News

Going to the polls for the November election

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Stillwater County voters will head to the polls in person this November for the General election.

Gianforte makes Trump Train stop during Columbus meet-and-greet

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This “Trump Train” is on display along I-90 just outside of Columbus as an entry of the Montana Federation of Republican Women contest (MTFRW).

U.S. Congressman and Montana Gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte stopped for a quick selfie on his way to a meet-and-greet in Columbus last Wednesday, Aug. 19.

It is a bale sculpture contest open to any Republican organization with the following rules:

-The sculpture must be on private property and visible by a major road with daily traffic. -Creations must use at least 70 percent

GROWING UP MONTANA

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Columbus buddies Reece Hogstad, Corbin Smith, Ricky Preece, Hanes Chandler, Trey Stampfel, Matt Ivankovich, Hunter Sheils and Rob Ivankovich hit the wild road recently for a 32.8-mile trip from Cook City to East Rosebud.

The planned 5-night trip was condensed into four nights, thanks to mosquitoes. The boys stayed in touch with parents through a Garmin GPS and IN Reach that had SOS capability.

Ivankovich’s father, Kirk, told the News the crew refers to itself as “The Boys” and said the trip was filled with Cutthroats, Brook trout, and Lake trout, and a lifetime memories.

County to pay $30,000 for storage of public records

The Stillwater County commissioners handled the following business at the Tuesday agenda meeting:

MONEY MATTERS

The county has approved $30,000 for public records storage at the Museum of the Beartooths.

Permanent records that the county is required to keep must be moved from the Meadowlark Assisted Living facility where they have been stored up until the building was sold.

The amount covers storage, moving costs and costs incurred from providing public access to the records.

Teachers respond to education during coronavirus pandemic

In an early August school board meeting, Superintendent Jeff Bermes opened what would become an extremely heated discussion with a public apology.

The apology came after Bermes said in previous meetings that teachers could resign if they don’t feel comfortable in the classroom this fall.

Bermes then briefly listed options for teachers including telework and adjusted leave policies.

Columbus high school science teacher and teacher’s union representative Robin Hehn said the comment came from a place of frustration, “a breaking point” for the superintendent.

Columbus “rocks” special needs services during pandemic

When coronavirus forced schools to close last spring, Columbus School District “rocked it” when it came to supporting special needs kids.

The sentiment came from Columbus Special Needs Director Stacy Stimpson, who has around 25 special needs kids including two high-needs students.

When the doors closed in March, Stimpson’s first challenge was to make sure that all her students had the support they needed as determined by their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Jail Roster

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As of Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, the following people were incarcerated at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility (YCDF) on Stillwater County criminal charges at a rate of $100 per day or at another jail:

•NAME: Grant Russell, 23

INCARC. DATE: Oct. 1, 2019

CHARGE(S): Conspiracy, theft by common scheme

BAIL: $50,000

 

•NAME: Dalton Hilliard, 23

INCARC. DATE: Oct. 1, 2019

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 208 calls for service during the seven days listed below. The following is a representation of some of those calls:​

MONDAY - AUGUST 17

HRDC offering Covid-19 scholarship opportunity for families with specialized in-home needs

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 HRDC 7 announces immediate availability of COVID-19 Special Circumstance Scholarships.

These grants are open to families in the 14 county service area, including Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Fallon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Powder River, Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, Wheatland, and Yellowstone counties.

The grants provide scholarships for families requiring in-home child care with unique or special circumstances that prevent their child(ren) from returning to school and/or child care.

Local Docs: Mask up!

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Masks have taken center stage as we enter the sixth month of COVID-19 in Montana.