Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 954 - 978 of 1331
The influenza season is upon us. According to Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS), influenza is widespread right now in Montana and most of the US. Over 300 Montanans have been hospitalized this flu season and 18 deaths have been reported, most have been 65 or older. Locally, flu activity has been reported in the north, central and south sections of the county. Jefferson County has had 4 individuals hospitalized with the flu, one of whom has died. Nearly 2000 people have tested positive for flu since the start of the season...
The Whitehall High School Speech and Debate team had great results at last week's Divisional Tournament in Missoula. Senior Rebecca Meyer led the way for the Trojans with a first-place finish in Impromptu. Karlie Wagner finished third in Humorous Oral Interpretation, and Issie Coleman and Bradley Morrison finished fifth in Humorous Duo. All four qualified for the state meet scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Three Forks. Meyer also qualified for state in 2018. Head Coach Dr. Kathy Meyer said...
There was good news to end 2017 at the Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine in Whitehall. At the Community Transition Advisory Committee last week, Mine Environmental Superintendent Chuck Buus said the state has accepted their application for the proposed Apex Project, and the next step would be for Tetra Tech of Missoula to complete an Environmental Assessment. Buus said that should take around eight months. Buus added it was good news to hear about the application and all of the hard work and diligence is behind them. Mine General Manager Dan Banghar...
With attendance numbers increasing at the two Whitehall secondary schools, officials are looking into the possibility of eight period days. In her monthly report, Principal Hannah Nieskens reported increases at both the high school and middle school. Nieskens said there were two new students at the high school for a total of 141. At the same time last year, the number was 122. Nieskens reported a total of 88 at the middle school, with the number 82 in 2017. Nieskens said looking into the possibility of eight period days is a reality of getting...
There is a new Mayor and four new Council members on the Town of Whitehall governing body. At a special meeting Jan. 3, Council members Barbara Gagnon, Katy James, Jason Good and Montina Rawson, and Mayor Mary Janacaro-Hensleigh were sworn into their positions. At the start of the meeting, Janacaro-Hensleigh addressed what she said were a lot of questions and concerns about the position of James on the Council. Janacaro-Hensleigh said Jefferson County Election Administrator Bonnie Ramey certified James for the position. The new Mayor told...
At the first Whitehall Chamber meeting of 2018, longtime executive coordinator Casey Chase stepped down from her position. Chase told the Chamber board she was grateful for her time in the position, will finish her current obligations, and she and her husband will remain active members of the local organization. She served in the position for four and a half years. “The growth and expansion of my own business requires more of my time than in previous years and I believe that my involvement will only slow down progress as I am unable to g...
The Whitehall Town Council meeting originally scheduled for January 8 has been postponed. The regular monthly meeting will instead take place Tuesday, January 16 at 7 p.m. The Whitehall School Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for January 9 has also been changed due to a home wrestling meet. The meeting will instead take place January 10 at 7 p.m. in the school library. Both meetings will televised locally and streamed at www.audiostreamingsolutions.com....
Two days after a botched attempt to take an ATM at the Cardwell Store, two suspects were able to steal an ATM at an Exxon store off Interstate 15 in Idaho Falls. The IFPD has pictures of a flat-bed Super Duty Ford Truck used at both incidents. The the truck was stolen, and the New Mexico license plates were stolen from another vehicle. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department was dispatched to the Cardwell Store located at 770 East Hwy 2 at 7:06 a.m. on December 26. In the Idaho robbery, the...
The Whitehall Chamber of Commerce is looking to move away from the Futurity Event at the annual Frontier Days Celebration in July. Chamber Executive Coordinator Casey Chase said at a meeting last week that it has become more difficult to work with contractors and while prices are going up for the event, attendance is not. Chase said they would be looking into doing a more traditional rodeo, ranchers rodeo, or having barrel racing and roping. In other business, Chase said they currently have 51 Chamber renewals for 2018. After a total of 62...
The Whitehall Volunteer Fire Department responded to a house fire December 30 at 4 West Olive Street. According to Chief Jeremy Ward, firefighters were called to the scene at 1:19 p.m., and upon arrival they reported smoke coming out of the attic. Ward said the department was on scene several hours, the whole roof system at the residence was compromised, ,and there was also water damage. Ward said the fire reignited later that evening and the department was dispatched again at 10:38p.m. Ward...
Monday, Dec. 25 8:23 a.m. - abandoned auto, I-90, MM 248, Whitehall 1:28 p.m. - traffic accident/1 vehicle/non-injury, I-90, MM 242, Whitehall 5:25 p.m. - animal problem – injured, 14 Rocky Mountain Drive, Whitehall Tuesday, Dec. 26 6:26 a.m. - trees/debris on roadway, I-90 westbound, MM 242, Whitehall 7:06 a.m. - theft/ building, 770 East Hwy 2, Cardwell 10:21 a.m. - traffic accident/1 vehicle/non-injury, I-90 westbound, MM 236, Whitehall 11:20 a.m. - traffic accident/2 vehicle/injury, I-90 eastbound, MM 237, Whitehall 11:44 a.m. - care for s...
There is a new Mayor and four new Council members on the Town of Whitehall governing body. At a special meeting Jan. 3, Council members Barbara Gagnon, Katy James, Jason Good and Montina Rawson, and Mayor Mary Janacaro-Hensleigh were sworn into their positions. At the start of the meeting, Janacaro-Hensleigh addressed what she said were a lot of questions and concerns about the position of James on the Council. Janacaro-Hensleigh said Jefferson County Election Administrator Bonnie Ramey certified James for the position. The new Mayor told...
With 2018 just a few days away, there is plenty of local news to look back on that took place during 2017 in Whitehall and the surrounding areas. In a special election November 7, local voters approved the formation of the Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District in the Whitehall area. According to Jefferson County Election Administrator Bonnie Ramey, the rural ambulance district was approved by a vote of 372 to 188. The district does not include the Town limits of Whitehall. Voters also...
The Jefferson Local Development Corporation will be looking for a new Co-Manager in 2018. At a meeting earlier this month, Tom Harrington said that fellow JLDC Co-Manager Micky Zurcher had taken a new job in Helena and her last day with the organization was December 8. According to the JLDC, two Montana State University Extension Agents serve as Co-Managers focusing on community and economic development. Zurcher started with the JLDC in January of 2016. She replaced longtime Co-Manager Tara Mastel. Zurcher was hired following a lengthy process...
Monday, Dec. 18 1:48 a.m. - alarms burglary false/error, 211 East Legion Avenue, Whitehall 7:47 a.m. - care for sick/injured, 33 Point Of Rocks Road, Whitehall 10:36 a.m. - mental crisis, 460 Hwy 2 West, Whitehall 4:03 p.m. - traffic accident/ 1 vehicle/non injury, I-90 eastbound, MM 242, Whitehall 6:53 p.m. – warrants, 105 West Legion Avenue, Whitehall 6:54 p.m. – warrants, 105 West Legion Avenue, Whitehall 8:46 p.m.- stranded motorist, Hwy 69, MM 8, Cardwell 9:34 p.m. - theft/parts from vehicle, 105 West Legion Avenue, Whitehall Tuesday, Dec...
At the Community Transition Advisory Committee Meeting last Thursday, Whitehall resident Ed Handl lauded Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine officials for their commitment to safety. Following the monthly safety report from Mine General Manager Dan Banghart, Handl said Barrick has done an excellent job with safety and their record is very admirable. Handl said the State of Montana could use the local mine as an example for safety. In his report, Banghart said there were no reportable incidents in November at the mine and they are around 140 days...
The Whitehall Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to reinstate suspended member Francine Giono-Janik. Prior to the 5-0 vote, Town Attorney Ed Guza stated it is his opinion Janik is ready get back to the position and recommended she be placed back on the Council. Alderman Joe Adams made the motion that was quickly seconded and passed with no further discussion. Giono-Janik had been under suspension since November of 2016. The Council also voted to approve bids for the purchase of four town ambulances. The bid for the 2015 Chevrolet...
The Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District Board of Directors met for the first time since the new district was approved by local voters in November. At a meeting Monday night at the Borden’s Building in Downtown Whitehall, the board members selected Sue Pullman as chair. Names were also drawn for the length of the terms for the five members. Pullman, Rico Patacini, and Amy DuBois will all serve four-year terms on the board. Dana Brunet and Tara Tebay will each serve two-year terms. The new board also allowed a public comment where s...
Whitehall School officials are looking into recent reports of vandalism in the weight room. At the School Board of Trustees meeting last week, High School/Middle School Principal Hannah Nieskens reported there has been recent vandalism, thefts, and other mysterious happenings taking place in the weight room area. She said someone stole a medicine ball from the cheerleaders room, holes have been punched in the bathroom, people are getting out weight belts that have been locked up and someone scattered papers around. Nieskens said while they...
Whitehall seventh graders worked together last Friday to help come up with a permanent name for a new fishing access and paddler's campsite on the Jefferson River near Waterloo. The students spent time reading through the journals of Lewis and Clark written in August of 1805, when they explored near the area of the site that had beene using the temporary name of "Waterloo Grove". The 25 students individually came up with ideas after reading the journals, and the class as a whole selected the...
The Whitehall Council approved unanimously to open public bidding on four ambulances owned by the town. The governing body passed four resolutions at a special meeting last week that opened the bidding process. The town is selling a 2015 Chevrolet Ambulance with a Stryker Cot and Spot Chains. The minimum bid for the ambulance is $65,000. The minimum bid for the 2011 Ford F450 with a Stryker Cot is $25,000. The minimum bid for a 1998 For Ambulance with Stryker Cot is $6,000. The minimum bid for a 1997 Ford E350 Ambulance without a Stryker Cot...
Monday, Nov. 20 1:30 a.m. – abandoned auto, Hwy 2 East, Cardwell 3:29 a.m. - abandoned auto, I-90 westbound, MM 239, Whitehall 9:05 a.m. - care for sick/injured, 90 Boe Lane, Whitehall 10:07 a.m. – civil assist, 2 North Whitehall Street, Whitehall 10:34 a.m. - family disturbance, 26 Sugar Beet Row, Whitehall 2:27 p.m. - PODD-marijuana, 1173 Hwy 55, Whitehall 6:26 p.m. - traffic accident/1 vehicle/injury, Hwy 2 West, Whitehall 8:03 p.m. - keeping the peace, 88 Hwy 2 West, Whitehall 9:08 p.m. - traffic/ reckless, I-90 westbound, MM 254, Whi...
At a special meeting Monday night, the Whitehall Town Council approved a resolution to sell the ‘Ambulance Barn’ located at 207 E. Legion. The 4-1 vote came after an hour long public hearing to discuss the sale of the property to Dr. Cory Tebay of Western Veterinary Services. Alderman Gary Housman cast the dissenting vote. The purchase price of the building is $288,000, and the Resolution (2017-8) includes a 30-day clause to resolve issues about the siding on the building that was most recently home to the Beacon of Hope Inc. Ambulance Ser...
Just days before their first meet of the season last Saturday at Missoula Loyola, members of the Whitehall High School speech team were not only looking forward to competition, they had their sights set on a lot of fun during the 2017-18 campaign. The team will return Bradley Morrison, Rebecca Meyer, Alicia Konold and Issie Brookins, and welcome newcomer Austin Schwab. The coach of the Whitehall team is Cathy Kopf. Morrison and Schwab will both be competing in Humorous Oral interpretation....
Monday, Nov. 13 4:57 a.m. – mental crisis, 460 Hwy 2 West, Whitehall 2:22 p.m. - keeping the peace, 2 North Whitehall Street, Whitehall 11:53 p.m. - traffic accident/1 vehicle/injury, I-90 eastbound, MM 237, Whitehall 7:53 p.m. – traffic/ reckless, Legion Avenue, Whitehall Tuesday, Nov. 14 10:02 a.m. - traffic & roads-moving, 75 Yellowstone Trail, Whitehall 2:08 p.m. - lost property, 104 South McKay Street, Whitehall 2:31 p.m. – traffic stop, Hwy 69, MM 22, Cardwell Mt 59721 2:58 p.m. - traffic & roads—signs, Hwy 69, MM 20, Cardwell 3:34 p....
