The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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Lewis and Clark Public Health has developed a list of criteria to help it decide whether the county is ready to move to phase two of the governor's "Reopening the Big Sky" plan for COVID-19, once the state has moved in that direction. The criteria include: · the ability of the health department, hospital, and medical providers to manage COVID-19 cases without impacting regular business; · enough staff and supplies available to test all residents with COVID-19 symptoms; · the n...
A bald eagle launches out of the top of a cottonwood near the Lincoln River Park, just south of town Monday morning, May 1....
At age 88, Bob passed away in his home of 47 years in Lincoln, Montana on April 17, 2020. He was born in Eddie, Texas to Claude and Emma Belle Pryor on Jan. 27, 1932. He served in the United States Air Force. He specialized in electronics, radio communications and S.A.C. served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars before he retired. He is survived by his wife Ann of 55 years of marriage and his children: Michelle Rider of Sand Springs, Okla., Robert T. Pryor of Claremore,...
Fort Harrison, Mont. – Victory in Europe, or V-E Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allied Nations of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces. German military leaders signed the surrender documents at various locations in Europe on May 7. The surrender prompted mass celebrations in European and American Cities. President Harry S. Truman dedicate V-E Day to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died just weeks earlier, and is quoted wi...
Governor Steve Bullock today announced that families, small businesses, non-profits, health services centers and individuals across Montana hardest-hit by impacts of COVID-19 will be eligible to apply for grants through nine new programs created in response to the emergency. Guided by more than 1,400 public comments and his Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council, Governor Bullock is making $123,550,000 available in the first round of emergency grants funded through the...
HELENA, Mont. – Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest staff is working hard to reopen developed campgrounds by Memorial Day weekend, or shortly after depending on current conditions. The target date for having many Forest campgrounds open is May 22. Additionally, rental facilities like cabins will begin a phased reopening after May 15 based on seasonal availability and facility conditions. Recreation areas and campgrounds may not be immediately open and available for use. E...
As part of a larger effort to revitalize the look and feel of Blackfoot Challenge materials, we are excited to unveil our new logo. Early in 2019, the Blackfoot Challenge's Outreach Committee began the process of updating our iconic logo. As the primary symbol of our identity, we felt our logo was due for a refresh – a new look that brought us into the current era while still maintaining a connection to the past. After more than 40 different styles and nine rounds of edits, w...
It’s a time for new beginnings, which is fitting as Montana starts Phase 1 of re-opening the state, and a beginning to our “new normal.” I feel like this new normal will be a little different for everyone. Some will go back to exactly the way things used to be for them, while others, maybe not-so-much. If you all remember, not long ago I wrote about wanting to be “un-busy.” The forced shut down due to a pandemic may just have been a blessing in disguise. No, please don’t read that wrong. I’m not saying the coronavirus i...
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and the Montana Heritage House and the Power House Gym have joined forces to do something special to celebrate all mothers in Lincoln this coming weekend. Tiana Valler of the Montana Heritage House will be baking, and the Rick & Pat Freeland of the Power House Gym will be providing flowers. Valler said, “We wanted to do something to honor all the mothers in Lincoln and give them a token of love and let them know they are appreciated.” Kids and families alike are encouraged to stop by the Mo...
The phased re-opening of the state following the COVID-19 related stay-home order has forced Lincoln Volunteer Fire Rescue to cancel the 2020 Lincoln Fireman's Ball. Gov. Steve Bullock has eased restrictions as part of his three-phase reopening plan, but with the phases determined by cases, monitoring, contact tracing and other metrics, rather than by set dates, it's unclear when the event could be held. Phase 1, which began last week, limits gatherings to only 10 people....
A nascent idea to sublease a part of the Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance building to the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office for use by deputies has prompted the Lincoln Hospital District to take the idea to the residents of Lincoln for input. Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance President Aaron Birkholz broached the idea with the hosptial district board during their April 28 meeting, and LHD treasurer Karen Frank-Plumlee discussed the issue last week at the May 1 Lincoln Government Da...
The Lincoln Blood Drive had a full schedule of locals signed up to donate blood Tuesday, April 28 at the Community Hall. Procedures were a little different than in the past, but the mood was positive and people were glad to be there. Upon entering the hall this time, the one noticeable difference was that everyone, donors and collectors alike, were wearing masks. Red Cross employees were also wearing gloves, and changing them often between donors. Blood drive volunteers took...
As Lincoln heads into May and June, flooding and fires are crucial topics, and preparation is key for either scenario. At this point, it doesn't look like Lincoln will be facing any flooding issues, but weather conditions can change that at any time. Flooding can occur if heavy rains are present for two to three days at a couple of inches per day. Lincoln Fire Chief Zach Muse recommends preparing for flooding and having sandbags on hand, especially if in the flood plain....
In recent stories regarding the COVID-19 response, we may have implied that the orders originating from Lewis and Clark Public Health were effectively orders from the Lewis and Clark County Commission. To clarify, Lewis and Clark Public Health Officer Dendra Niemann works for the City-County Board of Health, not directly for the county. The Board of Health is comprised of representatives from the Helena City Commission (Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins); the East Helena City Council (Scott St. Clair); the County Commission...
The Lincoln School Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, Apr 27 to discuss schooling through the end of the year and graduation. "Due to the restrictions imposed on schools if they wish to reopen, to the safety and acclimation of students, and to the impact on families with high risk students or family members, the School Board approved to extend online schooling through the end of the school year," Superintendent Jennifer Packer wrote in an email update after the meeting....
Born April 2, 1969, Marci passed away at her home in Lincoln, Montana on April 26, 2020. Born in Santa Maria, Calif. To Gene and Shirley Smith, marci lived in Lincoln and worked as a housekeeper. Her favorite Hobbies and activities included snowmobiling, playing with her dogs and reading. She is survived by her children Jacob Smith of Atascadero, Calif., Jayson Montgomery of Corvallis and Dustin Williams of South Dakota; by her parents Gene and Shirley Smith, Atascadero,...
Construction of the Lincoln Skatepark began at Hooper Park last week after the project unexpectedly received $150,00 in funding. The funding – a $100,000 donation from Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament’s Montana Pool Service Foundation and a $50,000 donation from the Montana Skatepark Association – came as a welcome surprise to the Lincoln Skatepark Committee, a group of Lincoln school students who have been committed to the creation of the facility since 2018. “It came to my atte...
Lincoln election judge Bonnie Shown reminded area residents they will have to mail in their ballots for the upcoming June 2 primary election. Shown, speaking briefly at the May 1 Lincoln Government Day listening session, said residents who receive absentee ballots often drop them off at the Community Hall polling place, but she said they won't be able to do that this year, since there will be no local polling this year due to COVID-19 related restrictions. "We won't be here,"...
Many Lincoln businesses have been closed for longer than a month, and those closures have wide-reaching impacts. Restaurants and bars have been some of the hardest hit, with the first closure order from Lewis and Clark Public Health for dine-in businesses going into effect Mar 17. Governor Steve Bullock then mandated the closures continue from Mar 20-27 and extended them twice, first to Apr 10, then to Apr 24. On Apr 22, Bullock announced that dine-in establishments would be allowed to begin reopening with restrictions on...
