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 […]
One Big Sky receives support by City Council
by Evelyn Pyburn Public discussion has swirled with questions following the acceptance by the Billings City Council of a 400-page master plan for One Big Sky District, last week. It passed in a 7-3 vote with Brent Cromley, Frank Ewalt and Chris Friedel opposing.
NorthWestern Energy rate spike under PSC review
by Elisa Schlosser On September 28, 2018, NorthWestern Energy filed a general electric rate review request with the Montana Public Service Commission, the first such request since 2009. The proposal included a rate increase of nearly 7.4 percent of the average monthly bill. NorthWestern is citing significant investments in, “safe, reliable and smarter energy infrastructure,”
City of Billings developing new water source
by Evelyn Pyburn The City of Billings is in the process of developing a secondary source of water to serve the westend of the city with the development of an $84 million reservoir and treatment plant at Shiloh Road and Hesper Road. They will purchase property from Knife River Materials and from Yellowstone County, as […]
Yellowstone County’s needs be over the next five to eight years
by Evelyn Pyburn During mid-year budget review on Tuesday, Director of Finance Kevan Bryan asked county commissioners to reflect on that question before the mid-summer’s fiscal year budget hearings. The key to successfully managing the county’s budget, said Bryan, is the flexibility that long-term planning brings. “The role of the Finance Office is to make […]
First drive thru floral shop offers convenience
by Jonathan McNiven Montana’s first drive thru floral shop has made a pit stop look like a victory lap. Heads turn and eyebrows raise while offering a unique service not offered anywhere else in the state. However, customer service, affordability and elegance are still in the details. A quick detour before or after errands “only […]
Horse Racing loses traction
by Crystal Murdock A Dec. 14 article titled “Hold Your Horses” ignited community support for horse racing fans, wanting to know answers about the current and future state of Horsing racing in Billings. June Eaton, while walking in the area, noticed guard rail being removed from the MetraPark track area shortly after the article came […]
TEDD expansion advances, school says they were misled
Published for the 11/2/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News. LOCKWOOD — A proposal to expand the TEDD (Targeted Economic Development District) in Lockwood passed first reading at a public hearing on Tuesday, with an amendment that would direct 25 percent of its future revenue back to other taxing jurisdictions. All three Yellowstone County Commissioners […]
U.S. Attorney: Arrests, drug seizures show Project Safe Neighborhoods is working
Originally published in the 10/19/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — In the past six months, law enforcement officers have charged 105 persons in federal and state court, seized 160 pounds of methamphetamine and confiscated 52 firearms from the Yellowstone County community as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal program to […]
New ladder truck on the horizon for Lockwood Fire
Originally published in the 10/12/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News. LOCKWOOD — Sometime during the next two to three years the Lockwood Fire District Board must consider replacing its ladder fire truck, an expenditure that could reach almost a million dollars, said Lockwood Fire Chief John Staley during the October meeting of the board […]