News

AN UNUSUAL GRADUATION

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:50pm
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Park High’s graduation will look a little different this year, but the show will go on.

On Thursday, parent volunteers were pulling string and pounding stakes to create quadrants on the school’s McLeod Field. 

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, “we’re trying to promote social distancing yet give the graduates something as normal to a celebration as possible,” said Athletic Director Nate Parseghian, who is leading the live broadcast task. 

$25M for biz fund; Bullock comments on COVID uptick

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:47pm

At a press conference Thursday, Gov. Steve Bullock said Montana is adding an additional $25 million to the business stabilization fund, bringing the total to $75 million.

The state is also adding $250,000 to the agriculture adaptability grant program, Bullock said, and introducing a grant program for small and medium-sized meat processors, called the Montana Meat Processing Infrastructure Grant. That program will distribute a maximum of $250,000 per processor, $2 million max, Bullock said.

Tintina Montana Resources officials respond to lawsuit

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:45pm
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Tintina Montana Resources officials say they are disappointed, but not surprised, that conservation groups have filed a lawsuit asking a Montana court to cancel the approval of the Black Butte copper mine in central Montana.

“No major natural resource project in Montana seems to go unchallenged despite our strict regulations and processes enshrined in Montana law,” Sandfire Resources CEO Rob Scargill said in a statement. Sandfire Resources is a Tintina subsidiary.  

Three lawsuits allege Livingston Police misconduct

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:44pm

Three lawsuits filed against the Livingston Police Department say the department failed to exercise reasonable care in hiring its police officers, and inadequately trained and supervised its officers.

Attorney Jami Rebsom, who is representing the plaintiffs in two of the suits, and is named as the plaintiff in the other, said there are three additional suits on the way. Rebsom is working with Bozeman attorney Suzanne Marshall. The suits were filed in U.S. District Court in Billings.

River no longer set to hit flood stage

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:32pm

The Yellowstone River is no longer forecasted to reach flood stage (10 feet) this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

After minor flooding Monday, forecasts had the river fluctuating around flood stage late this week. The area was under a flood warning Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The river was discharging at 21,600 cubic feet per second Friday, according to the National Water Information System, down from 29,000 cfs Monday.

The peak for June 5 was 37,400 cfs in 1997 and the median for June 5 is 12,200 cfs.

Trump administration moves forward with plan to end wild bird protections

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:30pm
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BILLINGS (AP) — The Trump administration moved forward Friday with plans to scale back a century-old law protecting most American wild bird species despite warnings that billions of birds could die as a result.

Officials said in a  draft study of the proposal that it could result in more deaths of birds that land in oil pits or collide with power lines or other structures. The study did not put a number on how many more birds could die but said the effects could be significant.

Man drowns in Belt Creek

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:26pm

GREAT FALLS (AP) — A Montana man drowned after being swept down Belt Creek near Sluice Boxes State Park, Cascade County officials said Thursday.

Dustin Quintanilla of Great Falls was with friends who were swimming across the creek about 15 miles south of Belt on Wednesday with plans to jump off of cliffs into the water, Sheriff Jesse Slaughter.

However, Quintanilla was swept away and went underwater at about 4 p.m. His friends found him about 250 yards downstream, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. 

Two charged with burglary plead not guilty

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:25pm

A Livingston man and woman are accused of burglarizing a Convict Grade Road home and pawning items taken from the residence while the owners were in California.

Aaron Paull, 36, and Samantha Fillion, 30, are each charged with burglary, criminal mischief and theft, all felonies.

Man charged with assault on officer

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:22pm

A 49-year-old Livingston man is accused of pointing a silver semi-automatic handgun in the direction of a police officer during a May 16 traffic stop.

Austin Rawlings Ward is charged with felony assault on a peace officer and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning before Judge Brenda Gilbert of Montana’s Sixth Judicial District Court in Livingston.

49’er opening back up

Published on Fri, 06/05/2020 - 3:19pm

The dining room at Livingston’s 49’er Diner and Casino will open back up Wednesday after a long hiatus.

The facility closed in late March in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, which served as a catalyst for owner Jerry Graybill to shut the place down and do what he called “a massive remodel.”

“It needed to be done when I bought the place,” Graybill said.

The work includes new equipment, like cooking exhaust hoods and a walk-in cooler, as well as rewiring throughout.

The project won’t expand the dining room seating.