Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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Event organizers absolutely hate to use this phrase: “Due to lack of interest…” Unfortunately, it’s one we may start hearing more often in Whitehall. Our community is fortunate to have organizations, businesses, committees, and volunteers willing to put in the work to bring concerts, fundraisers, classes, festivals, dinners, performances, and other special events to town. What people often don’t see are the weeks—or sometimes months—of work happening behind the scenes before an event ever takes place. Venues have to be secured. Entertainment ha...
Kathryn Garaas, the mother of Reign Tyler Blair, 5, has been sentenced for his murder. On August 12, 2026, Fifth Judicial District Court Judge Luke Berger sentenced Garaas to 50 years in the Montana state mental hospital, with the possibility of parole after 25 years, in the suffocation death of Reign on April 24, 2026. Garaas made an emotional apology to the court and Reign's family. Berger proceeded with the sentencing by stating: "This is the most serious case that there is. I think that you...
Whitehall non-profit Gold Junction Presents (GJP), which owns and operates Whitehall's historic Star Theatre, has been hard at work renovating the building's upstairs to serve as community spaces. Those who have been upstairs before will not recognize what it's become; those new to the upstairs - we hope you are surprised by its beauty! GJP currently has for rent a flexible-use office space, a temporary office space, conference room, great room, and a community room. If you are interested in...
The Madison County Fairgrounds in Twin Bridges will come alive August 6-9 with four days of livestock shows, family entertainment, live music, contests, and rodeo excitement, offering something for visitors of all ages. One of the weekend's biggest attractions is the NRA Rodeo, produced by Jacobs Livestock Rodeo, beginning at 7 PM Thursday and Friday. Both evenings will feature rookie saddle bronc and bareback riding, wild cow milking, and crowd-favorite rodeo action. Friday's performance will a...
Three years after taking over the Jefferson Inn, owners Greg and Veronica Cowdrey have quietly transformed the longtime Whitehall motel through extensive renovations, updated amenities and a renewed commitment to customer service - all while working to change outdated perceptions of the property. The couple said one of their biggest challenges has been convincing local residents and returning travelers that today's Jefferson Inn is far different from the motel many remember from years past....
So Many Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview is a fast-paced comedy that proves there are countless ways to make a terrible first impression-and every single one of them is absolutely hilarious. Whitehall Theatrics Jr. Division will present this laugh-out-loud 45-minute-long comedy on Friday, July 24th at 5 PM and Sunday, July 26th at 1 PM in the historic Star Theatre. Tickets are $5, and proceeds will help the troupe pay registration fees for the 2027 Montana Thespian Competition in...
Kathryn Garaas was charged with deliberate homicide in the death of Reign Tyler Blair, 5, on Wednesday, June 24th. Garaas pleaded guilty due to mental instability and will be sentenced at a later date after a pre-sentence investigation is completed....
Whitehall non-profit Gold Junction Presents is excited to continue the tradition of WEDNESDAYS ON THE GREEN that was started last year with the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce. However, instead of EVERY Wednesday, we will be holding SECOND WEDNESDAY ON THE GREEN (June 10, July 8, August 12, and September 9) from 5 PM to 8 PM. This monthly community gathering brings neighbors and friends together in the heart of Whitehall. Beginning June 10, the Main Street Green next to the historic Star Theatre w...
With the upcoming Jefferson County Sheriff election just a few months away, the current Jefferson County Sheriff - Tom Grimsrud - wants the county to know he’s not ready to put away his badge just yet. A peace officer in Jefferson County since 1999, Grimsrud was surprised in 2022 Sheriff Doolittle’s decision to retire and only decided to run due to the feeling he “wasn’t done yet” and felt he still had more to give. Now, two years later, Grimsrud admits to still feeling he has more to accomplish and see through. “When we initially ran for thi...
At the May 18 meeting of the Whitehall Town Council, held in the Whitehall Town Chambers, discussion during a public hearing on proposed water reinstallation fees drew the most extensive public comment, while later in the meeting, former Deputy Clerk Sarah Unruh publicly explained her reasons for resigning from town government. The public hearing centered on a proposed resolution establishing modern water reinstallation fees for suspended water service accounts. During public comment, Whitehall resident Chris Rosa said, “I want to begin by m...
The Whitehall Star Theatre, owned and operated by Whitehall non-profit Gold Junction Presents, has MANY exciting events coming Whitehall's way! GJP would love your business support for a few of our endeavors below! Contact Liz Pullman at goldjunctionpresents@gmail.com or 406-498-3807 for more information and to secure your sponsor spot! PRE-MOVIE ADS: Want to get in front of the masses each weekend, repeatedly? Our pre-movie ads run for 45 minutes before each movie; most people come to grab...
This story comes with a trigger warning as the death of a child due to suffocation is discussed. Five kisses. Five hugs. That's exactly how Tyler Blair said goodbye to his son, Reign, each day before work. "There was no getting away from that," Blair said with a faint smile. "During the day, I would video call him on my phone, show him when I was on a piece of equipment, and he would just love to see it. And he would be right there waiting for me when I got home." Friday, April 24, began no...
A remarkable collection decades in the making will be on display May 8-10 at the Montana Western Legacy Center, offering the public a rare glimpse into a lifetime shaped by music, passion, and personality. The Montana Western Legacy Center, in partnership with Grit and Grace Collective, will host a special showcase of Bob "Ace" Kovacich's private collection from May 8 through May 10, with an invitation-only preview on May 7. This is your chance to own a piece of music history! The exhibit will...
The WHS Class of 2026 graduates this month, May 24 at 2 PM! BUSINESSES: The Whitehall Ledger will be putting together its keepsake Graduation Section. Is your business interested in running an ad of congratulations for this section? Please let the Whitehall Ledger know soon! The deadline for inclusion is May 15, 2026; the graduation section will run in the May 20 edition of the Ledger as well as be handed out at graduation. Congrats ads in this section are priced as follows: • Business card: $60 • Rectangle: $110 • 1/4 page: $160 SENIO...
The Whitehall Star Theatre, owned and operated by Whitehall non-profit Gold Junction Presents, has MANY exciting events coming Whitehall’s way! GJP would love your business support for a few of our endeavors below! Contact Liz Pullman at goldjunctionpresents@gmail.com or 406-498-3807 for more information and to secure your sponsor spot! PRE-MOVIE ADS: Want to get in front of the masses each weekend, repeatedly? Our pre-movie ads run for 45 minutes before each movie; most people come to grab their favorite seats at least 30 minutes before the m...
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Jefferson Valley EMS, and Deputies from the Madison County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a medical emergency on Tatanka Trail, north of Whitehall, on the afternoon of Friday, April 24th, 2026. Upon arrival, medical aid was provided, but the incident resulted in the death of a 5-year-old male juvenile, Reign Tyler Blair. After an investigation, Whitehall resident Kathryn Garass was taken into custody for suspected homicide and transported to the...
Whitehall Mayor Linda Jung announced the results of the recent Town of Whitehall survey regarding the four-way stop on First Street and A Street at the April Whitehall Town Council meeting on Monday, April 20. A total of 157 surveys were returned, asking whether the Town should keep the four-way stop as is or remove the stop signs on First Street while retaining the stop signs on the cross-street, A Street. Three surveys stated they did not care either way, 19 replied that they wanted to keep the signs as they were, and 135 surveys voiced a...
Get ready! A phenomenal new greenhouse business, The Garden Doctor, in Pipestone, owned and operated by Mitch and Tammy Tamietti, with help from Dana Brunet, is set to open this week! All of your plant needs and desires can be met at The Garden Doctor at 47 Bluebird Lane (look for the signs! Officially opening May 1, the operation includes two retail greenhouses and an additional growing tunnel used for overflow and private cultivation. While the business itself reflects a shared passion for gardening and plant care, one of its most notable...
Whitehall Mayor Linda Jung announced the results of the recent Town of Whitehall survey regarding the four-way stop on First Street and A Street at the April Whitehall Town Council meeting on Monday, April 20. A total of 157 surveys were returned, which asked whether the Town should keep the four-way stop as it is or remove the stop signs on First Street while retaining the stop signs on the cross-street, A Street. Three surveys stated they did not care either way, 19 replied that they wanted to keep the signs as they were, and 135 surveys...
The Whitehall Ledger office will be closed on Friday, April 24th, in order for the Editor to attend the Montana Newspaper Association’s board meeting in Choteau. The UPS dropbox for packages is available between the Star and K-Bar. Apologies for any inconvenience....
Due to an issue at the printing press, the paper had to be cut down to 12 pages this week and have limited color. Things are very tight, pages have been rearranged, etc. Don’t worry- this is not a permanent thing!...
The Whitehall School Board convened for its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 7th, where end-of-the-year activities, test scores, summer maintenance projects, and upcoming budget shortfalls were discussed. Whitehall Elementary Principal Kurtis Koenig reported that the elementary had been selected as a “lighthouse” site for the Science of Reading, as the school drew attention from nationally recognized literacy expert Pati Montgomery. Montgomery plans to visit classrooms and collaborate with staff in the near future as part of her loo...
For the first time in recent memory, the Cardwell School has a contested trustee election, with current board member Justin Carey running against Asheli Racicot. Take a few moments to get acquainted with Carey (JC) and Racicot (AR), especially if you are eligible to vote for the Cardwell School Board Trustee seat. Please introduce yourself and state why you are interested in serving on the Cardwell School board: JC: I’m Justin Carey, and I’m a rancher from the Boulder Valley. I attended Cardwell K-8 and have served two terms on the board, whi...
At the April 9th meeting of the Community Transition Advisory Committee (CTAC), a range of community organizations and public entities covered topics including Whitehall Sustainability funding opportunities through Barrick’s Golden Sunlight Mine (GSM), community programming, and upcoming events. Jim Loomis of Barrick Golden Sunlight reported on recent operations, including over 1,200 days without lost-time incidents. Loomis also discussed the current projects presented to the CTAC board for the Whitehall Sustainability funds provided by GSM. I...
"What happens when a society forgets their humanity?" That poignant question was asked at the Whitehall Community Library's grand opening of the Anne Frank Exhibit by keynote speaker Rabbi Chaim Bruk of Bozeman. "People like saying the Nazis were monsters... this is the biggest mistake we made. They're not monsters...they're human beings that have been brainwashed to think that it's a good thing to do." The Anne Frank Exhibit is available at the library throughout April. The display also...
