County to coordinate on Coronavirus
Concerns regarding the coronavirus (or COVID-19 as it has been officially termed) has activated the Unified Health Command (UHC) in Yellowstone County, to coordinate any needed emergency actions and to keep the public informed. The UHC is made up of Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare and RiverStone Health.
FPE Union drops suit against County
The Federation of Public Employees (FPE) has dropped its lawsuit against Yellowstone County in exchange for an agreement of Yellowstone County commissioners to enter into contract negotiations.
Tax abatements, an economic driver
Originally published in the 3/23/18 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — Tax abatements awarded by the City of Billings and the County of Yellowstone over the past few years will generate an $8 billion direct and indirect economic impact on the community based upon the salaries of the jobs the new business growth […]
Monday Morning Sheriff’s Report
Originally published in the Yellowstone County News 9/22/17 print edition. Assault * James Joey Hill, 31, Busby, was arrested Sept. 16 on a warrant from Park County alleging felony assault with a weapon, partner or family member assault, third or subsequent offense, aggravated assault and failure to appear. Hill was in jail at presstime Wednesday […]
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 […]
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 […]
Work begins on new 911 dispatch center in Billings
Originally published in the 8/4/17 print edition of Yellowstone County News. BILLINGS — Officials from Yellowstone County and the City of Billings on Monday broke ground for a new 911 dispatch center in downtown Billings. The formal groundbreaking marked the beginning of construction on the new dispatch center, which should take about one year to […]
FWP restricts campfires at fishing access sites
The Fish Wildlife and Parks has issued a ban on campfires at fishing accesses within Yellowstone County. The ban and info was released below.
Greg Gianforte elected to House of Representatives
YELLOWSTONE COUNTY — Yellowstone County voters turned out to support Greg Gianforte Thursday in his Republican bid for Montana’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Gianforte won 29,745 votes in Yellowstone County, or 55.84 percent of the county’s ballots. Democrat Rob Quist received 19,671 votes, 36.93 percent of the Yellowstone County vote. Independent […]
Yellowstone County to pay $1.25 million to Loren Simpson’s family in civil suit
Originally published in the 5/19/17 issue of YCN. HUNTLEY — Yellowstone County officials have settled a lawsuit that stemmed from the January 2015 shooting death of Loren Simpson by two sheriff’s deputies. The settlement calls for the county to pay Simpson’s family $1.25 million. He was driving an allegedly stolen vehicle when two deputies shot […]