.

In the wake of the “First Annual Enuff is Enuff Let’s Clean It Up,” Roen said he’s already planning for next year.

“We’re gonna keep that slogan,” he said. “We’re gonna do it again next year and grow this event.”

Saturday’s cleanup drew around 50 people, he said, most of whom boarded a Huntley Project Schools bus and were dropped off along Interstate 94 between Huntley and Lockwood.

Volunteers picking up trash along Interstate 94 on Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)

Other groups cleaned up Barkemeyer Park and at on-ramps adjacent to the interstate, and Roen said the results were phenomenal.

“We did what we could do,” he said. “We didn’t get it all.”

The trash filled almost 100 large, black garbage bags, which dotted Interstate 94 between Lockwood and Huntley over the weekend. Roen said the Montana Department of Transportation reported the trash read more

Apr282018

Tactual problems with Denis Pitman’s clarifying his vote

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

We find tactual problems with Denis Pitman’s clarifying his vote on a 96-unit development for 10.77 acres on Barrett Road in the Heights, which was in the 4/12/2018 agenda packet and reported in the Gazette on 4/18/2018 by Mike Ferguson.

While medium density is 6-10 units per acre, this proposal was 96 units on 10.77 acres.

He complains of the impact of the additional read more

Apr272018

GOP Senate hopefuls spar over spending at forum

Politics • Top Stories

MT US Senate Candidates begin forum at the Elks Lodge in Billings on Tuesday April 24th. From left to right, Troy Downing, Matt Rosendale, Russell Fagg, and Albert Olszewski. (Photo by Yellowstone County News)

Originally published in the 4/27/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News.

BILLINGS — The conversation got a little bit contentious during the GOP US Senate Forum on Tuesday evening at the Elks Club in Billings, where the candidates weighed in on a wide range of issues from CSKT to the Veteran’s Administration, from tariffs to health care. As might be expected, however, there was far more agreement among the candidates than disagreement.

The primary point they all wanted to make was who would most likely be able to defeat incumbent Democrat, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Having deep roots in the state was an emphasis of candidates Dr. Al Olszewski and Judge Russell Fagg, in contrast to relative newcomers, candidates Troy Downing and Matt Rosendale. Rosendale is a former Montana legislator and current State Auditor. Downing, who lives in Big Sky, is a businessman and veteran.

Downing claimed that the post should be filled by someone with combat experience, since Congress is charged with the responsibility of making decisions about going to war and those decisions should be made by someone who understands what that really means. Rosendale pointed to his record of reducing regulations and spending as qualifications to continue representing Montanans. He was the only state official to refuse a pay increase, during a budget shortfall. “That’s what a leader does,” he said.

With Fagg and Rosendale having been identified in recent polls as the frontrunners, Fagg initiated some sparing with Rosendale regarding a tour of the state by Rosendale, that has the appearance of being funded by public dollars.

“Why didn’t you do the tour last year or next year?” challenged Fagg. Rosendale rebutted that the tour is part of his job as State Auditor to connect investors with entrepreneurs. It is being funded not at taxpayers’ expense, but through the Investor’s Protection Fund, which “the industry provides with no tax dollars.”

“Sounds like a slush fund to me,” quipped Fagg, a former District Court judge and state legislator from Billings.

Fagg also challenged Rosendale about a 2014 statement he made in support of transferring federal lands to the state. Fagg said he has since “flip-flopped” on that position. Rosendale responded, “I listened to read more

Apr272018

McNiven’s Meanderings: Post debate reflections and current happenings

Politics • Meanderings

Well, folks, I sigh a sense of relief now that the MT GOP Senate Primary Debate/forum is over that Yellowstone County News co-sponsored last night at the Elks Club in Billings.

I learned a lot about each candidate and thought they all did a great job. If I counted correctly (and my common core math worked), we had about 120-130 people at the event along with radio listeners across the state on 24 stations (According to Jon Arneson) along with KULR-8 Television’s Facebook live stream along with our own Facebook live stream we shared.

It is definitely a lot of work to coordinate with tv, radio and a live audience. As that was my first time, I guess it went ok but there were personally some things I’d do differently next time to help prepare but that’s how you learn. Jump in head first!

I want to thank my staff at the Yellowstone County News who all understand my nervousness, focus, and being patient when they kinds of events happen. It affects all members of our team in one way or another in preparing, following up, covering, pictures, and then pulling off big events like this.

As a side note, YCN never even asked to be a sponsor of this Senate forum and event nor did we even pursue to be involved. However, I was just asked to be a moderator as some in the original committee said that Yellowstone County News sponsored the Billings Mayoral Debate last Fall and did a great job so they wanted us to be involved again. So, we got involved! And I’m glad that we did.

Also thank you to Judy Trenka (Big Tent Dinner) and Henry Kriegel (Montana’s for Tax Reform) for all their heavy lifting as well to prepare for the event. Thank you to Paul Patek as he was the timer and volunteers who also helped out at the event.

I’m also grateful for Evelyn Pyburn who is one of our YCN reporters who also put in many hours in getting questions together and planning together with me and the committee. As I’ve known Evelyn for many years as I also grew up with her kids in school, she is a great support to our newspaper and appreciate all that she does. Words can’t express enough her caliber and depth of knowledge she brings to her stories and understanding of complex situations.

I heard from a number of voters and attendees at the forum and I heard from three unsolicited but respected people that told me that Dr. Al Olszewski read more

Apr272018

Weekly Ramblings by Krayton Kerns: Plan B

Features

Krayton Kerns, Ramblings of a Conservative Cow Doctor. publishes a weekly column in the Yellowstone County News print edition.

Published in the 4/27/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News.

As a veterinarian, my day is predictably unpredictable, and Wednesday was a doozy. It began with Boots, a 5-year-old English Shepherd who earns his living in a feedlot. He was salivating profusely and could eat dog food but was unable to swallow water. Boots can get cranky, so we sedated him, looked down his throat, snapped skull X-rays before diagnosing him as suffering from a disorder where his immune system is attacking the muscles which close his jaw.

Most cases respond somewhat to steroids, but for those who do not, there is no Plan B, and this brings me to my next case.

Gary and his little dog, Yuma, popped in Tuesday morning for his Wednesday grooming appointment. He reappeared early Wednesday, but was confused why a haircut should take longer than read more

Apr272018

Please advise our family and others on how we are going to pay for the Lockwood High School

Letters to the Editor

‎Dear Editor:

So, concerning the new Lockwood High School, it seems that our personal tax bill will be $797 for the current Lockwood Grade School.

You say the $454 for SD2 High School tax bill will go down to $227. Yea!

And the new Lockwood High School tax bill will tack on at least an ADDITIONAL $600.

This does not include the Fire Rural Tax $666, Education Tax $432, County Tax, $447, County Road Tax $157, and the Safety Levy Tax $42, Medical Levy Tax $44, State County Refuse Tax $20, Big Sky Eco Dev Tax $13, and County Weed Tax $3.

The tax bill from this past year increased by read more

Apr262018

Obituary: Doris Kuykendall Peck Oblander

Obituaries

Doris Kuykendall Peck Oblander

Doris Kuykendall Peck Oblander born in Deadwood, SD, on Dec. 30, 1936, passed away on April 25, 2018, in Billings.

She was raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota, married and moved to Eastern Montana in 1956. She later moved to the Billings area in 1968. She worked in retail grocery stores the majority of her life. She started at Safeway and Buttreys in Miles City and Billings, and retired after working many years at Denny’s IGA in the Heights. She married Harold Oblander and farmed in the Ballantine area for 35 years.

After retirement, she worked with Harold and David on the farm, and spent a lot of time with her grandchildren and family. Doris enjoyed spending her time read more

Apr262018

Over your head: Record snowfall totals over 8.8 feet for the year

Top Stories • Yellowstone County • Billings

BILLINGS — It’s official — it took more shoveling than usual to make it through winter. So far.

The National Weather Service in Billings reported on Monday morning that official snowfall (year to date) had reached 103.6 inches, creeping past the old record of 103.5 inches. By the end of the day, falling flakes had pushed the total up to 106.1 inches. That’s 8.83 feet.

Any snow that falls from now through June 30 will be added to the current total, a National Weather Service spokesman said Wednesday. The “new year” for measuring snowfall begins July 1.

Total snowfall in the Huntley area read more

Apr262018

“Reasonable person” test for US Senate, I urge Dr. Al Olszwski.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

In law we have the “reasonable person” test. Any reasonable person watching the political ads put on by Troy Downing would rightly assume that he had been both a helicopter and jet pilot in the United States Air Force. According to reliable sources, he was neither. Now he has a retired general supporting him who was convicted of lying to the FBI.

I urge all my fellow veterans and non-veterans to support read more

Apr232018

Are you giving Away Your Data?

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Giving Away Your Data

Most data is obtained legally, with your consent. But many times you don’t recognize when you are providing your information. There are many steps you can take to help protect your privacy. Here are a few more that are driven by the upcoming election cycle:

Stop filling out political surveys you get in the mail or over the phone. No matter what they say or imply, those surveys are not directing the actions of any organization. Organizations have boards, or funders, or founders that determine organizational goals.

Stop taking read more

Apr222018

Senate candidates prepare for April 24 debate

Montana-Statewide • Politics • Top Stories • Yellowstone County

The public is invited to meet the primary GOP U.S. Senate candidates at a forum on Tuesday, April 24, at the Elks Lodge in Billings. All of the GOP candidates Russell Fagg, Matt Rosendale, Troy Downing and Albert Olszewski are all vying for the opportunity to challenge the incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Jon Tester.
The event is being sponsored by Montanans for Tax Reform and the Yellowstone County News. It is free and open to the public and it will be broadcast by Northern News Network, Yellowstone County News/Facebook and KULR -8 TVFacebook live stream.
The 90 minute forum will begin promptly at 7 p.m. Doors will read more