Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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There is currently a total of 9 active COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County. The total confirmed cases in the county are 28, with no current hospitalizations and 19 recovered cases. Health Department Officials reported Lewis and Clark and Silver Bow Counties to be experiencing a surge in cases. "Crossing county lines to a county that is having a difficult time corralling the virus is risky behavior. We recommend saving that travel for essential activities such as work or for a list of items you...
While it may look at little different in 2020, Frontier Days is still a go for 2020. The popular annual event is scheduled for Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25 in downtown Whitehall. This year's event will include bingo in the park, historical tours, museum gab fest, parade, horseshoe tournament, Mine/Chamber BBQ and vendors. Officials announced Tuesday the Ranchers Roundup Rodeo had been cancelled. For more information please click on the special publications link on this...
Jefferson County Health Department Officials are currently working with St. James Hospital about possible sentinel testing. A release from the county stated they have been working with St. James on getting this planned for county residents, but no dates or times have been established as both entities are busy and short-staffed. In an article from the Missoula Current, Public Health Nurse Pam Boyd discussed sentinel testing in Missoula. "It's a surveillance system where we look at specific...
Work continued last week on the Montana Department of Transportation Whitehall ADA Sidewalk Project. According to MDOT, sidewalks on Legion Avenue from Brooke Street west were completed and ready for use. This week, crews will continue to work on Legion Avenue from Brooke Street to A street. By the end of the week, they also hope to begin demolition on Whitehall Street. They will be starting on the south end of Whitehall Street moving north, with work on the east side of the street happening...
Governor Steve Bullock and Lt. Governor Mike Cooney released last Thursday the Governor's Plan for Reopening Safe and Healthy Schools for Montana to provide flexible guidance for public schools to prepare to offer in-person instruction in the fall. "We are acutely aware of the role played by in-person teaching, not only in the students' lives, but also in the lives of the entire family. Public education has shaped who we are today, and we want to make certain that our children have the same...
Jefferson County Health Department Officials announced Thursday what had been reported as a confirmed case of COVID-19 has been determined to be a false positive test result. The department had reported Sunday a female resident between 60 and 69 had tested positive for COVID-19. Molly Carey of the JCHD said even though the tests that detects COVID-19 is very reliable, no test is 100% accurate all the time. “COVID-19 is still a real threat to the health and safety of our community. We want to remind everyone to remain vigilant over the h...
It was a busy weekend for firefighters in Southwest Montana. Firefighters from across the area responded to the Lump Gulch Fire in north Jefferson County near Sheep Mountain, the Sappington Fire east of Lewis and Clark Caverns, and two fires in the Clarkston Area. LUMP GULCH On Saturday, June 13 a fire ignited in Lump Gulch in northern Jefferson County near Sheep Mountain. As of press time the fire is approximately 1,500 acres and considered to be 15% contained. The fire cause is still under...
The deadline is nearing to reserve a spot on the map for the annual Whitehall Community Garage Sale. The garage sale will take place Saturday, June 27 and the deadline to be included on the map is June 23. Those interested in being placed on the map should sign up at the Corner Store in Whitehall or contact the chamber at 406-287-2260 or by email at whitehallmtchamber@gmail.com The map will be available starting June 26 at the Corner Store and the day of the event at the Farmer's...
The Whitehall Farmers' Market & Open Air Street Market is set to open on Saturday, June 20th. The market hours for this season are 9 a.m. to-Noon. Vendor spaces are $5/day and are first-come, first-serve. Due to current health department guidelines in regard to Covid-19, the following changes will be in place this year: • All vendor booths will be spaced at least 6 feet apart. • All vendors are asked to have hand sanitizer available. (The Market will be purchasing several extra bottles to have o...
A popular Whitehall restaurant is closing its doors later this month. Karina's Café announced through a Facebook post last week they would be permanently closing the business that served breakfast and lunch on June 20. "After much consideration concerning familial changes, financial challenges, and the current climate, we have decided that our energy and resources will be better spent elsewhere. This Pandemic has opened our eyes to how dependent we and Karina's were on to corporate entities....
Caverns tours have started for the season at the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. According to park officials, this year there will be new tour protocols to limit the spread of COVID-19 while keeping park staff and visitors safe. The park will offer guided tours of the cave Fridays through Monday. Classic Cave tours will not be offered at the current time and cave tours will consist of the Paradise and Grand Finale Rooms. The modified tour entails a one-half mile, level walk to the cave....
Local residents will find out April 21 if Directives issued by Governor Steve Bullock will be extended past April 24. Bullock announced last week the directives issued to protect Montanans from COVID-19 by the slowing of the spread of the virus would be extended. The Directives were set to expire on April 10. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were a total of 399 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Montana, with 139 of those in Gallatin County. There have been two confirmed cases in Jefferson County...
Many local residents may have recently received an envelope from the United States Census. Local officials are stressing the importance of responding online, by mail, or on the phone. Gallatin County Commissioner Scott MacFarlane said census numbers can impact the roads you drive on, the schools your kids attend, the medical benefits you receive, the housing opportunities in your community. "And much, much more. Having accurate Census data is imperative to help adequately fund hundreds of...
The number of COVID-19 cases in Montana is now over 300. As of Wednesday at 8 a.m., the number of reported cases in the state is 319, with two Jefferson County and eight in Madison County. The total number of tests completed in the state is 6,985 with 27 hospitalizations, and six COVID-19 related deaths. The Jefferson and Madison County Commissioners and the Election Administrator, with input from the Jefferson and Madison County Director of Public Health have taken the option to run the...
Two candidates filed prior to the deadline for a seat on the Whitehall School Board. According to District Clerk Patti Drake, Chad Hoover was the lone candidate to file for the high school seat currently held by Paul Shaw, and Laura McDonald is the lone candidate in the elementary/high school seat held by Jeff Briggs. Because there are no additional candidates, the May 5 election will be canceled, and the two candidates will be elected by acclamation....
As of Wednesday morning, there were a total of 208 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Montana, with two of the positive tests in Jefferson County. Gallatin County currently has 76 positive tests and there are six in Madison County. There have currently been 4,918 tests completed statewide, 17 hospitalizations, and five deaths related to COVID-19. Jefferson County Public Health Supervisor Karen Wandel announced the second confirmed case in Jefferson County on March 27. "The person has been notified...
Governor Steve Bullock issued a Directive last Thursday requiring Montanans to stay home and temporarily closes all nonessential businesses and operations to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The order, will buy time for health care workers on the frontlines and seeks to limit long term impacts to the state's economy. "In consultation with public health experts, health care providers, and emergency management professionals, I have determined that to protect public health and human safety, it is...
There were 12 new cases of COVID-19 reported Monday, five Tuesday, and three Wednesday in Montana bringing the statewide total to 53. The first reported case in Jefferson County was announced Tuesday afternoon. There are two reported cases in Madison County and 19 in Gallatin County. Governor Steve Bullock announced Tuesday that school closures, as well as dine-in and bar restrictions would remain in effect till April 10. Local businesses and organizations are continuing to be impacted by the...
Local residents can learn more about the Holocaust through an upcoming adult education class. The Whitehall School District and Whitehall Community Library are hosting a four-session Holocaust Literature Class. The class will meet March 5, March 12, March 26 and April 19 at the library. Whitehall Librarian Jeannie Ferriss said the Holocaust is a tragedy the world will never forget. "Yet less than half of all Americans can identify Auschwitz and the things which happened there," she said. The...
Whitehall Baseball sign-ups are scheduled for Thursday. Volunteers will be setup in the Varsity Gym February 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. Nearly 100 players participated in the 2019 season and Whitehall Baseball hopes to break that mark this year. If you are unable to make it to the school for signups you can also download registration forms from Whitehall Baseball's Facebook page. These forms can be returned electronically to chshoots@gmail.com or dropped off to Maria at Rocky Mountain Bank. No...
The deadline to file declarations for Jefferson County offices in the upcoming election is March 9 at 5 p.m. The county offices open for the June 2 primary are County Commissioner (District 2), the Clerk of Court, Justice of the Peace, Superintendent of Schools and the Jefferson Valley Conservation Supervisor. The filing fee for the six-year commission seat that includes the communities of Boulder, Basin, Elk Park, Bernice, Jefferson City, and Clancy is $319.67. The seat is currently held by...
For the second time in five months, a gun show will be taking place at the Community Center. The Whitehall Gun Show is scheduled for Friday, February 14 to Sunday, February 16. A show also took place in September of 2019, the first in town since 2017 due to insurance issues. The show will be open Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $1. The admission for children 12 and under with an adult is free. Veteran Bill Carhuff said...
After a quiet start to the flu season last October, 2020 has brought a fair amount of influenza B and recently influenza A to Jefferson County. According to Public Health Supervisor Karen Wandel, their public service announcements on the county radio station have encouraged vaccination, staying home while ill, and seeking medical care as necessary. "We are now beginning to see some influenza A which can be more severe than flu B. Although we've had over thirty flu cases reported in the past...
With a spike in popularity in barn quilts over the last two decades, Whitehall art teacher Gayle Walter is trying to get the community inspired to create them locally. The Whitehall School District will be hosting an adult education barn quilt class that will be held Tuesdays starting February 11th through March 10th from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Whitehall School art room. Walter will be facilitating the class. According to Walter, there are now more than 7,000 barn quilts in the U.S. and Canada and...
Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) would like to announce and invite the public to comment on a proposal to resurface approximately 8.4 miles of State Highway 29. The project begins approximately 4 miles north of Silver Star at the Junction of MT-41 and MT-55 and extends north 8.4 miles ending at the Junction of MT-41 and MT-2 (Locally known as Cactus Jct.). Proposed work includes seal and cover (chip seal), upgraded pavement markings, signage and guardrail. The purpose of the project...
