The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock today announced the establishment of the Coronavirus Relief Fund Task Force to provide guidance and advice on how to best use $1.25 billion appropriated to Montana through the Federal CARES Act to assist workers, businesses, and sectors of the economy impacted by COVID-19. "While we continue to prioritize the health and safety of Montanans, we know many residents are financially impacted by this crisis and need assistance now," Governor B...
I'd like to take a few moments and thank several people and organizations who helped make this Easter a special one for our kids in Lincoln. First, to Lincoln Fire and Rescue and the Power House for supplying candy, trinkets and eggs to fill egg packs that were distributed to more than 60 kids in the community this past Friday, and to Zach Muse and Rick & Patty Freeland for going into town and purchasing all those supplies. I'd like to thank Laura Butler and Linda Daugherty fo...
HELENA, MT – Local Government is at the front lines of the COVID-19 response, including our law enforcement, health departments, health officers, county-owned medical facilities, and through our work with local private providers and facilities. Montana's counties are working hard to ensure continuity of operations and service delivery during this nation-wide pandemic while keeping the public as safe as possible. County operations are being modified to comply with protective m...
Public health officials in Lewis and Clark County today issued an order requiring developed public and private campgrounds in the county to close to recreational use. The order listed two exceptions when campgrounds can stay open: · Private developed campgrounds that are used for residential or sheltering purposes; and · Non-developed campgrounds where proper social distancing practices are possible, including backcountry camping. The local order goes above and beyond the gove...
As the COVID-19 pandemic has worn on, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has done an about face and is now recommending face coverings and masks for not only medical personnel and patients, but for workers dealing with the public and even average Americans, particularly in hard hit areas. As coronavirus patients began to mount last month, demand for masks soon exceeded supply, and it fell to people with a knack for sewing to fill the void. In the Upper Blackfoot...
For background, we have received dozens of reach-outs from school leaders asking for our opinions or guidance on how the remainder of the school year will proceed in light of the COIVD-19 outbreak. If the Governor's "Stay At Home" and "School Closure" orders are not extended through the remainder of the school year, of course, local districts are welcome to proceed however they would like as Montana is a local control state. However, we cannot imagine a scenario where social...
Governor Steve Bullock today issued a Directive to provide emergency rental assistance to help families with limited financial resources make ends meet during the unprecedented economic situation caused by COVID-19. “COVID-19 is taking a significant economic toll on families, businesses and our entire state, and finding ways to mitigate those hardships is one of my top priorities,” Governor Steve Bullock said. “For families that can’t make their housing payment right now because they’ve lost income due to COVID-19, this Direc...
MONTANA – Governor Steve Bullock today released a report produced by state epidemiologists examining 377 cases of COVID-19 in Montana that helps the state understand who is impacted by the new virus, how it spreads, and patient outcomes. The report will help the state continue to make data driven decisions to aggressively respond to COVID-19 in Montana. "The report released today sheds light on how this virus is impacting Montanans and provides data we can use to examine what'...
If you are worried about how you are going to pay your home energy bill as a result of issues related to COVID-19, please contact Energy Share of Montana. Energy Share is a statewide nonprofit organization whose purpose is to help Montanans facing loss of heat or lights in their home, and who have no resources to pay the bill themselves. Energy Share is fuel blind so helps people no matter what their heat source is. If you or someone you know needs help: • Contact Rocky M...
April 8 Update.- As of April 15, we haven't heard of any additional updates. please let us know if anything has changed. Thankss always, if we missed anyone, have included inaccurate information or if there are updates we missed, please let us know by a calling 362-4131, emailing us at [email protected] or contacting us via Facebook messenger. Governor Steve Bullock issued a directive April 7 extending the stay-at-home directive and other directs related to COVID-19 until April...
Free online resources are amazing, but just the beginning. All those great websites can eat up your time and not actually take you anywhere if you are not careful - trust me, I know! So, don't get bogged down by the flood of downloadable PDFs and lesson plans available online. And all those "educational" games should be saved for those bad days that are bound to happen. Instead, find a couple of resources that work for your child and build from there. Prioritize your kid's greatest need and then their biggest interest or pass...
With residents across the state staying at home in response to Governor Bullock’s directive, libraries are offering programs to encourage kids, individuals and families to write letters to seniors. Lewis & Clark Library plans to launch a program to coordinate mail efforts to several assisted living facilities during the month of April. Bretagne Byrd, the librarian spearheading the program, organizes bookmobile visits to senior and assisted living facilities throughout Lewis and Clark County. With many facilities suspending n...
HELENA - The recreational opportunities available on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest are important resources for you and your loved ones to help maintain physical and mental health and wellness during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. As the Forest sees an increase in use from members of the public seeking fresh air and outdoor places it is important to remember to practice physical distancing in the outdoors as you would anywhere else during this...
With a history spanning more than 130 years, the Canyon Creek Store has survived depressions, recessions, epidemics, pandemics and sundry blizzards and nearby forest fires. The store, which is also reputed to be the longest-serving post office in Montana, checks a lot of boxes when it comes to being essential in a COVID-19 world, providing postal service, gasoline and groceries for residents of the rural area northwest of Helena and travelers from the Upper Blackfoot. This...
Local restaurants and Action Realty are teaming up to support groups in Lincoln throughout the month of April. Every Thursday, Action Realty is donating $1 for each meal order placed at Lincoln restaurants providing curbside or take-out service. This includes The Montanan Steakhouse, which is serving Thursdays-Sundays, and The Pit Stop and The Wheel Inn, which are serving starting at 11 a.m. seven days a week. Becky Garland said she thought up the idea while on a walk. “You know in these kinds of situations you always t...
A graph of COVID-19 cases over time in Lewis and Clark County shows a curve that's been "encouragingly flat," according to public health officials. Since the first local case of COVID-19 was confirmed March 31, the county has had a total of 16 cases, with two hospitalizations and no deaths. "While that's still 16 too many, we're heartened that our numbers have been relatively low," said Drenda Niemann, health officer with Lewis and Clark Public Health. "Our strategies seem to...
The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced expansion of the Montana Warmline service to help support Montanans during COVID-19. The Warmline was established in 2008 to provide telephone and online support services for people with mental illness. "(Mental Health America) has been monitoring the line for the last few years, and has seen more callers calling in with some not getting through to a responder, so we wanted to extend our hours before COVID-19...
It's been a year in the making, but this week, the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce launched its new website. The site, which can be found at www.lincolnmontana.com, comes just in time for the summer season, and boasts Lincoln attractions, member information and events, all with an updated feel and mobile compatibility. Through a matched grant from Southwest Montana, the Chamber hired Dennis Duenas of Unparalleled Advertising Group. The website committee and Duenas worked...
To the Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Crew, Thank you so much for taking time on Easter to be away from your family to do something sweet for the community. You didn’t get to see the people inside confused as to what was happening and then smiling from ear to ear when we figured it out. You guys are a blessing to Lincoln and we are thankful for you! T and Crew on behalf of the Lincoln Community...
I know I have been sending out thanks to individuals and organizations, etc. and I will continue to do so, but this week I want to send a big Hey Howdy Hey of thanks to all the folks out there who make up this wonderful little community called Lincoln, Montana. When I had first moved here in the early 90’s, one of the things I loved so much about the town was how welcoming the people were here. Not always would they ask, “what you were doing”, they would give you a sincere and...
Last Sunday the world celebrated Easter. The first Easter was the day in which the disciples and enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ discovered that the tomb in which Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus had laid the body of Jesus was empty. The disciples of Jesus were perplexed and sorrowful over the empty tomb. Even though Jesus had been telling them for months, and even years that He would be rejected, crucified (he often used the term "lifted up") and then rise from the dead...
