Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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The Trump Administration announced Friday that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $19.3 million to improve rural Montana water and wastewater infrastructure. This includes the Town of Whitehall receiving a $900,000 loan to construct an Ion Exchange water treatment plant and distribution system loop, as well as recoat a water storage tank. USDA's investment leveraged $625,000 from the Treasure State Endowment Fund, a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant,...
Later this month, Jefferson County residents will have the opportunity to drop off their November 3 General Election ballots at the Whitehall Community Library. Ballots will be accepted at the library located at 110 W. 1st St. on October 26, 28, and 30 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. They will also be accepted on October 27 and 29 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ballots can also be dropped off at the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorders Office in Boulder Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 5...
At last week’s Whitehall School Board of Trustees meeting, a group of local residents addressed concerns about limited attendance at sporting events, cancellation of non-conference games, and mask use in the schools. When addressing the issue, Whitehall Superintendent Hannah Nieskens was very clear their frustrations were not falling on deaf ears. Nieskens discussed what she witnessed at a September 23 Jefferson County Health Board meeting where she wanted to discuss the cancellation of non-conference games and spectator policy. Nieskens s...
The cause of a fire early Wednesday morning in Whitehall is currently under investigation. According to Assistant Chief Colton Howser, the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department was called out to a fire shortly after 3 a.m. at 4 W. Olive St. Howser said by the time they arrived the fire was fully engulfed, and he called out Butte Boulevard and Terra Verde, and the Twin Bridges Fire Department. Howser reported they were on scene until 11 a.m. on Wednesday. He added the fire is currently being investigated by the State Fire Marshall. The department...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has issued a fish consumption advisory for Piedmont Pond, south of Whitehall. The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) conducted water sampling in the area as a part of their groundwater investigation of the Upper Jefferson Valley. They discovered elevated concentrations of arsenic in the pond and an adjacent monitoring well. The concentrations of arsenic found in the pond exceeded the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) numeric water quality...
This year's campaign for governor pits two candidates with very different impressions of how Montana is doing and what should be done to make life better against one another. At a construction site in Helena, Montana, Republican Greg Gianforte told a group of contractors clad in orange shirts and work boots that things had to change after 16 years of Democrats controlling the governor's mansion to make sure Montana's best days are ahead. "We're going to get government out of the way," the...
In their daily update on September 15, the Jefferson County Health Department reported three active cases of COVID-19. By September 18 the number had increased to ten and on September 21 the department reported a rise to 21 active cases. The number was at 17 on Tuesday afternoon. According to department officials, Jefferson County has experienced its first cluster, which is defined as "an aggregation of cases grouped in place and time". The cluster was identified in a residential facility. Molly...
During her monthly report at last week's Town Council meeting, Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh discussed the importance of the November vote on a 30 mill levy increase to generate funding for law enforcement and the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department. "Whitehall has not asked for a mill levy increase in 50 years. The budget is very tight. Things will have to be cut if we do not get this mill levy increased. I think we've done a good job managing your money, but we can't live on a 1970's budget....
Three years ago, Daniel Hurd readily admits he was in a dark time in his life. After being encouraged by a friend to start bicycling, Hurd has not stopped. In the past 2.5 years, he has journeyed 16,500 miles in an effort to travel to all of the Lower 48 states, with each pedal hoping to shine a light on mental health and the alarming suicide rates nationwide. Hurd has attempted suicide three times and was thinking of his fourth when he said his friend got him on a bike and eight months later,...
It's once again time for the Whitehall Gun Show. The event limited to 100 tables is scheduled for Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20 at the Whitehall Community Center located at 11 N. Division. The daily hours are 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 6 p.m. Admission is $2 per person/per day and $5 per person for the entire weekend. There is free admission for children under 12 who are accompanied by an adult. All net profit will be...
The State Creek Fire near Whitehall is currently at 3,140 acres. Officials are reporting they are at 50 percent completion of their objectives for the lighting caused fire that was detected on August 29. On Monday crews were working to hold and improve the existing fire perimeter and prep work was implemented to stop any fire progression to the south. There are currently a total of 160 personnel on the fire 16 miles northeast of Whitehall that include 2 medium helicopters, 1 Water Tender, 1...
Jefferson County Election officials announced in late August they would be conducting an all-mail ballot election. The Jefferson County Commissioners voted earlier this month against a resolution that would have reversed the decision. The issue has led to concern for some local residents who asked for county officials for more clarification about the mail ballot process. To address concerns, Election Administrator Bonnie Ramey discussed the process in an email sent to county resident Bob Sims....
As of Tuesday afternoon, the State Creek Fire 16 miles northeast of Whitehall and two miles northeast of the Whitetail Reservoir was reported at 2,354 acres with zero percent containment. The fire was caused by lightning August 25 and went undetected until August 29. The fire is located on the Butte Ranger District and currently is in an area difficult for firefighters to access due to rough terrain, numerous snags, and a significant amount of dead and down trees. There are a total of 70...
There will be plenty of great rodeo action this weekend in Whitehall. The annual Whitehall High School and Junior High Rodeo are scheduled for Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13 at the Rodeo Grounds. Saturday action is set to begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday will start at 9 a.m. According to organizer Lonna Johnson, there is no gate charge for the 2020 rodeo, and spectators are being asked to practice social distancing of six to 10 feet, unless with immediate family. "The kids are...
Afternoon fishing restrictions on several southwest Montana waters were lifted last week. "Hoot-owl" restrictions were put in place on Aug. 6, prohibiting fishing each day from 2 p.m. to midnight on the following waters: • The lower Gallatin River from the Highway 84 bridge near Four Corners to the Missouri River. • The lower Ruby River from Duncan District Road to the Beaverhead River. • The Big Hole River from the North Fork of the Big Hole River to Dickie Bridge west of Wise River, and from...
While it may have been a little different from those in past, there was still plenty to smile about at the recent Madison County Fair in Twin Bridges. According to Mikayla Hudson, 4-H & Youth Development Extension Agent for Madison and Jefferson County, it was an amazing experience to see so many smiling faces excited to see their friends. 4-H organizers were able to include most of their schedule this year with all shows taking place in person but did reorganize to shorten the week and...
The Jefferson County Rodeo Association is hosting a three-day event this week. The In-County Rodeo is free of charge and scheduled to take place August 28 to 30 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds/Recreation Park in Boulder. The event was scheduled after COVID-19 restrictions led to the cancellation of both the Jefferson County Fair and NRA Rodeo. This week's event will kick off August 28 at 5 p.m. with MBHA approved barrel racing. Peewee, Youth, & Open is scheduled for 6 p.m. It will be a busy...
Students in both public and private schools will be required to wear masks at the start of the upcoming school year. Montana Governor Steve Bullock issued a Directive last Wednesday that is applicable to counties with four or more active COVID-19 cases. Jefferson County currently has five active cases. At the time of the announcement, the Whitehall School District did not have a mandatory mask policy for the 2020-21 school year. On July 15, Bullock announced a directive that required the...
Helena, MT – Census takers in Montana are working to follow up with households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. The current self-response rate in Montana is 56.9%. The national self-response rate is 63.3%. The Census Bureau will need to visit the remaining addresses to collect responses in person. Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received. Those that respond now will not need to be visited to obtain their responses. What...
Jefferson County Commissioner Cory Kirsch announced last week the county is looking for some help to allow them to hold polling place elections rather than a mail-in only election in November. "We are in need of election judges for the polling places and without these critical volunteers, our polling place election may not be possible. This task requires you to be at the polling place all-day on Election Day and to wear personal protective equipment," he said. Earlier this month, Governor Steve...
Several rivers in southwest Montana will close to fishing during the afternoon each day due to a seasonal rise in water temperatures. "Hoot-owl" restrictions prohibit fishing during the hottest times of the day. A hoot-owl restriction prohibiting fishing from 2 p.m. to midnight each day went into effect on Aug. 6 for the following waterbodies: • The lower Gallatin River from the Highway 84 bridge near Four Corners to the Missouri River. • The lower Ruby River from Duncan District Road to the...
Whitehall Town officials are pleased with the result of the recent chip sealing project completed by HardDrives Inc. At a Council meeting Monday, Whitehall Public Works Director Kory Klapan told the governing body the chip seal looks wonderful compared to when the company did the project in 2017 and that it should work out well. Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh said both the recently completed MDT sidewalk and the chip seal project both turned out well. HardDrives Inc. had originally provided a chi...
Three Forks resident Julia Caruana was returning home after to a trip to Pipestone when she saw the vandalization to the joint campaign sign for U.S. President Donald Trump and Montana Senate District 38 candidate Jim Buterbaugh. What she witnessed propelled her into action. Caruana said there is always that "what the" moment when you've driven past something countless times has suddenly changed and she spent much of that evening storming over how something like this could happen in Whitehall...
HELENA - Gov. Steve Bullock issued a directive Thursday giving Montana counties the option of shifting to all-mail ballots for the November general election as they did for the June primary, saying the order gives local election authorities a way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading among election-day crowds at polling places. The governor, who will be on the fall ballot as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, said he is issuing the order at the request of the association representing...
The Montana Department of Transportation is replacing two pipe culverts carrying the Little Boulder River beneath Whitetail Road (S 399) with one larger box culvert. The work is expected to begin soon and take several weeks to complete. Whitetail Road will be closed between Broken Limb Road and Hot Springs Road while the work is performed. During the closure traffic will be detoured using Hot Springs Road and MT 69. Hot Springs Road is a gravel surface with a reduced speed limit. Please slow...
