Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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After uncertainty about how the upcoming special congressional election would change the makeup of the Montana Legislature, the nomination of Democrat Rob Quist and Republican Greg Gianforte means it's back to business as usual at the state Capitol. Multiple legislators had announced their intention to run for the vacant congressional seat after former Rep. Ryan Zinke was nominated and then confirmed as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Sen. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, and Reps. Amanda Curtis, D-Bu...
The main state budget bill at the Montana Legislature passed first reading last week with some surprises, like the restoration of $11.5 million to higher education funding, and some expected cuts. But one area has consistently struggled to find funding throughout the entirety of the 65th Montana Legislative session — special education. Funded through a combination of federal dollars and state funds, special education has seen minimal increases in state funds, leaving local and federal dollars to pick up the slack, according to a report by t...
Monday, Mar. 6 7:40 a.m. - agency assist, I-90 westbound, Cardwell 8:01 a.m. - suspicious/person/vehicle/circumstance, Cottonwood Road, Cardwell 8:30 a.m. - VIN inspection, 5 Lester Lane, Cardwell 8:38 a.m. - mental crisis, 460 Hwy 2 West, Whitehall 9:46 a.m. - public safety/gas/liquid, 8 Kelly Road, MM 16, Whitehall 12:16 a.m. - keeping the peace, 101 Lower Radar Creek Road, Whitehall 1:39 p.m. - traffic violation/driver suspended/revocation, I-90 westbound, MM 246, Whitehall 2:52 p.m. - traffic violation/driver suspended/revocation, 5 Lester...
Hi Folks, At our meeting Tuesday morning, we met with our new Event Coordinator, Bruce Binkowski. He has been very busy talking with a lot of people. He has commitments from several groups that do events in Jefferson County, but have never acknowledged us, to include information about Jefferson County in the future. Some of the groups agreeing to put a link to the Jefferson County Website on their Websites are Country Jam, Butte 100 Cycle Race, Elkhorn Endurance Run, Wulfman CDT (14K trail race), and Tizer Garden. Some of the groups will also...
Monday, Feb. 27 3:01 p.m. - assist other agency in state, 112 1st Street East, Whitehall 5:58 p.m. – traffic stop, North Whitehall Street, Whitehall 9:16 p.m. - dog at large, 17 Mormon Lane, Whitehall Tuesday, Feb. 28 12:13 a.m. - welfare check, 3 Patty Cake Drive, Whitehall 10:47 a.m. - care for sick/injured, 105.5 South Division Street, Whitehall Mt 11:22 a.m. - VIN inspection, 313 East 2nd Street, Whitehall 3:30 p.m. - traffic accident/ hit & run, 415 North Whitehall Street, Whitehall 4:53 p.m. - DUI—liquor, 113 West Legion Avenue, Whi...
Jefferson County has recorded its first influenza death this year in a hospitalized individual, a reminder of how severe influenza can be. The person was over 65 years of age and had more than one chronic health condition. Fourteen Montanans have died from influenza this flu season, all adults 50 years and older. In Montana and nationwide, the highest rate of influenza hospitalizations has occurred in the 65 and over age group. Children under 5 and adults 50-64 age groups have the next highest rates of flu hospitalization. The influenza season...
Hi Folks, At last week’s meeting we reviewed claims at 9:30 and talked with the County Sanitarian, Megan Bullock about water and sewer issues in Clancy. Megan has contracted with Montana Tech to do water sampling and testing within the Town site of Clancy because of some test results that showed high levels of Nitrates in the well water. Road Supervisor, Rory Parsons updated us on what is going on in the Road Department. Kip Harris from the Boulder shop has left to take another job. We are currently advertising for that position. County T...
The Town of Whitehall hosted a public informational meeting Monday night with members of the DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) and NCI Engineering out of Great Falls. The purpose of the forum was to give residents updates and information about the uranium issue with the drinking water. “The Town of Whitehall engaged the firm to help with the uranium problem and what we are headed for, or hope to head for, is to find an alternate water source; another well that doesn’t have uranium in it. We strongly believe that is a preferred alternati...
The 65th Montana Legislative Session has reached its halfway point, and the state budget still weighs heavy. Both Republicans and Democrats are working to reach a compromise on how to fund state programs, with battles over other policy happening simultaneously. March 1 marks the session’s transmittal break, when general bills have to be moved from one chamber to the other. Roughly 300 bills are currently active in both the House and Senate. The House has also tabled nearly 150 bills, while the Senate has tabled over 60 of their own. This l...
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines addressed the Montana House of Representatives last week, touching on his role in Washington, his support for the Keystone XL Pipeline and support for the appointment of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Daines repeatedly said he and other Republicans in Washington are seeking less federal power and more states' rights. "Montanans are best at running Montana," Daines said. Daines opened his speech by applauding the "peaceful transition of power" from Barack Obama...
The office of the Whitehall Ledger will close for the week Thursday, March 2 at Noon. The staff of the newspaper will be covering the Divisional Basketball Tournament in Billings. The office will reopen Monday, March 6 at 8:00 a.m. The deadline for the March 8 paper will still be March 6 at 5 p.m. Go TROJANS!...
Monday, Feb. 20 12:10 p.m. – agency assist, 26 Sugar Beet Row, Whitehall 12:56 p.m. – welfare check, I-90 westbound MM 249, Whitehall 1:42 p.m. - abandoned auto, I-90 eastbound MM 247, Whitehall 5:34 p.m. – transport, 208 1st Street West, Whitehall 6:02 p.m. – traffic stop, Hwy 69, Whitehall Tuesday, Feb. 21 1:05 p.m. - suspicious/person/vehicle/circumstance, Piedmont Road, Whitehall 5:12 p.m. – traffic stop, Makowski Lane, Whitehall 9:03 p.m. – traffic stop, Hwy 69, MM 14, Cardwell 9:31 p.m. – traffic stop, Hwy 69, MM 11, Cardwell Wedn...
Hi Folks, At our regular meeting last week, we met with Road Supervisor Rory Parsons. The crew has been very busy trying to keep up with winter and spring maintenance issues. One of the big issues this time of year is trying to keep culverts flowing. They generally tend to freeze up and then when the water starts to run there is no place for it to go. They try to get out and unthaw the culverts before we get big flows but that doesn’t always work. We have had some closures on Milligan Canyon Road because we just couldn’t keep ahead of the fre...
A Whitehall High School senior was able to get some hands on experience in politics last week at the State Capital in Helena. Hunter Flynn spent the week as a page for Montana State Representative Ray Shaw (R-Sheridan). Flynn said he had an interest in serving as a page, and called Rep. Shaw who set up everything up for him. "This was a great experience to see the Montana government in action. I was a part of history and got to meet some great people such as Governor Bullock and Secretary of...
Monday, Feb. 13 3:33 a.m. – traffic stop, Hwy 69, MM 18, Cardwell 7:15 a.m. - care for sick/injured, 106 South Sheridan Street, Whitehall 7:40 a.m. - stranded motorist, I-90 eastbound, MM 256, Cardwell 10:46 a.m. - VIN inspection, 43 Curlew Lane, Whitehall 12:17 p.m. - care for sick/injured, 513 East Legion Avenue, Whitehall 12:38 p.m. - discharge firearm – residence, 8 Sugar Beet Row, Whitehall 1:40 p.m. – theft, 19 Ballard Lane, Whitehall 4:26 p.m. – traffic stop, 1166 Hwy 55, Whitehall 4:33 p.m. – traffic stop, Hwy 55, Whitehall 4:46 p.m....
Hi Folks, Last week was the Montana Association of Counties (MACO) mid-winter meetings in Helena. Monday, I attended the Agricultural Committee meeting and the Coalition of Forest Counties. Both Committees had speakers that talked about various issues. One of the discussions in the Ag. Committee continues to be the threat of Brucellosis spread through buffalo and elk. I don’t think we have any good answers to the problem. One of the biggest issues in the Forest Counties Coalition is Secure Rural schools (SRS) payments, or more accurately, l...
The Montana House of Representatives passed a bill last week that would shutter the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices, which some critics say could put the integrity of Montana elections in jeopardy. The bill, introduced by a state lawmaker tied to one of the office's most significant investigations, would place oversight and enforcement of campaign laws back into the hands of the Secretary of State and Attorney General, as it was before the office's creation in 1975. Supporters...
The Whitehall area suffered a huge loss Saturday with the passing of longtime coach and educator James Loomis. The first person elected to the Whitehall High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Loomis is remembered not only for his accolades as a coach, but for the tremendous impact he made on students and the local community. During a hall of fame ceremony in February of 2016, Loomis was inducted by two of his former wrestlers Shane Shaw and Mike Hedegaard. Earlier this week, the two shared what...
The Whitehall Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to enter in to an agreement to lease the Ambulance Barn, itemized equipment and inventory to Community Beacon of Hope Inc. for a three-month trial beginning March 1. Beacon of Hope Inc. is under the direction of former Whitehall Ambulance Director Tyler Steinebach. The decision was made after the Town of Whitehall looked at their options regarding an ambulance service and was unable to sustain their enterprise fund. Mayor Dale Davis explained an enterprise fund has to generate enough...
Elections are on the horizon for three Board of Trustee positions in the local school districts. The three-year position in the Whitehall School District 4 & 47 currently held by Angie Davis, and the three-year position in the Whitehall School District 2 (Cardwell) held by Paul Shaw are both open in 2017. At a meeting last week, Superintendent John Sullivan said Davis informed him she would not be running. Shaw stated at the meeting he plans to run again. Those interested in running must submit a Declaration of Oath of Candidacy from by March...
January was a quiet month for production at the Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine. At last week’s Community Transition Advisory Committee meeting, Mine General Manager Dan Banghart reported the production for the month was 0 ounces. Banghart said this was because the mill run has been deferred to this month. At last month’s CTAC meeting, Banghart stated at the start of the year they would run the mill twice a quarter. The first will take place in the middle of the February, and the second in mid March. He added they are hoping to achieve the sam...
Monday, Feb. 6 5:30 a.m. - care for sick/injured, 80 Bay Street, Whitehall 2:46 p.m. - trees/debris on roadway, Hwy 2 West, MM 77, Whitehall 4:49 p.m. - care for sick/injured, 105 1/2 South Division Street, Whitehall 5:10 p.m. - disorderly conduct, 1173 Hwy 55, Whitehall 5:58 p.m. - welfare check, I-90 eastbound, Whitehall 8:04 p.m. - suspicious/person/vehicle/circumstance, I-90 westbound, MM 242-243, Whitehall Tuesday, Feb. 7 1:12 a.m. - suspicious/person/vehicle/circumstance, 4 West Olive Street, Whitehall 2:48 a.m. - welfare check, 64 Tebay...
The Jefferson Watershed Council will be hosting a public meeting to present the draft Jefferson River Channel Migration Maps and Floodplain Discovery Map on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Borden Conference Room on the corner of Main Street and West Legion Avenue in Whitehall. The Ruby Valley Conservation District & Ruby Watershed Council are the project sponsors and administrators who have received a grant through Montana DNRC to fund channel migration mapping and floodplain discovery on rivers within the Upper Missouri Headwaters...
Hi Folks, At our regular meeting last week, we heard a presentation from Joe Willauer, Executive Director of Headwaters RC&D, about a Community Economic Development Strategy. We brainstormed a number of different projects or events that could help with economic development in Whitehall, Boulder, and Jefferson County. We heard a presentation from Lori Ladas, Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Development Center in Helena. We discussed their two year work plan and talked about Head Start in Whitehall. At the current time Whitehall Head Start...
Students at Whitehall High School are currently required to take the ACT during their junior year. At a meeting Monday night, the Whitehall School Board of Trustees discussed the possibility of requiring sophomores to the take the ACT Aspire test which maps learning progress from grades three to high school on a vertical scale, anchored to the scoring system of the ACT. During her monthly report to the Board, Whitehall High School Principal Hannah Nieskens approached the board with the idea of having the school provide the test at no cost to...
