Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Articles from the April 19, 2017 edition


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  • Mine seeks to amend operating permit

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Apr 19, 2017

    The Golden Sunlight Mine submitted an application March 31 to amend their operating permit, with the possibility of extending the life of the mine up to three years with the proposed underground Apex Project. According to the BLM, the current workforce predictions for the project are for 50 mine employees and 100 contractors, a slight increase from the existing workforce. The amendment would allow Golden Sunlight to conduct underground mining north of the Mineral Hill Pit. A legal noticed published in this edition of the Whitehall Ledger...

  • Saturday shooting under investigation

    Apr 19, 2017

    A shooting Saturday night in Whitehall is currently under investigation. Jefferson County Undersheriff Mike Johnson told the Ledger the department responded to a call of a shooting April 15 shortly after 11 p.m. According to the weekly Jefferson County police log, deputies responded to the call at 601 East Legion Avenue. Johnson said a 24-year-old male with a gunshot wound was transported to the hospital by Jefferson Valley EMS and Rescue. Johnson said the department is still investigating the shooting, and did not further comment about any...

  • AIS dangers lurking, good winter for deer

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Apr 19, 2017

    The state of Montana is not immune from the dangers of aquatic invasive species. At a meeting last week, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wildlife Biologist Vanna Boccadori discussed the dangers of zebra and quagga mussels, and stressed the importance of cleaning boats after use. Boccadori discussed recent findings in water samples that found that AIS were present in the Tiber Reservoir and possibly in the Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Boccadori said this is a huge deal, and if the mussels get into...

  • Eggs, Eggs, Eggs

    STAFF REPORT|Apr 19, 2017

    The Saturday before Easter in Whitehall can only mean one thing. Hundreds of kids from around the area congregate at the high school football field for the annual Whitehall Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt....

  • Cardwell School: Lewton steps down, to join board

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Apr 19, 2017

    After three and half years as the Cardwell School Clerk, Dawn Lewton has stepped down from the position. Despite leaving the job, she will still have a direct impact on the school. At their regular meeting in May, Lewton will be sworn into take the place of Mike Mastel on the Cardwell School Board of Trustees. “I love the Cardwell School and this seemed like a good transition,” she said. Looking back at her time at the school, Lewton said it has been a good experience, but it was also a very hard job. Lewton said she didn’t know how much went i...

  • Sell out crowd attends banquet

    Apr 19, 2017

    It could easily be said the annual Friends of NRA Banquet in Whitehall is one of the more popular local events. This year was no different with a sold out crowd attending the event last Friday at the Whitehall Community Center....

  • March production above target at Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Apr 19, 2017

    For the second straight month, the production numbers were above target at the Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine. At the Community Transition Advisory meeting last week, Mine General Manager Dan Banghart reported the production for the month was 4,992 ounces, well above the target of 4,100. In February, the mine reported production of 5,076 ounces, compared to a target of 4,484. The productions numbers may however drop in April. Banghart said they will start a shorter six-day mill run April 20, and the numbers should be lower. He said this would...

  • Editorial: Put the cell phone down, it can wait

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Apr 19, 2017

    During a comment period at last week’s Community Transition Advisory Committee meeting in Whitehall, Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine Safety Director Jim Loomis reminded those in attendance about the dangers of using a cell phone while driving. Loomis said that every day in the United States, 15 people die as a direct result of using a phone while driving. He said everyone has phones, but encouraged everyone to think of the consequences and to not use them while operating a vehicle. I was very encouraged to hear what Loomis had to say, and I think...

  • Column: Bad day gone good

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Apr 19, 2017

    Ever have one of those days where nothing seems to go right? This appeared to be the case for me last Friday. Boy, did I end up wrong, but it didn't start well. I had made plans to go to a concert in Missoula, but it seemed that everything that could go wrong did. Because our truck isn't working, we decided to rent a car so Melissa would be able to travel around for work or an emergency. One of us would have to stay in town to get pictures. This seemed simple enough. It wasn't. We showed up at...

  • Lewis and Clark Earth Day Trails Clean Up event April 22

    STAFF REPORT|Apr 19, 2017

    Montana State park will host its annual Earth Day Trails Clean Up at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park on Saturday, April 22nd from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join us in recognition of Earth Day by giving back to the environment and to the park. Learn to identify common invasive weed species in the beginning stage of their life and practice the skills you’ve learned in areas of the park where these species are present. There will also be some trail maintenance. Refreshments will be provided during the event and snacks will be offered after. Please b...

  • Between the Stacks

    Jeannie Ferriss, Whitehall Community Library|Apr 19, 2017

    The History Book Club will be meeting to discuss “Paris” at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 24, in the basement. Next month we will be reading “The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero” by Timothy Egan to go along with our celebration of the “Erin in Exile” exhibit. It was the 2016 Montana Book Award winner, presented by the Montana Library Association this past month in Billings. Egan previously won the National Book Award for his history of the Dust Bowl, “The Worst Hard Time”. Mark your calendar on May 6 for th...

  • How Montana lawmakers want to reshape health care

    Michael Siebert, UM Community News Service|Apr 19, 2017

    HELENA -- With the future of health care on the federal level still unclear, Republican lawmakers in Helena are pushing legislation that could reshape how Montanans access and pay for medical services. Three bills -- House Bill 266, and Senate Bills 100 and 362 -- operate under the philosophy that individual states should be able to determine what health care practices are best suited for their residents, and that costs should be lowered. "Finally a handful of legislators on both sides of the...

  • Whitehall students headed to District Music Festival

    Jack H. Smith, Ledger Publisher|Apr 19, 2017

    Students at Whitehall High School have been busy preparing for this week's MHSA District Music Festival. A total of nine choir members and 16 band members will perform at the festival April 20 and 21 in Deer Lodge. High School Musical Director Janet Heilig said she starts thinking about the festival on the first day of school, and the students starting working on their performances in January. She said the competitors who receive a superior or the highest score will advance to the State Musical...

  • Annual Whitehall Spring Clean up scheduled for next week

    STAFF REPORT|Apr 19, 2017

    Whitehall residents get ready for some spring-cleaning. The annual Whitehall Spring Clean Up is scheduled to begin April 25 and will conclude April 28. Town Parks, Tree’s, and Cemetery Board Member Mary Janacaro Hensleigh said this is a town wide effort to spruce up the beautiful town after a long winter of blowing trash and leaves everywhere. Hensleigh added now is the time for Whitehall residents to start cleaning up their yards and businesses. She said to set all extra garbage out by next week’s cleanup. Students from the Whitehall Schools w...

  • Oil and gas leases, raw milk debated as legislature nears end

    Michael Siebert, UM Community News Service|Apr 19, 2017

    HELENA -- A legislative committee has tabled a lawmaker’s attempt to clarify how private land is leased to oil companies. Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, is the sponsor of House Bill 384, which would have revised language used on oil and gas leases to inform landowners of the associated costs of oil extraction from their land. Knudsen said leases tell landowners they will receive royalties from wells on their land. However, he said the oil industry tends to deduct transportation and operating costs from that royalty. That i...

  • For Your Information

    Arcylle Shaw, Contributing Writer|Apr 19, 2017

    It couldn’t have been a more perfect morning for God to display His power and majesty. The 70 to 80 people that gathered on Sunrise Hill for Easter Sunrise Services didn’t have to brave the elements and they didn’t have to wait long for the sun rays to flood the clear, blue sky. What an entrance she made! Christ’s resurrection is as certain as the sun rising every morning and with that, His promise of life with Him to those who trust their lives to Him. What a hope! As the angel told the women who came to the tomb that first ‘Easter...

  • Looking Back 25 Years

    Apr 19, 2017

    Wed., April 22, 1992 Water line replacement projects on Legion Ave. and Valley View were once again a major topic of discussion for Whitehall’s Town Council. The council voted to consider the sizing of the bond issue for the Legion Ave. Project, let the bids for construction and increase the water rates. The Valley View Project will be reviewed and funding for that project will be sought in other areas, it was agreed. Despite cold winds, nearly 300 children took part in last Saturday’s Easter egg hunt held on the high school’s football practice...

  • County Commission Update

    Leonard Wortman, Jefferson County Commissioner|Apr 19, 2017

    Hi Folks, Last week we met with Road Supervisor Rory Parsons for his weekly update. We are scheduled to get another several thousand yards of millings off the Interstate between Basin and Boulder this summer. We will have several miles of roads that we will be able to hard surface in the Boulder area. We are looking at also putting millings on Capp Lane. The State would then use that as a detour while the new bridge is put in across Pipestone Creek. We also met with Candice Bell, our Solid Waste Manager. We are looking at having three separate...

  • Jefferson County Sheriff's Report

    Apr 19, 2017

    Monday, Apr. 10 9:47 a.m. - 911 hangup, UNK, Whitehall 10:25 a.m. - suspicious/person/vehicle/circumstance, 80 Boe Lane, Whitehall 10:39 a.m. - 911 hangup, UNK, Whitehall 11:23 a.m. – traffic stop, Edwards Addition, Whitehall 12:53 p.m. – stranded motorist, I-90 eastbound, MM 265-266, Cardwell 4:54 p.m. - theft-labor/services/use property, 8 West Olive Street, Whitehall 9:11 p.m. – traffic accident, I-90 eastbound, MM 241, Whitehall 9:44 p.m. - traffic/roads parking, 515 North Whitehall Street, Whitehall Tuesday, Apr. 11 12:37 a.m. – traffic/re...