The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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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...
March 14, 2020 – NorthWestern Energy activated a company-wide plan to address the implications of the COVID 19 outbreak while providing reliable energy service for our customers in Nebraska, South Dakota and Montana. Our business continuity and pandemic plans are designed to protect people and ensure energy operations and infrastructure are supported properly. “NorthWestern Energy is prepared and we will continue to provide you with reliable, safe energy service as we all work together through this,” said NorthWestern Energ...
HELENA, Montana (March 26, 2020) - The health and safety of visitors, as well as Forest Service employees and volunteers, is paramount during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are working to meet the guidelines for cleaning and to promote social distance per CDC guidelines and Governor Bullock's recent Executive Orders to help reduce the spread of the virus. To support these efforts, effective immediately, all Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest campgrounds, day use sites and...
Lewis and Clark County Commission Susan Good Geise joined the Montana 2020 Senate race as a Libertarian candidate on March 18. When Libertarian candidate Eric Fulton withdrew his candidacy on the last day to file, the Montana Libertarian Party had one week to find a replacement. At a special meeting on March 17, the Libertarian party nominated Geise to step in as the party's replacement candidate. "This was absolutely not on my radar, but I have given my life to public...
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...
HELENA, Mont. (March 26, 2020) - Personal firewood cutting will be free to the general public from April 1 through June 1, 2020, on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. No permit will be required during this time. Woodcutters can take up to 12 cords of firewood for personal use. A cord is the amount of tightly piled wood in a stack four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long. Personal use firewood cutting allows you to remove downed timber or to cut standing...
Montanans are lucky to have so many opportunities to get outdoors and recreate, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. And while Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks encourages recreation outside, we also encourage careful planning and prudence. The safety of the public and FWP staff is of utmost concern. As a reminder, social distancing guidelines should be followed at all FWP sites. Keep your distance from fellow recreators. If a parking lot at a fishing access site or state par...
Spring has brought a wide variety of migrating water fowl to the Lincoln area.Trumpeter swans and a bevy of tundras swans have been spotted amid the myriad ducks at the Orvis pond along Stemple Pass Road, and several hundred snow geese spent a couple days in the same area, browsing in the pastures on either side of the road....
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...
Over the past 10 days, we have fielded many phone calls in our office regarding the Lincoln Solid Waste transfer site. Solid waste is an essential service and as such, the Lincoln transfer site will remain open at this time during our normal days and hours; Saturday through Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services have not been suspended but some operational changes may occur. One such change is that the attendant will ask you to see your permit but will not ask you to sign the ticket at this time. To prevent the spread of germs, we...
Governor Steve Bullock today announced emergency rules March 17 to make unemployment benefits accessible to workers laid off due to COVID-19 and waive the typical one week waiting period before receiving benefits. “The rules we’ve implemented today will ensure that workers impacted by COVID-19, whether it’s because they’ve been laid off, are quarantined, or need to take care of a family member, can do so without worrying about how they will make ends meet during these difficult times,” Governor Bullock said. “We will continue...
Governor Steve Bullock today issued a directive to extend closures of public schools and dine-in food service and alcoholic beverage businesses through April 10 and mandate social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Montana. "Montanans have an obligation to slow the spread of this virus. Our fellow Montanans can all continue to set a good example for each other in adhering to social distancing directives – and know that it will save lives," Governor B...
SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 21 – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to all Montana small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA disaster assistance is now available in all counties within the state of Montana and the neighboring counties below. Neighboring Idaho counties: Bonner, Boundary, Clark, C...
The Montana History Foundation has awarded the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society a grant of $10,000 in support of the Matt King House Project. Carissa Beckwith, Grants Manager for the MHF, notified the UBVHS of the grant -- the maximum yearly amount awarded to any one project by the MHF -- in a March 18 e-mail. "I was sick with a head cold and didn't see the email until two days after it was sent," said acting UBVHS President Erin Dey. "I was so happy and excited and...
With the closure of local food and business establishment,s as well as the school, community members and families may be finding it difficult to make ends meet. To top it off, with limited supplies in town and our elderly population at risk, it may be difficult for people in the community to get what they need right now. To help, a few community members have gotten together to organize an effort to help those in the community who may be in need now. Beginning this week, to fil...
With the recent closure of schools in the state of Montana, and Lincoln teachers conducting classes remotely, many parents may find themselves taking on a more active teaching role at home. Tiana Valler has been homeschooling her children for the last sixteen years and has some advice for those who may need it now. Among her biggest words of advice to parents is to relax and breathe, and she wants to assure parents they aren’t going to ruin their child’s education in the next two months. “This is something short-term to he...
My original column didn’t seem fitting for a time like now. Fortunately, other thoughts came to my mind instead that felt better suited for now. Yesterday, even though I woke up to snow, the sun was rising and the skies were clearing. For me, it was very symbolic. Like many around the world, this past week took me by surprise. Events were canceled, establishments closed, social gatherings of almost every kind being discouraged. But the second day of spring began to give me h...
Dear Readers: This past week I attended the funeral of my best friend's brother who died suddenly of a massive heart attack. He was only 49. You don't realize how many lives one life touches until you attend a funeral. The exchange of love and support between friends and family, the stories that begin with "Remember when . . .?", the laughter that softens the tears. Does the dearly departed know how much he meant to other people? I sure hope so. Heart disease is the number one...
Lewis and Clark County 911 Center received fifteen calls for service during the week of March 15 through March 21, 2020. Deputies performed one traffic stop in the Lincoln area. One call for service generated a case report last week: a male was taken into protective custody and transported to St. Peter’s ER for a mental health evaluation Sunday, March 15 in the 300 block of Main Street. The male returned home the same night. Other calls for service in the Lincoln area last w...
The Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce is working hard to support our local businesses during this time. We have an ongoing social media campaign to help share information out to the community about businesses, and we're working to share additional resources and tools with our members. This includes information about new loans from the Small Business Association and toolkits to support business owners. The Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce urges residents to buy local,...
Sending out a big Hey Howdy Hey of thanks to the fine folks who run the Lincoln branch of the Lewis and Clark Library. Recently retired Sherri Wood had been there for over 30 years and did an amazing job. The new branch manager Kate Radford has been there for seven months now, and branch assistant Eleanor Pierce has been there for 20 years. Substitute Sally Bogaert is retiring after six years. They all do a wonderful job at trying to bring the community together. With Lincoln...
The COVID-19 virus isn’t stopping education in Lincoln! While checking in with Superintendent Jennifer Packer on Monday, she relayed that Lincoln’s school students are engaging in remote education. She noted that those students who hadn’t had access to the internet are being connected through the Lincoln Telephone Company, free of charge. My next visit was with Aaron Daniel, Manager of the Lincoln Telephone Company. He confirms that the schools have provided him with a list of students not currently connected, and if those...
Charlotte Lorraine Ceartin passed away in the early morning, March 10, 2020 at St. Peters Hospital, after a brief illness. Charlotte was born in Helena on April 30, 1931, she was the daughter of Leonard and Arzeline "Toots" Bailey. Charlotte was raised in East Helena, along with brother Bob and sister Mary Ellen (Babe). Charlotte attended East Helena public schools and graduated from Helena High School. Charlotte married Charles in 1950 and had two children, Carolyn Murgel...
The Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance performs well above the national average when giving life-saving CPR. This year alone, the LVA team has made two CPR saves, meaning patients made it to the hospital with a pulse. Over the past five years, they've had at least nine saves. The national average cardiac arrest survival rate, also called the Utstein rate, is just 33 percent. LVA President Aaron Birkholz said that he expects the survival rate for patients treated by the Lincoln...
