News

Highland Park students take the plunge

 

 

The youngest participants in this year’s Polar Plunge for Special Olympics were four students from Highland Park Elementary. 

Fourth graders Briel Bechtel, Davis Tucek, and Taylor Phillips, along with second grader JJ Tucek, braved the elements on Saturday, Jan. 26 to represent the Lewistown Schools at the annual fundraiser for Special Olympics. Although the outside temperature was not very cold, it was not sunbathing weather, either.

Calling it a career

Lewistown Police Chief Cory Birdwell is ready for a change.

An LPD employee since March of 1993, Birdwell, 52, has worked in law enforcement half his life, and he’s grateful he chose this path.

“I had a cousin who was a highway patrolman at that time, and I had given thought to a career in law enforcement, but it wasn’t a lifelong dream,” Birdwell said, looking back to his college days.

Design Review Board moving forward with sign ordinance

At the end of Wednesday’s Design Review Board meeting at the Community Center, City Planner Cathy Barta received applause from some of those in attendance.

She’d just walked everyone through the latest draft of the Lewistown Sign Ordinance in a little less than two hours, listening to comments along the way, taking suggestions, trying to make the ordinance work for as many people as possible.

Winter Fair

In the 16 years since the Montana Winter Fair moved from Bozeman to Lewistown, the event has grown and evolved in ways organizers say have added to its success. One of those organizers is Chris Cooler, chairman of the Montana Winter Fair board. 

Lawmakers debate infrastructure funding, DUI penalties, vaccine exemption

Lawmakers in Helena are beginning discussions on how to build and maintain the state’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, wastewater systems and state buildings. Again, the debate will come down to which projects get funding and whether that funding comes by way of cash or borrowing. 

First ‘Living with Wildlife’ conference draws large crowd

If the number of people attending the “Living with Wildlife” conference was any indication, it was very successful. The free conference for agricultural producers and wildlife enthusiasts was held at the Yogo Inn on Thursday and Friday.

Local woman honored for leadership

Chris Rice, director of Central Montana Learning Resource Center Cooperative, is the 2019 Region III Leader of the Year. This distinguished award honors her years of service in the special education field.

The application requested five statements from teachers, administrators, support personnel or parents who recognize the nominee as a “positive, effective” leader. Rice received 10 written nominations. A few of their comments are:

Where should community development funding go?

City Commissioners want to know how to best utilize a potential Montana Community Development Block Grant. 

On Tuesday, they opened up the floor, asking the community for answers.

The CDBG program – operated through the Montana Department of Commerce –  provides annual grants for specific community development needs.

Central Montana feels impacts as shutdown continues; end could be in sight

With the country 30-plus days into the government shutdown, the loss of federal funding and federal personnel has been felt nationwide, including here in Central Montana. Impacts go well beyond the obvious loss of two paychecks for 800,000 federal employees. However, according to major news sources, on Friday President Trump announced a surprise plan to reopen the government for three weeks. Congress still needs to pass spending bills in order for federal funding to flow again.

 

Farmers and ranchers feeling the crunch

The Mentoring program changing lives of local youth

Once a week, Fergus High School student Nicole Woolett gets together with elementary school student Phoebe Gee. They’ve been doing this for the past three years.

This relationship – created by Woolett volunteering with the Central Montana Youth Mentoring Program – has blossomed into a powerful friendship.

“Our first year it was a little awkward, but we’ve become more than just mentor and mentee,” Woolett said. 

“Yeah,” said Gee.

Poll

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