The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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Governor Steve Bullock yesterday evening issued an executive order declaring a state of fire emergency due to extremely hazardous wildland fire conditions throughout Montana. "Local, state, and federal partners, and the brave men and women on the front lines are working together to take on this fire season and we are prepared to use every resource available to protect Montana lives and property," said Governor Bullock. "At the same time, I know that Montanans will continue to...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering online hunter and bowhunter education courses this year in response to social distancing requirements and restrictions on group gatherings related to Covid-19. To take the online hunter education course, students can register at https://www.hunter-ed.com/montana/. For bowhunter education, please go to https://www.bowhunter-ed.com/montana/. The online courses, which are developed and administered by the outdoor education company...
It's never too early to plan ahead for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Apprentice Hunter Program. FWP encourages early mail-in certification for eligible Apprentice Hunters in order to avoid crowds and frustration prior to season openers and the youth hunt. COVID-19 safety protocols are in place at FWP offices and lobby occupancy is very limited, therefore wait times outside may be long. The "Apprentice Hunter" law allows anyone 10 years of age or older to hunt two license...
Officials at the Montana Department of Justice announced today that Montanans, especially senior citizens, should be aware of a new tactic being used in the old lottery scam. The new twist works like this: A scammer calls you, claiming to be from the "Montana State Gaming Commission." The scammer says if you pay $600, you'll have a chance to win $1 million. "Legitimate lotteries never require people to send money to claim a prize or to have a chance at winning," Attorney...
Citizens Alliance Bank formally opened the expansion of their Lincoln branch with a visit from the Forstrom brothers and a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Aug. 27. Lincoln Branch Manager Shane Lindsay and Montana Market Manager Ryan Fritz snipped a red, white and blue ribbon while Citizens Alliance Bank president John Gill and Chairman Philip Forstrom, local staff members and board members looked on. "The Forstrom brothers really appreciate the support and investment in the community...
The Lincoln Rural Fire District board of trustees held their Aug. 27 meeting in their new digs at Station 4, which will be the site for their meetings going forward. "As you can see, this thing is really coming together," District Chairman Dick Birkholz said. "It's come a long way in a couple months. The meeting itself dealt primarily with the budget for Fiscal Year 2021 and a plan to pay down the mortgage on Station 4, which was acquired from Chris Waits in early 2019....
Heading east out of Lincoln, the speed limit on Highway 200 jumps up to 70 mph, with a passing zone that stretches from the Blackfoot Valley Bible Church to the Lincoln Ranger Station, but with increased traffic and more people discovering Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild, concerns about safety have grown amid recent accidents and near misses. The issue had been a concern for the BPSW board since the sculpture park's inception, and a recent analysis of visitation to...
MISSOULA – In 2019, nonresident travelers spent $3.77 billion throughout Montana, a 5.4 percent increase from the previous year. More than 12.6 million nonresidents visited in 2019. Research by the University of Montana's Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research reveals a different story in 2020. Nearly all of the second quarter was shut down to travelers this year due to the pandemic, creating a jolt to that yearly injection of money and visitors into Montana's e...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering online hunter and bowhunter education courses this year in response to social distancing requirements and restrictions on group gatherings related to Covid-19. To take the online hunter education course, students can register at https://www.hunter-ed.com/montana/. For bowhunter education, please go to https://www.bowhunter-ed.com/montana/. The online courses, which are developed and administered by the outdoor education company...
With less housing on the market, finding local and affordable housing can pose difficulties throughout Lewis and Clark County, and finding affordable housing brings added difficulties in Lincoln. Lewis and Clark County partnered with Helena last year to fund a new Housing Navigator position to help support county residents in finding long-term housing. Chandler Rowling, who started in the position in January, said the Housing Navigation program supports workforce housing. She...
As both a long-time Montana educator and as a current Legislator, I have been aware that many rural Montana families are unable to access early childhood educational opportunities within their communities. A U.S. Department of Education grant will provide families in Montana and four other western states the opportunity to access an early childhood option at home through the Waterford UPSTART program. The Waterford UPSTART program, which was created by the Utah State...
Following a pair of meetings over the last month, the Envision Lincoln core team agreed to apply for a Montana Main Street grant to help hire a professional to develop a master plan for the community. The need for a master plan has become apparent since Envision Lincoln hosted an open house in February to discuss the in-town trails plan and to kick off the discussion of downtown revitalization. The core team first discussed the issue of master planning during a July 30 Zoom...
Several wildfires are active in Montana, and this can affect land access for hunters in some areas. Wildfire activity can change rapidly, and some fires may limit public access to roads and areas of public land. Wildfires can also cause closures on block management areas during hunting season. Hunters should check for closures due to wildfires before traveling. Recreationists can view an interactive map of active wildfires in Montana by visiting https://inciweb.nwcg.gov./ If...
Like much of Montana, the real estate market in Lincoln has been busy this summer. In other parts of the state, increased realty sales have been linked to out-of-town purchasers buying houses sight-unseen, and looking for places to get away from COVID. In Lincoln, local real estate agent Becky Garland thinks there are additional causes. "I think, just according to my business and my opinion, we're beginning to now see it increasing because of COVID," said Garland. However, she...
The Fields Gulch Fire six miles south of Lincoln went into "patrol status" at the end of last week, with firefighters from the Lincoln Ranger District Initial Attack crew mopping up hotspots and cold-trailing fireline over the weekend. Lincoln Ranger District Fire Management Officer said the fire's containment was rated at about 80 percent Monday. "The weekend was real calm, no change with the fire," he said, adding that firefighters are being especially watchful as they walk...
The Montana State Library is working to make hotspots, which will provide internet access and unlimited data, available to communities across the state through public libraries. Hotspots are small digital devices that allow users to connect cell phones, tablets and computers to wifi. The hotspots provided by MSL connect through cell towers using either Verizon or T-Mobile service, meaning the hotspot must be able to connect to a cell tower to provide internet access. The need...
The Upper Blackfoot Mining Complex re-opened to the public this week as the last of the major restoration and reconstruction of the headwaters of the Blackfoot River drew to a close at the end of July. While the main roads in the area are open to the public, Dave Bowers, UBMC project manager with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and Steve Opp, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Minerals and Geology Program Manager, hope people respect the effort that has...
A small fire that sprang to life in Fields Gulch on Aug. 6 marked the start of the fire season in the Lincoln area, following several days of warm, dry weather. The lookout on Stonewall Mountain first identified the fire in a remote area of Fields Gulch six miles south of Lincoln, prompting a response the following day that included two helicopters and three engines from the Lincoln Ranger District. Lincoln Fire Rescue also responded to the initial attack. A thunderstorm...
The Montana Department of Transportation would like to announce and invite the public to comment on a proposal to improve about 10.5 miles of Highway 200, northeast of Lincoln The project begins at the Rogers Pass Continental Divide sign, at reference post 89.9 and extends north for 10.5 miles ending near the intersection between Highway 200 and Route 434 at reference post 100.3. Proposed work includes crack sealing and finishing with a seal and cover (chip seal). The purpose of the project is to preserve the life of the...
The historic Lincoln Community Hall normally plays host to several events throughout the year, but this year COVID-19 has changed that. Large community events generate important rental income for the Community Hall, and like other local businesses, it has felt some of the financial impact since the virus began. A local group of quilters meet there each Thursday, to not only work on their own projects, but to work on a community quilt that's normally raffled off at the annual...
Phase 2 of the Reopening of the Big Sky Plan launched on June 1, and Governor Bullock's directive regarding face coverings in indoor public spaces and some outdoor events went into effect July 15. Under Montana Code Annotated 50-2-124, county health departments have responsibility for enforcing these directives as well as the ability to issue their own orders and guidance to support public health. Over the course of the last two months, county health departments have created w...
The Upper Blackfoot Valley Community Council discussed a wide number topics at their July 21 meeting, including updates the Mike Horse road and restoration project to an Envision Lincoln grant award to COVID-19. Mike Horse Information provided to the UBVCC indicated construction work at the UBMC is nearing completion, and work on Mike Horse Road is finished, with a “heavily armored” ford in place across the Blackfoot River. According to the update read by UBVCC Chairman Zach Muse, the road “is still in place and trave...
Investigators and deputies from the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office Investigated a death at a residence in the Sleep Hollow Trailer Park July 17 that was initially believed to be have been suspicious. A woman dropping off a new washing machine for the home reportedly found Dorthy Gonzalez unresponsive after breaking into the home to check on her when she got no response at the door. Members of the Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance responded and found that Gonzalez was...
HELENA - Gov. Steve Bullock today said he's requiring mask wearing for many Montanans to slow the spread of the coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases continues to surge and the state grapples with a new problem of limited testing capacity. Bullock acknowledged at a Wednesday press conference that efforts to convince Montanans to voluntarily wear cloth masks in indoor spaces - which health officials say reduces the chance of viral transmission from the wearer to others...
The drive-through testing event at Parker Medical Center Wednesday July 15 became the last of PureView Health Center's planned mass testing events for asymptomatic individuals, after one of the labs used to process results stopped taking tests from Montana. Jill Marie Steeley, the CEO of PureView, said the Lincoln event proved to be a slow one, and only drew 100 people who stopped to get tested. The second testing event planned for Lincoln Aug. 12, as well as the Aug. 5 testin...
