I appointed Pam Ellis to the Heights Water Board
Dear Editor, I appointed Pam Ellis to the Heights Water Board as a commissioner because Pam is willing to ask the hard questions, and make sure that
Skyway Drive is a Statement of Community Pride
Dear Editor, We live in a community, that looks well into the future for opportunities to grow and develop.
Denis Pitman to Run as Write-in Candidate for County Commissioner
County Commissioner Denis Pitman isn’t ready to give up quite yet. Having lost his primary bid to be the Republican candidate on the November General Election ballot, incumbent county commissioner, Denis Pitman, is registering as a write-in candidate. Pitman said that he is registering so voters have an option, and so that the votes will […]
Mental health service funding awaits provider proposals, Pitman resigns
Following months of very public discord and disagreements regarding Yellowstone County’s funding of mental health services and what that should entail in the future, Yellowstone County Commissioners seem to have decided that that they will be issuing a “request for proposals” from health service providers for plans on how best to provide services. The proposals […]
Committee mulls 2 percent raise for county’s elected officials
Originally published in the 6/8/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — County officials held the first of what is usually two meetings to determine salary increases for the county’s elected officials, on Tuesday. While no action was taken, the discussion of the Elected Officials’ Compensation Committee leaned toward increasing the base salary of […]
New hockey franchise may bring game to MetraPark
Originally published in the 12/1/17 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — Billings is once again being asked to host a hockey franchise, only this time it is a professional team, a new one to be formed as part of the ECHL. “The ECHL is a major professional league with 27 teams in the US […]
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 […]
County mulls higher wages for jail maintenance workers
Originally published in the 9/1/17 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — Being able to keep maintenance staff for the Yellowstone County Detention facility has become problematic, reported Greg Erpenbach, facilities superintendent for Yellowstone County. Erpenbach joined Dwight Vigness, Human Resources director, on Monday, to recommend to County Commissioners that they offer a higher rate […]
Huntley Project Museum celebrates past and looks to the future
Originally published in the 6/30/17 print edition of Yellowstone County News. HUNTLEY PROJECT — About 80 people turned out on Saturday to celebrate both history and progress. Saturday’s events marked the 110th anniversary of irrigation on the Huntley Project, the transformation and dedication of the Mercantile and opening of the Dassinger Building. Kelli Maxwell, director of […]
Tax abatement program helps jump-start business projects
Originally published in the print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — It’s not without its critics. The tax abatement program that Yellowstone County and the City of Billings use to incentivize business growth, expansion and recruitment is often viewed as a “free pass” for some businesses, but it is anything but that according to […]