News

STILLWATER STATS

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As of Wednesday, Oct. 14, Stillwater County has tallied 124 COVID-19 cases involving three deaths, 48 active cases and 73 cases recovered. Five residents were hospitalized out-ofcounty.

Using a population number of 9,698, Stillwater County’s positivity rate would be 1.3 percent.

PICKING UP SPEED

Clearly gaining speed during the past few weeks are the numbers of people now hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state.

19th annual Town Pump food bank fundraiser more important than ever

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With the ongoing ripple effects of COVID-19 causing a surge in the demand for food bank services, the Town Pump Charitable Foundation is matching $750,000 in contributions during its 19th annual fundraising campaign.

Project Hope in Columbus is one food bank that benefits from the annual drive and this year join a record-setting 93 food banks in the statewide “Be A Friend in Deed, Helping Those in Need” campaign this year, according to a news release from Town Pump.

Oct. 19-25 set for annual fall cleanup in Columbus

Mackenzie Disposal will be holding the annual Fall Clean-up the week of Oct. 19 through Oct. 25 in Columbus.

During that week, clean-out materials, yard and garden waste and branches will be collected.

Materials are to be placed in containers or bags, with a maximum of six bags per household. Branches should be cut to 4-foot lengths, with a maximum of five bundles. The collection for these materials will be during normal scheduled collection day during this week, starting at 7 a.m.

Law Enforcement Blotter

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The Columbus Police Department, Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and the state livestock inspector responded to 247 calls for service during the seven days listed below. The following is a representation of some of those calls:​

MONDAY – OCTOBER 5

•A 911 traffic hazard was reported at 11:35 a.m. involving a box of clothing in the middle of I-90 near Columbus. MHP was advised.

Stillwater Billings Clinic nets Sepsis Care Award

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Stillwater Billings Clinic has received recognition for improvements in sepsis care.

The award was presented by the Montana Performance Improvement Network (PIN) to recognize improvement efforts made by critical access hospitals (CAH) across the state.

“A full force, team work effort is a must to achieve this as it truly demonstrates how well our providers and nursing staff can identify and treat sepsis timely with precision,” Stillwater Billings Clinic Marketing Coordinator Beau Gurie said.

Words From Your Watershed

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Since 2011, the Stillwater Valley Watershed Council (SVWC) has offered landowners in the Stillwater Valley a unique opportunity to join neighbors, both public and private, in an on-going effort to control noxious weeds and protect the natural ecosystem along area river corridors.

This past summer, the SVWC expanded these efforts to include treating noxious weeds on adjacent federal Forest Service lands.

WHY

Stillwater Billings Clinic at capacity

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Recent surges of COVID-19 cases locally and across the state have Billings hospitals and the Stillwater Billings Clinic (SBC) in Columbus at capacity, with concerns about the rising trend of new cases

Hospitalizations across the state rose from 201 to 216 between Monday and Tuesday, with at least half of those being at one of the hospitals in Billings. Monday also brought a record high new case number of 504. Stillwater County alone added at least five cases as well.

Local healthcare providers are asking residents to do all they can to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Kruizin’ 4 Seniors named grant recipient

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This past May, the Absarokee Community Foundation (ACF) gave back to the Absarokee area in a big way. Thirteen local non-profit organizations submitted applications for projects highlighting their goal of helping to better the Absarokee community. The ACF board, which supports the community annually through this grant process, distributed $23,500 to these deserving organizations.

This week, grant recipient Kruizin’ 4 Seniors will be highlighted as a part of an ongoing series.

Drive-through flu shot dates set for fairgrounds

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Stillwater Billings Clinic will be offering drive-through flu shot clinics this year at the Little Metra in Columbus. Call ahead for pre-registration as space is limited. Insurance will be accepted, as will exact cash and checks. The cost is $40 for ages 0-65 and $75 for high dose flu vaccine for those individuals over age 65. Call 322-1000 to pre-register.

•Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

•Thursday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

•Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Census deadline extended to Oct. 31, at stake is an additional congressional seat

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The deadline for the 2020 census has been extended to Oct. 31, and a complete count could mean more policy power for Montana and millions of dollars in federal funds.

Door-to-door efforts to complete the census were suspended from March to May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lost time dramatically affected the number of people who could respond to the census, which prompted a deadline extension for delivery of the new state population counts needed for reapportioning congress and redistricting data.