The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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*The headline of this story has been updated March 10, 2022 to better reflect the fact no revitalization plan exists. The original headline may have created or exacerbate that misperception. A Feb. 18 event aimed at re-introducing Envision Lincoln to the community and restarting conversations around downtown revitalization efforts drew a surprising turnout for a Tuesday gathering at mid-day, suggesting there is still significant interest in the economic and quality-of-life...
As Christians throughout much of the nation look ahead to a homebound Easter Sunday, separated from their fellow worshippers by coronavirus-related restrictions, those in the Upper Blackfoot Valley will be able to stay connected to the churches through the internet. Local churches have been streaming their services online for the past few weeks as a series of restrictions, which began with the March 16 Lewis and Clark Public Health order to close bars and restaurants and...
Governor Steve Bullock issued a statewide stay-at-home order for the state of Montana during a press conference Thursday afternoon. March 26. The order, referred to by some states as a shelter-in-place order, is set to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, March 28 and last through Friday, April 10, the same date the extended closure order for schools and certain businesses was set to expire. Montana is the 23rd state to implement a stay-at-home order. The measure is designed to...
Governor Steve Bullock's stay at home order related to slowing the spread of COVID-19, lasting from March 28 through April 10, expanded on his March 20 order to close certain establishments and to enforce social distancing. Most businesses in the Upper Blackfoot that were open under the original order fall into the essential business category, but there are some exceptions and most that remain open are required to enforce social distancing requirements. The latest COVID-19 rel...
Governor Steve Bullock’s stay at home order related to the spread of COVID-19, lasting from March 28 through April 10, expanded on his March 20 order to close certain establishments and to enforce social distancing. The new order closes all but essential businesses and bans all but essential travel. Most businesses in Lincoln that were open under the original order fall into the essential business category, but there are some exceptions and some that remain open have a...
The Lincoln School Board met Wednesday, March 18 to ensure the school was on the right course in what trustee Jay Terman called uncharted waters. The board passed a trio of motions that will ensure the school maintains its funding after Gov. Steve Bullock's ordered schools statewide to close from March 16-27to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The school board formally declared an unforeseen emergency, authorized the staff to provide off-site instruction and authorized Superin...
Nearly a week after orders went into effect to close bars and limit restaurants to take out and delivery, downtown Lincoln was a far more subdued place. Late Saturday morning, the stools at Lambkins Bar were turned up on the bar and the tables were pushed aside as owner Glen Kolve and Francis Beehler fired up a large carpet cleaner. Like some other business owners in Lincoln, Kolve is using the downtime to work on projects to "fix this and fix that." A noticeably glum Kolve...
Following Lewis and Clark Public Heath's March 19 expanded order to close certain establishments, including churches, and Gov. Steve Bullock's March 20 statewide order to close bars, restaurants and certain other businesses, we've updated the list of establishments affected and the service they do have available. We're aware the list isn't comprehensive. If we missed anyone, please let us know. Businesses not listed are, to the best of our knowledge, open regular hours...
Parker Medical Center PureView Health Centers is coordinating with the Lewis and Clark County Public Health Department and Centers for Disease Control in their efforts to protect their patients and the community against the spread of COVID -19. PureView Chief Executive OfficerJill Steeley said patients at Parker Medical shouldn't see too much in the way of change, but they are taking precautionary measures. "We'll still be seeing people there. We'll just be calling them first...
Lincoln started to feel the pinch of efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 this week, on the heels of a series of emergency declarations, restrictions and closures. Monday morning, Lewis and Clark Public Health Officer Drenda Niemann ordered the closure of most food, drink and fitness establishments throughout the county from Tuesday morning, March 16 at 6.a.m. until 8 a.m. March 23. The order, approved by the City-County Board of Health closed bars, casinos and gyms, and...
With so much panic buying of toilet paper, there have been reports elsewhere that people have turned to “flushable” wipes, paper towels or other products as a replacement, after finding themselves short thanks to other people’s hoarding tendencies. If you happen to find yourself in that group, remember its a bad idea to flush those items, since it’ll lead to a plumbing bill. Here in Lincoln, the design of the Lincoln sewer should prevent damage to the overall system, but not to individual lines and septic tanks. “It’s g...
School grapples with two week closure The Lincoln School board held an emergency meeting Sunday evening, March 15 to develop a response plan after Gov. Steve Bullock announced a statewide, two-week shutdown of all K-12 schools related to coronavirus. The board focused on the immediate need to prepare for distance learning plans and to continue providing breakfasts and lunches to students in the school's free and reduced lunch program. Currently, the two weeks will not have to...
The Lincoln School Board held an emergency meeting Sunday night to develop a response plan to Gov. Steve Bullock's order to shut down all K-12 public schools in the state for two weeks, as part of an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. There are currently no reported cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln Schools or in Lincoln. There are currently six reported cases in the state, with two victims in Missoula County, one in Broadwater County, one in Gallatin County,...
This month, Lincoln became the first unincorporated community in the state to become an affiliate member of the Montana Department of Commerce Montana Main Street Program. Last December, Envision Lincoln and Erin Farris-Olsen, the Rural Development Director for the Heart of the Rockies Initiative, worked with the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce and Lewis and Clark County to apply for affiliate membership in the program as part of ongoing economic development efforts. Membership in Montana Main Street Program has been a...
The Dalton Mountain Road Bridge replacement project became a dominant topic of conversation at the March 6 Lincoln Government Day, Lewis and Clark County Public Works Director Eric Griffin fielding a variety of questions and comments following his regular update for the meeting. The chief concerns included the timeline of the project, which is now in the hands of the Montana Department of Transportation’s off-system bridge program and traffic and safety on Herrin Lakes R...
April 1 is Census Day in the United States, but self-response for the Census starts online tomorrow, March 12 and Lewis and Clark County Commissioner Andy Hunthausen again reminded people of the importance of filling out the census at the March 6 Lincoln Government Day Meeting. Hunthausen, a member of the Lewis and Clark County Complete Count committee, said households will be receiving an invitation to respond in the mail beginning March 12, with plans in place to reach...
An immature bald eagle hit by a truck along Highway 200 two weeks ago is expected to make a full recovery following surgery to repair a bone in her left wing. A truck driver stopped at the Lincoln Ranger District, Thursday Feb. 20 to report that he'd hit the eagle near Arrastra Creek, about 13 miles west of Lincoln. Pat Shanley the District wildlife biologist, and Beach Hastings, the District's minerals administrator, headed down the canyon and found the bird alive and "ready...
Five teams took part in a dodgeball tournament at the Lincoln school Saturday Feb. 22. The inaugural tournament raised funds for the school's new Business Professionals of America club, which will be competing in the BPA State Leadership Conference in Billings March 8-10. "The involvement from the teams and our community was really positive," said Laura Allen Bullis, the club advisor told the BVD Bullis said they had a few kinks to work out, since it was their first...
Despite a Valentine's Day loss to the St. Regis Tigers, Nathan Brown had a remarkable night. In addition to passing a 1600 'career points' milestone, he also scored 48 points during the game, setting a new Lincoln High School record for points scored in a single game and beating a record set by his father and coach Shane Brown. During the game Brown shot 67 percent from the floor, which included sinking 8 of 12 three pointers. See pages 6 and 7 for Connie McCafferty's recap...
A pair of incidents in the last month involving mountain lions in the Helmville area serves as a reminder that, while wolves and grizzlies may get the lion’s share of press, they’re not the only big carnivores around. The first call came Jan. 16, when personnel at Helmville School reported a dead deer hung up on a fence in the area. Lincoln-area Game Warden Ezra Schwalm found and removed the deer and followed lion tracks back to the road, where he lost them. He went to the school and asked them to give him a call back if the...
Jessie Royer claimed her fifth Race to the Sky win Monday night, crossing the finish line at Hi Country at 9:22, with 11 dogs. Royer left Lincoln Saturday afternoon, the last of the nine 300-mile teams to leave Hi Country, and was the first to reach Whitetail Ranch that afternoon, having passing all the teams that started ahead of her. Royer, who left Whitetail ranch for the last leg of the race at 3:19 p.m. Monday, set a determined pace and never gave up the lead. with...
Seasonal weight restrictions on several area streets went into effect earlier than normal this year due to the impact of ongoing freeze/thaw cycles. The restrictions, which began Feb. 10, last through March 31 and are meant to minimize the impact of heavy loads on paved roads that are susceptible to potholes. "We're trying to keep surface preservation through chip seal and controlling the weight of vehicles that use it," Lewis and Clark county road and bridge supervisor Kevin...
Lewis and Clark County continues to work with the Montana Department of Transportation on plans to replace Dalton Mountain Road Bridge under MDT's off-system bridge program. During the Feb.7 Lincoln Government Day meeting, Lewis and Clark County road and bridge supervisor Kevin Horne said there was a meeting last month that brought all the players involved in the project together to begin the design process. An onsite meeting followed about three weeks ago. "It's not going to...
A 2015 discovery about the ownership of the original Mike Horse Creek Road has added a new wrinkle to the ongoing restoration of the Upper Blackfoot Mining Complex. Steve Opp, the U.S. Forest Service coordinator for the UBMC cleanup project, attended the Jan. 21 meeting of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Community Council to begin a discussion with the community on the future of the road. Opp explained that until 2015, the Forest Service was certain the road was part of the...
The Lincoln Ranger District hosted an open house Thursday Jan. 30 to update interested residents on projects on the district, and to hear feedback on a proposed wildfire resilience project in the Hogum Creek area. Stonewall Vegetation Project Helena - Lewis and Clark Forest Supervisor Bill Avey signed the decision on the Stonewall Vegetation Project in 2016, with work set to begin in 2017. A lawsuit filed by the Alliance for Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council led...
