Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 994 - 1018 of 1529
The Montana Department of Transportation is hosting an open house next week to discuss a proposed project to reconstruct two sections of Whitetail Road (Secondary Highway 399) in Jefferson County. The open house is scheduled to take place Wednesday, June 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Jefferson High School Cafeteria located at 312 S. Main Street in Boulder. According to MDOT, the purpose of the project is to decrease the amount of maintenance required by Jefferson County and to bring the road to cur...
The Town of Whitehall is currently seeking a Ward 3 Council Member. Alderman Jason Good resigned from his position last week. This will be the third new council member appointed in 2019. Ward 3 member Montina Rawson and Ward 2 Member Barbara Gagnon both resigned earlier this year and were replaced by Roy McBride and Katy James. To be eligible for the opening, those interested must live in Ward 3. For questions about the Ward 3 boundaries and council duties please contact town hall in person at...
Whitehall resident Francis "Topper" Giono was honored last week for his longtime care and dedication as an Emergency Medical Services provider. The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) honored personnel from across the state during an awards ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda last Thursday. Giono received the Volunteer EMS Provider of the year award. This award honors a volunteer EMS provider who is exemplary in his/her quality of patient care and dedication to their community. Gi...
Whitehall High School senior Maggie Whitehurst can remember being a shy and silent girl who always sat in the back of her class during her freshmen year. Things sure have changed. Since Whitehurst began her high school career in the fall of 2015, she has gone on to participate in numerous activities, was the captain of the cheerleading team, had a leading role in numerous plays and on Sunday will graduate on the top of her class as Valedictorian. After previously attending schools in Southern...
The Whitehall Town Council welcomed two new members Monday night. Katy James was sworn in as the new council member for Ward 2. She replaces Barb Gagnon who resigned from her position. Roy McBride is the new council member in Ward 3. He will replace Montina Rawson who moved out of town limits. Their terms will expire at the end of 2019. The possibility of the Town of Whitehall joining the Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District was also discussed at the meeting. District Board Chair Sue...
The Montana Department of Transportation is resuming work on MT-55 near Whitehall. Crews will be at work installing shoulder and centerline rumble strips the week of May 20 that are part of a continuation of improvements on MT-55. Rumble strip installation is part of MDT's Vision Zero initiative to reach zero fatalities and zero serious injuries on Montana's highways. Last summer MT-55 saw new alignment, roadway widening, and an updated bridge at Pipestone Creek. "Rumble strips are an extremely...
There is a new grades 6-12 principal in Whitehall. The Whitehall School Board of Trustees voted May 8 to hire Melissa Robbins who is currently serving as a counselor for the district. She will take over for Hannah Nieskens who has been hired as the new Whitehall Superintendent. A total of 12 applicants applied for the principal position and three interviewed with a committee consisting of administration, teachers, and board members. Current Superintendent John Sullivan said Robbins will do a tremendous job for the school. The board also voted t...
In late April, community leaders, business owners, and local residents came together to discuss the impacts of a possible closure at the Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine. Tom Harrington of the Jefferson Local Development Corporation and MSU Extension Office said he wanted to host a community meeting to take a look at the closure aspects from a community perspective. Barrick officials announced earlier this year a final mill run at the mine will take place in late May. Jefferson County Commissioner...
A gun show is returning to Whitehall for the first time since 2017. The Whitehall Gun Show is scheduled to take place Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 15 at the Community Center located at 11. N Division. The bi-annual shows sponsored by the Whitehall VFW and American Legion Post, and the Weapons Collectors Society of Montana were cancelled in 2018. Tom Harrington said this was due to insurance related issues. Veteran Bill Carhuff said they would not be sponsoring the September event,...
HELENA - On the final day of the 66th Montana Legislature, lawmakers completed their only state constitutionally mandated task by passing the bill that sets the budget for state agencies. House Bill 2, which spends about $10 billion of state and federal money over the next two years, passed its final vote in House of Representatives 73-25. The bill had moved through the session relatively quickly, passing the House 54-45 for the first time in late March and then passing the Senate 28-21 in...
Whitehall area residents have long been known for their giving natures and helping out those in need. The community will once again come together this Saturday with the Jason Edsall Benefit scheduled at the Community Center. The event has been organized to raise money for Edsall who is currently receiving treatment for bile duct cancer and is unable to work. Edsall is employed by Cliff's Automotive and is married with three younger daughters. The April 27 benefit is scheduled to start at 3 p.m....
Earlier this month, Whitehall resident Francine Giono traveled to Washington D.C. to take part in the 2019 EMS on the Hill Day. Giono was one of three Montana members of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians who traveled to the April 10 event in the Nation's Capital. According to the NAEMT, the purpose of EMS On The Hill Day is to educate all members of Congress and their staff on the emergent, urgent and preventive patient care EMS provides to all in need every day. Giono...
On a cold, January afternoon last year, Wendy Gerky got a call that someone could see water rising in her downtown Havre quilt shop. She thought it was joke. By the time Gerky got to her store, Bearly Square Quilting, the water was knee deep. "Imagine it," she said. "It's like a swimming pool." The flooding came from a fire suppression pipe that ran underneath the building. After the break was found, the city had to shut off water to the block until it could be repaired. The quilt shop had to...
Barrick Gold officials are anticipating a reduction in force at the Golden Sunlight Mine on September 30. At a Community Transition Advisory Committee meeting last week, Mine General Manager Dan Banghart said an email was sent to employees April 10 informing them of the anticipated September 30 RIF. Banghart reported the end of life for the underground would be in late April April and they are anticipating shutting down operations in the mill in the latter half of May. Barrick Gold announced at...
The Whitehall School Board of Trustees did not have to look far to select a new Superintendent. The board voted 6-0 last week in favor of hiring current high school principal Hannah Nieskens. Trustee Jeff Briggs abstained from the vote. She will take over for John Sullivan whose resignation will go into effect this summer. Nieskens has served as principal of the high school since the 2015-16 school year and has been named Montana High School Principal of the Year and was one of three finalists...
Get your sponsorship today for Whitehall’s biggest party and fundraiser - the 15th Annual Black Tie and Blue Jeans - coming up Saturday, May 4th at 5:30pm at the Community Center. This event is brought to you by the Jefferson Valley Community Foundation and the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce Back by popular demand, “A Race to the Finish” theme with prizes for best derby attire. Not only is there great food, live and silent auctions, and bucket raffles, but also a Calcutta with a chance to win up to $1000. This fundraiser supports a multi...
HELENA -- The Montana House of Representatives voted 61-37 Saturday to pass a controversial bill to extend Medicaid expansion. The expanded program has enrolled nearly 96,000 Montanans to receive subsidized health insurance. The federal-state partnership was first passed into law in 2015 and includes a 90 percent funding match from the federal government through the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, is carrying House Bill 658. It includes new requirements for some recipients...
Barrick Gold officials announced last week a final mill run to process gold ore at the Golden Sunlight Mine in Whitehall is currently scheduled for May. According to a release from the company, the mine has been approaching the end of its operational life in recent years, with the mine's remaining gold reserves nearly depleted. Following a detailed review of the Golden Sunlight operation, new underground development has ceased, and mining is limited to existing areas only. Underground and...
The projected completion date for Whitehall Transportation's Dick Gustin Memorial Bus Barn is set for late May or early June. According to WPT Director Paula Hippert ,the project incurred a small setback due to the winter weather. She said Jay Fortune Construction is back at it and things are progressing nicely. A ground-breaking ceremony took place Monday, December 10 for the facility located at 1173 HWY 55 in Whitehall. The 3,200 square foot facility will feature a four-bay bus barn that will...
During her monthly report at Monday's Whitehall Town Council meeting, Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh reminded residents that sandbags are available at the Recreation Complex. Hensleigh said with the all the snow Whitehall has had she thinks it is important for everyone to be aware and plan ahead because she is sure there is going to be some flooding. Hensleigh also addressed the postponement of the monthly meeting originally scheduled for March 11. She said by law they have to post the meeting...
A prolific alien organism is closing in on Montana's ecosystem and could have dire consequences for food production, outdoor recreation and the economy if it crosses the state's borders. Aquatic invasive species have widely infected the Midwest and are continuing to spread. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and state lawmakers are racing to protect the state from all invasive species, but aquatic species like quagga and zebra mussels in particular. Proposals include allowing counties to...
The Montana House Appropriations Committee opened public testimony last week on House Bill 2, the bill that sets the budget for state agencies. Some of the most controversial changes come from the subcommittee that deals with the budget for the Department of Public Health and Human Services, which has proposed cutting more than 100 full-time equivalent positions from the agency. Director of DPHHS Sheila Hogan said the cuts will especially hurt rural areas where it's difficult to find qualified...
Shucking expectations of continued above average temperatures and below normal snowfall, February delivered abundant snowfall and December-like temperatures to the Treasure State. Snowfall for the month was above normal to record setting across the state, and snowpack totals for March 1 have improved in all river basins, according to snow survey data collected by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) The current Jefferson River Basin snow water equivalent is 115 percent of...
There was good news last week for the Whitehall School Districts. At a school board meeting March 6, Debbie Ouellette with Newland and Company presented her audit findings for the district. Superintendent John Sullivan said they received the highest rating a district can obtain, and they have a really good net position and rating. The trustees also approved the re-hire of K-5 Principal Kurtis Koenig, 6-12 Principal Hannah Nieskens and the resignation of Sullivan. According to Sullivan, the board has advertised the Superintendent position...
Large amounts of snow last week and temperatures well below zero Monday and Tuesday have been quite the nuisance for residents in the Whitehall area. The winter weather has created problems for the Whitehall Schools who decided to use several delayed starts to the school day. Whitehall Superintendent John Sullivan said the past few days have been a challenge but starting school at 10 a.m. allows students to get to the schools safely and for them to stay open. Sullivan added the late start also...
