News

Smoke visible in Park County, but no local fire

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 8:15pm
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The heavy smoke rolling into Livingston Tuesday evening is not from a fire in Park County, according to Park County Rural Fire District #1 Chief Dann Babcox.

A STEP TOWARD PASSENGERS?

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 4:05pm
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The Park County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to join the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, a step toward reestablishing passenger rail service in southern Montana.

 The rail authority is the brainchild of Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier, and would involve more than a dozen Montana counties gaining the ability to preserve and improve abandoned rail service, including passenger rail service, according to the joint resolution approved by the commissioners.

 Gallatin County and Missoula County have both opted to join the authority.

Commissioners allow liquor license transfer

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 4:03pm

The liquor license for the Two-Bit Saloon is in the process of being transferred to the Emigrant Outpost, and the Park County Commissioners have let the transfer go ahead.

The Two-Bit was destroyed in the mid-July fire that burned several businesses in downtown Gardiner.

The Park County Commissioners decided in their Tuesday session they didn’t need to take any action on the issue unless they had an objection, and there were none, so the transfer passed.

County will hold all-mail ballot election

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 4:02pm

 An all-mail ballot election is planned for the November general election in Park County in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

 The county plans to mail ballots to all active registered voters in October while also opening an official polling place in the City-County Complex in Livingston for early, in-person voting, Park County Elections Administrator and Clerk and Recorder Maritza Reddington said in a news release.

Unease over news on Russia vaccine

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 4:01pm
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MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Tuesday became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine, a move that was met with international skepticism and unease because the shots have only been studied in dozens of people.

President Vladimir Putin announced the Health Ministry’s approval and said one of his two adult daughters already was inoculated. He said the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and was shown to provide lasting immunity to the coronavirus, although Russian authorities have offered no proof to back up claims of safety or effectiveness.

Shift in alcohol buying means new normal for breweries

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:55pm
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Blake Thompson and his fellow beer-makers at Fernson Brewing Co. had planned to use white cans for the Sioux Falls-based brewery’s new hard seltzer.

Thompson reached out to the supplier to inquire about getting some extra stock of the white-painted cans commonly used by large manufacturers of hard seltzers.

At first, the supplier said it would only be a matter of weeks before new inventory became available, Thompson said. But then things changed.

Montana State Prison warden says he resigned over working conditions

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:54pm

MISSOULA (AP) — The former warden at the Montana State Prison said he resigned because of problems with offered treatment programs and conflicts with Director Reginald Michael. 

Lynn Guyer disclosed why he resigned in an interview with the Missoulian that came about one month after he left the agency. 

“I am leaving with my dignity,” Guyer told the Missoulian in a phone interview Friday, after the newspaper obtained his exit questionnaire. Guyer confirmed he sent it to the governor’s office and staff. 

Washington state to kill more wolves that attack livestock

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:54pm

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The state of Washington on Tuesday ordered that more endangered wolves be killed in a pack that continued to prey on cattle in Stevens County even after one member was eliminated.

Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind authorized the removal of one or two wolves from the so-called Wedge pack in response to repeated depredations of cattle on public grazing land.

The agency believes there are currently only two adult wolves in the pack.

No new clues in search for man missing in Glacier

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:53pm

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The search for a 68-year-old man believed missing in Glacier National Park is winding down, park officials said.

No new clues have been found in recent days in the search for Barry J. Tragen of Columbia Falls, incident commander Jim Dahlstrom said in a statement.

Tragen was reported missing on July 25 after he did not return to his vehicle parked near Kintla Lake in the park. The vehicle had been spotted at the same spot three days earlier, officials said.

Officials release name of Billings shooting victim

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:53pm

BILLINGS (AP) — Yellowstone County officials have released the name of a Billings man who was shot to death over the weekend.

Christian Skylar Henning, 25, died Saturday of multiple gunshot wounds, Coroner Cliff Mahoney said Monday.

Henning was shot in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen at about 1 p.m. Saturday, police said.

Officers arrested a suspect after he called police and turned himself in.