Yellowstone County News was awarded Yellowstone County’s legal advertising contract by Yellowstone County Commissioners on Tuesday in a unanimous vote. read more
Oct182019
Jul172019
Crash claims another life on Hwy 312
Emergency Medical Services Personnel are reponding and attending to multiple injuries at a crash along hwy 312 and road 8 in Worden. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Two vehicles were involved in a T-bone collision just after 3pm on Wednesday, July 17thon Highway 312 and Road 8 in Worden with Montana Highway Patrol confirming at least one fatality and multiple serious injuries resulting from the accident. Help Flight was dispatched and MHP blocked off a large section of 312 in both directions while read more
May142019
OFFICIAL 2019 BEST OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTY WINNERS
Well Folks, the ballots are in and we have some winners! Actually, we have 40 winners to be exact plus my Editor’s Choice Award winner that we will be announcing in next week’s edition of Yellowstone County News. Thank you for your patience and to all the readers and voters that participated in the process. We’ll be announcing even more things to come in the near future so keep your eyes glued to your paper as those announcements come to light.
Until then, Congrats to the winners of the Best of Yellowstone County Awards from our readers and subscribers.
JDM
Auto Repair/Auto Body – Blue Body and Paint
Bank or Credit Union – Stockman Bank
Car Dealership – Hertz Car Sales
Chiropractor – Heights Walk In Chiropractic
Dry Cleaner – Valet Today Cleaners
Farm & Ranch Supplier – Shipton’s Big R
Floral Shop – Evergreen IGA
Grocer/Grocery Store – Albertsons
Hair/ Beauty Salon – JJ’s Hair Fashion
Funeral Home – Smiths Funeral Chapels
Jeweler – Gold Smith Gallery
Child Care Center – Kountry Kare
Sporting Goods – Scheels
Home Furnishing – UFS Used Furniture Store
Tattoo & Body Piercing – Eagle Tattoo
Law Firm/Attorney – Crowley Fleck Law Firm
General Contractor – Langlas & Associates
Local Insurance Agent – Frontier Insurance, Ed Melcher
Landscaping – Good Earth Works
Sewer Services – Anderson Sewer
Electrician – Taylor Electric
Professional Photography – 406 Memories
House Keeping/Cleaning – Becky Carlson- Billings
Real Estate Agent – Chantale Hale EXP Realty
Steakhouse – Feedlot Steakhouse
American Restaurant – Bull Mountain Grill
Mexican Restaurant – Guadalajara
Asian Restaurant – Grand Garden
Health Care Provider – St. V’s Dr. Nichols
Alternative Health Care – Yellowstone Naturalpathic
Dentist – Prill Dentistry
Veterinarian – Lockwood Vet Dr. Jody Anderson
Massage Therapy – Chantel Hale
Gym – YMCA
Golf Course – Pryor Creek Golf Course
Museum – Yellowstone Art Museum
Educator – Cindy Sundheim, Shepherd Schools
Mar222019
Best of Yellowstone County ballots are in! Awards coming!
Well, Folks, it’s been a whirlwind of a week as there is so much going on that I don’t have enough time to get it all done.
However, here are a couple things to be aware of. The Best of Yellowstone County Awards has finished and we will hopefully announce those winners in the next week or two so stay tuned. read more
Mar222019
CodeRED is active
CodeRED is active
Yellowstone County’s emergency services are fully operational as participants of CodeRED. Now, to make the emergency alert system completely effective for the county requires the participation of citizens by downloading the CodeRed app.
The county’s Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator, KC Williams, explained that the focus of area emergency services leaders is to get the word out to get as many people as possible to register with CodeRED which will make notifications of emergency situations more effective than ever. In that effort they will be explaining the system to high school students, who will hopefully carry the information home to their parents and grandparents, he said.
There is no charge to get the app, and once registered on a land line or mobile telephone number it will notify the recipient of all alerts within a 25 mile radius – alerts regarding weather, missing persons and all kinds of other emergency situations.
The Yellowstone County CodeRed Emergency Notification System provides the public with the ability to receive voice, test and /or email notifications generated by government and public safety officials.
To register for the service (app) go to http:// www. co. yellowstone .mt.gov / des/
For assistance call the Yellowstone County Emergency Management Information Line at 406 256-2775.
May192024
You, Sir, have my vote…
Dear Editor,
Joel G. Krautter, you fool! You’re first mistake was admitting that you WILL NOT vote for Donald Trump, actually our current and next president. You think because you and a few others hate President Trump that he will not win. You call yourself a “common sense conservative,” well mister, you ain’t got-a-lotta dat! It appears you are a closet Democrat. Common sense should tell you that most Americans are having an extremely difficult time trying to get by on what we actually could get by on, when Donald Trump was in the Oval Office.
Your second mistake was asking for the endorsement of losers that tried running for office. Your third mistake is not talking about the damage Jon Tester and Biden have done to Montana, and yet Tester benefitting himself financially on our taxes. Your fourth mistake is not addressing a single thing about what military Veterans need for continued survival, but then if you were never issued a DD-214, you don’t know what Veterans actually struggle with.
Dr. Kyle Austin, you Sir, are at least honest about your “maverick” political status and that you grew up farming. I married into a farm family, yet the only thing I know about farming is read more
May192024
Vote for Hank Peters for County Treasurer and County Superintendent of Schools
Dear Editor,
Vote for Hank Peters for County Treasurer and County Superintendent of Schools. Hank has the experience and knowledge to handle the complex day-to-day operations of the read more
May192024
Obituary: Leonard Arthur Schleder
Leonard Arthur Schleder
Leonard Arthur Schleder peacefully left us on May 4, 2024, with his wife, Jackie, and family at his side. Leonard was born to Elizabeth Koch Schleder and Raymond Schleder on March 8, 1929, in Miles City, Montana. He grew up on the ranch in Sumatra, working from an early age beside his parents on the ranch. Leonard attended the Sumatra schools. Leonard’s father died in 1944 at the age of 45 years. Leonard was fifteen years old. That last summer while working on the farm his dad instilled in Leonard how to live a respectable life and how to treat others. Leonard practiced that advice his entire life. Leonard graduated from Sumatra High School in a class of three in 1947. He was proud that he had purchased tax title lots in the Sumatra Incorporated town before he was of legal age. Leonard attended Carroll College in Helena, Montana for one year, transferring to Montana State College in Bozeman, Montana for one semester. However, the call of the ranch life had him purchasing a 3,000-acre ranch in the Bull Mountains north of Shepherd, Montana in 1950 where he raised cattle and Pinto horses.
In 1953, he married Jacqueline Clark. They lived on the ranch with eleven miles of dirt roads from the highway and no electricity or modern conveniences. In 1955, they moved to the Shepherd community and in 1956, he started working for a local farmer, Elmer Quanbeck, learning about irrigated farming. During those years Leonard and Jackie started a monthly pinochle club which lasted for twenty-one years. In 1959, he wanted to own a read more
May192024
Huntley Project High School Graduation 2024
Six Huntley Project graduating seniors pose with thier newly awarded hardware of becoming the Valedictorians for the 2024 graduation held at Huntley Project High School Sunday May 19. Pictured from left to right is Brynn Wandle, Lainie Hofer, Shyanna Harman, Hailey Diamond, Gretchen Donally, and Delayne Lindeen. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Here are some pictures that were captured at the Huntley Project High School Graduation ceremony on Sunday May 19 by the Yellowstone County News. Feel free to share the pictures with family and friends that would like to use them for personal use. Congratulations to all the graduating seniors!
May192024
Shepherd High School 2024 Graduation
Shepherd High School Graduating Seniors pose for a group celebration picture after the graduation ceremony Sunday May 19, 2024. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Here are some pictures that were captured from the Shepherd High School Senior Graduation on Sunday May 19th. Feel free share and use any of these pictures of your kids and friends that were taken by the Yellowstone County News for your personal use. Congratulations to all the Seniors and good luck to you in the future!
May172024
Not only make your vote count, make your ballot count
Dear Editor,
T.J. Smith is correct, we need to find the root cause of addictions, the drugs, alcohol and sexual pleasures, a lot has to do with finances. Those making money off people who are coping with little money. Our children want to fit in, be cool and with the popular people. Our society has made material possessions and wealth a status symbol. When you fail to meet the expectations of yourself or what others think, shame and depression take over, you need a pick me up. The border has little to do with drugs and human exploitation; closing the border will mean finding another way to supply those in need.
Elections are won by read more
May172024
We Support Immigration– Legal Immigration
Dear Editor,
For years we have watched news reports of the porous southern border facilitating the illegal influx of 10 million migrants under the Biden presidency (thehill.com, Jan.2024). To be clear, we support immigration– legal immigration. Knock and come through our country’s front door the right way. If you are here to chase the dream and embrace the love of our country and values, we welcome you. It is the illegal part with which we have trouble. Illegal migration has brought drugs, human trafficking, mules, cartels, terrorists on watch lists, and much more negative fallout. For years, this has been ‘behind the curtain’ of the public in Montana. Just ask our Attorney General Austin Knudsen. He continually and relentlessly has warned us of the surge in fentanyl smuggling, a staggering 20,000% increase in confiscations since 2019; and sex trafficking, cases escalating over 116% since 2021 (dojmt.gov March 2024). These crises have become pervasive in Montana due to the current Federal administration’s border policy. We have confirmed illegals flown to Kalispell from New York. When hypocritical sanctuary cities realize Montana won’t send them back, where do you think they will keep sending them? Every town in Montana is read more
May172024
I caught part of the Brittney Griner interview on network TV
Dear Editor,
Not by choice, but only by accident, I caught part of the Brittney Griner interview on network TV the other night. Wow! Whoa! Shocking, if not read more
May172024
Dead Calves, Flooded Arena, Encroachment Proposals, & Temporary Shutdown Top HPID’s Monthly Meeting
The Huntley Project Irrigation District (HPID) faced several issues at their monthly meeting.
Kay McCloy, owner of Fly Creek Angus Inc. in Pompey’s Pillar and her son Dillon addressed the Huntley Project Irrigation District Board during Wednesday’s May 7th meeting expressing their discontent and dissatisfaction with how the water in the irrigation canal was dispersed and started this year. Kay reminded the board that she attended last month’s April meeting to confirm when the water would be coming down the canal for this year’s season, so that she and her family had time to move cattle ahead of the water as they do each year.
Sunday, April 21st was the date that water started running from the Huntley Diversion Dam and started filling the main canal. However, the 24 to 48-hour notice that was requested by the McCloy family did not happen, and instead they received a two-hour notice. In addition, the fastest the water has ever come to them in Pompey’s is a week, but this year was two days later on April 23, according to Kay.
Kay said that 2024 marked the “45th year that my family has crossed the ditch and moved the cattle ahead of the water.” However, this year, “the time was not granted,” according to Kay.
“We didn’t’ have that opportunity to move our cattle. I feel it was 100% the ditch company’s fault.” McCloy submitted a bill to the board for the basics of what it cost her and her family from the losses they experienced due to how the water came to them this year.
Board President Cody Kuntz responded, “Kay, I don’t think this is our responsibility” in response to her $7,000 bill she submitted to the district board for the loss of her calves.
“You don’t’ think it’s right to give us more than a 3-hour notice?” questioned Kay’s son Dillon McCloy.
Kuntz, replied, “No.”
Kay replied, “After 45 years?”
Kuntz continued, “You knew the read more
May162024
Those who are pro-life OR pro-choice need to understand the truth about CI-128
Dear Editor,
Those who are pro-life OR pro-choice need to understand the truth about CI-128, which seeks to embed abortion into MT as a Constitutional right. Planned Parenthood operatives have been unleashed upon our state to gather enough signatures by June 21st to put an anti-baby, anti-woman agenda on our ballot this fall. The activist MT Supreme Court helped draft the vague, open-ended language, and signature gatherers will not be required to be transparent to the public as to what this liberal court system can interpret through it.
This change would allow for unlimited abortion, including partial-birth or dismemberment abortion. I can not believe most Montanans, even if they are pro-choice, would truly want that. In the language “healthcare professional” is left intentionally vague, meaning ANYONE loosely associated with healthcare can approve of abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and will make MT an abortion hub for those from other states who have not passed this horrific amendment. Taxpayers will be forced to pay for many of these abortions.
Both sides of the aisle are against sex trafficking. This initiative will allow for protection of predators and sex traffickers who force victims to obtain an abortion. How sick is read more
May152024
Thank you to Billings & Beyond for the Tremendous Support During our 2024 JustServe Community Day of Service
Dear Editor,
We are writing to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Billings and surrounding area for their tremendous support during our 2024 JustServe Community Day of Service.
This year, we were overwhelmed with the response, as over 120 projects were listed on the JustServe.org website for Saturday April 27th. Among these, 42 projects were from 25 organizations included 10 from the Great American Clean Up/Bright ‘n Beautiful Billings were dedicated solely to the JustServe Community Day of Service, including donation wish lists.
The impact of your collective efforts was truly remarkable. Every organization involved expressed profound gratitude for the outcomes achieved, despite any shortage of volunteers. Your willingness to lend a hand made a significant difference in our community. There were 360 volunteers for a total of 920+ hours of service.
A special mention goes to Nick Anderson, Billings Fireman, and Chief Valdez for their invaluable support read more
May112024
Obituary: Wesley Fisk
Wesley Fisk
Wesley John Fisk, 98, passed away peacefully of natural causes in his home, in Shepherd, Mt., Tuesday, March 5th, 2024.
Wesley was born July 6th, 1925 in Bartlett, North Dakota. Wesley was the youngest of four, he had two brothers and one sister born to John Wesley and Nellie Arella Wright Fisk.
Wesley was married to Joan Dorthy Karna on July 31, 1947. They had six children Barbara J. Pate, Nancy A. Hewitt, Ronald D. Fisk, Lesley G. Clark, David W. Fisk and Gerald (Jerry) D. Fisk. Wesley widowed in 2008 and subsequently married Linda DeCamp, they divorced in 2018. Wesley left behind 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Wesley served as a TEC 5 in the US Army from March 1945 to December 1946. Following his military service Wesley made his living in various read more
May102024
Traditional clinical treatment is not accessible, affordable, or even effective on its own
Dear Editor,
The definition of insanity is repeating an action while expecting different results. There are few issues with as many missed opportunities as veterans’ health and quality-of-life. Whether lacking creativity or undervaluing individualism, current programs are not fully serving those who served us. Throwing hospitals, doctors, and outreach initiatives at the problem has not inhibited an unacceptably high rate of adverse outcomes for veterans, especially suicide.
Traditional clinical treatment is not accessible, affordable, or even effective on its own. Reintegration requires tremendous vulnerability. Too much time in medical settings is psychologically detrimental. It is a positive feedback loop: “Here I am again. Something is really wrong.” Veterans need to be fulfilled in their lives, engaged in their communities, and comfortable in their own skin. Rehabilitation and counseling centers are just one piece of the puzzle. Over two-thirds of veterans who commit suicide never seek support.
The VHA’s Behavioral Health Autopsy Program studies thousands of suicides, trying to pinpoint warning signs. The three highest risk factors for veteran suicide are read more
May102024
Obituary: Burton Ray Gigoux
Burton Ray Gigoux (Burt)
A Marine who stood tall helping Veterans, Burton Ray Gigoux (Burt), 75, went to meet his Lord and Savior on December 23, 2023, from complications of cancer. He was born in Oakland, California, to Ray Gigoux and Delta Coop.
After graduation from Armarillo High School, he enlisted and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. Upon his discharge, he found the love of his life, besides the Marines, and met and married Anita Moore in New Orleans, LA. She was his lifelong partner in all of his veteran endeavors. In 1972, Burt took Anita up north to Billings, MT, to start a new read more
May92024
The House needs an independent free thinker like Stacy Zinn
Dear Editor and Fellow Constituents,
The United States Congress needs HELP!! The $95 billion foreign aid bill passed by the US House this past week proves why we need strong, honest, conservative leadership willing to fight the battle for the soul of the Republican Party.
Thus far US has sent at least $175 billion to Ukraine. Latest bill: $61 billion to Ukraine; $26 billion Israel which includes $9 billion humanitarian assistance in Gaza; $8 billion to regional partners Indo-Pacific including Taiwan; and TO the US SOUTHERN BORDER $0, YES $0.
There are 218 House Republicans. A 366-58 vote by the House passed this Bill, with only 21 Republicans read more
May52024
Vote Republican!
Dear Editor,
Those of us who are happy to live in Montana need to seriously consider who we will vote for in this November to represent us in Washington, D.C. He (or she) will be one of our two representatives in the the House, or one of our Senators in the Senate. While they represent us in the nation’s capital, they are also members of either the Republican or the Democratic parties and are often asked to help support their party’s national agenda – which may or may not serve Montana’s best interest.
The reason I bring up the importance of party affiliation is that the Democratic party beginning with Obama in 2008 has betrayed our nation’s history of patriotism and the love of America that I remember. In his first year of office President Obama declared that the United States was not a Judeo-Christian nation, (guided by the Ten Commandments). He never said whose God he read more
May42024
Having re-read Staley’s article several times, it is rife with progressive jargon for bigger government
Dear Editor,
I am a small business owner and understand that to stay in business, one has to either control expense or increase prices.
HOW MANY RETIREMENTS DO YOU NEED?
In reading John Staley’s article, he is a retired fire fighter from Quincy, IL; retired A/Fire Chief, Billings, MT; retired Fire Chief, Thornton, CO and retired Fire Chief from Lockwood Fire Department. That is a lot of retiring. It would be interesting to know if Staley receives multiple pensions. Most people are lucky to retire with Social Security and some personal savings.
Staley believes there needs to be more collaboration between the City of Billings (COB) and Yellowstone County (YC). On the surface, that sounds good. Then we get into the details when he says he would like to see “shared services” for public works, code enforcement, parks and recreation ($140 million rec center anyone?) and transportation. Staley believes county residents living outside city limits should subsidize Billings City services. Gee, what could go wrong with that? In terms of public transportation, Met buses with two people on them? Let’s extend that money losing service to the entire county…Don’t get me started on the city buying electric buses.
Where the COB and YC governments can work together, they seem to be doing so. They have recently announced a partnership to read more
May42024
Youth Protests – BACKFIRE!
Dear Editor, Youth Protests – BACKFIRE!
America has gone through a LOT over the years. Good and not-so-good. I personally lived during the Vietnam error. I was fortunate. I served my three years in the Army, primarily in South Korea and Germany. Lots of protests. Lots of conscientious objectors defected to Canada. Those fortunate in coming home from Vietnam, were not welcome back, and yes, even spit upon. Ugly to say the least. These were primarily young college read more
Apr262024
Justice Prevails, Pam Ellis Back on Board, Ming Cabrera Needs to Resign
Well, well, well, as you can see on the front page of our newspaper, the day of reckoning has come, and Pam Ellis won her case and the CURRENT Heights Water Board agreed to pay some attorney fees as well as place Ellis back on the board as the judge ruled in her and the county’s favor.
If you don’t remember, I’ll take you back in time when this episode of the Heights Water and Sewer District soap opera evolved when Ming Cabrera, Laura Drager, and David Graves were elected onto the Heights Water Board some years ago, and Ming Cabrera was then elected as the head of the board as chairman.
Well, I was fed a big bowl of whiplash as Ming took that entity as the Chairman and ran it even farther down the drain (Yes, pun intended) in the public’s eye as I gave him a chance to turn things around.
YCN originally came onto the scene in covering and following the Heights Water and Sewer District meetings because there were questions from the public as well as board members about how stuff was being done from management, staff as well as a district in general. In fact, there were some that said things were being done illegally and questioned how job bids, procedures, meeting minutes and notices, meeting agendas and meetings in general were conducted. The whole premise of YCN being at those meetings was to document what happened at those meetings as well as report what happened. I feel that is how we as a media and journalists can do our job in reporting and documenting the meetings as well as feature concerns and questions that affect the public, taxpayers and members of our communities while holding elected officials accountable. Overtime, if elected officials are doing things incorrectly, it will read more
Apr262024
Andersson Named GM for Water District; Board Fires Benefits Vendor
The Heights County Water District Board (CWDB) has offered the position of General Manager to Allan “Bo” Andersson of Cambridge, New York. At their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, the board voted unanimously to offer Andersson a contract.
CWDB President Doug Kary said that Andersson received the highest score in the board’s interviews and evaluations of candidates. The board is offering him $100,000 a year in their proposed contract.
Andersson is a retired business owner, who retired in 2021 as the president and chief executive officer of Flomatic Corp., following a 52-year career.
As the board dealt with other issues read more
