The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 1058
Montana's utility regulation commission has come under criticism recently for an agreement that lets the state's largest power company, NorthWestern Energy, implement a 28 percent residential electric rate increase. With some help from retired MTN News reporter (and occasional MTFP contributor) Mike Dennison, we've compiled a comparison of the residential electricity rates charged by different utilities around the region, estimating the typical monthly electric bills paid by...
BOZEMAN – A Montana State University research team has published a study that may contribute to management and restoration strategies for whitebark pine, a species that is experiencing significant decline and was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act almost a year ago. Danielle Ulrich, assistant professor in the Department of Ecology in MSU's College of Letters and Science, is the lead author on a recently published paper in the journal Forest Ecology and M...
The U.S. Forest Service has shut down its wastewater treatment plant near Holland Lake and begun remediation efforts after testing confirmed that there was a leak in the system. The action comes after a local group opposed to an expansion of the Holland Lake Lodge filed a complaint with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Meanwhile, it appears the proposed expansion of the lodge is not going to happen, at least for now. Last week, the owner of the lodge said he...
Prescribed burns near Lincoln, including about 70 acres at Baldy Pasture and roughy 100 acres near Ethel Gulch, sent up plumes of smoke over the weekend. The smoke could be seen from throughout the valley and the surrounding region, with the plume from the Ethel Gulch burn clearly visible from Highway 141 just north of Avon Sunday, Oct. 8....
POTOMAC, Mont. - The Montana Department of Transportation would like to announce and invite the public to comment on a proposal to resurface about four miles of Montana Highway 200, near Potomac. The project begins approximately six miles east of Potomac, and extends east, ending near the east end of the Blackfoot River bridge at the Roundup River Access. Proposed work includes milling the existing surface, applying a new asphalt overlay, and finishing with a seal and cover...
POTOMAC and GREENOUGH, Mont.- The Montana Department of Transportation will complete mastic patching on Montana Highway 200, scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 12. Work is anticipated to last for approximately two days, weather and other factors permitting. Mastic is used to patch, seal or fill gaps on the roadway surface. The purpose of this maintenance project is to extend the service life of the roadway. The project area begins east of Potomac Road and continues for...
Months of finger-pointing between state-level Republicans and local government leaders over who to blame for rising property taxes escalated last week as the lobbying organization that represents county governments sent a late-night press release that, among other points, singled out Gov. Greg Gianforte's personal property tax bill. The release, sent by the Montana Association of Counties at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 13, said the association's math shows that taxes on Gianforte's...
National Falls Prevention Week takes place September 18-22, and serves as an ideal opportunity for Montanans to consider what factors increase their risk of falling and what actions they can take to mitigate those risks. Department of Public Health and Human Services officials report that nearly one in three Montanans aged 65 and older have reported falling at least once in the past 12 months. “Falling is not a normal part of aging, but knowing a person’s risk factors can reduce the chance of an unintentional fall,” DPHHS...
LINCOLN, Mont. - The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) would like to announce and invite the public to comment on a proposal to repair erosion that has occurred on the Blackfoot Riverbank next to Montana Highway 200 (MT 200), located about three miles west of Lincoln. The project is located 500 feet south of the intersection with Lone Point Drive, halfway between mile markers 67 and 68. The purpose of the project is to restore and stabilize the riverbank to protect the roadway. Construction is tentatively planned...
Helena, MT – Lewis and Clark County's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council releases their Five-Year Report to the Community; a summary of work led by the CJCC and implemented by the Department of Criminal of Justice Services. The Five-Year Report highlights accomplishments and provides a greater understanding of how the CJCC and CJS serve the community. The report also explains how programs and services are managed by CJS through the Court Services Team and the Behavioral Hea...
State and local health officials are reporting increased West Nile virus (WNV) activity in several counties across the state this week, including the first three human cases for 2023, which have been identified in Dawson, Rosebud, and Yellowstone counties. These three cases range in ages from the late 30s to early 70s, including two males and one female. All cases were hospitalized for their illnesses. Additionally, this week, two horses were diagnosed with WNV infections in...
HEART BUTTE, Mont., Aug. 8, 2023 - The Sidney Fire is estimated to be just under 50 acres and is burning approximately 21 miles southwest of Browning in Pondera County. The Rocky Mountain Ranger District trail crew first reported the fire late in the afternoon on Aug. 1. "It is necessary to close trails adjacent to the fire for public safety," said Rocky Mountain District Ranger Mike Munoz. Forest order # 01-15-01 -23-17 closes several trails on the Rocky Mountain Ranger...
LINCOLN, Mont., August 4, 2023 - The Rogers Pass Fire, burning just southeast of Lincoln, Montana, is estimated to be 46 acres. The fire was first reported late in the afternoon on August 1 and aviation resources from the Forest Service and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) responded with aviation and ground resources. "We are appreciative of all the support we have received from our partners at Montana DNRC and the Wolf Creek Volunteer Fire...
HELENA-Warmer months mean wildfires can occur throughout the state and nation. Wildfire smoke from both in-state and out-of-state wildfires periodically impact Montana's air quality causing unhealthy air. Prevailing weather patterns often transport smoke into Montana from fires burning in California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Canada. This wildfire season, know how protect your health, homes and prevent wildfires. "Montana often sees smoke from other states and Canada,"...
State and local health officials are reporting the first West Nile Virus (WNV) detection of the year in mosquitoes sampled from Blaine County. No humans or horses have tested positive for WNV yet this season. Infected mosquitoes can transmit WNV when they bite, and increased risk of WNV transmission to humans and horses is expected to continue through October – or as long as mosquitoes are active in the state. While no human cases of WNV were reported in 2022, in previous seas...
As a heat wave brought temperatures as high as 102 degrees to parts of western Montana over the weekend, the state's summer fire season kicked off with two lightning-caused wildfires that quickly gained steam. COLT FIRE The Colt Fire started 15 miles northwest of Seeley Lake on Monday, July 17, and by the afternoon of Friday, July 21 had grown to approximately 200 acres, as reported by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The Missoula County Sheriff's...
Lewis and Clark County has the following Lincoln board opening: Lincoln Solid Waste District Board Citizens who serve on the Lincoln Solid Waste District Board need to own residential or commercial property and pay the Lincoln Solid Waste assessment; 3 year terms. Lincoln Parks Board The purpose of the board is to advise the Board of County Commissioners and the City-County Parks Board on issues relating to the use, improvement, and general maintenance of the Lincoln Planning...
Lewis and Clark County Special Districts Program coordinator Jessica Makus proposed an increase to the maintenance assessments for the Lincoln and Lambkins Rural Improvement Districts during a public meeting held in conjunction with the monthly meeting of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Community Council June 20. The county Public Works Department held the meeting to discuss the change that is designed to fully fund the 2029 chips seal projects for Lincoln's paved streets. "The...
HELENA – Going fishing soon? Don't forget your camera. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to feature your fun on the next fishing regulations booklet. Winners will see their work on the front and back cover of the 2024 fishing regulation booklet. Think beyond the brag board. We're looking for unique or unusual photos, perhaps a state record fish or a fish never previously seen on the cover. Help FWP show what diverse fish can be found in Montana. Photo contest: Photo must b...
MILLTOWN, Mont. - The Montana Department of Transportation, along with construction partner Knife River Inc., will resurface a portion of Montana Highway 200. The project area begins at the intersection of MT 200 and Montana Highway 210 S and continues for 7.5 miles east on MT 200. The work is scheduled to begin June 19th, weather permitting. Improvements to this stretch of road will include a resurfaced roadway, seal and cover (chip seal), fog seal, new pavement markings,...
Through June 20, the Bureau of Land Management is accepting comments on a public land proposal that the agency put conservation priorities - e.g., ecological health and the "resilience of renewable resources" - on equal footing with long-established agency objectives such as livestock grazing and oil, gas and coal leasing. More specifically, the proposed rule would establish conservation as a "use" under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act in an effort to "protect...
Gov. Greg Gianforte's office announced Saturday that the Republican governor has signed into law Senate Bill 458, legislation that inserts binary, reproduction-based definitions of "male," "female" and "sex" into dozens of parts of state code. The final version of the policy - the subject of heated partisan debatethroughout the legislative session and a lobbying effort by one of Gianforte's children - distinguishes males and females by the presence of XY or XX chromosomes and...
BOZEMAN - Rural-focused policymakers, funders and partners are invited to participate in a Reimagining Rural gathering on Tuesday, June 13, in Townsend. Reimagining Rural is a program offered through Montana State University Extension that invites community members in small towns to hear new ideas for rural community vitality. The events are meant to inspire and motivate attendees to imagine a brighter future for their towns. The June 13 event will showcase effective ways of...
Gov. Greg Gianforte has vetoed a bill raising the wages paid Montana legislators, arguing the proposed increase - from about $16 to $24 an hour starting in 2025 on top of already-approved per-diem increases - was disproportionate to increases the Legislature had authorized for state employees. "As has been the case since before our nation's founding, public service comes with personal sacrifice - long hours away from home, less time with family, and appropriately limited compe...
Department of Public Health and Human Services officials are reporting a recent increase in the number of cases of chickenpox reported in school-aged children. And, at least half of these infections were acquired from an adult family member with shingles. Chickenpox, or varicella, can be a serious illness and is easily preventable with vaccination. "The best way to protect yourself and your child from chickenpox is vaccination," says Jessica Lopeman, a registered nurse and...
