Week of April 7, 2024
About every 20 years, Lewis and Clark County tackles the thorny issue of drafting a new, updated policy to plan for anticipated changes as the result of population growth in the county. Later this month, Lewis and Clark County will host a series of open house meetings to gather information from residents on the direction the county should take in develping a new Comprehensive Growth Policy. Since the county adopted its current policy in 2004, the county has seen a population...
Gasoline prices are ending the week several cents higher on average than the week prior, according to AAA data. For now, prices have remained relatively stable given analysts' forecast that drone attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure might drive prices for oil higher. "Renewed Ukrainian attacks on Russia's oil infrastructure and increasing tension in the Middle East spiked oil prices recently," AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement this week. "And with...
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Tuesday that the state is deploying a small number of Montana National Guard troops to the nation's southern border, describing the action as an effort to help the state of Texas police cross-border drug trafficking in light of what he described as inaction by the federal government. According to the announcement, 10 Montana National Guardsmen have volunteered for active duty as part of Texas' Operation Lone Star. The Guardsmen are scheduled to...
LINCOLN, Mont.: This summer, the Montana Department of Transportation and Sletten Construction, in cooperation with Lewis and Clark County, will replace the Dalton Mountain Road Bridge over the Blackfoot River, located three miles west of Lincoln. Sletten Construction was awarded the contract to build the bridge for $3.9 million. Starting in early April, initial work will begin with crews trimming and removing trees. The traveling public should expect flaggers and short...
The pending closures of Missoula County's two largest wood products employers, announced separately this month, will have effects beyond the local economy, limiting options for landowners and other mills throughout the region and making forest management projects more expensive, according to local and industry officials. "It's not just the facilities and jobs that are impacted at those facilities," said Todd Morgan, director of the University of Montana's Forest Industry...
BOZEMAN – The Museum of the Rockies will host the third annual “Dinosaurs and MOR!” festival April 12-14, bringing together top paleontologists, dinosaur enthusiasts and a lineup of activities for all ages. Events include family-friendly programs, junior paleontologist passport stations and 18 presentations by scientists from around the globe. For more information and to purchase tickets to any of these events, visit museumoftherockies.org/dinos. “Dinosaurs and...
LINCOLN – Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte stopped by Hi Country Snack Foods Wednesday, March 20 as part of several Ag Week visits around the state highlighting Montana's 27,000 farms and ranches and related businesses. Hi Country has emerged as one of the states leading value-added agriculture businesses after transitioning to the use of Montana-grow beef for its products. In 2022, Montana Manufacturing Association and Montana Chamber of Commerce recognized Hi Country as the...
Hooper Park once again found itself awash in brightly colored plastic eggs on Easter Sunday as Lincoln Volunteer Fire Rescue once again hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt March 31. For about an hour, kids ranging in age from Pre-K through sixth grade scoured areas designated by their grade level. For the youngest kids it was a scramble to gather eggs scattered around the main oval at the park, while kids from second grade oan up scattered hither and thither as they searched...
It's well known locally that Lincoln counts a larger than usual number of veterans among its residents, but it's not always obvious, even to other veterans, who they are. Finding a way to let veterans connect with one another was at the heart of the March 29 Veterans Meet and Greet Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Lincoln American Legion Post 9. Nearly 50 veterans and family members turned out for the free pancake breakfast, which was seen as a good turnout, particularly for a...
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOL Special Board Meeting When: March 27, 2024 at Where: Lincoln Public School Library Agenda I. Call to Order II. Discuss/Approve Superintendent Hire III. Clerk's Report A. Discuss/approve Possible General Fund Levy IV. Executive Session "Possible closed session in accordance with Section 2-3-203, MCA" V. Adjournment Upcoming Meeting *April 8, 2024 * *The Board Chair is authorized to adjust the order of agenda items to accommodate scheduling needs of...
Lincoln Lewis & Clark Sewer District Board Meeting Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 6 pm Lincoln Sewer Bldg. AGENDA 1. Call to order. 2. Roll Call 3. Public- 5 minutes each 4. Swear in: Wendy Gehring into office. 5. Review of March 5, 2024, Minutes 6. Review of Financial Reports 7. Communications 8. March Termination Notices 1st notice – 6 2nd notice – 2 3rd termination notice – 1 9. Manager’s Report 10. Old Business: Website: www.lincolnsewer.com New hire and process- date...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting applications from landowners who are interested in participating in the 2024 Block Management Program. Application deadline is June 1. Through the Block Management Program, landowners and FWP work together to help manage wildlife and public hunting activities on enrolled lands. Landowners and FWP enter into voluntary agreements that determine how hunting will be conducted on the landowner's property. Items such as...
HELENA – As spring weather approaches, we're all anxious to head outdoors, and bears are leaving their winter dens. This time of year, bears are waking up from hibernation and are pretty hungry. So, it's best for you, and for the bears, not to leave out anything that will attract their appetite or their curiosity. If you're outside working or recreating, you need to be aware that bears are out there, too. Anytime bears are not in hibernation, which is typically between the...
The Upper Blackfoot Valley, specifically the community of Lincoln, is not just where I live, it is also where I serve. As a native Montanan, I moved to Lincoln 20 years ago and found my place. I was surrounded by country where I could fish, hunt, and enjoy the backcountry whether on a snowmobile or a mule. I first served as a volunteer firefighter, and now serve as the Lincoln Fire Chief and as a member of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Community Council. Almost ten years ago, I...
Dear Montanans, This is a hopeful time for so many of our students. The future is bright as graduation nears and families beam with pride, anticipating their child walking across that stage. As a legislator, a former classroom teacher and the mom of a high school student, though, I must admit I worry. Are we doing enough to make sure all our students have the opportunities they deserve? That is why I'm running to be your next State Superintendent of Schools. We've essentially...
Disagree Better. That's the name of an interesting initiative at the National Governors Association this year, spearheaded by the organization's current chair, Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox. The idea, in a nutshell, is to "reduce partisan animosity and foster healthy debate by modeling a more positive and optimistic way of working through policy problems," as the NGA puts it. It would be easy to scoff, of course. In this era of bitter political hostility, as we head into a...
Let me first introduce myself. My name is Todd Devlin and I am 4th generation farmer/rancher in eastern Montana. I have been a Prairie County Commissioner since 1995. I was President of the Montana Association of Counties (MACo) in 2016 - 2017. I have been very involved in public land and natural resource issues both at the state and national level for over 30 years and currently am the Chair of the National Association of Counties Public Lands Steering Committee. And,...
On July 13, 2012, President Obama was giving a speech in Roanoke, Virginia, and said this: "Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, you didn't build that." Those three sentences sparked a brushfire in that year's presidential election that he spent the next few weeks trying to walk back. "Of course, Americans build their own businesses," he said on...
Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, surrounded by family, passed away peacefully in her home Feb. 20, 2024 at the age of 88. Charlotte was born on March 20, 1935 in Cadiz, Ohio to Dennis and Mable Mizer. She was the oldest of four siblings. After graduating from Cadiz High School, she attended White Cross Nursing School in Columbus, Ohio graduating with an RN degree. She married Roland "Ron" Barger Oct. 9, 1955. With Ron's Forest Service career, they... Full story
Billie Ann Shafford, age 57 of Helena, passed away April 3, 2024. Services are pending at this time and will be announced when they're... Full story
AA Tradition One if you need to talk, call Jay at 406-750-1238 or Dawn at 406-362-4697 Alcoholics Anonymous, Lincoln Chapter 6-7 p.m., Lambkins restaurant back room. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. American Legion, Post 9 7 p.m., Third Wednesday of the month, Lincoln Community Hall Blackfoot Community Conservation Area Council Meeting 7 p.m., First Thursday of the month, Ovando Fire Hall Cal 406-739-3900 to confirm Blackfoot Challenge Board... Full story
Lincoln Community United Methodist Church Worship, 10:30 a.m. First and Third Sunday of the month, Pastor Terry Turner. For Food Bank information, please contact Diane Ironi at the Senior Ctr. Blackfoot Valley Bible Church Sunday Worship 11 a.m. Adult Sunday Bible Study, 9:45 a.m.; Ladies Bible Class, 2:45 p.m. Tuesday at the church; Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study, Friday 7 a.m.; Sunday evening Prayer Meeting, 6 p.m. Pastor Art McCafferty, 362-4714. Community Bible Church of Lincoln Sunday Worship Service, 11:00 a.m. at... Full story