HAVRE – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Havre hunter check station has been open on weekends since the beginning of antelope general and pheasant (Oct. 11-12) through the last two weekends of general deer and elk opener and will continue through the end of general deer and elk rifle season on Nov. 30.

Overall this year, hunter numbers are slightly down from last year and the long-term average with 823 hunters passing through the station so far this year. Weather this year has been windy at times, but temperatures have been warmer and roads have been mostly dry and not a major obstacle to hunter participation or access. The warmer weather and wind may have had some impact on hunter success.

The 40 mule deer checked so far is 48% below the 2024 season at this point, and 71% below the long-term average. White-tailed deer checked (9) was well below both last year and the long-term average. Antlerless licenses for both deer species have been greatly reduced this year, contributing to the reduced harvest.

The number of antelope checked so far in 2025 (227) is 54% higher than last year and right at the long-term average. With antelope populations doing quite well in most districts, and correspondingly more tags available, this is the highest recorded number at this point since 2010.
Elk harvest has also been lower this year with 11 elk checked, which is down 27% from last year and 37% below the long-term average.

Contrary to the last few years, upland bird reports this year have generally been better on the western portion of Region 6 and less favorable on the eastern portion. 548 pheasants have been checked this year, which is down 9% from last year and 6% below the long-term average. 97 sharp-tailed grouse have been checked, which is down 4% from last year but is still 1% above the long-term average. It has been another good year for gray (Hungarian) partridge, with 67 partridge checked which is down 11% from last year, but is still 36% above the long-term average.

Although relatively few waterfowl typically pass through the check station, numbers were below normal, and all the 23 waterfowl checked were ducks.

Hunters must stop at all game check stations

Please remember that all hunters are required by law to stop as directed at all designated check stations on their way to and from hunting, even if they have no game to be checked. There is an option to have animals sampled for CWD if desired. Please follow all directions and signs from FWP staff as they work diligently to check game, answer questions, and get you on your way.
Biologists gather a lot of valuable information and biological data on game animals brought through check stations, and FWP wildlife staff appreciate all hunters’ cooperation in this effort. Note that the harvest data described above includes only animals that were brought through the Havre check station and is only a partial representation of the region-wide harvest.

Gas prices remain relatively stable as November kicks off. The national average for a gallon of regular went up nearly 5 cents since last week to $3.08. Refinery maintenance in California is part of the reason for the increase: when refineries pause production, gas prices in the area temporarily go up. Still, the national average is lower than it was this time last year, and gas prices should remain on a quiet path as we get closer to Thanksgiving.

Today’s National Average: $3.084

One Week Ago: $3.038

One Month Ago: $3.133

One Year Ago: $3.107

The average price in Montana is $3.01 per gallon. In Valley County, the average price stands at $3.00 per gallon.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased from 8.92 million b/d last week to 8.87 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 210.7 million barrels to 206 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.8 million barrels per day.

Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI fell 96 cents to settle at $59.60 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 5.2 million barrels from the previous week. At 421.2 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

tate Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.69), Hawaii ($4.47), Washington ($4.25), Nevada ($3.98), Oregon ($3.85), Alaska ($3.80), Arizona ($3.36), Idaho ($3.33), Illinois ($3.30), and Pennsylvania ($3.24).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($2.60), Tennessee ($2.61), Oklahoma ($2.62), Louisiana ($2.62), Texas ($2.64), Arkansas ($2.67), Alabama ($2.68), Missouri ($2.71), Kentucky ($2.72), and South Carolina ($2.75).

A 32 year old Glasgow man, Colton Barstad, has been sentenced in State District Court after reaching a plea agreement on 3 felony sexual abuse of children charges.

Court documents state that Barstad was originally charged with 5 counts of felony sexual abuse of children which occurred between October 22nd and October 30th of 2024.

On June 30th, Barstad agreed to a plea agreement which had him pleading guilty to 3 counts of sexual abuse of children with two counts being dismissed.

The charges are the result of information collected in October of 2024. Kltz and Mix-93 will not report the details as they involve digital media videos involving young children.

Barstad appeared in front of Judge Yvonne Laird on October 20th for sentencing in his case. Judge Laird noted in her judgement that Barstad's statements were free of apology and demonstrated no insight. The judge also wrote that Barstad's criminal acts were perpetrated against some of the most vulnerable members of society.

Judge Laird's sentence for Colton Barstad:

Count 1: Sexual Abuse of Children- The defendant is committed to the Montana State Prison for 10 years with 5 years suspended.

Count 2: Sexual Abuse of Children- The defendant is sentenced to the Montana State Prison for 10 years with all time suspended.

County 5: Sexual Abuse of Children- The defendant is sentenced tot he Montana State Prison for 10 years with no time suspended. He is credited for 51 jail days previously served.

All counts will run consecutive to one another meaning that Barstad has been sentenced to 15 years of prison time.

Barstad is also designated a Level 2 sex offender and shall register as required under Montana Law.

Colton Barstad is currently incarcerated in the Valley County Detention Center awaiting transfer to the Montana State Prison.

From Glasgow High School:

Glasgow High School extends its sincere appreciation to the Glasgow High School Educational Trust for the generous donation of 96 plastic chairs, 42 plastic tables, and 5 storage/transfer racks given in honor of Linda S. Allie.

These tables and chairs will be an invaluable resource for our school community. They will enhance large-group testing environments and be utilized during the Junior High and High School Academic Olympics hosted at GHS, benefiting students from surrounding schools as well. In addition, they will support regional college and career fairs, providing a welcoming and functional setup for all participants.

We are especially grateful that these chairs will improve the professional atmosphere at Glasgow’s graduation ceremonies for years to come. This gift will have a lasting impact on our students, staff, and community, and we are deeply thankful for this meaningful contribution honoring Linda S. Allie.

Following are the unofficial results of the 2025 Municipal elections:

Town of Fort Peck, Alderman 66% ballot return
Joseph J French 48
Glenn R Guenther 78
Kevin Vogel 65

City of Glasgow, Ward 2, Alderman/Alderwoman 47% ballot return
Randy Lasar 104
Darcia Schindler 120

City of Glasgow, Ward 3, Alderman/Alderwoman 45% ballot return
Kristie Brabeck 178
Danny Carr 107

Town of Opheim, Ward 2, Alderman/Alderwoman (2-year term, to fulfill) 75% ballot return
Anita Leinen 10
Les Redfield 8

The results of tonight’s election are unofficial until after the canvass.

Valley County will hold four municipal general elections:

City of Glasgow

City of Glasgow, Alderman, Ward 2

Randy Lasar

Darcia Schindler

City of Glasgow, Alderman, Ward 3

Kristie Brabeck

Danny Carr

Town of Fort Peck, Alderman (2 seats)

Glenn R Guenther

Joseph J French

Kevin Vogel

Town of Opheim, Alderman, Ward 2, 2-year term to fulfill

Les Redfield
Anita Leinen

All four elections are mail-ballot elections. Election Day is today. The election office will be open from 7 am to 8 pm. Ballots must be received in the election office by 8 pm tonight to be counted. Please remember that, in addition to signing the signature envelope, voters must enter the year of their birth in the space provided on the signature envelope prior to returning their ballot. Ballots returned without both the voter’s signature AND their year of birth on the signature envelope cannot be counted.

Montana SNAP users may see some financial aid for groceries on their electronic benefits cards this month — but “far less” than they might expect, advocates say, and probably not right away.

This week the Fort Peck Tribes declared an emergency over lack of funding for the SNAP program.

The latest announcement about the SNAP program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, came days after federal courts ordered the administration of President Donald Trump to use emergency funds to backfill the food aid program during the federal government shutdown.

In the Tuesday guidance, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials informed states that the maximum allocations for the households enrolled in the food assistance program would be cut in half for November. In a previous court declaration, a top USDA official said that the reduced percentage would use all of the $4.65 billion in contingency funds for the program.

According to additional guidance distributed by USDA, a household of two people in most states, including Montana, would be eligible for — at most — a reduced allocation of $273 for the month of November. A household of four people, for example, would be eligible for the upper limit of $497.

A spokesperson for the Montana Food Bank Network said Tuesday that many Montana SNAP recipients would probably receive significantly less than those amounts when benefits are eventually distributed, citing the reductions in assistance that come from having any form of income.

“The majority of Montanans do have income, so they’re not getting that maximum benefit amount,” said Kiera Condon, advocacy specialist with the food bank network.

Condon added that the situation was “very fluid” and that the organization did not have clarity on when emergency benefits would be distributed. Guidance from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services posted on the agency’s website Tuesday also did not specify when the benefits would become available.

“You can expect to see the funds on your EBT card in the coming weeks,” the state health department notice said, noting that the funds would be able to be used for routine food purchases as usual.

“Please note that the Public Assistance Helpline and [Office of Public Assistance] offices are currently unable to provide additional information beyond what is included in this notice,” the notice continued, pointing users to the official state health department website for future notices and updates.

A spokesperson for the department, Jon Ebelt, did not answer additional questions from Montana Free Press on Tuesday about a more exact timeline for benefits distribution.

The disruption of food benefits — typically scheduled to be loaded onto Montanans’ EBT cards during the first week of the month — has scrambled many families’ food budgets and put additional strain on community groups and food banks working to fill the gaps to prevent people from going hungry. The Montana Foodbank Network, which helps distribute food to more than 300 sites around Montana, previously described the disruption of SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 as forcing the state into “a statewide hunger crisis.”

Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, said in October that he would not use state funds to backfill the food program, directing responsibility to Congress and, specifically, minority-party Democrats in Washington, D.C., who are withholding support for a budget resolution in an attempt to negotiate funding for enhanced subsidies for people who purchase insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

The delay in food assistance has prompted some tribal nations in Montana to declare states of emergency and draw on tribal resources. In a statement dated Monday and posted to Facebook, newly elected Chairman Floyd Azure of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes said that the tribal government in northeast Montana was “actively developing a plan of action to address this issue until benefits are reinstated,” including “slaughtering buffalo, securing groceries” and allocated additional funds to enrolled tribal members who reside on the reservation and are signed up for SNAP benefits.

“We encourage everyone to come together as a community during these uncertain times and support one another,” Azure said, directing donations of nonperishable food items to go to established tribal services sites during business hours.

In a statement to Montana Public Radio following the federal court orders about using emergency funding for the program, Condon, with the Montana Food Bank Network, said even partial funding would be better than nothing.

“It’d be a little bit easier for us to try and fill that gap,” Condon said. “Then we’re not having to make up for a family’s entire grocery budget for the month.”

Sophie Albert, the executive director of the North Valley Food Bank in the northwest Montana town of Whitefish, said in a Tuesday phone interview that the instability of the federal SNAP program had already contributed to a surge of need at their food pantry facilities. In a typical week, she said, the food bank might serve 1,200 people. Last week, during the first days of lapsed benefits, foot traffic increased to about 1,500 people.

Even if financial food assistance arrives on Montanans’ EBT cards, Albert said, the reduced funds could create another benefits cliff for users just before Thanksgiving. She said her organization has been grateful to see increased donations until this point, but that she still anticipates “many hard weeks” to come.

On top of everything else, Albert said, Montanans will soon have to comply with new requirements for SNAP beneficiaries outlined in H.R. 1., also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by Congress earlier this year. She said she expects those heightened eligibility requirements to particularly impact older Montanans and seasonal workers in the months ahead.

“This is a marathon,” Albert said, speaking about the food bank’s need for ongoing donations. “Not a sprint.”

Fort Peck Alderman
171 ballots issued
100 ballots returned
58% ballots returned

Glasgow, Alderman, Ward 2 497 ballots issued
156 ballots returned
31% ballots returned

Glasgow, Alderman, Ward 3 637 ballots issued
218 ballots returned
34% ballots returned

Opheim, Alderman, Ward 2 24 ballots issued
16 ballots returned
67% ballots returned

Voters have from 8 am until 5 pm Monday, November 3, 2025, and from 7 am until 8 pm Tuesday, November 4, 2025, to return their ballots to the Election Office in the Valley County Courthouse. Postmarks are NOT accepted; ballots must be received by the Election Office by 8 pm on Tuesday, November 4. Also, voters need to remember to write their four-digit birth year on the signature envelope in the space provided above the signature. Ballots that don't include both the voter's signature and year of birth on the signature envelope can't be counted.

People across Big Sky County got up early on Saturday to get their Montana Millionaire tickets. Although not a record breaker like past years, all 620,000 were sold out in just over 6 hours.

For 2025, the Montana Lottery added 120,000 more tickets and a fifth million-dollar prize for Montana Millionaire.

This year also featured more instant-win prizes, and includes a “Quarter Million Monday” drawing for $250,000 on December 1.

In Glasgow, people were lined up nearly an hour before tickets went on sale at 5:30am.

Tickets cost $20 each, and they went on sale on Saturday, November 1 at 5:30 a.m.

The grand prize drawing will happen on December 26, 2025

Last year’s Montana Millionaire tickets — 500,000 in total — sold out in less than three hours.

The Glasgow City Council will meet Monday at 5pm in the Council Chambers of the Glasgow Civic Center.

Autumn Underwood was sentenced in State District Court in Glasgow on October 20th.

Underwood had been charged with Felony Theft in December of 2024 with allegations that Underwood had stolen $26,000 from Albertsons while an employee at the store between January 2021 and February 2024.

A jury trial was held in Glasgow August 27-29, 2025, and the jury found Underwood guilty on the offense of Felony Theft.

Judge Yvonne Laird sentenced Underwood to a 6-year deferred prison term. If Underwood were to pay full restitution in the amount of $26,000 and at least 2.5 years of her sentence has lapsed, she may petition the court for an early discharge of her sentence.

Judge Laird wrote in the sentencing document that the sentence is appropriate and that Underwood is 45 years old and it is her first felony, and apparently her first criminal conviction of any sort. Judge Laird also wrote that the sentence holds the defendant accountable for the serious offense she committed, when she misappropriated money from her employer.

Halloween Street Closure:

Aberdeen and Bonnie Streets will be closed once again for Halloween on October 31st starting at 5:30PM thru 8PM to allow for a safe evening of trick-or-treating. If you have any questions contact the Glasgow Police Department.

As Montana approaches the colder months and the start of another respiratory illness season, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) urges all Montanans to take preventative measures to defend against COVID-19, influenza (flu), pneumococcal pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

State health officials advise all Montanans to protect themselves and their families by prioritizing immunizations, practicing strong hygiene, staying home when sick, and seeking prompt testing and treatment.

Laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza have already been reported in Montana for the 2025-2026 respiratory illness season, which runs from October through May.

More than 15,600 people infected with influenza, including over 1,000 hospitalizations and 65 deaths, were reported to DPHHS during the 2024-2025 respiratory illness season.

Additionally, over 7,500 people infected with COVID-19 were reported in Montana, resulting in more than 600 hospitalizations and 51 deaths during this same period. This does not include data for individuals who did not receive testing by a provider or in a health care setting (e.g., individuals who tested positive using an at-home or over-the-counter COVID-19 or flu test kit).

The high number of respiratory illnesses highlights the importance of taking preventive measures to reduce the burden of illness in Montana.

DPHHS will maintain a Respiratory Virus Illness Dashboard to provide weekly data updates on the activity of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV across the state.

Vaccination is the most effective defense against the serious outcomes of respiratory diseases, including hospitalization or death from infections such as COVID-19, influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, and RSV. While anyone can suffer a severe outcome, those at highest risk include older adults, infants, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems or chronic conditions (such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease).

Fortunately, effective vaccines are widely available. Montanans should consult with a health care provider to determine their recommended vaccine options for the season. To find a vaccine nearby, contact your local health department, pharmacy, or other trusted health care provider.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines are recommended based on individual-based decision-making for those six months and older.

Influenza vaccines are recommended for everyone six months and older every season. Several influenza vaccines are approved for use. One dose provides protection for the entire season (October to May)

Pneumococcal vaccines help protect against a deadly form of bacterial pneumonia, which is the most serious form of pneumococcal disease.

Adults 50 years and older are eligible to receive RSV vaccines after discussion with their health care provider. Pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy entering the RSV season may receive the RSV vaccine, which will also protect their infant.

Infants under eight months old or who are between eight and 19 months with certain health conditions may receive an RSV antibody product.

Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses often share commonalities, including signs such as fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, and fatigue. If an individual is experiencing symptoms or has tested positive, they should stay home and limit contact with others while sick.

Individuals at risk of severe illness should seek health care right away for testing and evaluation. This is critical because prompt treatment options are available that can help reduce the length and severity of the illness.

It is generally safe to return to daily activities only after the individual has been fever-free for a full 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and has experienced an overall improvement in their symptoms.

Individuals may still be able to spread the virus that made them sick even if they are feeling better. Some people, such as those with immunocompromising conditions, may be able to spread the virus for an extended period of time. Montanans should take additional measures to prevent the spread of illness for five days after returning to normal daily activities, including:

Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissue or your inner elbow whenever you cough or sneeze.

Testing before you plan to be around others, especially those who are at risk of severe illness (e.g., pregnant women, older adults, infants, immunocompromised people). If you test positive, consider remaining home and away from others.

If you cannot remain home and away from others, use a face mask if you will be around people in a close setting, especially those who are at risk of severe illness (e.g., pregnant women, older adults, infants, immunocompromised people).

Take steps to improve air quality, including moving group activities outside when weather permits, opening windows and doors for fresh air, and using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Anyone experiencing severe or concerning symptoms—including trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new confusion, or inability to stay awake—should immediately seek medical evaluation.

Valley County will hold four municipal general elections:

City of Glasgow

City of Glasgow, Alderman, Ward 2

Randy Lasar

Darcia Schindler

City of Glasgow, Alderman, Ward 3

Kristie Brabeck

Danny Carr

Town of Fort Peck, Alderman (2 seats)

Glenn R Guenther

Joseph J French

Kevin Vogel

Town of Opheim, Alderman, Ward 2, 2-year term to fulfill

Les Redfield
Anita Leinen

All four elections are mail-ballot elections. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The election office will be open on Election Day from 7 am to 8 pm. Ballots must be received in the election office by 8 pm November 4, 2025, to be counted. Please remember that, in addition to signing the signature envelope, voters must enter the year of their birth in the space provided on the signature envelope prior to returning their ballot. Ballots returned without both the voter’s signature AND their year of birth on the signature envelope cannot be counted.

Montana will soon switch back to Standard Time, and while we’ll technically gain an hour of sleep, we'll also start feeling those early sunsets creep in fast in early November.

Sunday, November 2, marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, and Montana residents with manual clocks in their homes will need to remember to set them back an hour before heading to bed on November 1.

Story credit to www.billingsgazette.com

A trust fund established by a bankrupt mining company to help pay for treatment of water contaminated by its now-closed gold mine in Montana’s Little Rocky Mountains is running out of money.

Pegasus Gold Corp.’s trust fund “was originally intended to generate sufficient interest to maintain operations, but it does not contain sufficient principal given interest rates,” Sonja Nowakowski, director of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, told an interim legislative committee on Oct. 23.

So far, Nowakowski told the Environmental Quality Committee, $110 million has been spent at the Zortman-Landusky Mining Complex on reclamation and water treatment, beginning in 1999 and continuing through September 2024.

That’s about a third of what the Zortman-Landusky mine produced during its 20-years of operation, which was $300 million in gold.

Of the $110 million spent on reclamation and remediation, about $47 million came from Pegasus’ forfeited reclamation bonds. The mining company declared bankruptcy in 1998.

The other $63 million has come from taxpayers, including $19 million from the state of Montana, $24 million from the Bureau of Land Management and $20 million the state invested into trust funds for site operation and maintenance, Nowakowski explained.

“In recent years, the state share of funding has mostly been derived from the Hard-Rock Mining Reclamation Special Revenue Account, which is derived from taxes on metal mines in Montana,” Nowakowski said.

“As a result of reliance on this fund, the balance in the account has declined from about $4.5 million in July 2020 to just $146,000 in July of ‘25,” she added.

Annually, it costs about $3 million a year to operate the six water treatment systems at the site in northeastern Montana. About half of that amount is paid by the Bureau of Land Management.

However, Nowakowski said the BLM’s contribution usually arrives at the end of the budget cycle.

“It’s a last-minute scramble,” Nowakowski told the Natural Resources Interim Budget Committee at its September meeting. “There is not a specific and steady federal source, and so we’ve been working closely with BLM, and they agree that that it would make a lot of sense if there was something more steady, more reliable and specific for Zortman so that it wasn’t this scramble every end of fiscal year.”

Based on her request, the committee wrote a letter to Sonya Germann, state director of the BLM Montana/Dakotas dated Sept. 16.

The letter said paying for ongoing water treatment at the old mine site is “critical to Montanans surrounding the mining complex.”

“Without sound water treatment and corresponding stable funding, those in the area would be exposed to untreated acid rock drainage and the associated impacts,” the letter stated.

After thanking the BLM for its past assistance dealing with the remediation and reclamation work, the letter went on to note that the capital improvements plan has identified the existing water treatment facilities and equipment as near the “end of their lifespans and in need of updates or replacement.”

With this in mind, the letter requested a “predictable long-term annual financial contribution (minimum base funding)” to continue to fund the remediation work.

The letter was signed by Rep. Jerry Schillinger, R-Circle, chair of the committee.

Germann, of the BLM, could not be reached for comment on the issue due to the federal government shutdown.

Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration repeatedly criticized the BLM during Democrat President Joe Biden’s administration. With President Donald Trump now at the helm, Montana’s Republican governor has praised the withdrawal of the BLM’s land-use restrictions that has the potential to open up more federal lands to mining and energy development.

When asked why the administration was concerned now, given BLM’s cooperation in the past, the governor’s office said DEQ’s “request is part of a proactive effort between the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and BLM to find a long-term, sustainable funding solution.”

Incorporated in 1973, Pegasus Gold Corp. used cyanide to extract small amounts of gold from large piles of rock at Zortman-Landusky, as well as at other mines in the West. In its final years, and even after declaring bankruptcy, the company paid seven-figure bonuses to its top corporate officials, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported in 2001.

“Mining’s destructive legacy in the Little Rockies is perpetual acid mine drainage into the area’s water resources,” said Anne Hedges, executive director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, in an email.

The center has been a watchdog for mine remediation in the state, including the Zortman-Landusky mine.

“In an ideal regulatory framework, this pollution would have been prevented and subject to adequate bonding, and the bad actor mining companies forced to clean up after themselves in order to protect taxpayers from bearing the costs,” she continued.

Unfortunately for the state, the original bond amount badly underestimated the cost of remediation, saddling taxpayers with the difference. Since then, legislation has been enacted to ensure such costs are more adequately covered.

“In the absence of such accountability, the government should be responsible for ensuring that (the Fort Belknap Indian Community) and those impacted by the ongoing pollution are protected to the highest extent possible and not forced to bear the burden of the pollution and its impacts,” Hedges wrote.

The Fort Belknap reservation includes a large portion of the Little Rocky Mountains, portions of which contain historic vision quest and ceremonial sites dating back centuries.

Warren Morin, chair of the tribal council’s natural resources committee, told The Center for Public Integrity in a 2019 story that Pegasus had taken the “heart of the mountains away from us.”

In a 2023 Government Accountability Office report, the Environmental Protection estimated that “abandoned hardrock mines have contributed to the contamination of 40% of the country’s rivers and 50% of all lakes.

”There are at least 22,500 abandoned hardrock mine features — such as pits or tunnels — on federal lands.

”The federal government’s environmental liabilities — which include mine cleanup — increased about 32% (from $465 billion to $613 billion) between fiscal years 2017 and 2021.”

District Court Judge Yvonne Laird as sentenced Abigail Meidinger of Glasgow to a five-year deferred sentence on the charge of Criminal Distribution of Dangerous Drugs (methamphetamine).

Meidinger was originally charged with 2 counts of drug distribution charges in January of 2025 for offenses that allegedly occurred October 6th of 2024.

She reached a plea agreement with the Valley County Attorney on August 18th and agreed to plead guilty to one charge of Criminal Distribution of Dangerous Drugs with the other felony charge dismissed.

Judge Laird sentenced Meidinger on October 20th. The sentence had Meidinger pleading guilty to the felony drug charge in exchange for a five-year deferred sentence with credit for 48 jail days previously served. Judge Laird ordered Meidinger to also serve an additional twelve days of jail in at least 48-hour increments or pay a fine of $1500.

In the sentencing document, Judge Laird noted that the deferred sentence is appropriate and holds the defendant accountable for the serious criminal acts she committed. Judge Laird also noted that Meidinger is young and has a limited criminal history and the sentence will provide her an opportunity to keep a felony off her criminal record.

Gov. Greg Gianforte will not authorize state dollars to cover the costs of a federal food assistance program that’s set to lapse in only a few days, his office said Tuesday.

Because of the ongoing shutdown of the federal government – now in its fourth week – funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will dry up starting Nov. 1, leaving roughly 77,000 Montanans without the monthly support that helps them afford groceries.

According to the State of Montana, there are currently 672 Valley County residents with benefits from the SNAP Program. This includes 347 households in Valley County and the SNAP benefits totaled $111,565 in September of 2025.

At least eight other states have taken steps to fast track funding to food banks or to cover the cost of SNAP benefits themselves rather than let the benefits lapse. But Gianforte said he is unwilling to put the state on the hook for a multi-million-dollar-a-month program that is supposed to be paid for by the federal government.

While the governor believes these benefits are vital for vulnerable Montanans, he has been clear that the state cannot fund this federal program, which is funded by federal dollars, without promises for reimbursement,” spokesperson Kaitlin Price said in an email. “Gov. Gianforte continues to urge Senate Democrats to do their job and pass a continuing resolution instead of holding taxpayer dollars hostage that fund these critical programs.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the federal agency that oversees the food assistance program, issued a memo saying that it would not pay back states that choose to use their own dollars to continue SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

SNAP is funded almost entirely by the federal government with states taking on a share of the administrative costs. The average SNAP household in Montana receives $332 a month for a total distribution of around $13 million.

Gianforte’s announcement comes the day after the Montana Food Bank Network and around 50 organizations, including the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the Montana Farmers Union and a list of food pantries, sent a letter urging him to use state’s reserve dollars to cover the cost of the monthly benefit.

“We ask you to take immediate steps to protect Montana families and prevent hunger during this shutdown,” Kiera Condon from the Montana Food Bank network wrote in the letter. “Ensuring uninterrupted SNAP benefits is not only a matter of compassion – it is a matter of economic stability, public health and responsible governance.”

The groups requested the governor dip into what’s called the Debt and Liability Free Account, a pot of $268 million set aside to pay down the state’s debt, to pay for SNAP until the federal shutdown ends. The account was created by 2023 legislation to reduce the state’s financial liabilities, but during this year’s session lawmakers expanded its scope to make it available to “replace federal funds that have been reduced or rescinded by the federal government.”

After the state intervened to trap about 100 swine demonstrating feral behaviors, Montana food banks are slated to receive an influx of pork this week.

Late last month, Wildlife Services, a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s umbrella, tipped off the Montana Department of Livestock that it might have a feral swine population on its hands.

Wildlife Services, which intervenes when landowners report conflicts with wildlife, had been called to Phillips County in north-central Montana to investigate a potential bear conflict. The agency didn’t find evidence of bear activity, but it did find hoof prints, pig scat and other signs consistent with swine presence. The day after Wildlife Services visited the site near Malta along the Hi-Line, the state started looking into the matter and learned that approximately 100 pigs were running uncontained and “beginning to demonstrate behaviors and characteristics consistent with feral swine populations,” according to a press release.

The Montana Legislature passed a law in 2015 prohibiting the importation, transportation or possession of feral swine. Intentionally, knowingly or negligently allowing swine to live in a “feral state” is also illegal. By passing the law, policymakers sought to ward off issues states and provinces have reported with feral swine, which can damage crops and wetlands, prey on wildlife and spread a form of brucellosis that can be transmitted to humans.

Neighboring areas, most notably Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada, have grappled with feral swine populations for years, and wildlife managers there and in the U.S. consider them to be an invasive species.

Montana State Veterinarian Tahnee Szymanski told Montana Free Press that feral swine can become established in three ways: they can migrate into Montana from an area with an established population, they can be introduced — illegally — by hunters eager to pursue them for sport, or they can develop when domestic animals are freed from the “normal checks and balances” associated with livestock production.

“Domestic swine, left to their own devices for a couple of generations, actually revert back to feral behavior very quickly,” Szymanski said. “This is a really good reminder that a potential feral swine population could crop up anywhere in the state.”

The state livestock department receives about six reports per year of potential feral swine sightings. All of them have turned out to be “owned domestic swine running at large,” according to an agency press release.

In this particular case, there were some unique circumstances related to a death in the family that owned the swine, Szymanski said.

“This situation just kind of got out of control,” she said. “It has been allowed to maybe fester a little bit longer than a traditional circumstance we would encounter.”

Syzmanski said trapping operations began earlier this month, and all parties involved are pleased the meat will be distributed at food banks around the state.

On Oct. 18, the first swine shipment arrived at Producer Partnership, a nonprofit animal processing facility that works with agricultural producers to turn donated livestock into food for schools and other nonprofits. Trapping operations are ongoing with another 30-45 animals yet to be collected, Szymanski told MTFP on Oct. 22.

Producer Partnership is the country’s only nonprofit meat processing facility inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A product of the COVID-19 pandemic, Producer Partnership is located between Big Timber and Livingston and employs about 10 people.

Producer Partnership president and founder Matt Pierson estimates that the Montana Food Bank Network will receive between 8,000 and 14,000 pounds of pork from the swine. He said he’s unaware of any other organizations set up to take on these kinds of “oddball projects.”

“Our hope through this partnership is that people realize there’s a more amicable, better way to solve these issues without just going in and shooting everything,” he said. “It helps solve a problem for the state, and it helps put all that meat into the food bank.”

https://dailymontanan.com/

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, as well as all four members of the state’s federal delegation signed on to a letter last month claiming American Prairie’s bison restoration project is at odds with the state’s economy.

The five men sent the letter to Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota. The Interior Department holds decision-making power over grazing rights on Bureau of Land Management land, which under former President Joe Biden were granted to American Prairie in 2022.

The state, along with livestock industry groups, appealed the federal decision. Some ranchers have also expressed concern about added costs of having bison near their cattle, including fears of brucellosis, a bacterial disease that can spread between the animals.

“For us, a decision in favor of APR will re-shape the entire landscape of our state,” the letter reads. “Montana’s most profitable economic industry, for decades, has been agriculture. Agriculture drives our economy, sustains our small rural towns, and is the cultural epicenter of our state.”

While there’s no question agriculture is a cultural hallmark of the state, as a percentage of the state’s real gross domestic product, the industry ranked 12th in 2022. That year, Montana generated around $4.6 billion in agricultural cash receipts.

The letter goes on to argue removing “vast swaths” of land from agricultural production will harm the state and allowing American Prairie those grazing rights “threatens the economic vitality of our most important industry.”

American Prairie has sought to reintroduce bison to parts of Montana and owns more than 500,000 acres in the state. They own and manage 900 head of bison across 46,000 acres. The organization leases much of its land to cattle producers, supporting about 7,000 head and 25 ranchers, the organization spokesperson Pete Geddes said in a statement. There are almost a half million cattle in the seven counties they work, he added. Including calves, there are about 2.1 million head of cattle in the state.

“The claim that American Prairie ‘threatens the economic vitality’ of the state, is on its face absurd,” Geddes said. “American Prairie has little influence on the long-term demographic and economic trends in Central Montana. Extended drought, market fluctuations, international trade policies, personal family decisions, and global integrated agricultural markets have much larger impacts.”

Geddes went on to say that since 2020, the organization has paid $7 million in payroll, supporting 23 local jobs in Fergus and Phillips Counties, which infused $17 million into those economies, he said. They’ve also paid $877,000 in property taxes and $345,000 to ranchers participating in a wildlife abundance program, he added.

Some ranchers, including Gilles Stockton, an author and former president of the Montana Cattlemen’s Association, have other concerns.
“If you’re ranching in a brucellosis designated area, which they have in southwestern Montana, it’s hugely expensive,” Stockton said. “And it’s doubly expensive if one of your cows happens to become brucellosis positive.”

Some elk and about 60% of female bison in Yellowstone National Park test positive for brucellosis, a disease that attacks the reproductive system and causes abortions in pregnant cattle, elk, and bison. It’s a nonnative disease to the area, brought into Yellowstone by cattle in the 1900s and can also cause sickness in humans, though human infection is uncommon and the state hasn’t reported an official case since 2017.

“One of the primary mechanisms of historical transmission to people is through the milk, but pasteurization has made that a nearly obsolete pathway,” Dr. Tahnee Szymanski, State Veterinarian, said in an interview with the Daily Montanan. “In the 1930s and ’40s, here in the United States, we had a much higher incidence of brucellosis in our cattle herds all across the country, and they started the national brucellosis eradication program.”

Buffalo graze southwest of Lima, near Little Sheep Creek, Dillon Ranger District of Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in 2019. (USDA photo / Preston Keres)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has what’s called Brucellosis Class Free status, a tool used to maintain compliance so infected animals aren’t being moved around or consumed.

Montana has a “Designated Surveillance Area” for the disease in southwestern Montana — stretching from Dillon to past Livingston, and down to Gardiner and the Wyoming and Idaho borders.

Those borders are built through a partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Szymanski said. FWP will go out, capture, tag and test elk and track their movement. Park County and Madison County elk have tested positive for brucellosis, she said.

That said, Montana is considered brucellosis free.

“The only population of infected animals in Montana is Yellowstone National Park, bison or elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area, we have a couple of livestock herds that are under quarantine for past detections, but any other domestic bison or cattle herd in the state of Montana is considered to be free of brucellosis,” Szymanski said. “That includes tribal populations of bison, APR, bison, people should not be concerned about those animals because of potential disease risk.”

About 100,000 brucellosis tests are administered in that area each year to keep the state’s class free status, according to the Montana Department of Livestock. Cattle vaccinations do have hurdles and have to be performed by a licensed veterinarian.

“If a human accidentally injected themselves with it, that it would make them kind of substantially sick,” Szymanski said.

That costs about $630,000 per year, according to the agency. Losing the status would incur even more testing costs by places that receive bison and cattle from the state.

“Loss of Class Free status would lead to required testing of livestock exported from anywhere in the State (not just southwest Montana) and cost the livestock producers millions of dollars for testing as well as revenue from lost sales due to a negative stigma,” a Department of Livestock information sheet reads.

American Prairie tests their animals regularly, Geddes said, and brucellosis is not present in their bison.

Grazing permits have also been a source of contention for American Prairie, and the letter states the organization is violating federal law.
The letter mentions the Taylor Grazing Act, legislation dating back to 1934 that created stipulations for grazing cattle and eventually led to the creation of the Bureau of Land Management.

Challenges to the Bureau of Land Management over American Prairie grazing their bison say the act doesn’t allow for conservation grazing. American Prairie asserts that’s not true and Geddes said nowhere in Taylor Grazing Act does it limit grazing permits to production livestock.

“The BLM is authorized to issue grazing permits to ‘stock owners.’ American Prairie qualifies as both a ‘stock owner’ and ‘engaged in the livestock business.’ AP bison are livestock and we are operating as a non-profit business,” Geddes said. “American Prairie’s primary purpose for obtaining grazing permits is for grazing livestock.”

One of American Prairie’s goals is returning the land to a state more similar to when hundreds of thousands of bison roamed free before colonization and westward expansion.

The Taylor Grazing Act was in part intended to preserve and protect that same grassland, Stockton said, who feels ranchers have done a pretty good job of that.

“The results of that is that we were able to take land that had been really badly overused and restore it across eastern Montana,” Stockton said. “So, you know, the grasslands that you have in eastern Montana are really in the best shapes that they’ve ever been.”

Stockton ranches near Grass Range, is close to American Prairie holdings and feels the Bureau of Land Management overstepped their authority. There’s frustrations with who gets to graze when, fencing problems — keeping cattle away from bison, in a ranchers eyes — and costs associated with vaccinations if brucellosis does spread further.

But, even then, other concerns for Stockton trump issues with the bison nonprofit.

“We got a feeling that the APR, when they moved in here, they were at war with our culture, I guess, our communities and our cultures,” Stockton said. “But the fact of the matter is that in terms of actual impact, say, for me, personally, I’ve got more trouble with my billionaire neighbors.”

The Montana Lottery will launch its 19th annual Montana Millionaire raffle game on Sat., Nov. 1, with five $1 million grand prizes available to win.

Tickets go on sale statewide at 5:30 a.m. and sell for $20 each. They will be available at any Montana Lottery sales agent, including convenience stores, bars/taverns, grocery stores and casinos. Don’t wait - last year, tickets sold out in just under three hours!

In response to the unprecedented demand, the Lottery announced in June that it would add 120,000 tickets and a fifth $1 million grand prize to 2025’s game. Even with 620,000 tickets in total, Lottery officials still anticipate a quick sellout.

"Adding 120,000 tickets and a fifth $1 million prize was a direct response to the incredible player excitement we saw last year. While the game is bigger than ever, we still expect tickets to go incredibly fast, so don't delay," said Montana Lottery Director Bob Brown.

Every Montana Millionaire ticket is eligible to win one of 6,100 instant-win prizes of $100 or 2,500 instant-win prizes of $500, plus a Quarter Million Monday drawing of $250,000 on Dec. 1, and the grand prize drawings for five $1 million prizes on Dec. 26.

The Valley CARE Coalition will be holding a Trunk Or Treat event in the Reynolds Market parking lot on Thursday, Oct. 30th, from 4:30 - 7 p.m.

Free popcorn & cocoa will be given out while supplies last. Bring your children for a safe & festive evening, filled with decorated trunks & sweet treats.

If you're interested in decorating your trunk & joining the fun, contact Teresa Garner at teresa.garner@mt.gov

The Fort Peck Tribes had their Tribal Elections on Saturday. Here are the unofficial results.

Public Notice.........Valley County Dispatch has been receiving an unusual number of complaints regarding animal bites, attacks, dogs barking and generally running at large.

The Glasgow Police Department would like to remind pet owners that pets are their responsibility. Acts by their pets could result in citations, fines and possible legal action or lawsuits.

Dogs and cats are also required to have a city license and have their rabies shots to live in city limits. Patrolman will be out and about continuing to enforce these ordinances.

For any questions regarding animals in the city, please contact the Glasgow Police Department at 406-228-8050 or refer to the Glasgow City Ordinances.

Gas prices remained relatively quiet this past week. The national average for a gallon of regular went up a couple of cents to $3.07. Even though the national average hasn’t reached the $3 mark, drivers are paying less than they were this time last year, and that trend should continue as we enter the colder months. Gasoline demand goes down in the fall as fewer people are taking road trips.

Today’s National Average: $3.068

One Week Ago: $3.051

One Month Ago: $3.163

One Year Ago: $3.15

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand remained flat at 8.45 million b/d. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 218.8 million barrels to 216.7 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

In Montana, the average price is $3.05 per gallon which is down from $3.09 a week ago and down from $3.21 a year ago.

In Valley County, the average price is $3.01 per gallon.

Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose $1.26 to settle at $58.50 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories decreased by 1 million barrels from the previous week. At 422.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

State Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.60), Hawaii ($4.48), Washington ($4.37), Oregon ($3.97), Alaska ($3.84), Nevada ($3.80), Idaho ($3.42), Arizona ($3.36), Utah ($3.31), and Illinois ($3.25).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($2.61), Texas ($2.61), Louisiana ($2.62), Oklahoma ($2.63), Tennessee ($2.64), Arkansas ($2.66), Alabama ($2.68), Kentucky ($2.69), Missouri ($2.70), and Kansas ($2.73).

When it comes to defining his family legacy, Dale Veseth is unwavering: Veseth Cattle Co. will remain a working ranch that strengthens opportunities for local ranchers, champions education and community-led conservation, and upholds Montana’s ranching heritage. To ensure that legacy endures beyond their lifetimes, Dale and his wife, Janet, have announced that they will gift their 38,300-acre ranch to the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA), a rancher-founded and rancher-led nonprofit Dale has helped build for more than 20 years. The gift, valued at $21.6 million, represents the largest recorded working ranch donation in Montana history. While the Veseths will continue to manage the ranch throughout their lives, this commitment ensures a thoughtful transition to RSA when the time comes.

“We’ve watched RSA grow into something pretty special,” said Dale. “It’s brought people together with a shared purpose and opened eyes to the positive impact ranchers have on the ground. We’re proud to know the ranch will be part of that. They’ll keep it working the way it’s meant to be.”

Veseth Cattle Co. sits in south Phillips County, an area of high interest for land acquisition. By choosing to gift their ranch to RSA, the Veseths are making sure this land will not be lost to outside interests but remain in the hands of local ranchers to the benefit of the local community. It is an act of conviction. It is a commitment that keeps agriculture at the heart of Montana’s rural future.
“When Dale first mentioned this gift, it was in the most casual way, as if it were no big deal. I think we were all completely taken aback, and honestly, I don’t think the shock has worn off,” said Conni French, RSA President and Phillips County rancher. “It’s hard to put into words what a gesture like this means, not just for RSA, but for the future of ranching and conservation here at home.”
Dale and Janet have made Veseth Cattle Co. a place where doors are open to innovation and collaboration. From interns and new technologies to partnerships with groups as diverse as the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Quivira Coalition, and Native, they have welcomed a wide range of voices and ideas. With Dale’s leadership in RSA, ranchers now have not only a presence but influence in conversations with these groups, making the case that responsible ranching is conservation, benefiting land, wildlife, and communities alike.

Known for both his ideas and his hard work, Dale works tirelessly, moving cattle often, watching the grass, and adjusting with the seasons to keep the range healthy. Guided by constant curiosity, he has dedicated years to refining cattle genetics, developing a one-of-a-kind crossbreed suited to his terrain. His approach reflects the Veseths’ belief that good grass management is conservation, and that responsible grazing and habitat protection go hand in hand. Beside him, Janet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and brings skill and dedication to every facet of ranch life. Together, the Veseths have built a place where productivity and stewardship are inseparable, with every decision made for the future. They also have an annual bull and female sale each March that Dale would be happy to bend your ear on.

“We’ve only been here for a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things,” said Dale. “This land will outlast us all. It’s been a privilege to care for it. It’s been a fun ride, and we’re not done yet.”
Founded in 1942, Veseth Cattle Co. has earned some of the highest honors in the cattle industry for stewardship, including the Outstanding Conservationist of the Year from the Phillips Conservation District, the Environmental Stewardship Award from the Montana Stockgrowers Association, the Region V Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Quivira Coalition’s Clarence Burch Award.

“Dale and Janet’s commitment is an act of selflessness and conviction,” said Angel DeVries, Executive Director of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance. “We will continue working alongside them, and when the time comes, we will be ready to carry forward their legacy with the same strength and resiliency they have shown.”

This gift is part of RSA’s “Working Lands Forever” campaign, a commitment to sustain ranching landscapes, strengthen rural communities, and support resilient ecosystems for generations.
The Veseths’ decision ensures that their land, their work, and their vision will continue shaping the future of ranching and conservation in north-central Montana. It is a nontraditional choice rooted in tradition, a stand to keep ranching families on the land, communities resilient, and the working landscape intact.

About the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA): The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, a rancher-led nonprofit established in 2003, believes in a future where ranching and rural communities in the Northern Great Plains are so successful that ranch families never have to consider selling or transitioning their land out of production agriculture. Guided by the stewardship of ranchers, conservation, and community, RSA helps producers strengthen both their operations and the landscapes they depend on. Through educational programs, cost-share opportunities, and community partnerships, RSA works to support ranchers while sustaining wildlife habitat and the rural towns that make this region home.

As Montana’s general rifle season for deer and elk kicks off this weekend, state wildlife managers have made some changes to deer licenses in the state in response to localized disease outbreaks.

Every year in Montana small pockets of game animals, usually white-tailed deer, succumb to diseases.

A family hemorrhagic diseases that includes epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and blue tongue, saw late summer and early fall outbreaks across Montana, with the heaviest concentration in the northeastern part of the state, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Earlier this month, FWP’s Fish and Wildlife Commission, the board that handles department policy, made a regulation change to limit white-tailed deer licenses in northeast Montana. The commission voted to limit the sale of region-wide 006-00 deer B licenses to a total of 2,000, and only allow one per hunter.

Hunters that purchased multiple licenses prior to Oct. 10, when the new regulation took effect, can still use the licenses.

EHD and blue tongue virus are spread through biting midges, and pockets of the disease often form along rivers or near other waterways where midges reproduce in large numbers. The viruses are often fatal, with animals dying from internal bleeding, and can result in high death rates in very localized areas.

“It’s real sporadic and real patchy,” FWP Game Management Division Chief Brian Wakeling told the commission at their October meeting. “We’re certainly seeing it places we’ve never seen it before, but we’re not seeing it at a level that’s a concern to a population from a biological standpoint.”

While the regulation change only affects hunters in Region 6 in the northeastern part of the state, EHD and blue tongue disease have been suspected in multiple localized die-offs around the state.

In mid-September, FWP officials put out a press release following reports of roughly two dozen dead deer near Eureka and a dozen near Plains, which they suspected were viral outbreaks. Localized EHD and blue tongue outbreaks were also reported along the Yellowstone River corridor in the southeastern part of the state and in prairie habitats.

In early October, the department suspected hemorrhagic diseases were behind white-tailed deaths around Frenchtown and along the Clark Fork River west of Missoula.

In Montana, outbreaks of EHD and BTV have historically occurred east of the continental divide, and while most deer and pronghorn mortality in Montana resulting from hemorrhagic disease infection still occurs in the eastern part of the state, EHD was documented west of the continental divide in Montana for the first time in 2013.

Outbreaks of the disease typically subside as winter weather descends on an area as hard frosts mitigate midge activity, and FWP expects mortalities to continue to slow with recent freezing temperatures across the state.

FWP staff say that members of the public do not need to report dead deer suspected of succumbing to hemorrhagic diseases in areas that are already being monitored.

Hemorrhagic diseases are not a risk to humans, and meat from animals that appear healthy at the time of harvest remains safe to eat when properly cooked. Hunters should avoid harvesting or consuming animals that appear sick.

Nationwide there has been an increase in EHD and blue tongue virus outbreaks. According to reporting in The Guardian this week, Ohio has received reports of more than 9,000 dead deer suspected of dying from hemorrhagic viruses, up from just 2,000 in 2024.

In northern Idaho, biologists with Idaho Fish and Game said they’ve received roughly 1,000 reports of white-tailed deer mortalities in the Clearwater region, suspected to be caused by EHD.

The Agriculture Department will reopen about 2,100 county offices all across the country Thursday, despite the ongoing government shutdown, to help farmers and ranchers get access to $3 billion of aid from existing programs.

The USDA said each Farm Service Agency office will have two workers who will be paid even though the government remains shut down. These offices help farmers apply for farm loans, crop insurance, disaster aid and other programs. Thousands of other federal employees like air traffic controllers are working without pay during the shutdown.

A USDA spokesperson said this move reflects President Trump’s commitment to helping farmers and ranchers, who are traditionally some of his strongest supporters. Recently, some of them have been unhappy with Trump’s latest moves although his support remains strong across rural America.

Just this week, ranchers were unhappy with Trump’s idea to import more beef from Argentina because that could hurt their profits, and earlier this month soybean farmers complained that a $20 billion aid package for Argentina allowed that country to sell soybeans to China. Farmers are also still waiting on details of an aid package Trump promised to help them survive his trade war with China, but that aid has been put on hold because of the shutdown.

“President Trump will not let the radical left Democrat shutdown impact critical USDA services while harvest is underway across the country,” the USDA spokesman said.

A White House official said the administration is using funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation, a USDA agency that addresses agricultural prices. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the administration’s plans were not yet publicized.

Republicans like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven along with farm groups like the National Corn Growers Association and Illinois Soybean Association praised the move while Democrats accused the administration of using farmers as political pawns in the shutdown fight. Both parties have been unable to reach an agreement to fund the government and end the shutdown that began Oct. 1.

Thune said reopening these offices, like he has been urging the administration to do, will give farmers access to critical services in the midst of harvest season.

“Like many hardworking Americans, producers in South Dakota and across the country – who work tirelessly to provide high-quality food for our nation – are being hurt by Senate Democrats’ reckless government shutdown,” Thune said.

Kenneth Hartman Jr., who is chairman of the Corn Growers Association, said this is a crucial time because farmers are getting ready to place orders for next year’s seed and fertilizer right now as well as settling up with the bankers for this year’s operating loans. And farmers are grappling with soaring costs.

“Because of the inflation factor, the farm economy is really in a critical situation here. So anything that the farmers can get when it comes to support from the farm programs from the farm bill of last year, we need to get that open and get that money out to them,” said Hartman, who is in the middle of harvesting his crop near Waterloo, Illinois.

The House Agriculture Committee Democrats said on X that this shows that Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins “could have supported farmers all along, but you chose not to because you’d rather use farmers’ pain to score cheap political points while increasing the cost of living for ordinary Americans by making food and health care more expensive.”

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig, who is the ranking Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, said the administration should have done this sooner to ensure that farmers can get the help they need.

“I am glad the administration is finally doing right by America’s farmers by partially opening FSA offices, though I question why the administration waited so long and made this decision only after putting farmers through three weeks of uncertainty,” Craig said.

Michael Ackerman, also known as Michael LittleBull, has been charged with three counts of second degree murder in U.S. District Court in Great Falls.

Ackerman has also been charged with use of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges were filed on Oct. 2.

According to court records, Ackerman killed three individuals with malice aforethought on or about Sept. 11 at and near Poplar. The victims were two females and a male.

A jury date is scheduled for Dec. 9, in Great Falls. The deadline for discovery is Oct. 10.

Second-degree murder carries maximum penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of

supervised release. On Sunday, Sept. 14, at approximately 4 a.m., the Fort Peck Tribal police officers received information from the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office that a male had confessed to shooting and killing his wife, his stepson and the stepson’s girlfriend at a residence in Poplar. The male was identified as 73-yearold Michael Littlebull/Ackerman, an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Tribes.

Fort Peck Tribal police officers responded to a residence in Poplar to investigate the information. After receiving no response at the residence, tribal police officers received and executed a search warrant to enter the residence. Once inside the residence, tribal police officers located

65-year-old Earlene Jones, 41-year-old Matthew Black Thunder and 35-year-old Winona Longee deceased inside the residence. All three victims appeared to have been shot at least one time at close range with a small caliber bullet.

n Thursday, October 23, Reuters reported that Trump administration announced plans to quadruple the tariff-rate quota for Argentine beef to 80,000 metric tons, allowing more imports at lower tariffs. The move, according to the White House, is intended to help ease record-high U.S. beef prices caused by tight cattle supplies and strong consumer demand.

However, the decision is drawing sharp criticism from U.S. cattle producers, who say the policy threatens domestic ranchers and will do little to reduce prices at the grocery store.

In an interview with the Western Ag Network, Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), questioned the effectiveness of the plan.

“There were some great statistics out today showing that even if Argentina sent 100% of its global beef exports to the United States, it would only increase our beef supply by about 2.5%. That’s not enough to bring consumer prices down,” Woodall said. “And more importantly, it’s not the same quality as our product.”

Woodall added that the move places additional financial pressure on American ranchers.

“Here we are as producers taking the financial hit on a plan that’s not going to bring down prices. As a result, we’re being told to simply take lower prices.”

The administration’s decision comes alongside a USDA plan to expand the domestic cattle herd and support ranchers impacted by drought and high feed costs. Economists, however, say such measures will take time to have an effect.

Montanans who use SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, may not receive the benefit in November.

A message to SNAP clients on the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services website said the following on Tuesday:

“As a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has directed states to stop the issuance of SNAP benefits for the month of November until further notice.”

It said SNAP clients may not receive the benefits even if they are already authorized to receive them, and they should check the webpage for updates “from the federal government.”

In September, 77,679 Montanans were SNAP recipients, according to the DPHHS public benefits dashboard. DPHHS said the average monthly benefit is $332 per household.

It’s about $173 for each household member per month, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

A fact sheet from the Center said in Montana, more than 63% of participants are families with children; more than 38% are in families with members who are older adults or disabled; and more than 43% are in working families.

Western Native Voice announced the status of SNAP in a newsletter on Tuesday afternoon.

“According to the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS), SNAP benefits for November cannot be issued at this time, as they are contingent on new federal appropriations,” the newsletter said.

It also provided an update on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, for November in Montana.

“For WIC benefits, Montana has advised that the program remains active through November 30 using carry-over funds, but future continuity will depend on federal guidance,” the newsletter said, citing the state health department.

It said the situation is the result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, “which is causing delays or interruptions in funding for programs that rely on annual congressional appropriations.”

The newsletter encouraged SNAP recipients to plan ahead, check benefit card balances, and explore alternative resources “in case there are changes.”

In a phone call Tuesday, Western Native Voice‘s government relations director Keaton Sunchild said SNAP benefits have been used as a negotiating tactic by the White House and by Senate leadership over the last week.

Western Native Voice is a Montana-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering Native communities and addressing issues that impact Indigenous people. Sunchild is based in Washington, D.C.

“They’re trying to target what they view as more liberal social programs to try to ratchet up pressure, as messed up as that seems,” said Sunchild.

In the U.S. Senate, Republicans and Democrats are at a stalemate when it comes to funding and reopening the government, and the House is out of session, kept in recess by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson.

Sunchild said at first, it wasn’t clear if the threat to withhold money for SNAP was empty, but he learned this week federal officials were informing the state health department none of the federal money for SNAP would be released.

A spokesperson for DPHHS did not comment Tuesday on the situation as Sunchild described.

However, the spokesperson said the website post about SNAP was made Friday, Oct. 17, and a mailing to recipients started Monday to 35,650 households.

Sunchild said it briefly appeared the White House might release some tariff revenue to cover some of the missing SNAP funds, but that doesn’t look like it’s the case. So he said the money will run out on Oct. 31.

“Food insecurity is such a huge issue across all of Montana,” Sunchild said.

He said that’s the case especially in rural communities, and it isn’t talked about often enough.

“And now, literally people are going to have to choose between living expenses and food because of a big political game, basically,” Sunchild said.

In response to whether Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte was trying to help, spokesperson Kaitlin Price said the governor is pushing for a fix to the shutdown.

“The governor has advocated to continue support for vulnerable Montana families by urging Washington Democrats to do their job and work with Republicans to pass a clean, short-term continuing resolution to fund the government,” Price said in an email.

She did not immediately respond to follow-up about whether the state had practical solutions in the works as well or whether the governor had advocated for the Trump administration to release available contingency funds.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture “Lapse of Funding Plan,” cited in a CBS report, said contingency funds are available for SNAP benefits in the event of a shutdown, and some federal employees should be exempted from furloughs to support program operations.

Amy Allison, head of the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center, said she was in a meeting Tuesday talking about how to prepare for the possibility that SNAP would not be authorized in November.

She said last month, 2,969 people who shopped at the food bank indicated that they receive SNAP benefits, and in the county, 7,936 people receive SNAP benefits.

Allison said that means 4,900 more people might need help if they don’t receive the benefit. Shoppers at the food bank don’t pay for groceries.

“We are incredibly concerned that numbers will increase, and we’ll see a lot of folks needing additional support if they are not receiving those SNAP benefits,” Allison said.

Jessy Lee, development director for the Missoula food bank, said the organization is committed to making sure anyone who needs food access has it.

She said the nonprofit will make sure that it has enough food for anyone who walks through its doors.

“We’re making some purchasing contingency plans that will ensure that we have enough food for a potential influx of customers,” Lee said.

The Glasgow Scotties and the Malta Mustangs are conducting a food bank challenge culminating in the Glasgow vs Malta football game Friday evening.

Bring two items for the Food Bank to the football game and get a free bag of popcorn! Or drop off your items at Glasgow High School before Thursday afternoon.

All food donated will go to the Valley Community Emergency Food Bank!

President Trump’s plan to increase foreign beef imports will crush already struggling ranchers, said Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer.

Beef markets need enforcement of current anti-trust laws and mandatory Country of Origin Labeling to create truth for consumers and a fair playing field for ranchers. As cattle prices have increased, so too have costs, such as feed, fuel and equipment.

“When will Trump put the American farmer and rancher first?” Schweitzer said. “It is bad enough that we are giving $40 billion to bail out the Argentina economy while they exported billions of dollars of soybeans to China, but now we are going to allow Argentina to dump their beef scraps into the U.S. markets.”

Currently, America is importing more beef than ever in the country’s history, while cattle inventory is the smallest it’s been in more than seven decades because of droughts, depressed prices, and increased input costs. Limited – and misleading – competition with 85% of the meatpacking market controlled by just four meatpackers means ranchers get paid less while consumers pay more.

Beef and pork are the only foods that do not have mandatory Country of Origin Labeling that would ensure consumers know what they’re putting on their plates. Loopholes in the law allow for imported beef that is packaged in the U.S. to bear the “Product of USA” label, misleading consumers.

A coalition, including Montana Farmers Union, is pushing Congress to listen to consumers who want to know where their food comes from and Montana’s Legislature, which passed a resolution in support of MCOOL this year.

Already, Trump’s announcement has negatively impacted prices for American ranchers, causing the market to drop its limit.

“Expanding beef imports benefits the multinational beef packers at the expense of cattle ranching families and the consumers,” Schweitzer said.

“Instead of trying to undercut American ranchers, President Trump and Congress should be focused on creating fair markets that mean a more food secure America,” he added

In response to ongoing media coverage and public concern regarding ideological activism in public schools, including in Montana, Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen sent a formal letter to all Montana school districts directing them to be in compliance with state and federal laws.

The letter reinforces expectations for administrators and school boards to uphold state and federal regulations as a condition of maintaining state accreditation and receiving public school funding.
“Parents entrust our schools to focus on reading, writing, and core subjects, not political and ideological indoctrination,” said Superintendent Hedalen. “We will not allow taxpayer-funded classrooms to become platforms for activist agendas while parents sit on the sidelines. I expect every school board, administrator, and teacher to follow the law, protect students, and preserve the integrity of our education system. Montana parents have had enough of politics in our classrooms- and so have I." Hedalen added. “We are drawing a firm line: teach academics, not activism.”

Superintendent Hedalen specifically highlighted House Bill 819 and House Bill 471. HB 819 strictly limits the display of flags and banners on government property, including public schools. Only officially recognized government flags are permitted. Personal, political, or activist flags are not allowed. HB 471 reinforces parental rights by requiring an explicit opt-in before a student may receive identity instruction. It is not enough to notify parents active, written permission is required.

Superintendent Hedalen was also a strong supporter of House Bill 557, introduced by Rep. Jodee Etchart in the 2025 session. The bill would have ended the state-mandated use of PIR (Pupil-Instruction-Related) days for teacher union meetings. In recent years, these meetings have seen dwindling attendance and growing ideological indoctrination instead of true teacher professional development. The Superintendent looks forward to working with the 2027 legislature to successfully get similar legislation successfully passed.

“Government-encouraged school closures for union activities are an outdated and unproductive use of taxpayer time and resources,” said Hedalen. “HB 557 got it right PIR days should be used to strengthen instruction, not to promote union politics. We fully intend to pursue this bill again in the next legislative session and to support true educator professional development for the benefit of students.”

The OPI supports a variety of professional development opportunities for educators across the state including OPI’s Summer Institute and locally-driven professional development programs. Superintendent Hedalen recently attended a Great Falls educator professional development day hosted in partnership with Malmstrom Air Force Base. The OPI is also migrating the Teacher Learning Hub to a newer platform providing better online, OPI approved professional development for educators.

The Glasgow City Council will meet Monday in the council chambers in the Glasgow Civic Center.

The Montana Department of Revenue is reporting that marijuana sales in Valley County totaled $160,555 in the month of September. This is down an estimated $6000 compared to August of 2025.

Montana had $27.8 million in sales for September of 2025.

National Weather Service:

Rain will continue through Friday morning before moving east out of Montana. Additional rainfall up to 1.5" is expected in some areas, which may impact road conditions on unpaved or gravel roads. Localized ponding on roads could lead to hydroplaning!

The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) is investigating a report of potential feral swine in Phillips County.

The initial report, received by USDA Wildlife Services, described a bear getting into a barn and livestock feed.

However, upon investigation, evidence such as pig scat and tracks indicated the presence of swine, with no signs of a bear.

The swine were later identified as owned domestic swine that are running uncontained and beginning to show behaviors and characteristics consistent with feral swine populations.

Montana state law prohibits swine from living in a feral state and domestic swine from running at large.

Will it, or won’t it? The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline could reach the 3-dollar mark for the first time in 4 years. Since last week, the national average has dropped more than 5 cents to $3.05. Several factors are behind the drop, including falling crude oil prices, lower gasoline demand, and cheaper winter-blend gasoline at the pump. The tropics have been relatively quiet, and storm activity hasn’t had an impact on gas prices.

Today’s National Average: $3.057

One Week Ago: $3.110

One Month Ago: $3.186

One Year Ago: $3.203

The average price in Montana is $3.09 per gallon which is down from $3.24 per gallon one month ago. The average price in Valley County is $3.01 per gallon.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased from 8.91 million b/d last week to 8.45 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 219.1 million barrels to 218.8 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day.

Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI fell 43 cents to settle at $58.27 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 3.5 million barrels from the previous week. At 423.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

State Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.64), Hawaii ($4.48), Washington ($4.44), Oregon ($4.05), Nevada ($3.87), Alaska ($3.86), Idaho ($3.45), Arizona ($3.43), Utah ($3.37), and Pennsylvania ($3.23).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($2.56), Arkansas ($2.63), Texas ($2.64), Mississippi ($2.64), Wisconsin ($2.65), Louisiana ($2.67), Ohio ($2.67), Kentucky ($2.68), Missouri ($2.70), and Tennessee ($2.72).

Pictured: Left to right: Mariah Branson, Taylor Hohlen, Sarah Meiers, Brandt Burns

(Press Release) The Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital (FMDH) Foundation’s annual dinner, the Secret Garden Soirée, was an evening to remember, and one that made a lasting impact. Held at the Cottonwood Inn & Suites, the event brought together around 150 guests and raised more than $21,000 in support of the Foundation’s mission - providing financial support to FMDH and other medically needed projects throughout Valley County.

The Cottonwood was truly transformed into a hidden garden wonderland. Guests dined under faux floral chandeliers, enjoyed fresh bud vases at every table, and lined up to snap photos in front of a gorgeous faux flower wall that doubled as the perfect photo booth backdrop. From the garden-inspired food and cocktail menu to the soulful performance by Tomara Conrad, who traveled from Polson, Montana, the evening was filled with warmth, laughter, and a true sense of community.

The night’s showstopper was the raffle for a custom, 14kt yellow gold ring designed and donated by Baker’s Jewelry. Valued at $7,995, the one-of-a-kind piece featured a dazzling 1.01ct oval diamond, 0.44ctw of accent diamonds with elegant half-moons on each side, and hidden diamonds tucked beneath the center. A delicate beaded detail and claw prongs completed the timeless design.

And the lucky winner? Sarah Meiers!

“We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who attended, donated, and supported this year’s soirée,” said Taylor Hohlen, FMDH Foundation Coordinator. “Your generosity helps us continue providing scholarships and equipment that directly benefit our patients and community.”

The FMDH Foundation Board of Directors extends a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who made the Secret Garden Soirée such a success — from our sponsors and volunteers to the guests who filled the room with joy and generosity. It truly takes many helping hands to bring an event like this to life.

We’re already looking forward to celebrating with you all again next year!

The Montana Lottery will add 120,000 more tickets and a fifth million-dollar prize for the 2025 Montana Millionaire.

This year, the lottery will sell 620,000 tickets, offer five $1 million grand prizes (up from four last year), feature more instant-win prizes, and include a “Quarter Million Monday” drawing for $250,000 on December 1.

There will be 2,500 Instant Win tickets of $500 each; there will be 6,100 Instant Win tickets valued at $100 each.

Tickets cost $20 each, and they will go on sale on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 5:30 a.m.

Last year’s Montana Millionaire tickets — 500,000 in total — sold out in less than three hours.

Lottery officials said they were surprised by the quick sale of all tickets, since they had increased the number by 120,000 that year.

"We've listened to our players and sales agents and combined their feedback with our team's knowledge to responsibly enhance the 2025 Montana Millionaire after last year's surprising sell-out," commented Montana Lottery director Bob Brown.

Montana Millionaire FAQ

The Montana Lottery has provided responses to several frequently-asked questions:

Why don’t you limit Montana Millionaire to Montana residents only? The Montana Lottery is available to everyone of legal age, whether resident or visitor. Limiting the sale of a product to some people while excluding others is discrimination. It would also be contrary to our mission and place an undue burden on our retailers.

Why don’t you limit the number of Montana Millionaire tickets someone can buy? The mission of the Montana Lottery is to maximize revenue for the State of Montana. Our proceeds fund Montana’s STEM/Healthcare Scholarship Program and contribute to the General Fund. To limit sales of our products would be contrary to our mission and result in less positive impact for the residents of Montana.

Why don’t you offer Montana Millionaire or another raffle game more than once per year? The Montana Lottery has a large selection of games available every day of the year. We believe Montana Millionaire is special and successful because it’s exclusive. While it is not impossible that we may introduce other raffle games in the future, currently we have made this strategic business decision based on detailed market research and analysis.

Where Does the Money Go?
Money generated from the lottery is used in several ways.

“The lottery exists to generate revenue for the State of Montana. Most sales go towards paying prizes, operations, and essentially whatever is left at the end of that is what goes back to the state. That’s determined by state legislative action and the beneficiary, as we call it, has changed a number of times,” Montana Lottery content manager Dan Iverson told MTN News several months ago.

Currently, the first $2.25 million goes to the Montana Stem/Healthcare Scholarship Program, operated by the Office Of The Commissioner Of Higher Education and the Montana University System. Whatever is left goes to the state's general fund, which is dictated by the legislature.

2024 Winning Tickets
In 20224, Montana Millionaire featured 500,000 tickets; all of the tickets sold out within three hours.

The four grand prize-winning tickets were drawn on Thursday, December 26, 2024. The winning tickets and where they were sold:

021333 – Cranny’s Club Tavern & Casino in Dillon
077800 – Super 1 Foods in Great Falls
143115 – Grand Slam Casino in Great Falls
416013 – Beartooth Harley Davidson in Billings

Valley County will hold four municipal general elections:

City of Glasgow

City of Glasgow, Alderman, Ward 2

Randy Lasar

Darcia Schindler

City of Glasgow, Alderman, Ward 3

Kristie Brabeck

Danny Carr

Town of Fort Peck, Alderman (2 seats)

Glenn R Guenther

Joseph J French

Kevin Vogel

Town of Opheim, Alderman, Ward 2, 2-year term to fulfill

Les Redfield
Anita Leinen

All four elections are mail-ballot elections. Ballots will be mailed out this Friday, October 17, 2025. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The election office will be open on Election Day from 7 am to 8 pm. Ballots must be received in the election office by 8 pm November 4, 2025, to be counted. Please remember that, in addition to signing the signature envelope, voters must enter the year of their birth in the space provided on the signature envelope prior to returning their ballot. Ballots returned without both the voter’s signature AND their year of birth on the signature envelope cannot be counted.

The Montana Department of Commerce is set to divvy out $300,000 in agritourism grant funding following the passage of legislation this session.

The agency is taking applications for the program until Oct. 23 and it’s the second cycle of funding for agritourism in the state, commerce spokesperson Mitch Staley wrote in an email. The funding started in 2023 and was reupped as part of Senate Bill 405, brought by Montana Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, this past session.

“Especially in some of the more dry land areas, diversifying how they get their income helps alleviate a lot of the risk that some of these farmers, ranchers face with bad weather years,” Zolnikov said during a Senate Finance and Claims meeting earlier this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines agritourism as “farm services for recreation (such as hunting or fishing), hospitality (such as overnight accommodations), or entertainment (such as festivals or petting zoos)” which it says generated $1.26 billion in revenue for farms and ranches around the country in 2022.

This is extra revenue beyond whatever they are generating from farming or cattle ranching operations. America’s farms contributed about $222 billion total to the U.S. economy in 2023.

A new nonprofit, the Montana Agritourism Association, works closely with producers around the state.

“Our work is a producer-led knowledge hub, helping farmers, ranchers and producers open their gates to visitors safely and successfully, connecting them with training, resources and partners across Montana,” said Debbie Queen, an agritourism specialist with the organization. “We focus on three things producers tell us matter most: business fundamentals, safety and risk awareness, and a great guest experience. When those are in place, everybody wins—hosts, visitors, and the local economy.”

A 2024 survey of Montana producers found that 71% said agritourism strengthens their ability to keep working their land, the organization states.

Individual grants are worth up to $50,000, presenters said.

“We’re encouraging projects and activities of all sizes. The intent is to help farmers and ranchers diversify revenue options through a new or enhanced agritourism activity,” Susan Joy, a program specialist with the Department of Commerce said during the presentation. “The grants are also meant to support activities in rural, under visited and tribal locations throughout Montana that will generate tourism revenue for the benefit of your local economy.”

The Montana Public Service Commission last week approved a rate increase for Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. natural gas customers, bringing the average monthly bill to $60.54.

That dollar amount is up from $44.61 in July of last year when Montana Dakota Utilities (MDU) first asked the Public Service Commission to approve their rate increase request, culminating in a 36% hike.

The all-Republican Public Service Commission (PSC) is only responsible for approving a portion of that total increase, as other parts of it are made up by other charges that the commission can't regulate.

The increase, approved 4-0 with one commissioner absent, will result in a $7.3 million surge in annual revenue for MDU, about $2 million less than they initially requested.

The Montana Consumer Counsel, a state agency that represents the interests of ratepayers in the state, intervened in the case and proposed a lower $5.4 million increase, and the two settled at the $7.3 million figure.

The PSC is tasked with regulating monopoly utility companies in the state, and is responsible for balancing the interests of ratepayers and the utility companies.

he Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission voted Thursday to limit the number of white-tailed doe tags available for hunters in Region 6 in northeast Montana because of outbreaks of a hemorrhagic virus that is killing deer in pockets across the state but particularly so along the Milk River.

Commission Chair Lesley Robinson, representing Region 6, said landowners in the area had already seen suspected cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) ravage white-tailed deer populations in recent weeks. One man near Malta told her he’d found 60 dead deer in the past month and another had told her he could hardly go outside because of the stench of dead deer.

She said areas along both sides of the Milk River are seeing “extreme” effects this year from the virus, which is not uncommon in parts of Montana but varies by year as to how hard it might hit deer, pronghorn and other ruminants.

“I know we’ve had this before but it’s really bad in Region 6,” she said. "Very few live deer are being spotted in the areas this is happening.”

EHD is transmitted by biting midge gnats and can affect a wide range of ruminants, but most often white-tailed deer. The particular type of midge that carries the virus is most often found in muddy and moist areas, and the virus historically has been most common in eastern Montana, though it was first detected on the western side of the Continental Divide in 2013, when a bad outbreak hit the Missoula area.

That year, the commission also stopped selling over-the-counter white-tailed B licenses in both Region 6 and parts of Region 4 because of EHD.

Animals typically display few symptoms of the virus before a quick death, FWP Game Management Bureau Chief Brian Wakeling said Thursday. They often quickly grow weak, start salivating excessively and can develop fevers. That often leads them to water, where they die of internal bleeding. The virus is not transmittable to humans, but officials say meat from sick animals may not be safe for consumption by humans and other animals.

The midges are active during the summer and when temperatures remain warm in early fall, but they are often killed off by freezes. Virus outbreaks are typically highly localized, Wakeling said.

“At times you can have a lot of animals dying. You described a landowner mentioning 60 animals die. Two miles away, there may not have been any animals die, and so it tends to be real sporadic,” he said.

Though the virus seems to have hit northeast Montana worse than other parts of the state this year, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has been warning of suspected cases being identified across the state for the past month.

In mid-September, FWP warned they had found suspected EHD in white-tailed deer near Eureka and Plains in northwestern Montana. The commission added the proposed EHD adjustments to Region 6 to Thursday’s meeting agenda on Monday, and FWP on Wednesday announced it had also identified suspected EHD in white-tailed deer along the Clark Fork River near Missoula and Frenchtown, as well as along the Blackfoot River near Lincoln and Potomac.

The concern from the department and commissioners is since the highest concentrations of the virus appear to be in Region 6, continuing to allow hunters to buy up to three white-tailed doe tags — known as 006-00 B tags — could lead to an overharvest of the species when the number of deer killed by hunters is combined with the EHD losses.

FWP Licensing Bureau Chief Emily Cooper said as of Thursday’s meeting, 1,437 of those tags had already been sold this year in the region. Of those who purchased the tags, 169 hunters bought three tags and 175 bought two. Last year, there were 4,788 total sold.

FWP’s initial proposal sought to limit future sales of the license this season to one per person. But after about an hour of discussion — including about whether there should be a limit or full-stop on license sales, or a possible special hunting closure — the commission decided it would cap total sales at 2,000, meaning there would be only 563 of the tags remaining for sale.

The changes also kept in place the prohibition on selling second or third tags to a single hunter, though some commissioners and members of the public wondered if that might create a situation where more hunters are coming to try to fill a single tag.

There was also some concern about overharvest in Region 7, both due to the presence of EHD there and the idea that more Region 6 hunters might head southeast under the new restrictions. But Region 7 Commissioner Bill Lane said regional biologists had advised against any changes to the season there.

“If they do not see the need to put any limitations on it, I at this point don’t feel the need to bring it forward,” he said.

Region 2 Commissioner Jeff Burrows said he would like the commission at some point to consider putting something akin to hoot-owl fishing closures in place for hunting when viruses, prion diseases or other illnesses could greatly affect a targeted species’ population.

Robinson told Region 6 officials she would like to see them come up with a plan in the next year on how the commission could close particular areas along the Milk River in the event a similar outbreak occurs in the future, which most everyone at FWP said Thursday was not currently an easy solution because of the river, Highway 2, and hunting district boundaries.

Before the change to cap the tags in the region at 2,000, Robinson said she was struggling to come up with a good overall solution because she would have liked to have been able to issue a specific closure.

“I don’t really feel this is enough, but I don’t know what we can do that’s a manageable fix for this year,” she said. “But this does hopefully take a big dent out of it.”

And Wakeling said that the recent cooler weather across most of the state, and some hard freezes and snow expected over the weekend and early next week, might spell the end of this year’s EHD threat.

“We’re moving towards winter, and so we would expect a more routine winter pattern,” he said. “When that happens, those vectors that caused and carry that disease, they die, and the problem goes away. The disease is no longer spreading.”

Release from Valley Community Emergency Food Bank:

Today we want to give a big THANK YOU to the Caring Hands organization for the generous donation of $11,000 toward our new building. We can’t do it without generous support like this! Thank you!

The Valley CARE Coalition will be holding a Trunk Or Treat event in the Reynolds Market parking lot on Thursday, October 30th, from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Free popcorn and cocoa will be given out while supplies last. Bring your children for a safe and festive evening, filled with decorated trunks and sweet treats.

If you're interested in decorating your trunk and joining the fun, contact Teresa Garner at tersa.garner@mt.gov

The maximum temperature for last month was 93 on September 1st; the lowest temperature of the month was just 4 days later, on September 5th, when the low hit 39 degrees.

The average high for the month was 81 (normal 72.9) The average low was 49.8 (normal 46.9) The average temp for the month was 65.4, 5.5 degrees above normal.

We only had one day with over one hundredth of an inch of moisture: Glasgow received .21 on September 13th. And only two other days saw anything above a trace: September 11th and 16th Glasgow received one hundredth.

The average precipitation in September is 1.06 inches; this year Glasgow saw just .23 of an inch.

More than 50 volunteers shared their love of ranching and farming, with plans to bring the experience to Glasgow’s Irle Elementary School in 2026.

MALTA, MT – The ranch yard at Hinman Angus was alive with laughter this September as more than 200 Malta Elementary students spent a day learning, tasting, and exploring during Ag Education Day. Students milked a cow, churned cream into butter, felt freshly sheared wool, and discovered how water moves across farmland in a sand irrigation trailer.

By the end of the day, there were dirty clothes, sticky fingers from hand-shaken ice cream, and smiles all around. The goal was simple: help students see, touch, and taste where their food comes from.
“We have a lot of enthusiasm for hosting Ag Day here at Hinman Angus,” said Heidi Lulloff. “All four generations on the ranch participate in the planning and preparing. The day gets students out into the fresh air of a ranch environment and gives them a hands-on opportunity to make connections of food production from pasture to plate. We support every effort to preserve and promote local family farms and ranches to ensure the next generation can continue with the agriculture tradition.”

Organized by Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) and the Phillips County Cattlewomen (PCC) in collaboration with Hinman Angus, more than 50 volunteers from across Phillips County joined in, including neighbors, ranching families, and community groups who ran stations, baked cookies, and shared what they love about agriculture. It was a snapshot of what makes Montana’s Hi-Line special: people who show up, pitch in, and take pride in passing their way of life on to the next generation.

Phillips County stretches wide, with nearly 1.9 million acres of farmland and pasture and more than 70,000 head of cattle. By comparison, the number of Malta students in grades one through five could fill only a few buses. The scale might seem lopsided, but that is what makes this place unique. It is not about the
numbers. It is about the people who keep the connection between land and community alive.

As Mary Oxarart, President of PCC and Education Program Manager for RSA, said, “When you see so many people give their time to teach kids about agriculture, it shows how much we care about the future of both our children and our industry.”

With the success of this year’s event, plans are already underway to bring Ag Education Day back to Malta in 2026. The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance is also in conversation with the Glasgow School District to bring this opportunity to Irle Elementary School in partnership with Valley County ranchers.
For one bright fall day, the classroom had no walls, and the lessons were written in hoofprints, laughter, and community spirit. Ag Education Day was not just about learning where food comes from. It was about celebrating the people who make it all possible and the community we call home.

###

About the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA): The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance believes in a future where ranching and rural communities in the Northern Great Plains are so successful that ranch families never have to consider selling or transitioning their land out of production agriculture. Guided by the stewardship of ranchers, conservation, and community, RSA helps producers strengthen both their operations and the landscapes they depend on. Through educational programs, cost-share opportunities, and community partnerships, RSA works to support ranchers while sustaining wildlife habitat and the rural towns that make this region home.

From the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture: it has come to our attention that a $20.00 counterfeit bill was passed here in Glasgow. Please check your bills very carefully.

The National Weather Service is predicting rain, and possibly some light snow, for areas near the Canadian border and the Little Rockies this weekend.

Winds are expected to increase today (Friday) with a Lake Wind Advisory in effect for Fort Peck Lake from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday highs will reach the upper 70's, but then temperatures will drop to the mid 30's on Saturday night. Winds will increase again, with gusts as high as 35 mph Saturday night, and up to 45 mph on Sunday.

At this point, it looks like the best chance of precipitation will be Saturday night into Sunday morning, with a 70-80% chance. In Glasgow, that should be all rain.

City crews repaired the leaking water main valve before 1 p.m. on Friday, so service has now been restored in the 1st Avenue North and Railroad Alley North areas.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Best Western Great Northern Inn in Havre at 1345 1st Street. The public is welcome to attend.

The meeting will include regional updates from all Region 6 FWP divisions and a CAC roundtable.

Each of FWP’s seven administrative regions has a volunteer CAC to help guide policies and programs. The Region 6 group meets three to four times a year.

FWP ensures that its meetings are fully accessible to persons with disabilities. To request special accommodations for this meeting, please contact 406-228-3700.

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, as well as Representatives Troy Downing (MT-02) and Ryan Zinke (MT-01) today applauded the Senate passage of their bill that removes the harmful Biden-era Miles City Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA), which will further help unleash Made-In-Montana energy.

“Montana energy is back. Biden’s Miles City RMPA was an anti-coal rule that stifled mining in eastern Montana and would have cost many hard-working Montanans their jobs. Mining is a vital part of Montana, providing nearly a thousand well-paying jobs and contributing nearly $3 billion to our state’s economy. That’s why I introduced a bill along with the rest of our Montana delegation to remove this anti-energy rule and support Montana’s coal miners. I’m thrilled to see our resolution pass the U.S. Senate today and look forward to President Trump signing it into law,” said Daines.

“Montanans voted to make America energy dominant, and we are delivering by putting an end to disastrous Biden-era regulations that put our resource economy on life support. As your Senator, one of my top priorities is supporting Montana’s resource economy so we can create jobs, power America, and make Montana energy affordable, accessible, and reliable again. I’ll continue to work alongside President Trump and the Montana delegation to make America energy dominant, protect Montana jobs, and unleash prosperity in Montana’s rural communities,” said Sheehy.

“I’m proud to see my bill to overturn the Biden Administration's outright ban on coal leasing in the Powder River Basin pass the Senate today. H.J. Res. 104 will unleash Montana-made energy, bolstering our national security and ensuring Montanans have access to the affordable, reliable energy they need to thrive for generations to come. I am grateful to Senator Daines for his leadership and to my fellow delegation members for standing side by side with me in championing this legislation. I look forward to watching President Trump sign this bill into law and usher in a new age of American energy dominance,” said Downing.

“The Biden administration’s Miles City Resource Management Plan hurt Montana workers and put America’s energy security at risk. True energy dominance requires an all-of-the-above approach that includes Montana’s clean coal. Our economy runs on reliable, abundant, and affordable power, and that need will only grow with increased demand from AI and data centers. This bill puts Montana back in the driver’s seat to protect jobs and secure our energy future. I look forward to seeing the President sign it into law,” said Zinke.

BOZEMAN — Montana high school students eager to excel at advanced mathematics are invited to register for free mathematics contests set for Wednesday, Nov. 5, and Thursday, Nov. 13, at Montana State University. Exams are administered in person on campus in Bozeman, and results are submitted online and measured against a national competition pool.

The American Mathematics Competition 10/12 contests, hosted by MSU’s Science Math Resource Center in the College of Education, Health and Human Development, were developed by the Mathematical Association of America. The competition series provides an opportunity for high school students to develop improved analytical thinking, problem-solving and advanced mathematics skills.

The AMC 10 exam covers the high school mathematics curriculum through grade 10. AMC 12 covers high school math including trigonometry, advanced algebra and advanced geometry, but excluding calculus. Both exams are 25 questions, multiple choice, and administered in 75 minutes.

The AMC 10 and 12 tests to be given on Nov. 5 (called Test A) and Nov. 13 (Test B) have the same scoring and rules of administration. Test A and Test B examinations are designed to be equal in difficulty and distribution of topics, but the questions are unique to each exam. Students may register for either contest, or both.

Students through 10th grade and under 17 1/2 years old are eligible to participate in AMC 10; students through 12th grade and under 19 1/2 years old may participate in AMC 12. Students who score among the top national participants will be invited to take the American Invitational Mathematics Examination. Top scorers will also receive gift cards.

Competitions are challenging yet presented in a friendly and supportive environment. Organizers hope the contests will help students gain self-confidence, recognize their talents and foster a love for mathematics.

Registration is free for Montana students and is open until Oct. 29 for the Nov. 5 tests and until Nov. 5 for the Nov. 13 tests. For more information, visit www.montana.edu/smrc/stem-outreach/math-circle/american-mathematics-competitions.html or contact the MSU Science Math Resource Center at smrc@montana.edu or 406-994-7476.

The Glasgow School Board will meet on Wednesday at 6pm in the Gary F. Martin Board Room.

Get your trivialocation skills ready for "Bats and Brews Trivia" on Thursday, Oct. 9, starting at 6 p.m. at the Busted Knuckle Taproom in Glasgow.

Join Montana FWP and gather a team of your bat-expert friends for a night of learning about bats and bat conservation, and to have a chance to win some cool prizes!

Thanks to the Busted Knuckle for hosting and for having "Bat Pint Night," as they'll be donating $1 for every pint sold back into bat conservation.

Although overall runoff for September 2025 in the upper Missouri River Basin was above average, runoff in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches continues to be well-below average.

“Beneficial rainfall occurred over central South Dakota and North Dakota in September resulting in well-above average runoff into Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.

“The above-average runoff combined with the lower releases from Gavins Point slightly improves the System storage outlook for the beginning of the 2026 runoff season,” Remus added.

September runoff was 1.3 million acre-feet, 109% of average above Sioux City. Upper Basin contributions from Garrison Dam to Sioux City, IA made up 72% of the September runoff, while the reaches above Garrison Dam contributed 28% of the runoff. By comparison, the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches normally contribute about 65% of September’s upper Basin runoff. Upper Basin runoff for October is forecast to be about 75% of average, due to ongoing below-average forecasts in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches. The updated 2025 calendar year forecast for the upper Basin is 19.6 MAF, 76% of average. Average annual runoff for the upper Basin is 25.7 MAF.

As of Oct. 1, the total volume of water stored in the System was 50.4 MAF, which is 5.7 MAF below the base of the System’s flood control zone. System storage will continue to decline through the fall. The updated reservoir studies indicate that the System storage is expected to be 48.5 MAF at the start of the 2026 runoff season, approximately 7.6 MAF below the base of flood control.

Winter Release Rate

As per the criteria in the Master Manual, the winter release rate is determined based on the Sept. 1 System storage. Per the Sept. 1 System storage, winter releases from Gavins Point Dam will be at least 12,000 cfs. In anticipation of the low winter releases, a letter was sent to water users downstream of Gavins Point Dam making them aware of the planned releases and encouraging them to assess the risk to their facilities.

Draft Annual Operating Plan

On Sept. 30, the draft 2025-2026 Annual Operating Plan was posted online at: https://go.mil/mr-meetings. The comment period on the draft AOP will close on Nov. 26.

Fort Peck Dam

Average releases past month – 9,100 cfs
Current release rate – 4,000 cfs
Forecast average release rate –4,000 cfs
End-of-September reservoir level – 2222.5 feet (down 1.9 feet since August 31)
Forecast end-of-October reservoir level – 2222.1 feet
The forecast reservoir releases and elevations discussed above are not definitive. Additional precipitation, lack of precipitation or other circumstances could cause adjustments to the reservoir release rates.

Hydropower:

The six mainstem power plants generated 637 million kWh of electricity in September. Typical energy generation for September is 900 million kWh. The power plants are projected to generate 7.7 billion kWh of electricity this year, compared to the long-term average of 9.4 billion kWh.

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is announcing and inviting the public to comment on a proposal that will resurface about 6 miles of US Highway 2 (US 2) northwest of Glasgow. The project begins about 9 miles west of Glasgow, near mile marker 531.8, and extends southeast, ending near Richardson Coulee.

Proposed work includes milling the existing surface, applying a new overlay, and finishing with a seal and cover (chip seal), upgraded pavement markings, signage, and rumble strips. The purpose of the project is to eliminate wheel line rutting and extend the life of the existing pavement to enhance safety and reduce maintenance costs.

Construction is tentatively planned for 2027 depending on completion of design and availability of funds. No new right-of-way or utility relocations will be needed.

Partnering with the community is an important part of properly planning for future projects. MDT welcomes the public to provide ideas and comments on the proposed project. Comments may be submitted online at mdt.mt.gov/contact/comment-form.aspx or in writing to Montana Department of Transportation, Glendive office, PO Box 890, Glendive, MT 59330-0890. Please note that comments are for project UPN 10672000.

The public is encouraged to contact Glendive District Preconstruction Engineer Jim Frank at 406-345-8214 or Project Design Engineer Steve Heidner at 406-345-8247 with questions or comments about the project.

For more information about active MDT projects around the state, please visit our website and MDT’s five-year Tentative Construction Plan.

MDT is a workforce of over 2,000 people across Montana determined to do all we can so that you arrive at your destination safely. Our mission is to build, operate, and maintain a safe and resilient transportation system. For more information, visit mdt.mt.gov.

Press Release from Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer:

It has come to our attention that SCAM artists are calling local citizens of Valley County, telling them they have a warrant of arrest (for missing jury duty) and if you do not pay $$$ you will be taken to jail.
Do Not Fall For This SCAM - or any Scam such as this.

The Valley County Sheriff's Office will never call to tell you to pay money to clear a Warrant. We will never ask you to send money by way of WESTERN UNION. We will never ask you to send $$ via PAYPAL. PERIOD.

If you have a Warrant, Summons, Civil Papers that needs to be served to you, Valley County Sheriff Deputies will come to your house to serve you in person. If we cannot reach you at your home, after multiple attempts, we may try your place of work. Sometimes we will call you and ask for a convenient time to meet you or have you come to the office in person to receive your paperwork.
If you have a Warrant of Arrest we will simply come arrest you.

If you receive a scam phone call please notify dispatch on the non emergency number 406-228-4333 opt#2 and provide as much detail as possible about the interaction with the scammers. Providing phone numbers they called from (typically it will say No Caller ID), any identifiers like names, PayPal addresses, or Western Union account numbers can help us track down the perpetrators of this crime.
Lastly, if you believe a scammer is on the phone with you, it is okay to just hang up. Do not provide any personal information, account numbers, social security numbers, etc. You can call the Sheriff's Office to verify what you were told on the phone.

Please protect yourself and pass this on to your friends and family.

Sheriff Boyer

The Glasgow City Council will meet tonight at 5pm in the Council Chambers at the Glasgow Civic Center.

The Montana Weed Control Association will have the 2025 Fall Training at the Fort Peck Interpretive Center on Wednesday and Thursday, October 15th & 16th. Both sessions begin at 8 a.m. - Wednesday ends with a catered dinner at the Cottonwood Inn.

Applicator credits are available for those who attend. Contact Levi Capdeville, 406-263-9333, to register or for more information.

The Glasgow School enrollment is holding steady according to the latest enrollment report presented to the Glasgow School Board.

Kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment stands at 760 students. This is an increase from 759 students during the last enrollment count.

Current enrollment:

Kindergarten-43
1st grade- 57
2nd grade- 69
3rd grade- 53
4th grade- 69
5th grade- 71
6th grade- 54
7th grade- 54
8th grade- 66
9th grade- 62
10th grade- 50
11th grade- 53
12th grade- 59

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday the federal government would make some announcement early next week to provide "substantial support" for farmers.

In an interview on CNBC, Bessent said it is unfortunate that Chinese leadership has decided to use soybean farmers "as a hostage or pawn" in the trade dispute.

Bessent said he spoke with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday about some type of support for farmers.

"You should expect some news on Tuesday (Oct. 7) on substantial support for our farmers, especially soybean farmers. They have had President Trump's back and we have their back," Bessent said.

It's unclear what authority the Treasury Department would have to provide aid to farmers, or if Bessent was speaking about USDA using its funds from the Commodity Credit Corp. (CCC).

Donald Trump on Wednesday had posted on social media that "soybeans will be a major topic of discussion" next month when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump also has suggested taking tariff dollars to provide support to farmers.

Trump's post had an immediate positive effect on soybean prices, pushing up futures prices 20 cents on Wednesday and more than 5 cents a bushel on Thursday.

Rollins was on Fox Business News early Thursday pressing the White House narrative and Republican narrative that Democrats are to blame for the shutdown. Rollins said this will affect farmers and people who rely on nutrition programs.

"It's abandoning our farmers. It's sort of one thing after another with these Democrats and here we are again," Rollins said. She added, "Negotiations are fine. Our vice president said that yesterday, willing to always negotiate. But to hold our farmers hostage, our mothers and children hostage under WIC, all of these government programs are coming to a screeching halt."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., raised concerns about Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices being closed during the shutdown.

"FSA employees are important to the farmers that we all represent. Again, that's an unnecessary consequence of the Schumer shutdown," Thune told Politico.

Republicans have laid a lot of the blame for the shutdown on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who drew criticism from Democrats last spring because he supported a funding bill that kept the government open.

Thune added, "I hope they can find ways to keep the FSA offices open and (I) certainly encourage that," he said. "But you know, the quickest way to end the conversation about that is to reopen the government."

Source: DTN

Rain will move into NE Montana Saturday morning and continue Saturday afternoon and evening before diminishing late Saturday night and Sunday morning. Here are the probabilities of a quarter of an inch or more.

Recently, Stan Ozark has been highlighting energy production in Montana. The information comes from the Energy Information Agency which is affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy.

You can access the full report here: https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=MT

Montana, known as Big Sky State, is the fourth-largest state by total area. It is landlocked and bordered by Idaho to the west, Wyoming to the south, and North Dakota and South Dakota to the east. To the north, Montana has a 545-mile border with three Canadian provinces.

The state is rich in both fossil fuels and renewable resources and is a net supplier of energy to the rest of the nation. Three-tenths of the nation's estimated recoverable coal reserves are in Montana, and the northern and eastern areas of the state contain deposits of crude oil and natural gas.

The Continental Divide runs along the state's western mountains, making Montana the only state in the nation with rivers that drain into the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Canada's Hudson Bay. The Missouri River, the longest river in the United States, starts in the Rocky Mountains in western Montana and flows eastward across the state. The river and its tributaries offer substantial hydroelectric energy resources.

Montana's western mountains, which range in elevation from 1,800 to 12,800 feet, create a climate with snowy winters and cool summers, with large variations in temperature, in the western one-third of the state. The central and eastern two-thirds of the state, which are part of the Northern Great Plains, experience warm summers and cold winters. The state's vast plains provide Montana with some of the best wind resources in the nation. Montana has the third-lowest population density among U.S. states, averaging about 7 people per square mile. Montana's population crossed the 1 million threshold in 2012 and continues to grow, but still ranks among the 10 states with the fewest residents. Montana's residents are clustered in and around a few cities, mainly in the valleys of the Missouri River and its tributaries. Much of the eastern third of the state has, on average, less than one resident per square mile. Montana ranks second only to Texas with almost 58 million acres of land in farms and ranches.

Montana's early economy was built around mining, ranching, wheat farming, and timber. After World War II, spurred by popular destinations such as Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, tourism increased. In 1970, tourism surpassed mining to become the second-largest industry in the state after agriculture. Today, finance, insurance, real estate, rentals, and leasing are the largest contributors to the state's GDP, but energy resource extraction and mining continue to be significant parts of the state's economy. Mining, crude oil and natural gas production, petroleum refining, and agricultural industries are all energy-intensive. Those industries, as well as the amount of transportation fuels used to travel long distances within the state and the state's small population, help place Montana's per capita energy consumption near the top one-third of the states, even though its total energy consumption is among the 10 lowest states.

Montana’s residential sector per capita energy consumption ranks among the top five states.

The industrial sector leads Montana's end-use energy consumption, accounting for 30% of the state total, followed by the transportation sector at 29%. The residential sector makes up 23% of the state's energy use, and the commercial sector accounts for 18%. Montana's summer heat can exceed 100°F on the plains and winter can bring bitterly cold subzero temperatures.33 The state's temperature extremes and its small population contribute to Montana's residential sector being among the top five states with the highest per capita energy consumption.

Stability is the name of the game to start October with the national average for a gallon of regular the same as it was one week ago at $3.15. Tis the season for lower gas prices as demand drops and gas stations make the switch to winter-blend gasoline which is cheaper to produce. Crude oil supply remains robust as OPEC+ – a group of oil-producing countries – is likely to announce in the coming days another production increase in November. That surplus coupled with weaker demand is keeping pump prices down, even as some U.S. refineries are expected to go offline this month for seasonal maintenance.

Today’s National Average: $3.159

One Week Ago: $3.157

One Month Ago: $3.186

One Year Ago: $3.196

In Montana, the average price is $3.12 per gallon which is .14 cents cheaper than one year ago. In Valley County, the average price is $3.12 per gallon and the cheapest gasoline in Montana can be found in Dawson County where its $2.91 per gallon.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased from 8.95 million b/d last week to 8.51 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 216.6 million barrels to 220.7 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.3 million barrels per day.

Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI fell 59 cents to settle at $61.78 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 1.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 416.5 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

State Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.64), Washington ($4.53), Hawaii ($4.49), Oregon ($4.17), Nevada ($3.90), Alaska ($3.87), Arizona ($3.54), Idaho ($3.49), Utah ($3.39), and Illinois ($3.34).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($2.65), Mississippi ($2.70), Louisiana ($2.74), Texas ($2.75), Arkansas ($2.75), Tennessee ($2.78), Alabama ($2.79), Missouri ($2.81), Wisconsin ($2.81), and South Carolina ($2.81).

A Wolf Point man accused of stabbing an individual on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges last week, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Lawrence George Fast Horse, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of domestic assault by habitual offender. Fast Horse faces 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been set for January 29, 2025. Fast Horse was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on August 2, 2024, Lawrence George Fast Horse stabbed Jane Doe in Poplar. Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and observed a stab wound on Jane Doe’s upper back. An officer searched Fast Horse at the scene and located a knife with brass knuckles attached to it in his right-side shorts pocket.

A witness provided a verbal and written statement to law enforcement. The witness advised that Fast Horse and Jane Doe were arguing, and Fast Horse pushed Jane Doe from behind. The witness saw Fast Horse attempt to conceal a blade behind his back. Fast Horse was arrested and subsequently transported to the Fort Peck Adult Correctional Facility. Jane Doe was taken to Poplar Community Hospital where she was treated for three stab wounds.

Fast Horse has been convicted of at least 5 prior domestic assaults between 2008 and 2020.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

From Glasgow National Weather Service Office:

With September now a memory, let’s look back at how the precipitation totals have been compared to normal so far this year. A few locations (Circle, Jordan and Plentywood areas) have received close to normal, but most of the area received less than normal. Also, much of this precipitation came later than expected (mainly in July). This may have put additional stress on some of the crops grown in the area.

UPDATE

09/30/2025

The Fort Peck Tribes Law Enforcement would like to inform the community that Tribal Officers detained Ethan Louis Murphy without incident. The situation was handled swiftly and safely, and there were no injuries or issues during the process.

We thank the community for their cooperation and support, and we commend all officers involved for their professionalism and dedication to maintaining peace and safety throughout Fort Peck.

Thanks to all Agencies involved: Wolf Point Police Department, Roosevelt County Sheriffs Office, Wolf Point Fire Department, NEMH services, Border Patrol, and Montana Highway Patrol.

Montana homeowners have until Wednesday, Oct. 1, to apply for rebates of up to $400 on their 2024 property tax bills, claiming relief that is one component of a bipartisan push by lawmakers and Gov. Greg Gianforte to address rising residential tax bills.

According to the Montana Department of Revenue, the rebates are available for single-family homes, apartments, condos and mobile homes owned and occupied by Montana taxpayers for at least seven months in 2024.

Properties owned by limited liability corporations and some types of trusts are ineligible. The Legislature also did not provide for rebates for renters, who typically pay their landlords’ property taxes via their rent.

Taxpayers can apply for the rebate via the revenue department website at getmyrebate.mt.gov. The application requires the property owner’s name and Social Security number as well as the property’s Montana Cadastral system geocode. Taxpayers who paid less than $400 in 2024 property taxes will also need to provide the amount of taxes billed on tax notice sent to them by their county treasurer last fall.

The rebates were part of the second-home tax and homestead tax relief package passed by the Legislature and signed by Gianforte, a Republican, earlier this year. Other provisions of the package rework tax calculations to reduce bills for owner-occupied and long-term rental residences. Those provisions will take effect starting with the 2025 tax bills that will be mailed this fall.

The state previously provided larger rebates of up to $675 on homeowner taxes billed in 2023 and 2022.

More information about the rebates and application process is available on the revenue department website.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing a second Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payment to eligible producers for the 2024 crop year. Of the authorized $10 billion in ECAP assistance, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has already provided over $8 billion in payments to eligible producers to mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made the announcement at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City.

“Initial ECAP payments were factored by 85% to ensure that total program payments did not exceed $10 billion in available funding. Since additional funds remain, FSA is issuing a second payment,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Brooke Appleton. “As producers continue to face market volatility, these payments along with the entire suite of supplemental disaster assistance programs, will help producers navigate market uncertainty, pay down debt for the 2024 crop year, and secure financing for the next crop year.”

Payments will automatically be made to eligible producers with approved ECAP applications who received an initial payment. Any application approved after Sept. 25, 2025, will receive one lump sum payment. Authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, these economic relief payments are based on planted and prevented planted crop acres for eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year.

ECAP Payments

FSA is issuing a second payment ECAP equal to 14% of the gross ECAP payment to eligible producers, making the final payment factor 99%.

ECAP assistance is calculated using a flat payment rate for the eligible commodity multiplied by the eligible reported acres. Payments are based on acreage and not production. For acres reported as prevented planted, ECAP assistance is calculated at 50%.

Additional USDA Supplemental Disaster Assistance

In addition to the over $8 billion in ECAP payments, USDA has issued more than $1 billion in Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) assistance to livestock producers impacted by drought and federally managed lands wildfires in 2023 and 2024 with an additional $1 billion in expected payments for livestock producers impacted by floods and non-federally managed land wildfires in 2023 and 2024 (ELRP 2023/2023 FW). Livestock producers have until Oct. 31, 2025, to apply for (ELRP 2023/2023 FW) assistance. Producers have also received over $5.4 billion through Stage 1 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program for indemnified crop losses in 2023 and 2024. SDRP Stage 2 assistance for uncovered, quality, and shallow losses will be announced soon.

Two Rivers is pleased to announce its participation in the 2025 Reimagining Rural Roadshow, hosted by Montana State University Extension’s Community Vitality Team. The event will be held October 1–2, 2025 in Glasgow, bringing together community leaders, volunteers, regional and state organizations, and professionals for two days of collaboration, learning, and action.

What Is the Reimagining Rural Roadshow?

The Roadshow is designed to fuel rural vitality by connecting people doing the work on the ground with the resources, ideas, and networks that can help them succeed. It features workshops, panels, local tours, lightning talks, round-table sessions, and networking opportunities. Topics include rural housing, historic preservation, tourism, workforce development, and partnerships that make projects more sustainable.

Event Details

Date & Time:
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 — Check-in at 11:30 AM; local tour from 1:00-5:00 PM; Welcome Reception at 5:00-6:00 PM.
Thursday, October 2, 2025 — Registration and light breakfast at 8:30 AM; programming until about 3:00 PM.

Location:
Cottonwood Inn (check-in and tour), Busted Knuckle Tap Room (welcome reception), Glasgow, Montana.

Registration:
$30 per person (payment by card or check). Includes breakfast and lunch on Thursday.

Two Rivers’ Role & Why It Matters

Two Rivers sees this Roadshow as a vital opportunity to support and amplify rural communities’ efforts to build capacity, leverage local assets, and address common challenges. By participating, Two Rivers aims to:

• Share expertise and help catalyze actionable partnerships.

• Learn from other communities’ best practices in areas like housing, tourism, historic preservation, and community development.

• Connect Glasgow rural communities to regional and statewide resources.

“Rural communities are uniquely positioned to lead innovation in place-making, collaboration, and resiliency,” said Shyanne Wallace, Executive Director of Two Rivers Economic Growth. “We’re excited for the chance to come together, exchange ideas, and leave with momentum and concrete tools.”

Agenda Highlights

• Potholes Happen, Good Partners Make the Ride Smoother – a panel on how collaborations can smooth the path for rural projects, featuring Glasgow’s successful wayfinding project.

• Lightning Talks covering hot topics: Rural Capacity; Recreation & Amenities (“There’s Nothing to Do in this Darn Town!”); Rural Housing; Small Towns with Old Buildings.

• Speed-Dating Resources – meet regional/state agencies and people who can assist with grants, planning, historic preservation, infrastructure, etc.

• Round-Table Topics include Tourism, Workforce, Brownfields, Montana Historic Preservation Grants, among others.

Sponsors & Support

This event is made possible through the generous sponsorship of: NeighborWorks Montana; High Plains Architects; KLJ Engineering; Montana Department of Commerce, and the Glasgow TBID.

From Fort Peck Tribal Law Enforcement:
Wanted:
Ethan Louis Murphy
10/28/1998
5’11
165
Green eyes
Brown hair
Multiple face and neck tattoos
Small build and light complexion
Consider armed and dangerous
Please contact 406 653-6240, 911 or local Law Enforcement.
Anyone hiding or harboring Murphy will be charged.
$1,000 dollar reward for information resulting in his apprehension.

Press Release from Wolf Point Police Department:

Law enforcement continues to actively search for Ethan Murphy, who remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. The investigation has determined this is likely an isolated incident, with several leads currently being pursued. Residents are advised to exercise caution. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Wolf Point Police Department or 911 immediately.

Press Release
Date/Time: On 09/28/25 at approximately 2040 hours.
Incident Location: 415 Blaine Street, Albertsons Parking Lot
Incident Type: Shooting
Suspect: Ethan Murphy
Age: 26

Incident Summary: On September 28, 2025, at approximately 8:40 PM, an officer from the Wolf Point Police Department responded to a reported shooting. Upon arrival, Officer Bushman discovered one deceased individual and another person with a gunshot wound. Officer Bushman provided immediate medical assistance to the injured individual until emergency medical services arrived, and the victim was transported to Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point. The names of the victims are being withheld pending notification of their families.

The suspect, Ethan Murphy, remains at large. Wolf Point residents are urged to shelter in place for their safety and to call 911 immediately if they see Ethan Murphy. Additional responding agencies included the Fort Peck Tribes Patrol and Criminal Investigation Unit, Wolf Point Fire Department, and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office.

Scottie Homecoming Coronation was held Thursday afternoon!

2025 Scottie Homecoming King and Queen

Wyatt Sugg and Tessa Miller!!

Congratulations!

Story from Northern Ag Network:

While recognizing that U.S. agriculture is “under threat,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told agricultural leaders that farming’s future “could not be brighter.” In a wide-ranging speech, Rollins laid out an agenda for supporting crop producers while teasing plans to rebuild the U.S. cattle herd.

In an immediate announcement, Rollins said the final $2 billion under the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) “will be delivered within a week” to producers.

Rollins spoke Thursday at the Ag Outlook Forum in downtown Kansas City, Mo. In her remarks, Rollins placed a large share of blame for the current economic challenges on the Biden administration, noting the Biden administration didn’t negotiate any trade deals, which led the agricultural deficit to balloon. At the same time, expenses have increased dramatically since the last Trump administration.

“We know that agriculture in our country is under threat,” Rollins said.

She added later that trade disruptions have led to immediate consequences affecting a range of commodities. “But we also know that as the President is looking at the long-term fix, the complete realignment of the world economy around American agriculture and American goods, that there are bills that are due this month as we move into harvest. There are loans that have to be secured in the next eight to 12 weeks to plant for next year, that there are mouths to feed, and we have to make some difficult decisions right now. I do not have a silver bullet.”

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday President Trump also suggested in an Oval Office event that an aid program for farmers could be coming soon.

“We’re going to take some of that tariff money that we made, we’re going to give it to our farmers who are — for a little while — going to be hurt,” Trump said while taking questions. “So we’re going to make sure that our farmers are in great shape, because we’re taking in a lot of money.”

In a press conference, Rollins touched on the impact of President Trump’s tariffs and efforts to realign global trade. Rollins acknowledged this has led to market disruption for some key commodities. “We knew there would be a time of uncertainty, and that’s the moment that we’re in right now,” she said.

Rollins told reporters an aid package would likely happen. However, such an announcement would likely not happen until after Congress and the Trump administration resolve whether there will be a government shutdown next week.

“We are not ready to announce a payment plan yet … but we are very close to understanding and knowing and announcing what we will do,” she said.

The secretary pointed out $8 billion has been paid to more than 500,000 producers under ECAP. Another $5 million has gone out to producers this year under the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) for natural-disaster losses in 2023 and 2024.

CHINA MARKET STILL AN OPEN QUESTION

Asked about what it will take to reach a trade deal with China, Rollins said she is in frequent talks with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Rollins noted there are “significant dynamics and nuances at play” in those talks, and she is committed to not second-guessing the president and his strategy.

“I’ve been next to him almost 10 years now, but what I will do is ensure that those that are negotiating and they do fully understand some of the consequences of especially to our soybean growers with zero purchase orders right now and a very robust historical crop,” she said. “But it goes to the most you know, the bigger question, the longer-term vision, and that is, we have to get these markets open. We have to stop relying on one country, perhaps as our largest buyer, and that’s a country that isn’t aligned with our values.”

Rollins acknowledged other commodities, such as sorghum, also rely heavily on China.

Rollins had highlighted to the Outlook crowd some of the other trade deals that the Trump administration had reached with Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the European Union to boost agricultural sales outside of China. Combined with more funding for cooperative groups to promote agricultural trade, Rollins said she expects farmers will see better trade prospects a year from now.

“I know that right now, today, we have yet to see a marked difference; but by next year, we believe so sincerely in my meetings with these cooperators and the buyers overseas, the future could not be brighter,” she said.

PRESSURE ON INPUT PRICES

Rollins also said she is going to become more vocal with the Federal Reserve to press for more interest-rate reductions going forward.

“You may or may not have heard President Trump talk about this, forcing all to borrow money at elevated interest rates. I’m not sure anyone feels this pain more than our farmers and ranchers. The Fed needs to keep lowering rates so farmers and rural communities can finally see relief, and I’ll be talking about that as we move toward the next meeting of the Fed,” she said.

When it comes to fertilizer, fuel and other inputs, Rollins noted fertilizer prices have increased 37% over the last five years. The high input prices have led USDA and the Department of Justice to sign a memorandum of understanding earlier this year to protect farmers and ranchers from higher input prices and ensure competitive supply chains. Rollins said the Antitrust Division “will work hand-in-hand with USDA effective immediately to take a hard look and scrutinize competitive conditions in the agricultural marketplace,” Rollins said.

“Farmers have enough challenges to deal with; sky-high input prices should not be one of them,” Rollins said.

The secretary also pointed to efforts within the Trump administration to reduce costs for the H-2A migrant labor program. The Labor Department has streamlined the interview process for returning H-2A workers and USDA has eliminated the Farm Labor Survey, which was being used to set “artificially inflated” wages for H-2A workers, she said.

CATTLE INDUSTRY PLANS

Rollins also clarified plans announced last weekend to “rebuild the American cattle supply.” The statement was made in a news release about New World screwworm. It stated the Trump administration planned to “incentivize” ranchers to expand the national cattle herd, which is now the smallest in 75 years.

The secretary said incentives would not include payments to cattle producers. There were a lot of immediate questions within the cattle industry over whether USDA would look to pay producers to hold back heifers to breed. Rollins made it clear that it does not mean a payment program.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about this in the news in the last couple of days, we have no current plans to offer any payment to beef producers,” Rollins said. “We see how the government getting involved can completely distort the markets. And so currently, there will be no plan — no plan is even under consideration — to insert ourselves through payments into the beef cattle industry.”

Still, Rollins said Americans continue to eat more meat. The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) plans in the Trump administration and new dietary guidelines are likely to champion protein products such as beef, pork and dairy, Rollins said.

“As we move forward, low inventory and high demand is not sustainable if we wish to be a country that can feed ourselves,” Rollins said. “Like so many of the problems that you face, our cattle inventory, unfortunately, cannot be built, rebuilt overnight.

USDA plans to announce “a new cattle business strategy” in mid-October — assuming a government shutdown doesn’t delay those plans. Rollins said the plans would include “opening up more working lands” to livestock and expanding risk management tools for livestock producers. The plan will also include Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, which implies some type of incentive to graze more cattle on federal land.

Rollins concluded, “Despite the ongoing storms, I am confident that our best days in American agriculture are truly ahead.”

A Wolf Point man who assaulted two individuals on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced this week to 48 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Philip Ray Azure, 22, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The first incident occurred on March 16, 2023, when Azure went to John Doe’s residence in Wolf Point, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Azure and John Doe were friends and were drinking alcohol together. Azure became intoxicated and was asked to leave for being too loud. A family member of Doe’s, who also lives in the home, started to walk Azure out. As he was leaving, Azure struck the family member. John Doe confronted Azure about hitting his family member. Azure pulled out a knife and stabbed Doe in the chest and then turned and walked away without saying anything.

Doe was rushed to the hospital for treatment of his serious injuries and later airlifted to Billings for surgery. After surgery to repair his lung, Doe spent a week in the hospital.

The second incident happened on January 27, 2024. Azure and several friends, including two co-defendants, and the victim, John Doe 2, were in a yard in Wolf Point, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, playing a game of “slap-boxing.” The fighting escalated and eventually the group separated. Azure and his co-defendants returned home, and John Doe 2 arrived a short time later asking for his phone. Azure and his co-defendants exited the home and confronted Doe 2 in the driveway.

Several people witnessed the assault. One witness described seeing Azure and his co-defendants hitting John Doe 2 and saw someone using a bat and someone else using a hammer. A second witness saw Azure and his two co-defendants approach Doe 2 while he backed away and said all three “jumped” Doe 2. That witness saw Azure use a bat during the assault.

Doe 2 died at the scene before law enforcement arrived. According to an autopsy, he died from blunt and sharp force injuries to the head and chest, including a stab wound to the chest that perforated Doe 2’s sternum, heart, and esophagus.

Azure was arrested the day after the second assault. He initially claimed he wasn’t there when Doe 2 was assaulted. He later admitted he was involved but didn’t remember the details because he was intoxicated. He claimed Doe 2 had a big knife and he ultimately hit Doe 2 with a bat to stop him from using the knife. None of the other witnesses reported seeing Doe 2 with a knife.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, and Wolf Point Police Department conducted the investigation.

A Poplar man who sexually abused a minor was sentenced this week to 54 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Jonathan Robert Walking Eagle, 23, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on January 24 and 25, 2023, Walking Eagle, then 20 years old, sexually abused a 14-year-old girl on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, in both Poplar and Wolf Point.

The first incident occurred on January 24, 2023, in Poplar. The victim went with Walking Eagle to his mother’s house, and they unprotected sex. The second incident occurred the next day, in Wolf Point. A friend of Walking Eagle’s picked up Walking Eagle and the victim and drove them to Wolf Point, where the victim used marijuana and vaped. She became lightheaded and Walking Eagle removed her clothes and sexually assaulted her.

A SANE exam was completed on the victim and saliva samples were obtained from Walking Eagle. There was very strong support that his DNA was present in the samples obtained from the victim during her exam.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Fort Peck Tribal Police, and Wolf Point Police Department, with assistance from the Williston Police Department.

Some good news for the oil and gas industry: North Dakota saw a slight increase in production in July.

The state saw roughly 2,150 more barrels a day compared to June, sitting at just under 36 million barrels for July.

Gas production was nearly 2% more than in June, extracting more than 3.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day.

At Tuesday’s director’s cut, a state official said the Bison Xpress Project is still set to be completed by next March.

Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad responded to the question of what gas flow market shares look like between the Rockies and the Midwest.

“We’ve got about 5-10% of North Dakota’s natural gas production that stays locally within the North Dakota-Eastern Montana region. The rest of that moves out of state,” said Kringstad.

Kringstad said when the Bison Xpress project kicks off, there will be higher numbers of Bakken gas moving into the Rockies.

The Glasgow Scottie Homecoming Parade is set for Friday afternoon. Here is the parade lineup. The Scottie canon will be part of the parade and it sounds like the canon will be set off to start the parade!

Everyone is invited to Unleashing the Scotties at 6:40 p.m. on Friday before the football game. Please show up a few minutes beforehand to line up and cheer on the Scotties as they walk from the gym entrance down to the field. Lineups will start at 6:30 p.m.

Story credit to Montana Free Press:

Barry Beach, the man who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit, will soon finish the commuted probationary sentence issued by a former Montana governor who once argued for his lifetime imprisonment.

Speaking on Sept. 18 at a three-day conference presented by Montana Free Press, Beach said his 10-year probationary sentence, issued by former Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock in 2015, was ending soon.

“The notification came out this morning on the Victim Information Network that Barry Beach is about to be released from probation,” he told an audience at Montana State University. The announcement drew applause. VINE, as the network is known, indicates that Beach’s probation ends Nov. 17.

Beach, who turns 63 this year, was sentenced in 1984 to 100 years in prison for the 1979 murder of Kimberly Nees. It was a crime that Beach confessed to years later during a seven-hour interrogation in Louisiana. His stepmother, fearing that her daughter was going to run away with Beach in 1983, told the Ouachita sheriff’s department that Beach was a Montana murder suspect. After four days in jail and a seven-hour interrogation, Beach made his confession but later recanted.

After police brought him back to Montana, Beach was tried in Roosevelt County. The special prosecutor in the 1984 trial was Marc Racicot, who was later twice elected as Montana’s Republican governor in the 1990s. Racicot still maintains that Beach is guilty, and argued in 2014 against granting Beach clemency.

Several details about the murder didn’t point to Beach. A bloody handprint on the side of the victim’s vehicle wasn’t a match for Nees or Beach. The victim had been dragged 100 yards to the Poplar River, but footprints along the path weren’t a match for Beach.

“There are no forensic matches in any way, any shape, any form,” Beach said. “But my beloved Marc Racicot has stated several times that I am not credible because my story has changed. Let’s bring that focus into the state of Montana and their focus of the bloody palm print that was found on the side of the vehicle where the assailant drug the victim out of the pickup. What the forensic science proves is when they drug the victim out of the pickup, they put their palm on the side of the cab to pull.

“And there’s a bloody palm print the state of Montana and Marc Racicot has changed their theory on that palm print four different times. Now, 20, 40, some years later, the belief is that palm print is absolutely of no value, when the FBI, the Roosevelt County sheriff and every other law enforcement in the state for 15 years used that palm print to eliminate suspects, except for me, by the way. That’s my point about forensic science. We need to work on our court system and get back to the fundamentals of what we believe our court system is supposed to do.”

Centurion Ministries, a nonprofit organization that takes up cases for what it says are the wrongly convicted, attracted media attention to Beach’s case in 2008. That year, the investigative NBC news program “Dateline” featured the Barry Beach story and raised questions about whether Beach was the killer, based primarily on evidence presented by Centurion, which at the time had succeeded in freeing 52 people.

He was never exonerated, but eventually Beach inspired a change to Montana law granting the governor sole authority on commutations. The change limited the power of the state parole board, which had blocked a previous attempt by Beach seeking parole.

Bullock, who as attorney general argued against Beach’s release from prison, commuted Beach’s sentence in 2015 to credit for time served, plus 10 years probation.Speaking on Sept. 18, Beach credited several Democrats for persuading Bullock to make the commutation.

“I’m extremely grateful to them because they’re the ones who rallied the press and convinced Gov. Bullock to utilize his power,” Beach said.

Beach appeared at Montana Free Press Fest as a session-ending keynote speaker with long-time friend Marcia Price. Price was part of a group of volunteers who worked for Beach’s release a decade ago, then helped him transition to life on the outside.

Centurion in 2008 attempted to get Beach another trial based on new evidence. The request was denied in a lower court, but the Montana Supreme Court in 2009 ordered that the request for a new trial be reconsidered. In 2011, a different district court judge reviewed the new evidence and threw out Beach’s original conviction. That December, Beach was released from custody, but the state Supreme Court in 2013 overturned his release, ordering him back to prison, after 18 months on the outside, to serve out his life sentence.

One supporter offered Beach $10,000 and a car to drive into Canada rather than return to prison. But Beach said he had to surrender to the state.

“I had made a promise to Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries that no matter what the outcome was, he had my word I would turn myself in if I had to,” Beach said. “It’s never been so hard in my life to keep a promise.”

Price was with Beach at a Billings bank when they learned that he had to turn himself in immediately. He had been living as a free man, with a car, bank account and steady employment as a handyman. They went to the sheriff’s office so Beach could surrender.

“They were standing there waiting for us, and he started taking off his belt and his eyeglasses, and gave me the car keys,” Price told the audience. “And then he came back and he said, ‘No, I’m not gonna let him do that to me.’ And he put his belt back on and his glasses, and he said, they’ll take him away from me, but I don’t want to look like that when I walk in.’”

It was May 2013 when Beach turned himself in. He remained in prison serving the same 100-year sentence he received in 1984, until November 2015 when Bullock granted Beach clemency.

Beach finished his talk by recommending changes to the corrections system. He said that no prison stay should be shorter than five years.

“If you’re going to spend the taxpayers’ dollars to send somebody to prison, make sure they’re going to stay there for at least five years. If they are not there between five to 10 years, day for day, prison doesn’t hit them,” Beach said. “These people that you’re sending into prison, and they’re doing a year and a half, two years, three years, and getting out on parole and coming back and doing six months and getting out on parole, you’re wasting taxpayers’ money.”

Prisoners need to be incarcerated long enough to reflect on what they’ve lost, Beach said. At five years, a prisoner’s contact with the outside world fade away, he told the audience.

“I do not believe we should ever, ever, ever keep anybody in prison for more than 25 years,” Beach added. “You are wasting taxpayers’ dollars if you’re fighting to keep somebody beyond 25 years. That means that the prison system has not reformed them. And if you can’t reform them within 25 years, you have failed, and you don’t need my money to try again for the next 20 years.”

Montana Department of Transportation is in the planning stage of a major highway rehabilitation in Valley County. Highway #24 from Fort Peck to Glasgow is set to be totally redone at a cost of $26 million. The project is estimated to start construction in 2026.

FORT PECK - NORTHWEST

This Rehabilitation project (8716000) is in design and construction is anticipated in Calendar Year 2026. The estimated cost for construction is $26,000,000.

PROJECT LOCATION:

Glendive District
Valley County
MDT Corridor Route C000042N between Reference Markers 59.550 and 73.300.

SIGNED ROUTE/STREET NAME: MONTANA 24, MONTANA 42

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Located along MT Highway 24 northwest of Fort Peck enroute to Glasgow and is 13.8 miles in length. The project includes pulverization of the existing surface followed by a new overlay, widening of the roadway to include 2-foot shoulders, chip seal, rumble strips, upgraded signing and pavement markings. Additionally, guardrail end sections will be updated, and any incorrectly installed rail will be repaired or reset.

The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance on Monday that provides tax relief for farmers and ranchers in applicable states and regions who sold or exchanged livestock because of drought conditions.

Under the guidance, farmers and ranchers may take more time to replace their livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales or exchanges.

Counties in our area that qualify include: Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Hill, Liberty, Phillps and Valley.

The tax relief generally applies to capital gains realized by eligible farmers and ranchers from sales or exchanges of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes. Sales of other livestock – such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes – and sales of poultry do not qualify.

Eligible farmers and ranchers must show that drought prompted the sales or exchanges, and that the area received a federal drought designation. Generally, livestock must be replaced within a four-year period, instead of the usual two-year period.

ATTENTION:
GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
ATTENDING TRADE SCHOOL OR COLLEGE EITHER ON CAMPUS OR ONLINE.
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID FROM
THE GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL TRUST.

Log on to www.ghsedutrust.org NOW for the application and ALL the requirements, so that you can complete your application by the October 15, 2025, deadline.

REMINDER:
If you completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), your GHS Educational Trust application must include a signed and dated copy of your acceptance letter indicating what aid you have accepted.

If you have any questions, contact daniander@nemont.net. (406) 230-0153.

Here is a look at ALL events for Homecoming Week!

Homecoming Week Theme -- “Eliminate the Eagles”

Monday Sept. 22nd -- (EMO / GOTH at GHS & GMS, Mismatch Monday at Irle)
Tuesday Sept. 23rd -- (Anywhere But School at GHS & GMS, Tacky Tourist Tuesday at Irle)
Tuesday Sept. 23rd -- Kindergarten thru 5th Grade assembly at Bundy Park w/ Scottie Pep Band 1:15-1:30 PM

Wednesday Sept. 24th -- (Historical Figures at GHS & GMS, Workout Wednesday at Irle)
Wednesday Sept. 24th -- Scottie Pep Band Marches around GMS 1:15-1:30 PM
Wednesday Sept. 24th -- Car Parade Line-up 6:45 PM (El Cor Del)
Wednesday Sept. 24th -- Bonfire 7:00 PM (GHS)
Wednesday Sept. 24th -- “Mad about Plaid” Homecoming Dance after Bonfire (ALL GHS Students and Co-Op Athletes) 8:00- 10:00 PM

Thursday Sept. 25th -- (Red and White Day at GHS, GMS, and Irle)
Thursday Sept. 25th -- Grades 3rd, 4th and 5th assembly at 9:00 AM in the Irle cafeteria w/ GHS Cheer
Thursday Sept. 25th -- Grades K, 1st, and 2nd assembly at 9:30 AM in the Irle cafeteria w/GHS Cheer
Thursday Sept. 25th -- After the little guys assembly Cheerleaders and Mascot go to recess with K&1 at 9:55-10:10 AM and recess with 2nd & 3rd at 10:15-10:30 AM.
Thursday Sept. 25th -- GHS Cheer, Mascot, and ALL Fall Senior Athletes @ GMS Pep Assembly-- EVERYONE WEARS RED!! 10:45 AM
Thursday Sept. 25th -- GHS Cheer at Head Start Preschool 11:30 AM - 12:09 PM
Thursday Sept. 25th -- GHS Coronation @ GHS Auditorium 3:20 PM (GHS Choir's perform Scotland the Brave)
Thursday Sept. 25th -- HS/MS Cross Country at Frazer Invitational (HS bus leaves at 4:00 PM)

Friday Sept. 26th -- (Community Red and White / Scottie Spirit Day)-
Friday Sept. 26th -- Homecoming Parade 2:30 PM (Line-up at 2 PM in front of Civic Center)
Friday Sept. 26th -- Scottie Booster Club Community Tailgate Party 6:00 PM (Food provided by Independence Bank)
Friday Sept. 26th -- “Unleash the Scotties” 6:30 PM all fans line-up from GHS Room 1 Doors to Scottie Field. Scottie Teams will walk the tunnel at 6:40 PM.
Friday Sept. 26th -- HS FB vs. Fairfield 7:00 PM (GHS Swing Choir performs National Anthem). (Halftime featuring Saskatoon Police Pipe Band, Scottie Pep Band, and Hi-Line Cloggers.)

Saturday Sept. 27th -- JV FB vs. Fairfield 9:00 AM
Saturday Sept. 27th -- MS VB @ Scobey
Saturday Sept. 27th -- MS FB @ Malta
Saturday Sept. 27th -- HS VB vs. Poplar 1:00 PM (JV/V) (Saskatoon Police Pipe Band will play at 5:00 PM) -- Farmers and Animals Theme

The federal government charged a Poplar man on three counts of second-degree murder, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

Michael Joseph Ackerman, 73, also known as Michael Joseph Littlebull, told deputies that preceding the murders he and three victims were in his Poplar home all using methamphetamine on Sept. 11, according to charging documents.

Michael Joseph Ackerman was booked in Yellowstone County Detention Facility Sept. 14. He is still detained there currently.

Ackerman believed that they were “setting him up,” court documents said. Ackerman stated he was in the bedroom with one of the victims who had a pistol in her hand. Michael then picked up a 9 mm Smith & Wesson and shot her twice in the head.

Ackerman then went to another room in the household after hearing two other people who were sleeping. He allegedly shot them both. Victims included Ackerman’s wife Earlene Lucy Jones Ackerman, 65, Matthew Earl Black Thunder, 41 and Winona “Nona Sioux” Longee, 35.

In the morning of Sept. 14, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call for service in Billings. The caller told police that his adoptive father killed the victims in the murders.

Deputies then talked to Ackerman inside the Billings residence, and he allegedly waived his rights and agreed to speak with them, according to court documents.

After detailing the murders, he told police they would find the victims inside his residence in Poplar. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office then connected with Fort Peck Tribal Police, who after no response at the home, obtained a search warrant for the house.

Officers then located the three dead bodies mentioned by Ackerman, all with apparent gunshot wounds. Four bullet casings were found near the bodies, according to court documents.

Second-degree murder describes an unlawful killing that is typically done with malicious intent, but is not premeditated. A charge carries maximum penalties of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Following the murders, Fort Peck Tribal Chairman Justin Gray Hawk, Sr. wrote a letter to Fort Peck residents Monday, promising efforts to make the community feel safe again as the reservation grieves.

A Harlem man who sexually abused a minor on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to charges this week, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Ivan Daniel Raining Bird, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. Raining Bird faces a term of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for January 29, 2025. Raining Bird was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that John Doe was about 13 years old when he received a Facebook Message from a user who went by “Ivey” and appeared to be a woman. “Ivey” turned out to be the defendant, Ivan Raining Bird, who was in his late twenties at the time. Doe and Raining Bird continued to message, and Raining Bird eventually invited Doe over to his house.

When Doe arrived at Raining Bird’s house, he realized Raining Bird was a man dressed as a woman. Doe and Raining Bird shared substances and Raining Bird performed oral sex on Doe. For several months, Raining Bird committed similar assaults on Doe.

The FBI investigated Doe’s disclosure of the abuse and interviewed Raining Bird. Raining Bird admitted sharing drugs with teenagers in the past and specifically admitted he knew John Doe was a minor and sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.

Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana’s unemployment rate was at 2.9% in August, marking the eleventh straight month under 3% and over four consecutive years of unemployment at or below 3.4%, a new record.

“In Montana, we’re committed to working across the public and private sector to promote career pathways for all Montanans to reach their full, outstanding potential,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Over the next few weeks, the Department of Labor and Industry is hitting the road to highlight this new initiative, 406 JOBS, to inform Montanans of the resources available to enter or re-enter the workforce.”

Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.4% lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.3% in August. Montana remained in the top five states in the nation with the lowest unemployment rates.

The unemployment rate for Valley County was 2.5% compared to the previous year of 2.4%.

Total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) increased slightly in August. Payroll jobs remained unchanged over the month, following the addition of 1,200 jobs in July. The transportation, accommodation, and food service industries have added the most jobs over the last three months, offsetting declines in education, manufacturing, and federal government employment.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in August. The index for shelter rose 0.4% in August, the primary factor for the monthly all items increase. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index rose 2.9% with core inflation rising 3.1%. The index for all items minus food and energy, or core inflation, rose 0.3% in August.

###Update as of September 18th, 2025, 1406 hours, Marcy Iron Bear has been located and is safe.##

Authorities on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing person.

According to a release on the tribe’s law enforcement Facebook page, 36-year-old Marcy Ironbear has been missing since Sept. 8 from Fort Peck.

Ironbear is 5’4”, 200 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.

She may also go by the names Green or Raven.

Anyone with information on Ironbear’s whereabouts should contact Fort Peck Police at (406) 768-5565 or the Montana Missing Persons Clearinghouse at (406) 444-2800.

Congratulations to the 2025 Glasgow High School Homecoming Court--

King Candidates: Grady Nielsen, Wyatt Sugg, and Andrew Linder

Queen Candidates: Kimber Dulaney (Not Pictured), Tessa Miller, and Joely Chappell

The 2025 Scottie Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned next Thursday at Scottie Coronation in the GHS Auditorium.

Glasgow Kiwanis Club presents $10,000 check for Cal Ripken Baseball LED Light upgrade to Eric Feit and SaraAnn Rasmussen from a Kiwanis Foundation of Montana grant.

Glasgow Kiwanis President Brenner Flaten and Secretary Charles Wilson present the check at a recent meeting.

The Schedule has been released for the annual Glasgow Pub Crawl featuring the Saskatoon Police Pipe and Drums. The event is set for Saturday, September 27th in Glasgow.

Release from the Glasgow School District:

Tuesday was a BIG day for Glasgow Schools! This summer AgWest Farm Credit Glasgow branch purchased Myli Swindler’s 4H steer during the Northeast Montana Fair.

They donated the FULL beef back through the Producer Partnership program!! This program pays for processing and delivery to any school or local non-profit.

We are overwhelmed by the generosity and are so excited that our local students get to enjoy locally raised beef for school lunch.

We are thrilled for the future of this program and the opportunity for interested parties to make an impact in our schools and the nutritional program.

News Story:

A Montana non-profit organization is helping rural communities access fresh meat by delivering processed products directly to schools and organizations free of charge.

The Producer Partnership recently made stops in Malta, Saco, Glasgow, and other rural areas, delivering 2,895 pounds of meat at no cost to the communities.

The organization says it is the first and only federally-inspected nonprofit-operated meat processing facility in the United States.

Producer Partnership works with ranchers who provide animals, including goats, sheep, cattle and bison, while the non-profit handles the processing.

"I think it's huge to be able to help these smaller communities, especially in these rural communities where we have, you know, so many producers that are there," said Producer Partnership president and founder Matt Pierson.

"But, man, it's hard to find processing. It's hard to find the time to take them there, to pick them up, to pay for it. And for us, it's really nice to be able to sort of take care of all of those aspects from start to finish."

Since starting in 2020, The Producer Partnership has donated more than 200,000 pounds of Montana-raised protein to charities and nonprofits across the state.

Montana livestock producers can donate their animals to The Producer Partnership to be processed free of charge and then donated to schools, food banks, or other nonprofit organizations, keeping the meat in Montana.

The Montana Department of Revenue is reporting that marijuana sales totaled $166,224 for the month of August. This is an increase from $159,251 in July for Valley County.

Valley County local governments receive 3% of gross proceeds from marijuana sales.

In August, Roosevelt County had $625,068 in sales while Sheridan County had $90,865.

Montana had sales of over $30 million for the month of August and since January of 2022 sales have totaled $1.163 billion in the state.

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has updated West Nile Virus information for the State of Montana.

The map shows West Nile Virus information as of September 12th.

Thousands of Montana taxpayers have already claimed and received a property tax rebate, but the Montana Department of Revenue reminded people Monday to file their applications if they haven’t done so.

The deadline to file for the rebate is Oct. 1.

The Montana Department of Revenue has received more than 197,000 rebate applications, and last week, the department said it had approved 97% of the applications filed.

The Montana property tax rebate provides qualifying Montanans a rebate of up to $400 on a primary residence for tax year 2024. The qualifications to claim the rebate are available at getmyrebate.mt.gov.

A news release from the Department of Revenue said the fastest way for taxpayers to claim the rebate is online at getmyrebate.mt.gov. Mailing a paper application form will add processing time.

Rebates are being issued via paper check. Most electronically filed rebates are issued within 30 days of filing, while paper-filed rebates may take up to 60 days to process, according to the Department of Revenue.

“Getting the rebates to Montana taxpayers has been one of our highest priorities, so we’re grateful a majority of taxpayers have already claimed their rebates,” Montana Department of Revenue Director Brendan Beatty said in a statement. “However, the October 1 deadline is fast approaching, and we don’t want taxpayers to miss this opportunity.”

The Producer Partnership has completed processing, free of charge, livestock purchased and donated by local businesses during the Valley County 4h/FFA Livestock Sale and private donations livestock sale, providing Valley County schools and nonprofit organizations with high-quality, locally raised protein at no cost.

The processed protein will be delivered to Malta School District at 11:00 am – 1 High School Lane, S. 9th Street W. 406-654-2002

Valley Event Center at 1:00 pm: 54141 US Highway 2, Glasgow, MT

Recipient organizations include:
• Glasgow School District
• Opheim School District
• Nashua School District
• Malta School District
• Hinsdale School District
• Saco School District
• Valley Community Food Bank

“We are proud to partner with the Valley County 4-H/FFA Livestock Sale and local donors to provide thousands of meals for area schools and the Valley Community Food Bank,” said Matt Pierson, Founder and President of The Producer Partnership. “Thanks to the generosity of the community and our ability to process animals free of charge at our USDA-inspected facility in Livingston, we will deliver 2,895 pounds of high-quality, locally raised protein. This effort shows the power of donors coming together to directly support children and families — and we’re eager to expand this impact in the years ahead.”

Brenner Flaten, Superintendent of Schools – Glasgow School District “This donation is truly significant for our school district,” said Brenner Flaten, Superintendent of Schools for the Glasgow School District. “Any time a school district can partner with community donors to benefit students, it’s a win. This contribution not only provides important financial relief to our school food service department but also ensures that Montana kids are receiving nutritious, locally grown and raised protein. It’s an investment in both our students’ well-being and our community.”

Founded in 2020 as a way for neighbors to help one another during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Producer Partnership is the first and only USDA federally inspected nonprofit-owned and operated meat processing facility in the United States.

Through efforts like these, Producer Partnership connects Montana ranchers, businesses, and nonprofits to reduce hunger while strengthening community ties.

Story credit to Northern Plains Independent:

On Sunday, Sept. 14, at approximately 4 a.m., the Fort Peck Tribal police officers received information from the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office that a male had confessed to shooting and killing his wife, his stepson and the stepson’s girlfriend at a residence in Poplar.

The male said that all three victims were still inside the house. The male was identified as 73-year-old Michael Littlebull, an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Tribes.
Fort Peck Tribal police officers responded to a residence in Poplar to investigate the information. After receiving no response at the residence, tribal police officers received and executed a search warrant to enter the residence. Once inside the residence, tribal police officers located 65-year-old Earlene Jones, 41-year-old Matthew Black Thunder and 35-year-old Winona Longee deceased inside the residence. All three victims appeared to have been shot at least one time at close range with a small caliber bullet. All three victims will undergo an autopsy.
Littlebull remains in custody.

The case is still under investigation by the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. No further information can be released at this time.

Governor Greg Gianforte, along with members of Montana’s federal delegation, recently sent a letter to Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum detailing the state’s longstanding efforts to petition the federal government to follow the laws governing grazing permits.

Nationally, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages livestock grazing on 155 million acres of public lands. The terms and conditions for grazing on BLM-managed lands are set forth in the permits and leases that are issued to ranchers.

Since 2017, American Prairie Reserve (APR) has sought BLM’s approval to change livestock grazing permits in Montana into permits to graze their non-production, conservation bison herd. Under the Biden Administration, BLM issued a decision to grant the requested permits on a number of BLM grazing allotments in eastern Montana.

In 2022, the State of Montana, grazing districts, and livestock industry groups all appealed BLM’s decision, noting that the land would no longer be able to be used for production agriculture if the permits are approved. In the letter, the governor and Montana’s federal delegation highlighted they are awaiting the Department of Interior’s decision on those appeals and underscore their support for Montana’s farmers and ranchers who make up the state’s number one industry.

“APR is dedicated to ‘re-wilded,’ free-roaming bison and converting Montana’s historic farms and ranches into the largest wildlife refuge in the continental United States. For us, a decision in favor of APR will re-shape the entire landscape of our state,” the officials wrote. “The effect of this change would remove immense swaths of land from production agriculture with far reaching implications and undermine the proud heritage of these small, agriculture-focused communities.”

They continue, “It also threatens the economic vitality of our most important industry, decreasing agricultural production revenue and directly impacting industries downstream that shape our overall economy. Once the damage is done, and these generational farms and ranches are gone, they cannot be brought back.”

The governor was joined by Senator Steve Daines, R-Montana, Senator Tim Sheehy, R-Montana, Congressman Ryan Zinke, and Congressman Troy Downing in signing the letter.

On September 24th, the Montana Department of Agriculture is hosting a pesticide disposal event in Glasgow. Carli Davis the program coordinator for the waste pesticide disposal program told New Media Broadcasters why the Montana Department of Agriculture hosts these events.

“So, the Department of Agriculture hosts these events to try to keep pesticides out of our Montana Landfills and give the industry and option, an easier way to get rid of them in a more environmentally friendly way.”

You must pre-register for this pesticide disposal event on September 24, you can register online at the Montana Department of Agriculture Website or by calling Carli Davis at 1-406-444-3144

The Glasgow City Council will meet in regular session tonight at 5pm in the Council Chambers of the Glasgow Civic Center.

The council will hold a public hearing on assessments for city lights, streets and garbage and an additional public hearing on the city's mill levy, permissive medical levy and fiscal year 202-2025 budget.

The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has confirmed the Saskatoon Police Pipe for Scottie Homecoming weekend!

There were questions whether the pipe band would be able to make the weekend work but at least 10 and possibly more will make it to Montana.

The schedule will look differently but the pipe band will be in Glasgow the weekend of September 26-27.

KLTZ/Mix-93 has had multiple inquiries from community members regarding a personnel change at Valley View Home in Glasgow. It has been reported that Emilee Poole, RN, was terminated from her position effective Monday, September 8th. We were able to confirm with Poole that she has been terminated from the facility. Poole had been employed as the Director of Nursing for Valley View Home, a top administrative position in the organization.

Additionally, members of the community have indicated a plan to attend the next meeting held by Valley View Home’s Board of Directors. KLTZ/Mix-93 reached out to Wes Thompson, Administrator, and asked if there was an upcoming board meeting scheduled and if the public would be invited to attend. Thompson indicated, “We have monthly board meetings of course but we do not ever hold them in public due to possible HIPAA violations when discussing our residents and so forth.”
Thompson also provided KLTZ/Mix-93 with the following statement:

Valley View Home Addresses Community Concerns Regarding Staffing Change
Glasgow, Montana — Valley View Home is aware of the concerns being expressed within the community following a recent leadership staffing change.
While specific personnel matters are confidential and cannot be discussed publicly, we want to reassure our residents, families, staff, and the greater community that this decision was made following a thorough internal review and in accordance with established policies and procedures.

We fully understand that in a close-knit community such as ours, leadership transitions can prompt concern and discussion. We are deeply grateful for the contributions of former staff and recognize the strong relationships that exist between our team and the community we serve.

Valley View Home remains firmly committed to the safety, dignity, and well-being of every resident in our care. We also deeply value the dedication of our staff and the continued trust placed in us by families and neighbors throughout the region.
As we move forward, we remain focused on stability, transparency, and delivering the highest quality of care to those who call Valley View Home their home.

For several weeks this summer, University of Montana student Iris McKean found herself sitting in the dark all night in an urban park an hour’s train ride south of Tokyo. Sporting a headlamp, she covered herself head to toe in protective clothing – including a mesh head net – to ward off bugs and huntsman spiders the size of a human palm.

She was part of a UM team studying rhinoceros beetles, a beloved insect icon in Japan. The researchers kept their lamps and video cameras trained on sappy parts of oak trees frequented by the thumb-sized beetles. They beheld the drama of big-horned males battling for the right to court females, who may or may not decide to mate with them.

McKean handled nearly every rhino beetle they studied, weighing and marking them so they could identify the specific dramatic characters featured in their research.

“They don’t bite, and they are such cool, cute creatures,” she said. “But their gripping feet are like little razor blades, and they can make tiny incisions and stick there. So I was careful to wear gloves.”

Science in a city offered peculiar challenges. Sometimes park security arrived to investigate what the strange Montanans were doing under a tree at 3 a.m. Other times little kids visiting the park with their families would snag one of their research subjects and scamper off. In Japan, rhinoceros beetles are prized as pets and often end up in terrariums.

“What could we say?” she said. “We were the strangers, and it was a public park.”

All of this reinforced to McKean that she was a long way from Glasgow, her northeastern Montana hometown. And also that UM had provided her an incredible, life-changing learning experience.

McKean is fascinated by the idea of the butterfly effect – that something as small as the flap of butterfly wings can echo through systems and eventually influence the path of a tornado. She said lots of lesser decisions on her part led to her educational adventure in Japan.

The first was her decision to attend UM. She grew up hunting and fishing – her father, Andrew, is editor of Outdoor Life Magazine – and she describes herself as “outdoorsy” and “the most curious person ever.” She found herself wanting to know more about the Montana animals and ecosystem she grew up with, so she was attracted to UM’s top-ranked Wildlife Biology program. After positive interactions with faculty members like Chad Bishop and Angela Luis, she decided to attend UM in 2022 to study wildlife biology and pre-veterinary studies.

McKean also followed in the footsteps of her older brother, Ellis McKean, who ran cross-country at UM. She too joined UM as a student-athlete, becoming a top contributor for the Grizzly women’s cross-country team.

As a sophomore, McKean took a genetics and evolution class from Doug Emlen, a UM scientist who studies animal weaponry and one of the few Montanans ever elected to the National Academy of Sciences. McKean said she “really connected with the material” and that it left her “thirsty for more.”

“After that I started going to Doug’s office hours like once a week just so I could pick his brain about all the different questions I had,” she said. “He’s a wealth of knowledge in every realm.”

By her junior year, McKean became curious about the research process such as grant writing, data collection and publishing results. So sitting at her kitchen table in Glasgow, she decided to email Emlen and ask whether he knew of any openings for an undergraduate research assistant.

“Students like Iris are a joy to work with,” Emlen said, “so I jumped at the chance to get her involved with our research.”

That little flap of a butterfly’s wing earned McKean a gig with one of Emlen’s Ph.D. students, Sophie Fitzgerald, who studies rhinoceros beetles. During fall semester 2024, McKean found herself working several hours a week in Fitzgerald’s lab, dissecting frozen female beetles, counting their eggs and studying their ability to produce offspring.

It was Fitzgerald who invited McKean along to assist with two other UM students and led the team on their journey to Japan to study rhino beetles in their natural habitat.

“Sophia has just been an incredible asset for me,” McKean said. “She’s been the most friendly and supportive person I’ve ever met, and she was so accepting of plugging me into the lab so I could help out in any capacity.”

Fitzgerald’s Japan research delved into sexual selection among rhinoceros beetles, especially why females choose to mate with certain males. McKean said past research generally focused on the males, who battle for the females by dueling with their big horns and flipping rivals off the trees. Usually the beetle with the bigger weapon wins, but this isn’t always the case.

“It seems horn size matters, but maybe not as much as we previously thought,” McKean said. “The big horn indicates fitness and health to the female, but I keep thinking about these smaller males with shorter horns, and they get flipped off and keep coming back again and again, and sometimes the female just gives in. So resilience is a big factor, too. We didn’t find that females were always choosing the male with the biggest horn.”

McKean said the male beetles make for big ungainly fliers, carrying around those massive horns.

She said the research team had cameras set up to record the beetle-battle mating drama at several sites around the park. All that data now needs to be analyzed, and the research project is ongoing.

McKean said the regular Japanese people in their study area seemed lukewarm to the research team until they learned what they were up to. Their reception improved when the team revealed they studied the well-being of their beloved rhino beetle population. The researchers heard anecdotally that fewer beetles were emerging each spring later in the season, which was creating concern.

“You could tell people definitely care,” she said. “And we are not sure what’s going on. Is it a long-term impact like climate change?”

While research was the focus of the Japan trip, McKean spent a lot of time running in the Japanese humidity to maintain her cross-country training regimen. Additionally, her mother, Lih-An Yang McKean, who was born in Taiwan, rendezvoused with her on that island to reconnect with Asian family members she hadn’t seen in more than a decade.

At one point, she and two other research team members also climbed Japan’s highest peak, Mount Fuji, which tops out at 12,388 feet.

“We didn’t do any planning and roughed it really hard,” McKean said. “I think we were awake for 30 to 34 hours. We started hiking at 3 a.m. and got to see the sunrise from the top. We saw some sika deer up there, and we sent postcards to our family from a post office near the top. The entire experience was unbelievable.”

Now launching her senior year, McKean is leaning into more of a pre-med track at UM and exploring a career as a doctor.

“UM has given me so many unique experiences and learning opportunities,” she said. “The faculty have been so supportive, my classmates have pushed me, and my team has been the light of my life. And there’s such an emphasis on experiential learning, so you can end up having the craziest, best summer ever.

“I feel so lucky to be here, definitely, and I’m excited to see what’s next.”

Iris was a guest on Live Under the Big Sky this week. Listen to the entire interview:
https://soundcloud.com/kltz-glasgow/

The final slate of candidates for the October 25th Fort Peck Tribal Elections has been set.

Chairman
Justin Gray Hawk Sr.
John Morales
Bryce Kirk
Samson E. Boyd
Floyd Azure

Vice-Chair
Charles "Charlie" Headdress

Sergeant at Arms
Bruce Cubby Damon
Derrick Long Hair

Tribal Council (elect 12)
Roxanne Gourneau
Jestin Dupree
Carolyn Brugh
Wayne Martell
Stacey Summers
Dana "Sam" Buckles
Benjamin "BJ' Johnson Jr.
Melvin Terry Rattling Thunder Sr.
Rita Weeks
Elizabeth Melbourne
Adrian Spotted Bird Jr
Thomas "Big Boy" Bauer Jr
Kristian Youngman
Patt Iron Cloud
Darryl Ricker Sr.
Vernice Chopper
Loren Bighorn
Misty Daniels
Kevin Brock
Tatum Evenson
Charles "Chug" Knowlton
Michelle Charboneau Trottier
Darren Long Hair
Dr. Robin Bighorn
Frank J. Smith
Helen Daniels Bighorn
Michael J. LIttle Bull
Melissa G. Buckles
K. Shane Moran
Cynthia Michaelsen
Leonard Bighorn Crowbelt
Mary Follette
Jason Gray Hawk
George W. Blount
Lonnie Cooper
Louella Douglas Contrares
Barry Bighorn
Ray Iron Cloud
R.J. Young
Feryl Archdale Greufe
Nicholas Bighorn
Richard "Rick" Kirn
Freedom Lyman Crawford
Michael Headdress
Georgia Gibbs Atkinson
Verds Grey Bull
Peter "Tonto" Dupree
Lafon Copenhaver
Maurice C. Bighorn Jr.
Vernette "Susie" Perry
Melvin Scott

Associate Judge
Lonnie D. Headdress Sr
Imogene Lilley
Kristofer Fourstar
Kimberly Clark Johnson

From the Glasgow School District:

The Glasgow School District would like to give a special shoutout and public recognition to Kelly Doornek! Kelly is retiring at the end of this month after 32 years with Glasgow Schools and 27+ years as our Business Manager/Clerk at Central Office. Kelly leaves big shoes to fill and she will undoubtedly be missed.

Wednesday, we honored her with a “Surprise” Retirement Party following her very last board meeting. Many friends, family, and Coworkers were on hand for a party that featured fruit pizza’s from the Apple Trolley and a special clock from Baker’s Jewelry.

Kelly thank you for your dedication, commitment, and professionalism. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.

A Poplar man who sexual abused two victims on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges this week, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Emmett Alfred Buckles, 41, pleaded guilty to 2 counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Buckles faces a term of 15 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years to a lifetime of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for January 14, 2026. Buckles was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that in March of 2024, Jane Doe 1 was forensically interviewed and disclosed she was sexually abused by Buckles. Doe 1 described that on January 22, 2024, she was drinking and doing drugs when Buckles contacted her via Facebook. Doe 1 was over the age of 12, but under the age of 16. Buckles was 39. Buckles then joined Doe 1 and they hung out together.

Later in the night and into early next morning Doe 1 and Buckles ended up at his house in Poplar. While there, Buckles sexually abused Doe in an assault that Doe described lasting hours. Doe described the layout of Buckles’ bedroom and various items in his room.

Law enforcement obtained Facebook messages between Jane Doe 2 and Buckles. Doe 2 was over the age of 12, but under the age of 16. Doe 2 was subsequently interviewed and described that in January 2024 she was using meth with Buckles, and he shot her up with meth. Buckles then sexually assaulted her. Doe 2 drew a sketch of Buckles’ room that described a similar layout to what Doe 1 observed.

Federal agents executed a search warrant at Buckles’ house in Poplar. During the search, law enforcement officers observed that many details regarding the layout of Buckles’ bedroom were consistent with both Jane Does’ statements. This included the layout and various items of personal property.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.

Glasgow, MT – It’s time once again to show your Scottie spirit! The Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture is excited to announce the return of the annual Scottie Pride Homecoming Buttons for 2025. This year brings something extra special — a brand-new button design for fans to choose from.

Whether you’re renewing or purchasing a new button, you’ll be entered into the Spirit Week Daily Cash Drawings for your chance to win big!

$10 – New Button
$5 – Renewal

Important Note: Old button designs will not be exchanged for new ones. If you’d like one of the new 2025 designs, they must be purchased at the new button price. However, if you’d like to keep your original button number, that option is available.

Spirit Week Cash Drawings

Monday–Thursday: Two drawings per day for $200 each
Friday: Two drawings for $500 each

Winners do not need to be present to win.
Buttons are available now at the Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce & Ag Office. Stop by in person or call (406) 228-2222 to purchase or renew.

Proceeds from button sales support bringing tournaments to Glasgow and help fund the beloved bagpipers who bring spirit and tradition to town each year.

Don’t hide your Scottie Pride — pick up your button today and be part of the tradition!

WASHINGTON, DC (September 11, 2025) – As drivers settle into their fall routines, gas demand is going down, and eventually, pump prices should follow suit. The national average for a gallon of regular is down about a penny to $3.19. There remains an abundance of crude oil supply which is outweighing demand. The seasonal transition to winter-blend gasoline – which is cheaper to produce – is also beginning. While the national average has been relatively stable, drivers in the Pacific Northwest are feeling pain at the pump. Gas prices in the area have jumped more than 20 cents in the past week due to the shutdown of a major pipeline that transports fuel from Washington to Oregon. The pipeline is reportedly expected to resume operations in a few days.

Today’s National Average: $3.194

One Week Ago: $3.201

One Month Ago: $3.138

One Year Ago: $3.253

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased from 9.11 million b/d last week to 8.50 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 218.5 million barrels to 220 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose $1.04 to settle at $63.67 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 3.9 million barrels from the previous week. At 424.6 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year.

State Stats

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.63), Washington ($4.61), Hawaii ($4.47), Oregon ($4.27), Nevada ($3.90), Alaska ($3.84), Arizona ($3.56), Idaho ($3.51), Illinois ($3.47), and Pennsylvania ($3.35).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Mississippi ($2.71), Louisiana ($2.79), Arkansas ($2.79), Texas ($2.79), Tennessee ($2.80), Oklahoma ($2.81), Alabama ($2.82), South Carolina ($2.85), Kentucky ($2.86), and Missouri ($2.87).

Release from Valley Community Emergency Food Bank:

We have big news! An anonymous local donor donated $40,000 toward our new building fund! We are speechless. Whoever you are, thank you!

The Food Bank in Valley County is raising money for a new building to replace the current building which is small and in very bad condition.

The Glasgow School Board will meet tonight at 6pm in the Gary F. Martin Board Room at the Glasgow School District Central Office.

August runoff was above average in the lower reaches of the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City due to timely rainfall. This allowed the System reservoirs to maintain lower release rates while meeting the reduced navigation flow targets at all downstream locations,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. “Runoff in the Fort Peck and Fort Peck to Garrison reaches continue to be well-below average due to long-term precipitation deficits and the below-normal mountain snowpack in the Missouri Basin. Reservoir levels at Fort Peck and Garrison dropped about 1.6 feet in August, and System storage will continue to decline this fall,” Remus added.

While more than 59% of the Missouri Basin is not experiencing drought conditions; in the western Basin, drought is expected to persist and expand to new regions of the Basin through November.

August runoff was 1.5 million acre-feet, 109% of average above Sioux City with most of the runoff entering the System below Garrison Dam. September runoff in the upper Basin is forecast to be well below average, especially in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches. The updated 2025 calendar year forecast for the upper Basin is 19.1 MAF, 74% of average. Average annual runoff for the upper Basin is 25.7 MAF.

As of Sept. 1, the total volume of water stored in the System was 51.0 MAF, down 0.7 MAF during August. Updated reservoir studies indicate System storage is expected to be 48.0 MAF the start of the 2026 runoff season, approximately 8.1 MAF below the base of flood control zone.

Fort Peck releases will be reduced from 9,000 cfs to the fall rate of 4,000 cfs at the end of September. Garrison releases were reduced to 19,000 cfs in mid-August and will be reduced to 14,000 cfs on Sept. 16.

Reservoir Forecasts:

Fort Peck Dam
Average releases past month – 8,800 cfs
Current release rate – 9,000 cfs
Forecast average release rate –9,000 cfs through the end of September
End-of-August reservoir level – 2224.4 feet (down 1.6 feet since July 31)
Forecast end-of-September reservoir level – 2222.6 feet

Hydropower:
The six mainstem power plants generated 713 million kWh of electricity in August. Typical energy generation for August is 1,005 million kWh. The power plants are projected to generate 7.7 billion kWh of electricity this year, compared to the long-term average of 9.4 billion kWh.