Our county commissioners last year cut county funding
Dear Editor, Our county commissioners last year cut county funding to Yellowstone Art Museum by 77% in order to direct more money toward public safety. This drastic cut disrupted museum operations, reduced community programming, and undermined YAM’s contributions as a regional economic driver. But the funding cut also undermines public safety. Forty-odd years ago, I […]
Joy Named to Replace Kerr-Carpenter in House District 46
On Tuesday, Densie Joy, a member of the Billings City Council, was selected by Yellowstone County Commissioners to fill the House District 46 position left vacant when the County Commissioners selected Emma Kerr-Carpenter to fill the Montana Senate seat vacated with the resignation of
Sign Violated the Spirit of Election Day, if Not the Law
A huge electronic billboard, promoting the passage of CI-126, dominated the MetraPark parking lot on Election Day, in front of Election headquarters, for much of the day – just as flyers promoting the campaigns of Judge Katherine Bidegaray and Judge Jeremiah “Jerry” Lynch were passed out to people standing in line waiting to register to […]
Election Department Asks for federal funds for More Workers
Because they are having trouble filling the positions needed on Election Day to monitor and process the voting process, Ginger Aldrich, who heads the Yellowstone County’s Election Department, has received approval of Yellowstone County Commissioners to request funding from the federal government. The county department is requesting $28,310 from Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which […]
Laurel Gardens Seeks CDBG Grant
The Yellowstone County Commissioners set a public hearing for Tuesday, September 24, 9:30 am, seeking public comment on a proposed application to the Montana Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for a grant to fund the second phase of the rehabilitation of Laurel Gardens, located at 313 South 8th Avenue. Laurel Gardens […]
Risks of Fire to be Mitigated by Power Shut-offs Says NWE
As events in states like California and Hawaii have proven, nature often generates conditions that pose high risks of power lines igniting fires. NorthWestern Energy is in the process of developing strategies that will mitigate those risks, and last Monday, Jordan McNaught and Lisa Perry on behalf of NorthWestern Energy, visited with County Commissioners to […]
County Invokes Stage 1 Fire Restrictions
Given the extreme heat of the past couple weeks, the country side is drying out, creating a tinder box of dry vegetation that can leap into flames at the slightest spark. The conditions are such that Yellowstone County Commissioners urge extreme caution and are implementing Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. The restrictions have been recommended by
County Responds to City’s Offer On Temporary Holding Facility
In advancing the agreement between the city and the county in the building of a short-term holding facility (STHF), the County Commissioners responded this week to the Billings City Council’s offer in February to contribute a total of $2 million to the cost. The temporary holding facility will be built to hold inmates for only […]
Despite Opposition, Commissioners Approve Laurel Growth Policy
On Tuesday, Yellowstone County Commissioners gave their stamp of approval to the Growth Policy developed by the City of Laurel. The public hearing drew comments from a number of citizens opposed to its adoption, believing that it advances the construction of the natural gas power generator being built near the CHS Refinery. Kurt Markegard, Laurel […]
State Proposes Adding 3 Judges to 13th District Court
The Montana Judicial System and Yellowstone County officials are organizing an effort to ask the next Montana State Legislature to fund three additional District Court Judges for Yellowstone County. Yellowstone County’s 13th Judicial District Court has the highest case load in the state by a wide margin, according to a recent survey, which concluded that […]