Your Community Builder
Your Community Builder
Sorted by date Results 326 - 350 of 745
The Hysham check station was busy on an extremely gusty Sunday Nov. 14 following the third week of the general season. “Overall, hunters seemed content with their hunts, and I was impressed with the quality of deer that were taken,” said FWP Region 7 wildlife biologist Steve Atwood. Crews saw more hunters than usual, with 172 sportsmen and women coming through in 94 parties. The 10-year average is 139 hunters and 67 parties. Hunter success was average at 56 percent, Atwood said. FWP staff checked 62 mule deer – 56 bucks...
Together with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced a new, statewide $3.8 million program to help eligible Montanans pay for water and wastewater expenses. “This program will go a long way to help ensure Montanans maintain access to water at their home, without worrying about disruptions to service,” Gov. Gianforte said. Data gathered from the larger cities across the state indicate that many households are 60 or more days past due with amounts ran...
Cold weather is coming and heating bills can pile up fast. Are you or someone you know worried about how to pay those bills? Energy Share of Montana is a private, nonprofit organization whose main purpose is to help Montanans facing energy emergencies. An “energy emergency” usually means someone facing loss of heat or lights in their home due to unforeseen circumstances or issues beyond their control, and who have no resources to pay that bill themselves. Energy Share helps people from all walks of life: Senior citizens, vet...
At a press conference on Tuesday at Billings Clinic, Governor Greg Gianforte announced a new, innovative health care workforce recruitment program to address Montana’s longstanding health care workforce shortage and stabilize Montana’s health care system. “For too long, Montana has struggled to attract and retain health care providers, and the pandemic has only exacerbated this longstanding issue,” said Gov. Gianforte. “With this innovative new program, we’re inviting qualified doctors, nurses, and other health care provid...
The general season opener brought mild weather and plenty of hunters afield. Below is a look at what Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff observed at three Sunday check stations operating in southeast Montana. Ashland check station "It was a pleasant weekend near Ashland, and hunters enjoyed being afield," said wildlife biologist Ryan DeVore. The Ashland check station saw a total of 96 parties, or 197 hunters, come through. Seventy-five hunters were successful (38 percent),...
Visit Southeast Montana recently welcomed Cassie Solberg to the staff as Marketing Specialist. Solberg is a Montana native, growing up on her family's farm and ranch in Denton. Because of her love for photographing Montana landscapes, she studied photography at Northwest College after graduating high school. After earning her associate degree, she moved to Billings to go on and earn a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and a Master of Science in Public Relations from...
Mid-Rivers Communications is proud announce the local recipients of its 2021 Education Technology Grants. Grants are awarded to educational facilities, including private, public, and home schools, and non-profit entities with an educational mission benefiting members and customers in the Mid-Rivers service area. Montana law requires that the cooperative’s Fund for Education be used for educational purposes. Grants were awarded to 13 applicants totaling $65,500. Grant awards in Eastern Montana include: • $7,500 to the Bloomfie...
Opening weekend for the antelope rifle season ushered in some wet conditions, which were welcome in the drought-stricken region but made hunting a bit more challenging. Below is a look at hunter numbers and harvest success rates at the three check stations operating in Southeastern Montana's Region 7. Hysham check station "The large amount of precipitation across the region made for tough conditions on opening day," said FWP Region 7 Wildlife Biologist Steve Atwood. Atwood...
Montana’s two-day, youth-only deer hunt is coming up October 21 and 22, and general deer season opens October 23. Now is a good time to consider signing up for the Apprentice Hunter program. The Apprentice Hunter law allows people ages 10 and older to hunt as apprentices with a mentor for two seasons without completing a Hunter Education course. Fish, Wildlife & Parks highly recommends that interested people visit the website at fwp.mt.gov and read the packet on the Apprentice Hunter program before seeking certification. T...
A strategic marketing campaign is encouraging motorcycle enthusiasts to take advantage of eastern Montana's wide-open spaces and welcoming towns by traveling the "MonDak Motorcycle Loop." The Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation, Visit Southeast Montana Tourism and Windfall marketing agency teamed up to create the campaign to promote local tourism destinations and encourage visitors to ride part or all of the route and stop in local communities along the way. "The...
Over the last several weeks, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has received reports of dead or dying white-tailed deer in the major river drainages in eastern Montana. Early indications showed patterns and symptoms similar to epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), and several dead deer had samples submitted for testing. Early results indicate that at least some of the sampled deer tested positive for EHD. In northeast Montana, the furthest western extent of the disease appears to...
Bovine tuberculosis (TB) has been confirmed in a Montana beef herd for the first time in decades. The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) confirmed TB in a Blaine County herd following detection of the disease in a cow at slaughter. The infected cow was identified by meat inspectors during routine inspection at a Minnesota plant. Identification collected from the infected cow at the time of slaughter linked the animal to a Blaine County beef herd and subsequent herd testing revealed additional TB infected animals. The...
On Monday, Governor Greg Gianforte announced the following appointments: Fish and Wildlife Commission • William Lane, Ismay: Current owner and operator of Crescent Cross Ranch in Ismay, Lane brings decades of experience working in the private sector and serving on various boards managing assets, streamlining operations, analyzing investment risk, conducting community outreach, and implementing policy. Lane’s term will run through January 1, 2025. • Jana Waller, Florence: An ardent conservationist with a passion for hunti...
Individuals seeking training for a new career still have the opportunity to enroll at Miles Community College this fall. MCC’s fall semester late start session will include the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Preparation course and the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Training program. The term begins Wednesday, October 27. Both courses offer opportunities for hands on and in-person instruction and training, but have some components available via virtual delivery, providing flexibility to those for whom daily travel to...
For youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints going on a Mormon Pioneer Trek experience is an opportunity not to be missed. Youth from all over the United States travel to the Mormon Handcart Visitors Center in Martin's Cove, Wyoming for several days of camping, pulling heavily-laden handcarts while wearing pioneer clothing and getting first-hand experience about the difficult journey many of their ancestors made while crossing the plains to the Salt Lake...
What Should I Do? Get started now instead of waiting until December 1. Pay attention to your mail. You will be getting lots of information; some of it will be on your Part D plans, Advantage Plans or Extra Help (Social Security Low Income Subsidy) which helps with your costs of prescription drug plan. You may receive notification from Medicare or Social Security wanting to verify your income or informing you of changes coming. Save these letters and bring them to your SHIP counselor if you don’t quite understand them. R...
The 59th Annual Western Family and Consumer Science Show will be held October 8 and 9 at the Central States Fairgrounds in Rapid City, SD. The board of directors are planning some new and exciting contests for the event. While this is called a show, it consists of various contests for developing life skills that 4-Hers, all youth including youngsters under 9 years of age, and adults may participate in. New this year will be a non competitive cookie decorating contest, graphic design poster contest for next year's show and a...
Governor Greg Gianforte recently announced that 10 Montana National Guardsmen have volunteered to assist the Billings Clinic in its COVID-19 response. “Over the last year, soldiers in the Montana National Guard have consistently stepped up to the plate, and today is no different,” Gov. Gianforte said. “We’ll continue working with hospitals to address their individual needs as the state responds to COVID-19.” “Billings Clinic is incredibly grateful to have support from the Montana National Guard to help with immense cap...
Mid-Rivers Communications, telecommunications service provider to 30,000 square miles of Eastern and Central Montana, is proud to announce the availability of up to $75,000 in grants! Educational Technology Grants are offered by Mid-Rivers when funds are available for this purpose from the Mid-Rivers Fund for Education, which is funded by cooperative members’ Unclaimed Capital Credits. Mid-Rivers recognizes the power of broadband as a solution. Broadband can build bridges between generations, provide access to boundless e...
As established in House Bill 93 signed during the 2021 legislative session, the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) can now certify additional materials, such as gravel, as being free of noxious weeds. Administrative rules for Noxious Weed Free Materials (MAR Notice No. 4-21-273) were recently adopted following a public hearing and comment period that received no comments, although industry groups have expressed support for certifying materials beyond forage. “Laying the groundwork for more materials to be certified as w...
There's no better way to see the sights than on horseback or in a horse-drawn wagon. A nearby wagon and trail ride is taking place September 12-18. The South Dakota and Montana ride will start in the Camp Crook area along the Little Missouri. Some of the sights scheduled on the daily rides are Capitol Rock, the Short Pines area and the historic cabin hideout of outlaw Jack Kennedy. Breakfast and evening meals will be catered and evening entertainment is planned. It should be...
Schools across Montana are testing their drinking water for lead ahead of the Dec. 31, 2021 deadline outlined in the DPHHS Administrative Rules of Montana regarding matters of public health in schools. Dozens of school districts have already received their results and are in the process of remediating plumbing fixtures after testing in some locations showed elevated levels of lead. To ensure the water in Montana public schools is safe to drink, DPHHS requires all accredited K-12 schools to periodically sample all sinks and...
Due to current dry conditions and high fire danger throughout much of Montana, hunters may encounter some Block Management Area closures or restrictions. In Southeastern Montana’s Region 7, as of Aug. 13 there were 19 BMAs in eight counties that were either closed or limiting access. The list of BMAs is attached. Statewide, there are just over 70 closed or restricted BMAs. Hunters are advised to check back closer to their hunt to ensure access, as conditions may change daily. To check the status of BMAs in various FWP regions...
A couple from Gillette is trying to collect 25,000 used pairs of shoes by the end of August. Once that goal is met, Shoes With Heart, a Florida-based organization, will pick them up in exchange for $10,000 to go toward adopting the couple’s first child. Mikelle and Josh Schmit have tried just short of everything when it comes to fundraising for their upcoming adoption, which could cost in the neighborhood of $50,000. The Schmits’ garage has became a shoe warehouse in the process. So far, they have around 17,000 pairs of sho...
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted an Order designating 988 as the new three-digit abbreviated dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline starting July 16, 2022. The FCC’s Order requires all telecommunications carriers to make any network changes necessary to ensure that users can dial 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July 16, 2022. In Montana’s 406 Area Code, and in 81 other area codes around the nation, the necessary changes include transitioning from seven-di...
