Billings mayoral candidates face off in last debate
Originally published in the 10/20/17 print edition of Yellowstone County News BILLINGS — Billings mayoral candidates Bill Cole and Jeff Essmann squared off for a final debate before ballots went out by mail on Wednesday for the Nov. 7 election. A quick and lively, back and forth conversation, during the one-hour debate that was sponsored […]
Huntley Project Head Girls Basketball Coach passes in fatal accident
Mark Wandle, Huntley Project School District Superintendent, released the following statement this morning regarding last nights accident. This morning we heard the extremely sad news that Kurt Kautz, our head girls basketball coach, died last night in a vehicle accident. This is the only information we have officially received on the circumstances surrounding the event. […]
Sen. Conrad Burns fondly recalled at memorial ceremony
Originally published in the 10/13/17 print publication. by Evelyn Pyburn BILLINGS — A Who’s Who of county residents, both past and present, filled the lobby of the MetraPark arena for the unveiling of the sign that will designate the Conrad Burns Memorial Highway and a commemorative rock with Burns’ brand on it, which has been placed […]
Yellowstone County News to co-sponsor last Billings mayoral debate
BILLINGS — Yellowstone County News will host and sponsor the final debate between the Billings candidates for mayor on Oct. 17. The candidate forum and debate, co-sponsored by KULR-8 Television, begins at 7 p.m. in Petro Theater at Montana State University Billings and lasts one hour. The event is free and open to the public. […]
Taxpayers save $1.7 million in county jail bond sale
Originally published in the 9/29/17 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — Good news for county taxpayers! The bond sale to finance the addition to the Yellowstone County Detention Facility (YCDF) was much better for county taxpayers than even best expectations. On Tuesday, County Commissioners approved a $9.7 million general obligation bond sale at […]
Local option tax separates Billings mayor candidates
Originally published in the print edition of the Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — One of the most significant differences in positions between the two candidates running for mayor of Billings is their support for a proposed local option tax. A local option tax is essentially a limited sales tax, restricted to a specific city or […]
DOT announces open house regarding Billings Bypass
Originally published in the 9/15/17 print edition of YCN. LOCKWOOD — An open house to update the community on the progress of the Billings Bypass will be held on Thursday, Sept. 28, 6-7:30 pm at the Eileen Johnson Middle School Commons at Lockwood School. The Montana Department of Transportation is inviting the public to attend to […]
Cole, Essmann win Billings mayor primary election
Originally published in the 9/15/17 print edition of the Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — Mayoral candidates Bill Cole and Jeff Essmann will advance to the general election after receiving the most votes in Tuesday’s primary. Cole received 7,826 votes, or about 32 percent of the 24,228 votes cast. Essmann received 6,502 votes, or about 27 […]
County approves $94 Million budget,
Originally published in the 9/8/17 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — Pointing out that Yellowstone County’s 2017-18 budget is only “sustainable” if the proposed Safety Mill Levy passes, County Commissioner Denis Pitman refused to second a motion to pass it. But, then he said he would vote for it, but he wants the […]
County’s taxable value up 4.6 percent
Originally published in the 8/25/17 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — The total taxable value of property in Yellowstone County increased 4.6 percent in FY 2016-17. About half that increase is due to the construction of new property or what might be called the addition of new value to the total of assets […]