Your Community Builder
Your Community Builder
Sorted by date Results 476 - 500 of 745
HELENA, Mont. – Abnormally dry conditions between March and early June have moved the southern tier of Montana, along with the eastern counties, into drought conditions that will likely intensify over the next three months, according to the just-released Montana Drought Forecast Report. “The moisture we got in June has most of western and central Montana in fine shape,” said Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney, chair of the Governor’s Drought and Water Supply Advisory Committee. “But we’re keeping a close watch on conditions...
With over 33 years of dedicated service to the community and to Stockman Bank, Miles City Market President Stanley Markuson will be retiring on June 30. Markuson, an Ekalaka native and graduate of MSU, began working for Stockman Bank in 1986. Over the years, he has served on Stockman Bank's Senior Loan Committee and Senior Management Committee. He was also on the Board of Directors for Stockman Financial Corp., the holding company that includes Stockman Bank of Montana,...
Miles Community College and Montana Farm Bureau have teamed up to offer a meat processing certificate/degree. For the past several years, MCC has been working to develop plans for a certificate that can offer a journeyman certificate in meat cutting. "The recent disruptions in the livestock product supply chain due to COVID-19 raised awareness of the American public to the importance of the local food supply chain," said MFBF Executive Vice President, John Youngberg. "Montana...
COVID-19 continues to be transmitted throughout Montana. As of Tuesday morning, there were 743 positive cases in Montana, but ZERO cases have been reported in Carter County. Also, the United States has now seen over 2.3 million cases of COVID-19, with 120,340 of those people dying. The symptoms of COVID-19 seem to be similar to that of a common cold or influenza. However, COVID-19 appears to be more severe. The symptoms of COVID-19 can include cough, fever or chills,...
Governor Bullock recently announced Montana’s unemployment rate improved considerably in May due to strong job growth dropping 2.9 percentage points to 9.0%. In April, the Montana unemployment rate was at 11.9%. The Montana unemployment rate remained below the national rate of 13.3% in May. “Due to our early action to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we’ve been able to continue with the phased reopening of our state, our economy is recovering, and thousands of Montanans have returned to work,” said Governor Bullock. “As we...
Last week, Governor Steve Bullock announced the creation of a loan deferment program to assist Montana businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Montana Loan Deferment Program will allow businesses and other entities to defer payments on existing loans for six to 12 months and free up a significant amount of otherwise dedicated capital for the borrower to leverage on a monthly basis. If a borrower is approved for the program, Coronavirus relief funds will be used to provide payments to participating lenders to cover interest...
Black bears are among us in southeastern Montana, even if we don't often see them. Bears are constantly foraging for food, and it's not unusual for them to wander into residential areas where they may come in contact with humans. To raise awareness of black bears and their behaviors, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host an outdoor "Be Bear Aware" campfire-style talk on Monday, June 29 at Spotted Eagle Recreation Area from 6:30-8 p.m. The talk will be held at the teepee...
Governor Steve Bullock recently announced $8.7 million in federal grants will be distributed to education entities across the state to ramp up remote learning opportunities, technology infrastructure, and workforce training opportunities. “Our teachers and professors across the state have remained committed to providing Montana students with a high quality education during these challenging times and this funding will provide schools and educators with the resources they need to continue doing so this fall,” Governor Bullock...
As Montanans are turning to locally sourced food in the face of possible disruptions caused by the COVID-19 virus, the Montana Department of Livestock cautions the public against consumption of raw (unpasteurized) milk and raw milk products. “While milk is an excellent source of protein, vitamins and calcium essential for healthy bone growth, unpasteurized milk has been linked to numerous food borne disease outbreaks,” says Rosemary Hickey, Milk and Egg Bureau Registered Sanitarian. “Because of health concerns, raw milk...
HELENA — Last month, Montana Free Press added a roundup of pertinent information for primary voters to its 2020 election guide. In the weeks since, a pair of legal cases have necessitated some updates. Here’s what’s happened so far. On May 1, five tribal governments and two Native voting rights organizations filed a motion in Yellowstone County District Court seeking a temporary injunction against Montana’s Ballot Interference Prevention Act. BIPA, which was approved by Montana voters on the 2018 ballot, established a stric...
Last week, Governor Steve Bullock announced Montana’s unemployment rate was at 11.3 percent in April due to impacts created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montana unemployment rate remains below the national rate of 14.7% in April. “Montana took early and aggressive action to combat the virus and save lives, allowing us to be one of the first states in the nation prepared to reopen,” Governor Bullock said. “While we are not immune to the significant economic challenges facing the nation, we are working every day to safely...
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for grants until June 22, 2020, to fund Montana projects that could stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) generally fund pilot projects, field demonstrations and on-farm conservation research. Tom Watson, NRCS state conservationist for Montana, said $225,000 is available for the state-component CIG this year. He said applicants can request up to $75,000 f...
Currently, millions of public land acres in Montana are inaccessible. Fish Wildlife & Parks new Public Lands Access Land Agreement encourages landowners to help open up and improve access to these isolated parcels of state and federal land for hunting and fishing. In exchange, landowners can receive a payment and other negotiated improvements. Landowners who enroll parcels, must also hold the lease for the public land if a lease exists. Landowners, in collaboration with FWP, determine when, where, and how the public may...
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing so many parts of life in Montana this year – hunter and bowhunter education is no different. In response to social distancing requirements and restrictions on group gatherings, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is turning to online courses for all students this year only. The online courses and mandatory field days have been available to adults for a tuition fee of $25 for hunter education and $30 for bowhunter education. The in-person courses have always been, and will remain, free. However, s...
The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding this year is June 12, 2020. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages adoption of new technologies and management techniques. “CSP continues to be a very effective tool for private landowners working to achieve their conservation...
Mid-Rivers Communications is proud to announce the award of 31 Scholarships to students from the Cooperative’s service area. Six $1,500 scholarships were awarded to students planning to attend Dawson Community College or Miles Community College, and 25 $1,000 scholarships were awarded to students planning to attend a four-year college or university, community college or tech school in the fall of 2020. Preference was given in the scholarship award selection process to students who plan to live and work in Eastern and C...
The Bureau of Land Management Miles City Field Office has published a Notice of Availability/Notice of Realty Action for public comment. Comments on the environmental assessment, draft plan amendment, and conveyance of reversionary interest through a direct sale at fair market value must be received by June 22, 2020. The Miles City Field Office has completed an environmental assessment where it is proposing a plan amendment to the 2015 Resource Management Plan, amended, to convey the reversionary interest through a direct...
The Mid-Rivers Telephone Cooperative, Inc. Board of Trustees has decided to postpone the cooperative’s Annual Meeting of the Members, previously scheduled for May 28, 2020, until further notice due to the Coronavirus pandemic. “Our primary focus is keeping members, customers, and employees safe and healthy, so we can continue providing essential services,” stated General Manager/CEO Michael Candelaria. The Mid-Rivers Board will await further guidance from State and local health officials on Montana’s Phase 2 and 3 reopeni...
On Tuesday, Governor Steve Bullock announced that families, small businesses, non-profits, health services centers and individuals across Montana hardest-hit by impacts of COVID-19 will be eligible to apply for grants through nine new programs created in response to the emergency. Guided by more than 1,400 public comments and his Coronavirus Relief Fund Advisory Council, Governor Bullock is making $123,550,000 available in the first round of emergency grants funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Sec...
A whopping 1 million pages of Montana’s newspapers, and the stories they carried about lives, deaths and everything in between, are now available with the click of a few computer keys through a Montana Historical Society project. The Digitized Montana Newspapers project involves two free online resources that allows the public to search newspapers dating back to 1864. These titles come from 76 communities representing 46 of the 56 Montana counties. Natasha Hollenbach, Digital Projects Librarian, said newspapers are one of the...
Last Wednesday, Governor Steve Bullock announced plans for a gradual and phased reopening of the state beginning Sunday for individuals, and extending to businesses on Monday. “There are very few states in the country that can say they have seen the number of positive cases decline over these past weeks. Montana can say that because, together, we have made that decline in cases possible,” Governor Bullock said. “While there is reason for optimism this is not a time for celebration. I am going to ask Montanans to conti...
HELENA – The Montana Department of Labor & Industry announced this week Montana's self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, and others not eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits can begin filing claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits expanded under the recently passed CARES Act starting Wednesday. “Help is now on the way for many Montanans who previously were not eligible for regular UI benefits. As Montana has such a high rate of entrepreneurialism, this will help a wide arra...
Governor Bullock’s March 31 Directive with consumer protections to lessen the economic impacts on Montanans by stopping evictions, foreclosures and cancellation of utility services does not absolve renters or lessees from their financial obligations, according to a citizen’s advocate from the governor’s office. The financial liability of tenants according to the terms of their lease remains unchanged. Only the legal ability to remove a renter from the property is suspended. The suspension of foreclosures also applies to re...
The 2020 paddlefish seasons on the Yellowstone and Lower Missouri rivers (yellow tag) are canceled in response to Gov. Steve Bullock’s extension of the directives for social distancing and non-resident quarantine to help stop the spread of COVID-19. As of now, paddlefish season on the Upper Missouri River from Fort Benton downstream to Fort Peck Dam (white tag) will remain in place and the drawing for these limited tags occurred April 6. The fishery opens May 1 and is conducted in a more dispersed manner. There are also no p...
April 7 • Governor’s extension of the Stay at Home Directive along with certain other Directives to April 24 • Directive waiving some restrictions on local and county governments gaining access to emergency funding from the state and federal government • Directive with measures for notifications to first responders that they may come in to contact with a COVID-19 patient April 2 • Directive to extend motor vehicle deadlines, and to provide services online and by mail. • Directive was issued designating childcare as an essen...
