The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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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...
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...
Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials are concerned about a sharp decrease in the number of calls to the child abuse and neglect hotline in the past several weeks related to the current COVID-19 emergency. DPHHS Director Sheila Hogan said from March 8-14, the week prior to the required closure of public schools, a total of 765 calls a week were being made to the hotline at 1-866-820-KIDS (5437). However, since March 15 the number of calls made to...
HELENA, Montana (April 7, 2020) - The majority of our roads on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest are in winter travel conditions and largely impassable. Because of this our Winter Travel Plan and snowmobile season is in effect until May 15. In general, roads are closed until this May 15 date after which many motorized routes open for the summer season. Visitors are reminded to know road conditions before you go and to Tread Lightly by staying on designated roads and trails. Learn more about traveling responsibly at...
Despite reports of vacation rental increases across Montana in response to COVID-19, hotels in the Lincoln and Ovando area haven’t seen that business. An article from the Montana Free Press on March 27 cited estimated increases in vacation rental revenue from 36 percent in Red Lodge to 107 percent in Livingston during the first half of March, with similar increases expected in Big Sky and Whitefish. With Montana’s first reported COVID-19 case reported March 13, and Gov. Steve Bullock’s directives that residents stay at home...
Parker Medical Clinic is still seeing patients and has adapted the clinic to ensure everyone's safety in light of COVID-19 concerns. "Our staff is there," said Jill-Marie Steeley, Executive Director of Pureview Health Center. "We've separated the clinic into two spaces so that we can keep patients and staff safe." The Clinic is screening all patients either by phone or at that front door. Patients with any symptoms in line with COVID-19 are taken into the building through a...
I hope this update finds you well. As I write on Sunday night the update I am providing will likely have changed by Wednesday when the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch is delivered to you, but in this rapidly changing environment it's important to know how this pandemic is affecting your public lands. Although the Lincoln Ranger District office is closed, we are still serving people and caring for the land. Our 14 full-time employees are mostly working from home speaking daily...
Governor Steve Bullock today extended through April 24 Directives he issued to protect Montanans from COVID-19 by slowing the spread of the virus in Montana. The Directives were set to expire on April 10. "We know that staying home will help to flatten the curve. For every person we take out of the chain of transmission of this virus, the more likely our health care facilities can handle the capacity to respond, and the more likely we can beat back this virus sooner rather...
There are no known cases of COVID - 19 in the Lincoln area yet, but as the number of cases increase throughout Montana, Lincoln's emergency medical services are changing how they respond to calls in preparation for the likelihood coronavirus will come to the Upper Blackfoot Valley. "A trauma call, anything, we have to treat them as if they have COVID-19," Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance President Aaron Birkholz said. With only about a half dozen EMTs available to respond to calls...
HELENA - Governor Steve Bullock today announced that in the coming days and weeks, he will extend federal food assistance to more than 100,000 Montanans, increase food supplies at emergency food pantries and food banks, and streamline nutrition assistance for new mothers and children. All of these changes are made available through flexibility and funding provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and will be implemented by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. “Montana f...
Helena -- The Lewis and Clark County Board of County Commissioners today voted unanimously to request the June 2, 2020 Primary Election be conducted by mail ballot in accordance with a directive issued by the Governor last week. Under normal circumstances, the June 2 Primary election would be a polling place election. In a polling place election, ballots are only mailed to voters who have signed up to receive absentee ballots; voters who haven't signed up for an absentee...
Today marks the eighth year of our ownership of the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch, and we're hoping it won't be our last. No, that's not an April Fool's joke. Right now, things are tight for everyone, and we're no different. We haven't taken the straightforward hit from the COVID-19 restrictions that some local businesses have, thanks to our core advertisers who have stuck with us through the last three weeks. We can't thank them enough. But we're looking down the barrel of a...
Governor Steve Bullock today announced a Directive that allows Montana hospitals and related facilities to receive financing to remain open and acquire the supplies needed to respond to COVID-19. “For weeks both urban and rural hospitals have served on the frontlines of this crisis and they need our support to continue protecting Montanans,” Governor Bullock said. “Today’s Directive offers resources to keep hospital doors open, purchase supplies, and will ensure health care workers provide lifesaving care across the state.” G...
Local law enforcement and public health officials have established a procedure for enforcing an order issued last week by the governor to help stop spread of COVID-19. The governor directed people to stay home through April 10, except to conduct essential activities like working in an essential businesses, grocery shopping, caring for family members, and recreating outdoors while keeping a 6-foot distance from others. The governor also ordered all “non-essential” businesses to close except for “minimum basic opera...
Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Sheila Hogan announced today an expansion of mental health services to help Montanans who may be experiencing a range of emotions including loneliness, sadness and fear as a result of the current COVID-19 situation. "We continue to monitor and make adjustments as necessary to meet the needs of Montanans during this challenging time," Hogan said. "While we are focused on limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our state, we mus...
The sign on the D&D Variety store says "I'll be closed till further notice," relaying a message that has become common in Lincoln due to the efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19. Montana Governor Steve Bullock's statewide stay-at-home order went into effect March 28, ordering residents and visitors to limit travel, ordering the closure of businesses not considered essential and mandating social distance measures. While the initial closure orders affecting bars and restaurant...
Two weeks ago, when school closures were announced with little warning, Lincoln Telephone stepped in to work with Lincoln Schools to get internet access to all students in the district. Lincoln Telephone manager Aaron Daniel said Governor Bullock encouraged telephone companies to work with their school districts to ensure students would have access to internet from their homes to continue their education during school closures. "We waived all costs, installs, and equipment...
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...
HELENA – Montana Attorney General Tim Fox issued a letter of advice in response to a request for guidance on how government entities should conduct open meetings during the COVID-19 state of emergency. "The COVID-19 pandemic and social-distancing measures taken to contain its spread have created unique challenges for public participation in their government," Fox said. "It is imperative that state and local agencies adapt to the new circumstances while upholding Montanans' c...
Governor Steve Bullock today directed that travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor’s prior travel advisory and last week’s Stay at Home Directive. “While we love our visitors, we would ask that you not come visit while Montanans are watching out for one another by staying at home,” said Governor Bullock. “This is important not only to protect our health care system, but also to protect against the spread of...
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...
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...
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...
