Nov192022

Obituary: Gerald Wayne Ferrell

Obituaries

Gerald Wayne Ferrell

Gerald ‘Jerry’ Wayne Ferrell, age 76, of Billings, MT, formerly of Petersburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

Jerry is preceded in death by his father, Adren Newton ‘Slim’ Ferrell, and mother, Marian Breeden Ferrell, his sister, Janice Ferrell Whitley, and her husband, Henry ‘Bubba’ Whitley, as well as his in laws, Earl, and Kay Fake.  Jerry is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carol Ferrell, daughter, Rebecca ‘Becky’ McAllister, son, Michael ‘Mickey’ Ferrell, daughter-in-law, Dawn Ferrell, granddaughter, Catalina ‘Lina’ Ferrell, and grandson, Jameson ‘Jamie’ Ferrell. Jerry is also survived by a niece, Sarah Whitley, her partner, Sarah Sunde, and their children, Bennett, Emerson, and Caroline as well as a brother-in-law, Steve Fake, and his children Brenda Fake, Brian Fake, and Pam Stevens.

Jerry grew up in his beloved town of Petersburg, Virginia.  He graduated high school from Petersburgh High School in 1964 and enlisted in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970 during the Vietnam War. While serving, Jerry was stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana where he met the love of his life, Carol.  Not long after, Jerry and Carol were married at St. Pius the X on September 14, 1968, and honeymooned at the Yodeler Motel in Red Lodge, Montana.   read more

Nov192022

Obituary: Richard Edward Fick

Obituaries

Richard Edward Fick

Richard Edward Fick, 82, of Billings, MT, passed peacefully at home on

November 9, 2022. He was born March 11, 1940, in Stafford, Nebraska, to Edward and Alberta (Pond) Fick. He started first grade at age four in rural Nebraska. Looking for better opportunities, the family moved to Billings, Montana, in 1949 where they had family living and a new job at Saunders Lumber. Richard also started working at the lumberyard at age 14, counting inventory and unloading rail cars by hand. 

He attended Pine Hills, Lockwood, and Senior High Schools, graduating in 1957.

He attended Eastern Montana College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science

in Education in 1961. He then taught mostly 5th and 6th grades for 39 years. He taught at Taft, Orchard, Highland, and Sandstone Elementaries. He retired from teaching in June 2000. His love for teaching was unimaginable. He made a difference in so many children’s and families’ lives. He took his students fossil hunting in the back of his pickup in the Pryors, walked to PAYS to watch sales, outdoor ed at Riverfront Park, and many more adventures. He had posters of John Wayne, Native Americans, the U.S. Presidents, and, of course, an American flag hanging in his classroom. He wanted to teach and expose his students to as much history and real world experiences as possible. read more

Nov192022

History Made… Thrice!  Shepherd, Huntley Volleyball Clash at State Tournament

Sports • Top Stories

Rival volleyball teams Huntley Project and Shepherd along with fans gather together for a historic picture at Brick Breeden Field House in Bozeman as history was made in three different ways Saturday, November 12, 2022. Shepherd Lady Fillies and Huntley Project Lady Red Devils both advanced to the state tournament together for the first time in history. In addition, Shepherd and Huntley Project played each other in the championship game twice due to it being a true double elimination state tournament. Shepherd had never won a state volleyball trophy before and took home 2nd place for the first time ever in school history. Huntley Project won their 14th state title adding to the most title wins for head Coach Iona Stookey and the Huntley Project volleyball program. You can also read McNiven’s Meanderings column about the historic event. (Anderson McNiven Photo)

by Michael J. Marino

History was made as both Shepherd and Huntley Project’s volleyball teams advanced from the Divisional round to the State Class B Championship Tournaments held on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman, Montana. read more

Nov192022

In his Suit Against County & OVG, Jarussi Asks to Void Contract

Local

by Evelyn Pyburn

Billings attorney, Gene Jarussi is persisting with his challenge against Yellowstone County regarding the RFP they issued for the private management of MetraPark, despite the County’s decision to discontinue the RFP (request for proposals) process. Jarussi has asked the Court for permission to file an amended complaint in which he additionally questions the process in which Yellowstone County entered into an entertainment booking contract with OVG in July 2021, and asks that that contract be declared invalid. read more

Nov132022

Shots Fired at Crisp Over COVID

Opinion • Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Mae Woo, your commentary in YCN (10-28-22) is right on about David Crisp only reading the lies of the liberal lefties news.  What does Crisp know about medicine?  And for Crisp to disparage Dr. Kerns is akin to a garbage collector training a heart surgeon.  Dr. Kerns is a well-respected doctor and member of our community.  Dr. Kerns, I stand beside you and will continue to admire your work.   read more

Nov112022

Obituary: Claudette Hanson

Obituaries

Claudette Hanson

June 20, 1937 – November 6, 2022

Claudette Hanson: dedicated mother of five, grandmother of 17, great-grandmother of 44 and eternal love of one, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 6, 2022.

Claudette was born on Father’s Day, June 20, 1937, to Russell Ward & Amy Neilson Smith in Cowley, Wyoming.  She was just three years old when her loving Mother passed away.  Two years later, her father married Margaret Pryde Crowder. The newly married couple and their blended family grew from seven to eleven. Claudette was raised on the small family farm in Cowley learning invaluable lifelong lessons. She attended Cowley schools, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and treasured her growing up years in their small community.  

On June 4, 1954, Claudette married Kent Hanson in the Idaho Falls Temple.  They were blessed with five children: Cozette Partridge (Rod), Russell Kent, Charles Dan, Gary J and Chris K (Donna).  Kent and Claudette celebrated almost 64 years together at the time of his passing on April 19, 2018.   read more

Nov112022

Some Local Ballots Lacking Party Diversity, Explained

Politics

The mid-term elections of 2022 have been called a “political tinderbox” by pundits and citizens alike. Campaign dollars flew toward “mud flinging” ads across the board, as sensationalism has become the new normal for our political environment. Locally, one abnormality became evident just before the primaries this past spring: there were seemingly no Democratic contenders on Yellowstone County’s ballots, leading both Republican and Democrat voters in Yellowstone County to ask, “Where did the Democrats go?” read more

Nov112022

County to Launch Search for MetraPark Manager

Local

Having dropped the process of finding a company to manage MetraPark, Yellowstone County Commissioners are taking up the search for a manager for the county-owned facility. The need to replace the former manager, retiring Bill Dutcher, was put on hold, a year ago, as the commissioners explored the possibility of hiring a private company to manage the entertainment venue. In the interim, they advanced Assistant Manager Tim Goodridge to the position of temporary manager. read more

Nov112022

Huntley Project, Shepherd Volleyball Headed to State

Sports

Huntley Project’s Lady Red Devils won 1st place and the Shepherd Lady Fillies took 2nd, at this year’s Divisional Tournaments in Manhattan, Montana. This is the first time in Montana history that not only one, but two, of Yellowstone County’s high school teams have advanced to the State Class B Tournament games, which will be held in Bozeman this year. Huntley Project will take on Glasgow starting at noon on Thursday, Nov. 10, followed by Shepherd vs. Bigfork at 4:00 p.m. YCN Sports will broadcast both games live on www.ycnsports.com and, for Billings listeners, on FM station 101.1 KFHW. (Anderson McNiven photo)

Nov82022

Disrupting the Cycle: State Prison Launches New Tech Training Program

Top Stories

Executives of the non-profit organization, The Last Mile (TLM), joined key figures of the Montana Department of Corrections and Governor Greg Gianforte to formally launch TLM’s workforce development program at Montana State Prison (MSP) on October 25, 2022. (Courtesy photo)

by Michael J. Marino

Montana State Prison (MSP) recently launched a new workforce training program that helps incarcerated individuals prepare for reentry into society by teaching them in-demand job skills and offering post-release support. Provided by non-profit organization, The Last Mile (TLM), the program touts a zero percent recidivism rate among its graduates. read more

Nov82022

Huntley, Shepherd Early Bird Voters Denied

Local

If you were among the early birds to get out to vote in the Shepherd and Huntley Districts, you may have been turned away. Ballots were, unfortunately, late on arrival to those locations. Those who were denied this morning are welcome to return to their District’s voting location to cast their votes. Ballots did arrive around 10am today.

Nov82022

False Reporting by Pyburn

Opinion • Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Once again Evelyn Pyburn has gone out of her way to report false information. In her October 21, 2022 article on MetraPark she states, “Jones and Pitman launched their exploration of the privatization concept outside of any public hearings or public discussions.” That is false! I did not start my exploration until after Commissioner Ostlund, during a meeting in August 2021, stated that “it’s (privatization) never worked out anywhere that its ever happened”.   read more