Story Credit: https://dailymontanan.com/

There’s probably nothing more iconic to Montana than boots, cowboy hats, cattle and ranching, something that defines the image of the Treasure State. And there is probably no other blocs of voters that Montana politicians sidle up next to more than ranchers, often copying their dress, down to the belt buckle.

That’s why a coalition of organizations representing the state’s cattlemen and ranchers was remarkable in Billings on Tuesday as they specifically called out three-quarters of the state’s Congressional delegation for their lack of support of country-of-origin labeling for beef, something they said is costing not just cattle producers but consumers at the grocery market.

Only Rep. Ryan Zinke, Montana’s western Congressman, has announced support for mandatory country-of-origin labeling legislation for beef.

Country-of-origin labels had been used until 2015, when it was repealed due to concerns by the World Trade Organization. But, the advocates on Tuesday said world of cattle buying and selling has changed, as consolidation in the meat packing business has created an oligarchy of four large multinational producers who often don’t disclose where their beef is coming from, or instead, will label it as American because it was slaughtered and packaged domestically.

The coalition, including the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, R-Calf, Northern Plains Resource Council, the Montana Farmers Union, the National Farmers Organization, the Montana Cattlemen’s Association, Abundant Montana and the Yellowstone Valley Food Hub, said they believe American consumers are willing to pay more for American-sourced beef, but may not have that option because of the labeling. Instead, inferior beef products from other countries may be mixed into the food chain.

Two pieces of legislation exist in Washington, D.C., that would reinstitute mandatory country-of-origin labeling, Senate Bill 421 and House Resolution 5818. Currently, any country-of-origin labeling is optional. However, beef producers on Tuesday said that consumers already know where fruits, vegetables and some other meats are sourced, and the same should be true with beef.

The coalition were also critical of Montana’s two U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, both Republicans who have not signed onto either bill, or said they support the legislation. Rep. Troy Downing has also not announced a position on country-of-origin labeling.

The Daily Montanan reached out to all three offices on Tuesday afternoon, with questions about their support or positions, but only Sheehy’s office responded by publication time.

“Sen. Sheehy believes American beef should be labeled as American beef. As a rancher, he knows firsthand the challenges we face with the over-consolidation of corporate agriculture and the introduction of foreign entities into the American food system,” a spokesperson said. “For too long, foreign-owned meat packers have controlled our food supply, and Senator Sheehy believes we must break that monopoly and offer American alternatives to increase our national food security. Bringing profitability back to agriculture is one of Sen. Sheehy’s top priorities, and he is firmly committed to ensuring that American ranchers and cattle are placed at the center of our livestock policy framework to keep American ag alive and strong.”

Bruce Shultz, a member of the National Farmers Organization, who ranches in Raynesford, said that he and many producers saw their prices plummet the year after Congress rescinded mandatory country-of-origin labeling. Shultz said he lost nearly 40% of the value of his market cattle the next year because large packing companies could drive down prices by buying from nearly two dozen other countries, and have a similar product on store shelves without consumers knowing the difference.

The groups also said that mandatory country-of-origin labeling must be included in the Farm Bill to make meaningful change. They said that labels should say the country of origin for the animal, and not just where it was slaughtered or packaged.

Montana’s cattle industry has been hit hard in the recent decade as domestic cattle herds have reached their lowest point in 70 years, and the leaders warned that younger generations will not return to the ranch unless there is more transparency for the end customer.

Benjamin Peterson of the Montana Farmers Union from Judith Gap told the audience that since 1980, more than half the cattle ranches have been lost. And, Shultz told the group that from 2017 to 2020, in Ravalli County alone, 150 farms had closed, and more than 50,000 acres was taken out of production.

The ranchers said that the labeling practices driven by the large packing plants are also bad for consumers, who don’t know what they’re buying. He said that for the United State, cattle production is a $100 billion business, with $2 billion contributed to Montana’s state economy.

“The (current) labeling doesn’t tell the truth,” said Samantha Ferret of Toston, who ranches with her husband and serves on the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. “Why is it not revealed where the beef comes from? This is no accident.”

The group said that if consumers could have the choice between the foreign beef and the kind raised in Montana, they’d be willing to pay a premium, which would, in turn, create more market demand, raise domestic prices and help ranchers rebuild their herds.

The organization said it’s important to label beef in several ways — where it born, raised and processed.

“There has never been a greater demand for beef directly from the producer, and that’s because they want to know what they’re buying,” said Tim Brunner, the western district director of the Montana Cattlemen’s Association from Fairfield. “Why haven’t all the elected officials put their support behind the cattle industry then?”

R-CALF, a Billings-based nation organization that supports just cattle and sheep producers, said that labeling may seem simple, but it sends a powerful message.

“Competition can only happen if the consumers have a choice, and right now the consumers can’t signal a demand for (American) beef,” said Bill Bullard, R-CALF’s chief executive. “It’s a demand signal.”

They said that it will take a coalition like the one they’ve built to demand no support of the Farm Bill without mandatory country-of-origin labeling.

“The only way to know now is if you drive it off the ranch itself,” Peterson said. “We’ve heard that politicians currently want to put America First, well mandatory country-of-origin labeling does that. They should take the easy win.”

Message from the Valley County Health Department:

Flu & COVID-19 Update – Valley County
We’ve updated our local illness numbers:
COVID-19 cases: 23
Flu cases: 32
Knowing the difference between flu and COVID-19 symptoms can help you decide when to test and seek care. Please reference the infographic below to learn more about how symptoms compare.

The Valley County Community Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s Markle Scholarship winners for those pursuing advanced degrees.

Michelle Eliason is a 1988 graduate of Nashua High School pursuing the Behavioral Analyst Masters Program at Ball State University to become a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA). Not only is Michelle pursuing a Masters Degree, but she also works full-time. After obtaining her Masters, her plan is to continue her employment with Milk River, Inc. as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She will continue serving individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities by designing and implementing behavioral support programs that promote independence, skill-building, and quality of life.

Sara Wesen is currently enrolled at the University of Montana – Alexander Blewett III School of Law in pursuit of a Juris Doctorate. Sara will continue working part-time while attending law school. After completing her Juris Doctorate and passing the Montana Bar Exam, she looks forward to practicing law in Glasgow and to focus on estate planning, property, Ag law, and tax law. She is excited to make a positive impact on Glasgow and the surrounding areas as an advocate and an attorney.

McKenna Strommen is a 2022 graduate of Glasgow High School and is also pursuing the University of Montana – Alexander Blewett III School of Law and is working towards her Juris Doctorate. She graduated in 2024 from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She plans to graduate in 2028 and return to Valley County to bring competent and compassionate legal services to the community and to help those in need.

Chaykota Osksa is a 2019 Hinsdale High School graduate and is pursuing Speech-Language Pathology at Minot State University. She graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education/Services and Child Development from Montana State University. She plans to graduate in 2026, and her career goal is to become a pediatric speech-language pathologist working in schools, early intervention programs, or children’s hospitals. She hopes to help children become confident communicators while providing guidance and advocacy for their families.

The Thomas and Cynthia Markle Scholarship was established in 2018 with the goal of assisting in the financial burden of obtaining an advanced degree for Valley County community members. The Markle’s recognized a gap in scholarship availability for advanced degrees in our community and established an endowment to assist in carrying that financial burden for future generations. The scholarship is based on need to Valley County graduates or Valley County residents who have resided in the county for the past 5 years.

Applications for the Markle Scholarship for Advanced Degrees is due annually on September 30th. The Valley County Community Foundation manages the Markle Scholarship, as well as others. More information is located on our website at: valleycountycf.net.

Story credit to www.ktvq.com

ANGER AND DISBELIEF ARE RIPPLING THROUGH THE NORTHEASTERN MONTANA TOWN OF FROID after U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a well-known business owner, youth coach, and father of four.

Forty-two-year-old Roberto Orozco-Ramirez turned himself in Sunday night at the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, following what neighbors say was more than a week of federal surveillance.

Orozco owns Orozco Diesel, a trucking and repair shop residents say is essential to keeping school buses and farm equipment running in the town of fewer than 200 people. He also coaches youth sports and has lived in Froid with his family for more than a decade.

“This isn’t somebody you don’t know,” said Froid resident Keith Nordlund. “This isn’t somebody on the FBI’s most wanted list. It’s tough to see that happen in our little neck of the woods.”

According to federal court documents, Orozco was previously removed from the U.S. in 2009 and is accused of illegally re-entering the country. A sworn affidavit also alleges he was once identified as a member of the Sureños gang during an encounter in Utah, though records show no criminal history in Montana or elsewhere.

Border Patrol agents first approached Orozco at his business on January 16. Agents allege he refused entry and later threatened them. Orozco now faces federal charges of illegal re-entry and threatening a federal officer.

Neighbors dispute the agents’ tactics and say Orozco’s family was followed for days.

“The kids quit going to school because they were being followed and harassed,” Nordlund said.

The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office says Orozco surrendered peacefully and posed no danger to the community. The sheriff’s office also emphasized the operation was conducted independently by Border Patrol.

The arrest comes amid growing national concern over aggressive immigration enforcement. ACLU of Montana Deputy Director Alex Rate says the case reflects a troubling trend.

“We’re seeing our friends and neighbors detained and deported,” Rate said. “That should concern everyone.”

Back in Froid, residents have begun raising money for Orozco’s legal defense, and students have written his name on their wrists during games.

“We judge people by their character,” Nordlund said. “We want him to become legal — and we want him back in our community.”

Governor Greg Gianforte today announced Montana’s unemployment rate rose to 3.4 percent in December, continuing the record of over four consecutive years of unemployment at or below 3.4 percent.

Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.0 percent lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.4 percent in December. Montana remained in the top ten states in the nation with the lowest unemployment rates.

The unemployment rate in Valley County was 3.7% which compared with 3.2% in December of 2024. There is a total labor force in Valley County of 3,528 which is down 22 from December of 2024.

“Working with the Department of Labor & Industry, we’ve identified a framework to ensure all Montanans in the labor force have a pathway to a career, college, military, or entrepreneurial opportunity,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through 406 JOBS, we’re helping open the doors in the public and private sector to greater opportunity and a stronger workforce for our leading industries.”

Montana’s labor force added approximately 1,150 workers over the last month, while total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) increased by 500, resulting in an increase in the unemployment rate. Payroll jobs grew by over 2,000 in December, with the largest gains in construction and leisure activities.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in December. Over the last twelve months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. The index for shelter rose 0.4 percent in December and was the largest factor in all items monthly increase. Core inflation, or the index for all items less food and energy, rose 2.6 percent over the last twelve months.

Last August, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry released a report showing that more than 100,000 working age Montanans are not employed and not seeking work. Through Gov. Gianforte’s 406 JOBS Initiative, the department is helping Montanans enter or re-enter the workforce with a specific focus on health care, construction, hospitality and recreation, advanced manufacturing and computing, education and child care, and financial and professional services.

Glasgow Police Chief Robert Weber has released a statement regarding a traffic fatality near Fort Peck last week. The 2 vehicle accident involved a GPD off-duty officer.

This is the only information that has been released from GPD regarding the fatality. The officer is currently on administrative leave.

The Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital Foundation is deeply grateful as its annual Tree of Life end-of-year giving campaign came to a close on December 31st. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of donors across Valley County and beyond, this year’s campaign raised a record-breaking $36,545, more than doubling the original goal of $15,000.

Each gift, given in honor or memory of someone special, helps strengthen high-quality healthcare close to home. Funds raised through the Tree of Life campaign support four key areas that directly benefit our community:
General Endowment: $5,710
Scholarship Fund: $26,680
Mammography Fund: $2,460
Markle’s Ambulance Trust: $695

This year’s total also includes a special gift toward a new scholarship launching in 2026, created to honor the life and legacy of Mark Dale. More details about the Mark Dale Memorial Scholarship will be announced in February.
The Tree of Life is a meaningful symbol of the generosity within our community and those who make it special. This year, gifts were made in honor of both special milestones and cherished individuals. One gift celebrated a remarkable milestone – 27 years breast cancer–free! Another honored Jack and Jeanine Markle. Donations were also made in memory of the following loved ones, whose names shone as ornaments on the tree:

Mona Amundson; Tristin Vandall; Paul & Ferne Zerbe; Dennis Svedjan; Lisa Markle Martin; Marlin Mogan; Floyd Eklund; John Mogan; Agnes Mogan; Nancy Etchart; Dr. William Wright; Junior Lee English; Evelyn Koski Mustonen; Jim Koski; Jan McInerney; Jerry Koski; JuDee Koski Blockhus; Charlotte Claypool; Corbin See; Bob Claypool; Stan Sonsteng; Karen Newton; Pat Hallett; Michaela Hoffman; Guy Reed; Sara Bell, R.N.; Butch Tewell; Carol Neufeld; Magnus & Betty Swanson; Dennis Jansa; David Shapland; Jed & Donna Tihista; Bob & Eunice Rorvig; Melvin & Verna Gauthier; Helen Burt; Michael Del Gienger; Jody Menge; Dillon & Biaka Cassel; Steve Bell; Erik Walstad; Jim & Gayle Hill; Frances Mahon; Lloyd Lindvig; Henry Lannen; Max Barnes; Roberta Barstad; Shirley Grimsrud Nail; Ellsworth & Josephine Richardson; James & Mary Lou Sintler, Sr.; Sam Richardson; Buell & Grace Hayward; Dr. Lawrence Palazzo; Dan Taylor; Mark Dale; Lillian, Leslie & Mary Margaretten Hanson; Dennis N. Wright; Nancy A. See; Kevin A. See; Juanita Brown; and O.E., C.D., & Tag Markle.

“The names hung as ornaments on the Tree of Life do more than honor and remember loved ones, they ensure a continued investment in compassionate, high-quality healthcare for generations to come,” said the Foundation Coordinator.

The FMDH Foundation Board of Directors and Foundation Coordinator extend a heartfelt thanks to every donor who participated in this year’s campaign. “Your generosity truly lights the way, and we are honored to carry these gifts forward in service to our community.”

For more information about the Tree of Life or the work of the FMDH Foundation, visit fmdh.org/fmdh-foundation

The Montana Lottery has awarded $93,991 in high-tier prizes since January 19.

A high-tier prize is any prize of $600 or more. Winners of $5,000 or more are listed below.

A Townsend winner, playing Big Sky Bonus, claimed their prize of $38,160 on January 23. The winning ticket was purchased at Bob's Supermarket in Townsend.

A Stanford winner, playing Super Hot 7's, claimed their prize of $7,777 on January 22. The winning ticket was purchased at Woody's Fuel Stop in Stanford.

A Dillon winner, betting with Sports Bet Montana, claimed their prize of $5,259 on January 20. The winning ticket was purchased at Lucky Lil's Casino of Dillon.

A Wolf Point winner, playing 2nd Edition Millionaire Maker, claimed their prize of $5,000 on January 22. The winning ticket was purchased at Agland Co-Op in Wolf Point.

Thank you to our local Caring Hands organization!

They will generously be paying for School Lunches for ALL students in Valley County on EVERY Tuesday in February and April. (The dates affected will be Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24. April 7, 14, 21, and 28)

Thank you to the Caring Hands Organization!

The department recently notified business owners with a personal property reporting requirement that it is time to report for Tax Year 2026 through the department’s TransAction Portal (TAP) at https://tap.dor.mt.gov. Online reporting forms are pre-populated with the business equipment reported in 2025. Owners will review the previously reported equipment and make any needed additions and deletions. An immediate confirmation receipt will be sent after the report is submitted.

Individuals and businesses that own business equipment with a statewide aggregate market value of $1 million or more as of January 1, 2026, must report by February 15, 2026, to avoid a 20 percent penalty. Entities and individuals new to reporting personal property in Montana can contact the department at DORPPReporting@mt.gov for assistance.

Businesses whose statewide market value of equipment is $1 million or less are exempt from the business equipment tax. These businesses are not required to file a report unless: (1) they have acquired new personal property that may increase their aggregate market value above the exemption threshold; or (2) there are related entities that own personal property in Montana and the combined personal property value is near to or exceeds the exemption threshold; or (3) the department requests a personal property reporting be completed.

For more information, visit revenue.mt.gov or contact us at (406) 444-6900 or DORCustomerAssistance@mt.gov.

One person died in a car crash outside Fork Peck on Thursday, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.

Patrol said one car was pulling out of Galpin Road to turn left on MT-24 and hit a car driving towards Glasgow. The crash happened at mile marker 59.6.

The incident report from the MHP is attached.

The 40-year-old driver did not report any injuries.

Montana Highway Patrol said roads were bare and dry and that alcohol and drugs were not suspected to have played a role in the fatal crash.

Fort Peck Summer Theatre is having Community Cast Auditions this Sunday, January 25th at the Irle School.

Adults & teens 13 & older will be from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m., and children ages 7 – 12 will be from 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.

Audition materials, requirements, & additional information are all available at FortPeckTheatre.org, or by calling 406-228-9216.

Passenger and freight traffic across Montana’s northern border fell sharply in the first 11 months of 2025, with commercial freight seeing the sharpest decline from a for comparable periods in at least 30 years. The number of inbound people crossing also saw the steepest year-over-year percentage declines of recent decades outside of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics indicates that full shipping container crossings into Montana for the first 11 months of the year fell 21% from its 30-year peak in 2024. Over the same period, individual crossings dropped 29%. The drop comes after years of sharp increases in freight and individual crossings coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economy and tourism experts interviewed by MTFP pointed to President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff battle with Canada as a likely explanation for the drop.

“The decline in visitation is well beyond what could be explained by exchange rates, the Canadian economy, or other typical factors,” said Jeffery Michael, director of the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research. “It’s clearly related to political tensions between the two countries.”

Michael said he’s seen consistent decreases in both freight and passenger flow at Montana’s ports of entry since February, the month after President Donald Trump took office for his second term. He also said the trend accelerated after the Trump administration announced tariffs in April.

The number of people entering the U.S. at Montana ports dropped to just 200,000 in the first 11 months of 2020, then 163,000 in 2021 — the years of the COVID-19 pandemic border closures — but rebounded to just over one million in 2024. However, they then fell to 736,000 in 2025, a 29% decline, the lowest mark in over 30 years outside of the pandemic.

Racene Friede, president and CEO of Glacier Country Tourism, which promotes tourism in Northwestern Montana, said in an interview with Montana Free Press that the decline in tourism traffic had started after “friction points” in political relations between Canada and the U.S.

“We actually don’t anticipate changing in the near term,” she said.

Friede said the downturn has not affected all visitors equally. Higher-end international travel has remained strong, while other segments have been more volatile. “The luxury market is doing very well,” she said. She also noted uncertainty around the tourism effect of a new international visitor park fee, which imposes a $100 surcharge on visitors to 11 U.S. parks, including Yellowstone and Glacier.

Tourism groups say the decline in crossings is also reflected in spending data.

Brad Niva, president and CEO of Visit Big Sky, which promotes the southwest Montana resort community, said Visa credit card data indicates that Canadian spending in Big Sky is down by nearly 17% from January through September of 2025, even as spending from other international markets increased.

“Canada is our biggest foreign market,” Niva said. “All of our other countries are increasing, except Canada.”

Niva said Big Sky has been less affected than communities closer to the border but still reflects the broader trend. “Are we affected by the Canadian market? Yes — we’ve seen declines in cards, spending and people,” he said.

The drop in visitors from Canada was accompanied by a large drop in container traffic entering at Montana ports.

In total, Montana ports of entry processed about 275,000 full shipping containers in the first 11 months of 2025, down from almost 350,000 for the same period of 2024. The decline reversed several years of growth and exceeded any single-year drop recorded since at least the mid-1990s.

Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term in early 2025, his administration threatened and then imposed 25 percent duties on many Canadian goods, with a ten percent levy on energy. Trump has also repeatedly floated the idea of making Canada the “51st state” to eliminate the tariffs, a notion that has infuriated many Canadian politicians and citizens.

Brigitta Miranda-Freer, executive director of the Montana World Trade Center, told Montana Free Press that unpredictable trade policy, including tariffs announced “by tweet,” has hurt demand for both exports from Montana and imports from Canada. She also said that many consumers outside of the U.S. seem to be choosing to skip American-made products out of national pride.

“There is a lot of anti-American sentiment in other countries in regards to how we are approaching trade with our long-standing partners,” Miranda-Freer said.

State Sen. Susan Webber, a Browning Democrat whose district includes the Canada-adjacent Blackfeet Reservation, said the effects of higher trade costs are being felt directly by communities along the border, particularly on the reservation, which has two ports of entry into Canada. “People who used to go into Canada for hay, tractor parts and lumber have stopped doing it,” Webber said. Webber is a plaintiff in a suit alleging that the tariffs violate the Jay Treaty. That suit is currently awaiting a ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Webber said the reduction in cross-border trade has disrupted long-standing economic relationships between nearby Canadian and U.S. communities.

“We had a pretty good relationship with producers and services in Canada because we are so close,” Webber said.

Tourism officials said they’ve heard from Canadian visitors that the downturn is not rooted in local relationships or community level issues — and said they’d love to see Canadians return in greater numbers.

“Everyone we talk to says it isn’t the people,” Friede said. “I like to think of it as, ‘Our parents aren’t getting along, but we’re getting along great.’ ”

The Valley County Community Foundation would like to announce to the community that the 2026 grant application is currently open until March 31st. Grant applications will only be accepted online at our website, valleycountycf.net. Paper applications will no longer be accepted

Community groups, such as 501c(3) organizations, schools, and government entities, who are working to complete a project and looking for capital funds to assist in their project, are encouraged to apply.

In 2025, the Valley County Community Foundation awarded over $40,000 to 13 projects around the county. A few of those projects included repairs to the rear deck at the Fort Peck Summer Theatre, installing a backup generator at the Lustre School, purchasing hygiene kits distributed to area schools from the Valley County Health Department, and repairs to the main cabin and bath houses at Boy Scout Park.

The Valley County Community Foundation is a steward of a community savings account through which private assets, entrusted by donors, are invested to meet the challenges of contemporary life. The Foundation is the guardian of a permanent endowment where the income generated is used to help fund economic, cultural and charitable projects in Valley County.

Deadline for applications is March 31, 2026, and can be found at valleycountycf.net.

From Valley County Health Department:

Valley County is currently reporting 21 active COVID-19 cases and 14 active influenza cases. Staying informed and getting tested when you’re sick helps protect our community. VCHD offers free COVID-19 and Flu A & B drive-by testing, provided by our staff — quick, convenient, and right from your vehicle. If you’re feeling ill, and would like to be tested, please call to schedule.

Small steps make a big difference in keeping Valley County healthy!

Two state senators and a former lawmaker filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against an omnibus piece of legislation that made broad changes to property tax law, alleging it doesn’t adhere to the state constitution.

The lawsuit, filed against the state and the state’s Department of Revenue, alleges Rep. Llew Jones, a Conrad Republican, orchestrated an effort to gut the original intention of Senate Bill 542 and replaced it with “controversial” legislation through amendments and misled the public while he did it.

Sen. Greg Hertz, Sen. Tom McGillvray and former legislator Keith Regier jointly filed the lawsuit. Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The original goal of the property tax legislation discussion was to figure out a way to lower property taxes for Montanans. Numerous bills were discussed, ranging from so-called “Homestead exemptions” to a simple freeze to more rebates. One of the popular fixes supported pushing the tax burden onto out-of-state residents who own homes in Montana.

Regier, who is the father of Senate President Matt Regier, said the opposite has happened.

“Instead, they’ve accelerated the land grab by significantly raising taxes on multigenerational properties that will force Montanans to sell their family legacy property to someone with the financial means to pay the tax bill,” Regier said.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte supported the Homestead Tax exemption and his office indicated support for the legislation on Wednesday.

“While the governor’s office doesn’t generally comment on litigation, the governor is proud to have signed the only two property tax bills into law that reached his desk, cutting property taxes for 80% of Montana homeowners,” Sean Southard, the Governor’s communication director said in a statement. “If Senate Bill 542 is struck down, property taxes for Montana homeowners will increase significantly, reversing the relief that 80% of homeowners received.”

SB 542 has three parts — a $90 million tax rebate, a permanent restructuring of property tax rates, and, last, a fix to the so-called “Billings problem.” That fix essentially pushed state funds to cities whose charters ran afoul with the changes around mill levies.

Cities with a charter that has specific stipulations around how many mills they can levy without voter approval could have lost millions if the state reimbursement wasn’t added. The suit calls that “vote buying.”

“Individual homeowners received rebates, favored property classes received rate reductions, and charter cities received revenue protection,” the lawsuit reads. “Each piece targeted a different constituency, and each required bundling to secure sufficient votes for passage.”

McGillvray, the senate majority leader, called it “ Washington D.C.-style corruption.”

“Montanans pride ourselves that our Legislature debates each policy idea on its own merits, with genuine public participation,” McGillvray said in a statement. “We’re not Washington, D.C., where massive bills get cobbled together behind closed doors and shoved down legislators’ throats as ‘must pass’ legislation.”

The suit says that 10 days before SB 542 had a hearing in the Senate’s Taxation committee, Rep. Jones had already decided to gut the original bill, which was originally a three-page bill that froze property taxes for two years. By the end, it was a 40-page behemoth, which some legislators took to calling “Frankenstein”, and included none of the original wording of SB 542 as introduced by Sen. Wylie Galt.

“At that hearing, neither Jones nor any other legislator disclosed the plan to Montana citizens who testified in support of what they believed was a simple property valuation freeze,” the suit reads.

The suit calls pairing unpopular legislation with things that are more palatable “log rolling,” which the suit says violates the state’s constitution and the single-subject bill rule. Essentially, the title of the bill should reflect what’s in it, at least in theory.

The lawsuit even quotes Jones, saying “When later asked about using cash rebates to buy votes for a complex rate restructuring bill, Jones admitted: “On the rebate deal, I support it because now it’s what it takes to pass the bill … [S]ometimes, that’s the cost of doing business up here.”

The suit says the bill combined multiple subjects into a single bill: specific appropriation for a one-time rebate, permanent property tax rate restructuring, as well as charter overrides and municipal reimbursement. The suit says that’s unconstitutional.

It goes on to say, in direct terms, “If the Legislature can deliberately bundle appropriations with substantive policy to buy votes, then Article V, § 11(4) becomes meaningless – a suggestion rather than a command.”

The bundling also pushed legislators into an unconstitutional choice, the suit says.

“Accept the controversial permanent rate restructuring if they wanted to support the popular temporary rebate; or reject the popular rebate if they opposed the controversial restructuring,” the suit states, going on to say that’s why the single-subject rule exists.

Frustration has been mounting everywhere over the issue. Missoula County caught some criticism from legislators over an 8% tax hike in response to state legislation.

And the Department of Revenue is fielding questions on property taxes, though it said that fewer people appealed their property taxes last year in comparison to 2024.

Hertz pointed out during the session that SB 542 was likely unconstitutional, as did House Taxation chair Rep. Paul Fielder.

“I’ve been critical when Montana courts overstep their constitutional boundaries,” Hertz said in a statement. “The Legislature must abide by the same standard. The courts exist to enforce constitutional limits when the legislative process itself has been corrupted.”

https://northdakotamonitor.com/

A leading North Dakota oil producer is pausing new drilling amid low oil prices, but state regulators emphasized Tuesday the company is not exiting the Bakken.

Continental Resources Founder Harold Hamm said in a recent interview it will be the first time in 30 years the company will not operate a drilling rig in the state. But the company, the No. 2 oil producer in North Dakota, will continue to operate existing wells and likely reevaluate the economics of drilling in a few months.

“Continental is not pulling up stakes and leaving the state,” Gov. Kelly Armstrong said during Tuesday’s meeting of the North Dakota Industrial Commission.

Continental Resources had been operating three drilling rigs in North Dakota, but one has ceased operations, said Nathan Anderson, director of the Department of Mineral Resources. The two other rigs are expected to go offline by early March, Anderson said.

Hamm told Bloomberg News that oil and gas companies are reassessing their drilling activity in all oil fields, not just North Dakota’s Bakken, due to thin profit margins.

“There’s no need to drill it when margins are basically gone,” Hamm said in the article.

A public relations representative from Continental Resources did not return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.

The breakeven price for companies operating in North Dakota ranges from $50 per barrel to $65 per barrel in West Texas Intermediate prices, depending on the geographic location, Anderson said. The price of WTI oil was $60 per barrel as of Tuesday morning.

Low oil prices are likely to continue unless the supply of crude oil on the international market drops significantly or if demand grows quickly.

“It’s a world problem. It’s not just a North Dakota issue,” Anderson said. “We’re oversupplied by 2 (million) to 3 million barrels right now.”

There are 30 active drilling rigs in North Dakota, three fewer than a year ago at this time, Department of Mineral Resources data shows. By comparison, the state had 27 drilling rigs operating during a downturn in 2016 and 11 rigs operating amid the COVID-19 downturn in the summer of 2020.

“To be clear, this isn’t the first time an oil company has laid down rigs,” Armstrong said. “It’s happened a lot.”

Anderson said he has heard from two other companies that have indicated they plan to halt drilling in the Bakken.

Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said a divide has been developing between privately-owned companies and public companies traded on the stock market.

“The private companies have taken similar actions, or are in the process of taking similar actions,” Ness said. “The public companies have maybe gone from three rigs back to two rigs, tapping the brakes a little bit.”

North Dakota produced an average of 1.1 million barrels of oil per day in October, the most recent figures available. Only Texas and New Mexico produce more.

While companies will sometimes shut in production due to low prices, Ness said he has not heard of that happening at this time.

“You’re still producing the wells that you have,” Ness said. “We’re still going to make 1.1 million barrels a day for a while, but it will decline the longer this goes on.”

Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, said if other operators stop drilling, that impacts state oil tax revenue as well as sales tax revenue.

Many drilling and hydraulic fracturing crews are based in Williston, Bekkedahl said, which means downturns in activity have a significant impact on the local community.

“As they start to downsize their operations, we take significant reductions in population to the city of Williston,” he said.

The National Civics Bee is an annual competition for middle school students designed to inspire young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Students who participate in the National Civics Bee gain knowledge about American democracy, practice engaging respectfully and constructively, and build trust in others and institutions. Students strengthen their civics, writing, and public speaking skills, and form friendships with other young leaders along the way.

The Mansfield Center is the official Montana Civics Bee representative on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. In 2026, we offer a nonpartisan Bee in partnership with the Chamber Foundation, the Montana 250th Commission, and local Chambers of Commerce in Kalispell, Helena, and Miles City. The Montana Bee is designed to reinvigorate civic education and help prepare schools and communities to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

This multi-round event supports students in learning about and demonstrating their understanding of U.S. government, history, and civic responsibility through multiple-choice questions and a civic engagement essay. Winners receive recognition, scholarships, and the opportunity to advance to the national competition.

Past Years

On May 10, 2025, sixteen middle school students from across Montana gathered at Capital High School in Helena to compete in the Montana Statewide Civics Bee. These young civic leaders showcased their knowledge, critical thinking, and passion for public service in a dynamic three-round competition.

For more information: https://www.umt.edu/mansfield/democracy-programs/national-civics-bee/

In Rounds I and II, students tackled 20 civics-based multiple-choice questions, testing their understanding of our government, history, and democratic principles. The top five scorers advanced to the final round, where they delivered compelling three-minute pitches based on original essays outlining their solutions to pressing community challenges. They then fielded thoughtful questions from a distinguished panel of judges: Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim Shea, Cheryl Jones of the League of Women Voters, and Steve Armstrong, representing both the Sons of the American Revolution and the Montana 250 Commission.

Daisy, from Pray, earned first place and a $1,000 prize. She will go on to represent Montana at the National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C., on November 10-11, 2025. Gage, from Pine Creek, secured second place and a $500 prize, while Ainsley, also from Pine Creek, placed third and received $250.

From UM News Service

MISSOULA – University of Montana President Seth Bodnar today announced he will step down after eight years leading the state’s flagship institution. UM’s leadership transition will begin immediately.

After notifying the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Montana Board of Regents, Bodnar issued the following message to the campus:

“I write today with a deep sense of gratitude to share that I am stepping down from my role as president of the University of Montana.

“I love this university and am inspired by our work here. Service has always been the animating force of my life, and Chelsea and I would like to consider whether to pursue a new way to serve our state and our nation. I will work closely with Commissioner Christian and our leadership team to ensure a smooth handover of my responsibilities here at UM, after which my family and I will focus on this consideration.

“Teddy Roosevelt once said, ‘Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.’ Serving as president of this university has been the most meaningful professional experience of my life. A little over eight years ago, Chelsea and I arrived here in Missoula, three young kids in tow, wide-eyed and hopeful about the future. I will always remember those first weeks here: the warm welcomes and receptions, the apprehension about the challenges our university faced, the long days and nights at the office, and, most importantly, the knowledge that we had been given the opportunity to work alongside a group of incredibly passionate and talented people who cared deeply about their university and their community. Montana, Chelsea’s family’s home for five generations, quickly became my home and the place our kids would spend their formative years.

“Today, I remain all in on Montana, UM, and the vital work we do – for our students, for our state, and for our country. What we do here matters. Now more than ever.

“Throughout my time here, I’ve spoken often about inclusive prosperity. It’s not a slogan; it’s a guiding principle that shapes how we teach, how we lead, and how we serve. These words speak to our collective responsibility to ensure that every member of our community – regardless of their background, the size of their bank account, or where they grew up – has the opportunity to reach their unique, full potential. These words reflect a long-standing truth: When high-quality education is accessible and affordable, it transforms not just individual lives, but entire families and communities. This remains key to the promise at the heart of the American Dream: that anyone who’s willing to show up and work hard ought to have a fair shake at building a better life for themselves and their family.

“That’s why I came to UM, it’s why I’ve poured my heart and soul into our work here, and it’s why I believe so deeply in UM’s future.

“This university is strong, not because of any one person, building, or program, but because of the people who show up to work here each and every day, fueled by a sense of purpose and conviction. Over the past eight years, we’ve leaned into the challenge of delivering on a trifecta of imperatives: world-class quality, wide open access, and broad affordability. We’ve made tough decisions. We’ve embraced innovation – even when it required us to stretch. We’ve supported one another through a global pandemic and emerged from it even stronger. And we’ve done it all in service to our students and our state.

“Together, we have reversed a decade-long enrollment decline. We’ve achieved record-high retention and graduation rates. We’ve significantly expanded access to education for low-income, first-generation, Native American, and military-affiliated students. We’ve nearly doubled our research award volume and earned R1 research status. We’ve been named the #1 university in the nation for community and national service, as well as the most military-friendly university in the nation. We completed the university’s largest fundraising campaign ever, and we’ve undertaken the largest infrastructure renewal in campus history, making investments that will benefit generations of Grizzlies to come.

“But perhaps most importantly, we’ve fueled pride in this incredible institution – not by chasing prestige, but by being unapologetically true to who we are: a public flagship university committed to the common good and to fostering prosperity for all.

“Our work has never been about ‘fixing’ a university. It’s been about building a durable foundation for the future – one centered on students, grounded in values, and powered by belief in what public higher education can still mean in this country.

“That important work and the momentum we’ve built will continue, just as it has since this university was chartered nearly 133 years ago. We have an outstanding leadership team in place, an excellent group of deans, and incredibly talented faculty and staff. Our enrollment trajectory is positive, with applications for this coming fall’s class very strong and retention and persistence rates continuing to rise. Our strategic direction is clear. And the important work underway – to expand opportunity, deepen our impact, and serve the needs of all Montanans – will carry forward.

“Our family will miss this university and each of you dearly. This campus – a place where Chelsea spent a good portion of her childhood – has been the source of countless memories for our family, and I will be forever grateful to Commissioner Christian and the Board of Regents for giving us the opportunity to be part of something uniquely special.

“It has been my incredible privilege to serve alongside each of you in our important work here at UM. Thank you for your faith in me these past eight years, for your incredible hard work and commitment to our students, and for your belief in the importance of this university’s mission.”

Glasgow is one of 18 Montana communities selected to participate in the sixth Reimagining Rural virtual community gathering series, a free program offered through Montana State University Extension that focuses on strengthening rural community vitality.

Reimagining Rural invites residents of small towns to explore new ideas, share successes, and spark conversations about the future of their communities. Along with Glasgow, participating towns include Ekalaka, Lima/Dell, Hays, Hardin, Forsyth, Boulder, Baker, Glendive, Browning, Chester, Condon, Hysham, Fromberg, Havre, Malta, Cut Bank, and Miles City.

Local sessions will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Feb. 4, 11, and 18, at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, located next to Verizon at 54147 Hwy. 2, Suite 2, Glasgow.

The Reimagining Rural series features presentations from rural development experts and highlights success stories from small towns across Montana. While the presentations are delivered virtually, participants gather locally to watch together and then take part in facilitated discussions focused on how new ideas could be applied in their own communities.

The program is designed for rural communities that may be experiencing challenges such as declining school enrollment, loss of businesses, or shifts in local industry. Its goal is to inspire volunteer engagement, build local capacity, strengthen partnerships, and encourage innovative thinking.
Reimagining Rural is sponsored by the Montana Community Foundation.

Community members of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. Whether you’re a volunteer, community leader, or simply passionate about Glasgow’s future, organizers say the series offers a chance to dream big and help shape what’s next for the community.

An arctic cold front is expected from Thursday through Saturday across northeast Montana which will bring lows Thursday night and Friday morning between -5 southwest and -30 near the Canadian border.

Any wind that occurs may produce wind chills as low -40.

The Glasgow City Council met in regular session on Tuesday.

The council approved a resolution appointing Chris Duros to the Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department for a probationary period of 6 month.

The group who raised money and guided the construction of a new Glasgow Swimming Pool, is using $15,000 of donated money to pay for Interstate Engineering to design a future splash park to be located at Hoyt Park. The city council approved the contract but no plans are currently in the works for the city to approve a splash park to be constructed at Hoyt Park. The group is interested in knowing how much a splash park would cost if it were to be built.

A committee of the city council is currently working on a job description for the Director of Public Works position which is currently vacant after the departure of Paul Skubina. Applications are currently being accepted for the Chief of Police position which will be open when Chief Robert Weber retires this year.

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is announcing and inviting the public to comment on a proposal that will resurface about 4.5 miles of Secondary Highway 246 (S 246), northwest of Glasgow. The project begins at the intersection with Long Sukut Road, and extends northwest, ending near Tampico Road West.

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 guardrail. The purpose of the project is to extend the service life of the pavement 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 10676000.

The public is encouraged to contact Glendive District Project Development Engineer Jim Frank at 406-345-8214 or Project Design Engineer Joy Fleming at 406-345-8221 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.

To request an alternative accessible format of this document, please contact MDT’s ADA Coordinator at 406-444-5416, Montana Relay Service at 711, or by email at mmaze@mt.gov.

Reata Walden is pleased to announce that she has been awarded $1500 through AgWest Farm Credit’s Rural Community Grant program, to be used towards her 4-H Leadership Project.

Her 4-H Leadership Project goal is to assist the Valley Ridge Runner’s Saddle Club in refurbishing their arena and crow’s nest. The funds granted to the Ridge Runners Restoration Project will impact the local community by increasing the usability of the arena for the Ridge Runners, Middle of Nowhere Pony Club, and all of Valley County.

Reata is sourcing funding this winter and hopes to put improvements in place this spring and summer. AgWest’s Rural Community Grants provide funds to non-profit organizations for projects that improve rural communities within Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. This includes efforts such as building or improving facilities, purchasing necessary equipment to facilitate a local program, and funding capital improvements which enhance a community’s infrastructure, viability and prosperity.

For more information about the Rural Community Grant Program, please visit AgWest’s Rural Community Grants’ Webpage. For more information about the Ridge Runners Restoration Project, contact Reata Walden at (406)-974-7780.

Save the date and plan to attend a conservation fundraising dinner hosted by the Hi-Line Sportsmen on Saturday evening, Feb. 21 at Glasgow’s St. Raphael’s Parish Center gymnasium.

The “keep-it-local” conservation group took last year off, but is hosting its 9th annual banquet that will once again offer a wide variety of guns and one-of-a-kind items available to win on raffle or auction. Proceeds from the banquet fund a wide variety of conservation projects, college scholarships, youth field days, and other events that benefit wildlife, hunters and anglers, and landowners in Valley and neighboring counties.

The evening is a celebration of fellowship and the group’s renewed commitment to improving the wildlife, habitats, outdoors opportunities, and communities across northeastern Montana. It’s an opportunity to win guns, sporting goods, and many items donated by local businesses and organizations. It’s also an evening to eat a perfectly roasted prime rib dinner with shrimp and all the fixings.

Tickets for the banquet cost $50 per seat. Businesses or groups of friends can reserve $500 tables that seat 8 and come with premium table gifts. Attendees who purchase tickets prior to Feb. 7 will be entered into an early bird drawing.

Doors open on Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m. for drinks and games. A prime rib dinner with all the trimmings will be served starting at 6 p.m. Nearly a dozen rifles, shotguns, and handguns will be auctioned or raffled over the course of the evening.

One of the highlights of the annual banquet is the presentation of Hi-Line Sportsmen Scholarships. Since its inception, the group has awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships to Valley County high school seniors, and again this year the scholarship fund will be augmented by proceeds from the auction of special firearms.

For more information on the Feb. 21 banquet and Hi-Line Sportsmen, visit the group’s Facebook page or call club president Justin Schaaf at 406-230-2822.

American Prairie’s permit to graze its bison on federal land has been revoked, according to a new proposed decision from the Bureau of Land Management.

The nonprofit conservation group will lose its right to graze bison on seven plots of land in Phillips County. American Prairie has sought to reintroduce bison to parts of Montana, managing more than 500,000 acres in the state and owning about 167,000 acres. The nonprofit organization has 940 head of bison across 46,000 acres and a mission to create one of the largest nature preserves in the country.

AP has grazed bison using federal leases since 2005. They stand to lose at least 63,000 acres of land they were leasing to graze on. The organization is also concerned about impacts to other livestock owners.

“Our organization and conservation model remain resilient, but that does not negate the fact that this creates uncertainty for all livestock owners who depend on public lands for grazing,” American Prairie CEO Alison Fox said in a press release. “We have followed the law, complied with every requirement, and prioritized transparency at every step.”

Opponents of their bison operation say the Taylor Grazing Act, a bedrock 1934 piece of agricultural legislation, does not allow for conservation grazing, which is essentially grazing that is done for multiple purposes, including ecological benefit. The act does not define what animals can be grazed, only that the Secretary of the Interior can permit “free grazing within such districts of livestock kept for domestic purposes.”

In fact, the act appears more concerned with impacts to other industries, specifically naming various resources, like stone and clay, that can be used on those grazing lands and also protecting the ability to mine in those areas.

The Interior’s argument in the decision rests on two words that are not defined in the act—“livestock” and “domestic.” Two other federal laws cited in the decision — the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Public Rangeland Improvement Act don’t define the terms either.

“The BLM’s regulations define the term to mean ‘species of domestic livestock—cattle, sheep, horses, burros, and goats,’ the decision said, citing federal code. “But that definition does not answer the question whether livestock can mean anything other than animals managed as part of a production-oriented operation.”

The decision attempts to answer that question, saying that the term “stock” is tied to commerce and “domestic” is the opposite of “wild.”

“The dictionary definition, therefore, supports the proposition that livestock as used in the TGA and related authorities refers to animals “kept for sale or trade,” id., and that the authority to issue grazing permits and leases is limited to applicants who will use the animals to graze the public lands in that manner,” the decision reads.

American Prairie has insisted that there’s nothing in those laws preventing grazing by conservation herds. Even more, for they’ve said they qualify as a stock owner and that they are engaged in the livestock business. And they have sanctioned bison hunts as well.

“Our bison herd has supported food security, improved rangeland health, and created valuable opportunities for local nonprofits which include veterans associations, youth organizations, and local sportsmen’s chapters,” Fox said in a release. “Those benefits should matter. Instead, we’re seeing a departure from consistent application of the law that puts producers and working lands at risk.”

Burgum assumed control of the case last year, which came after pressure mounted from Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and the four members of the state’s Congressional delegation.

He praised the decision in a press release.

“Today’s decision by BLM is a win for Montana’s ranchers, our agricultural producers, and the rule of law,” Gianforte said in a statement. “For years, we have raised serious concerns about the federal government’s failure to listen to the folks who live and work the land. By proposing to cancel these permits, BLM is finally acknowledging that federal overreach cannot come at the expense of our local communities and the production agriculture that feeds our nation. I’m proud of our administration’s work to achieve this decision and I would like to thank Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and BLM for following the law and putting Montanans first.”

In that letter, the politicians say American Prairie is harming the state economy, which the nonprofit has bristled at, calling the notion “absurd” last year.

Gianforte painted the decision as a win for farmers and ranchers, though some ranchers have expressed that billionaire ranch owners are a bigger problem than any issues they might have at American Prairie.

“This administration will always stand with our farmers and ranchers against federal overreach,” Gianforte concluded. “We will continue to protect our way of life and ensure that Montana voices are heard in Washington, D.C.”

American Prairie has 15 days from receiving the decision to file an appeal.

“American Prairie is reviewing the decision and determining its course of action, and will continue to advocate for a public-lands grazing system that is lawful, predictable, and applied equally,” a press release from the organization said.

Gov. Greg Gianforte formally requested a presidential major disaster declaration last week for a windstorm late last year.

The windstorm impacted most of the state, toppling trees and powerlines, blocking roads and generally creating hazardous driving conditions. The winds lasted for hours, as winds from the upper atmosphere blasted the state, with some areas just beginning the early recovery process from devastating floods.

Some schools also lost their roof in the storm, five in all, Gianforte said in a press release. And in one of those schools, vermiculite asbestos was found.

In a press release from his office, Gianforte stated the ask from the federal government for windstorm damages is $6.5 million. Flooding in western Montana, which Gianforte also asked for a separate presidential disaster declaration on Jan. 9, totaled almost $10 million.

“The totality of impact from the most detrimental windstorm in 30 years is estimated to be $13.3 million,” Gianforte said in a press release. “Damages, response, and recovery efforts impacted 45 of 56 Montana Counties, five of seven Tribal Nations including one with significant water system damages, five school districts, and 19 of 25 Rural Electrical Cooperatives. Damage from the storm is spread across 80 percent of Montana.”

Gianforte went on to say the damage was “unparalleled for this time of year.”

The Glasgow City Council is set to meet tonight at 5pm in the Glasgow Civic Center.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Discussion and Decision Meeting
Valley County, Glasgow, Mt

Wednesday January 21, 2026, 10:30 a.m.

1. Additions/Deletions
2. Public Comment on Agenda items
3. Action on Employment/Termination Notices
4. Consideration of Pliley Minor Subdivision with Casey Burke, County Planner providing an overview.
5. Public Comment on Non-agenda items

Friday and Saturday were extremely windy days for much of eastern Montana. Back to Friday in Glasgow, the average wind speed was 29.7mph, with a top sustained wind of 51mph and peak gust of 67mph.

Saturday's peak gust was just 28mph, but Sunday saw a gust of 49mph, with average wind speed of 16.7mph.

Ryan Dennis of KRTV reported that the windiest day on record occurred in both Baker (38.1mph) and Miles City (32.6mph).

On January 15, 2026, Leone Tautuiaki Ahoia, 34, of Nashua, was arrested in connection with an incident that occurred earlier the same day at McDonald’s. Ahoia is accused of entering the restaurant, assaulting two employees, and causing damage to the property.

Following the incident, Ahoia fled the scene and was later located and arrested at Ezzie’s Midtown. During the investigation, it was learned that Ahoia was accompanied by an individual who is listed in an active order of protection.

Ahoia was charged with Burglary, two counts of Assault, Criminal Mischief/Vandalism, and Violation of a No-Contact Order. The charges are allegations only, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Ahoia will be held pending an appearance before a judge to determine conditions of release.

Two incumbents have filed for 2 open positions on the Glasgow School Board. Blaine White and Whitney Tatafu both filed the necessary paperwork and are now officially candidates for the school board.

Filing opened in December and will close on February 9th.

School elections are set for May 5th across Montana.

Those interested in being a candidate for the Glasgow School Board can contact the Central Office for more information.

Mesonet reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 58 MPH - 7 W Carlyle, Wibaux, MT

Mesonet reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 64 MPH - 10 ESE Zortman, Phillips, MT

Mesonet reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 70 MPH -2 W Bloomfield, Dawson, MT

Mesonet reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 70 MPH -9 SW Bredette, Roosevelt, MT

Mesonet reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 74 MPH -2 E Fort Peck, McCone, MT

Mesonet reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 66 MPH - 13 NNE Nelson Creek Rec, McCone, MT

Mesonet reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 60 MPH - 1 NNE Froid, Roosevelt, MT

ASOS reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 64 MPH - 2 NNE Glasgow, Valley MT

AWOS reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 61 MPH - 1 NW Forest Park, Dawson, MT

Mesonet reports Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 65 MPH - 5 ESE Hoyt, Dawson, MT

There is a new flavor in the Girl Scout cookie lineup this year.

The organization has added a rocky-road-inspired cookie called “Exploremores,” which are now on sale.

The new chocolate sandwich cookie has a creamy filling with notes of chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted-almond-flavored crème.

Like the Girl Scouts’ other cookies, they will be sold online and in person by local troops.

In exchange for “Exploremores,” the Girl Scouts discontinued the “S’mores” and “Toast-Yay!” cookies after several years on sale.

The 2026 Girl Scout cookie lineup includes:

Adventurefuls
Lemon-Ups or Lemonades (depending on your region)
Trefoils
Do-si-dos
Samoas
Tagalongs
Thin Mints
Exploremores
Toffee-tastics (gluten-free)

The national average for a gallon of regular gas went up a couple of cents since last week to $2.84. Drivers are still paying less than they were last year when the national average was $3.08. Pump prices are typically low in January thanks to a dip in gas demand and cheaper winter blend gasoline. Crude oil prices remain low as markets keep an eye on tensions in Iran, which is a member of OPEC and one of the world’s top oil producers. Any disruption to Iran’s oil infrastructure could have a ripple effect on gas prices here at home.

Today’s National Average: $ 2.844

One Week Ago: $2.819

One Month Ago: $2.906

One Year Ago: $3.089

The average price of gasoline in Montana is $2.74 per gallon compared to $2.86 per gallon in 2025. The average price of gasoline in Valley County is $2.73 per gallon.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.17 million b/d to 8.30 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 242 million barrels to 251 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.0 million barrels per day.

Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose 87 cents to settle at $62.02 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 3.4 million barrels from the previous week. At 422.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year.

State Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are Hawaii ($4.40), California ($4.21), Washington ($3.79), Alaska ($3.47), Nevada ($3.35), Oregon ($3.33), Washington, DC ($3.10), Pennsylvania ($3.01), Michigan ($2.99), and Vermont ($2.99).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($2.32), Texas ($2.42), Kansas ($2.42), Mississippi ($2.43), Louisiana ($2.43), Arkansas ($2.45), Missouri ($2.46), Wyoming ($2.49), Alabama ($2.50), and Iowa ($2.50).

The Business Professionals of America (BPA) team departed at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 14, to compete in many different business competitions at the Regional competition in Lambert. Glasgow competes in Region 8 of Montana, and 24 students represented the school at the conference—delivering an outstanding performance throughout the day.

“I was really proud of how hard they prepared and how they showed up today,” said Jill Page, BPA advisor.

All of the students listed below earned the opportunity to advance to the State BPA competition in March, which will be held in Billings. Students who place at State can move on to compete at the National Leadership Conference in Nashville. All the students represented our school professionally, in some cases, stepped out of their comfort zone, and finished something hard, even if they didn't place.--That matters! Below is the list of how things finished up for us:

Front: Blake Estes, Mary Knierim, Breelyn Marsalek, Niyoka Harris, Alexys Wittmayer, Guinevere Abern, Haleigh Huntsman, Leah Potter, Tessa Stutheit, Ryla Brown

Back: Rayne Jenkins, Kyler Whitman, Garrett Thompson, Jackson Abern, Bridger Wesely, Gabe Allen, Rowen Kloker, Mayzie Yoakam, Amelia Gilchrist, Amani Probert, Violet Thompson, Harper Thompson

Not pictured: Sadie White, Riley Clampitt

University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is expected to run for U.S. Senate as an Independent, part of an elaborate plan apparently backed by former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in a move that has angered Democrats.

A spokesperson for Bodnar confirmed the plan to Montana Free Press on Tuesday, saying that the president will wait to discuss the election until he’s ready to make a formal announcement. The spokesperson said Bodnar would resign his presidential post to run.

Rumors of the move swirled through Democratic circles last week as it appeared that Tester intended not to support a Democratic challenger to two-term Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who played a heavy role in unseating Tester in 2024. The Republican has never had a close race for federal office.

Democrats Reilly Neill, a former state Legislator from Livingston, and Air Force veteran Alani Bankhead have registered Senate campaigns with the Federal Elections Commission.

A text message — allegedly sent by Tester, who did not return multiple calls from Montana Free Press on Monday or Wednesday — states not only that a Democrat cannot win the race, but that the party’s brand had become a drag on his last two elections.

“Every race I ran as Montana Senator and U.S. Senator it was about distancing myself from the Democratic Party…. During my last two races the democratic Party was poison in my attempts to get re-elected,” the text reads. The message ends with a declaration that Neill will lose badly.

Several people had forwarded copies of the text to MTFP, but no one could confirm Tester as its source. The phone number from which the text was originally sent had been removed from the circulated message, which was signed with the initials “JT.”

Todd Buchanan, the chair of the Montana Board of Regents, which oversees state universities, said in an email Tuesday that he had heard nothing about a Bodnar Senate run. Buchanan’s father, Gary, was an Independent candidate for Montana’s eastern U.S. House district in 2022. In that race, won by Republican Matt Rosendale in a blowout, Buchanan received 21.8% of the vote, slightly better than Democrat Penny Ronning’s 20%.

Neill, who registered her Senate candidacy in November 2024, three days after Tester lost his reelection bid to current U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, a Republican, said she didn’t have time for political scuttlebutt when asked about a Bodnar run.

“I don’t hear on the ground anything other than we need better health care. Whether you’re in Glendive or whether you’re in Kalispell, the rent’s too damn high. The rent’s high, people. The cost of living is high. Groceries are high,” Neill said. “I think Daines not showing up in any of these places that I’ve been is a huge issue.”

Neill was a write-in candidate for Montana’s eastern U.S. House District in 2024. She entered the race out of disappointment with the candidacy of Democrat John Driscoll, who won a four-way primary, then proceeded to run a low-dollar campaign.

Driscoll never crossed the $5,000 threshold in donations or spending that would have required him to report his finances with the Federal Election Commission. It was the first time since 2008 that a major party nominee in a Montana congressional race didn’t have to report finances to the FEC. Driscoll was the Democrats’ 2008 House candidate as well. In both races, Driscoll picked up better than 32% of the vote, about 10 points less than the Democrats who ran conventional campaigns from 2010 through 2020, according to state election data.

The specter of Montana’s last statewide elected Democrat supporting an Independent for federal office angered many within the party.

“This text from Tester, or whatever it is, we don’t know if it exists really, or where it started, and all the rest of it. This helps Steve Daines. It helps the Republican Party. It helps [Republican Gov. Greg] Gianforte, who is well-equipped because he has the Board of Regents. And the Board of Regents, they direct the activity of the person who is theoretically running,” said former Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer in an interview with MTFP on Wednesday.

Schweitzer won more than 65% of the votes in his 2008 reelection campaign, the highest vote share for a Montana Democratic candidate for governor in at least 50 years. He told MTFP on Wednesday that it was important for Democrats to back their candidates, even ones with little name recognition.

“That was the case when [Republican] Conrad Burns was U.S. senator in Montana. A state senator nobody had heard of from Big Sandy was going to run against him. You could have made the case that the Democrats didn’t have a good candidate,” Schweitzer said.

That no-name state senator from Big Sandy was Jon Tester, who won the race. “There’s a lot of time,” Schweitzer said. “That’s why we have primaries. People are able to start connecting with people and the two-party system narrows it down.”

Schweitzer was one of several Democrats contacted by MTFP since last week who suggested the push for an Independent Senate candidate was being driven by “the consultant industrial complex,” that is to say, professional campaign analysts capable of organizing significant third-party investment from political action committees.

The former governor suggested that the 2024 U.S. Senate race in Nebraska is a model for an Independent Senate campaign. In that race, Independent Dan Osborn challenged incumbent Republican Sen. Deb Fischer. Without a Democrat on the ballot, Osborn won nearly 47% of the vote and outraised Fischer $15 million to $8.4 million according to FEC data. Outside spending in the race also favored the Independent, $20 million to $9.3 million, again according to the FEC.

Daines is one of the Republican Party’s better performers in Montana. His lowest margin of victory since 2012 was a 9.4% in a U.S. House race. In 2014, his margin approached 18% as his Democratic opponent, John Walsh, dropped out because of a plagiarism scandal concerning an academic paper Walsh wrote as a student at the War College. The National Republican Senatorial Committee later admitted leaking the Walsh paper to the New York Times days before the deadline for Democrats to select a replacement candidate.

Amanda Curtis, the current president of the Montana Federation of Public Employees, finished the 2014 Senate race for Montana Democrats.

In 2020, Daines won reelection to the Senate by defeating then-Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock by a 10% margin. That year, Republicans won every statewide race in Montana.

Bodnar has been president of the University of Montana since late 2018. He is a West Point graduate and veteran of the Green Berets. He is still active in the U.S. Army Reserve. Prior to becoming president of the University of Montana, Bodnar was an executive at General Electric working on next-generation freight locomotives.

Fault lines between Tester and Montana Democrats about the party’s future emerged at the Montana Democratic Party officers’ convention in Livingston. Party members didn’t back Tester’s pick for party chair, Mike Jopek.

Tester, who participated remotely, told voters that “The Democratic Party is in trouble. We have done it to ourselves. We have focused on blue districts and not other districts throughout the state. We are seen in polling as woke and weak.”

The party’s newly elected vice chair, Max Johansen, at the convention told MTFP that Tester should have been “more proactive and forthright” about Tester’s 2024 Republican opponent Sheehy during the election.

Johansen resigned as vice chair a few days after the remarks and the party apologized to Tester.

In a post-convention interview with MTFP, Tester said “Things have changed. There’s too many people in the party right now that don’t think I have any value. And I’m OK with that.”

The Local Little Christmas Winners were drawn on Tuesday on Live Under the Big Sky. Lisa Koski of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce told Kltz/Mix93 that there were over 2900 entries in the promotion with the total amount spent locally $290,200!

Congratulations to the winners!

Glasgow Elks Lodge #1922 was recently awarded a Beacon Grant from the Elks National Foundation (ENF) for the 2025-2026 Elks year. The Lodge applied for and received a $4,000 Beacon Grant with the purpose of purchasing school supplies and basic needs items for children in our local area.

With this grant, the Glasgow Lodge purchased them items to donate to the Backpack Fairies program that was started by anonymous generous caring individuals years ago. The supplies the Elks purchased will be distributed through the Backpack Fairies program to those who can benefit from their help. All ENF grants must serve specific populations in the Lodge’s community. Such as people experiencing homelessness, families facing food insecurity, survivors of abuse, students and families who are under-resourced, Veterans in need of assistance, or individuals facing other barriers.

If you would like to donate to the ENF via the Glasgow Elks, or if you would like more information about the Elks or to become a member, please give the Glasgow Elks a call at 406-228-2233, or email them at Elks1922@nemont.net. See less

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

2026 is an election year in Montana with state and federal offices on the ballot. The filing for political offices will beginning February 17th and ending March 4th.

There are several Valley County elected positions that will be on the ballot in 2026.

Valley County Commissioner: Paul Tweten
Valley County Sheriff- Tom Boyer
Valley County Clerk and Recorder- Marie Pippin
Valley County Treasurer- Brenda Anderson
Valley County Attorney-Dylan Jensen
Valley County Justice of the Peace- Christi Hillman

Tom Boyer told Kltz/Mix-93 that he plans to run for re-election in 2026.

At the federal level, Steve Daines is up for re-election as is Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke.

At the state level, all 100 seats in the Montana House of Representatives are up for election and 25 of the Montana Senate seats.

For the 2025 calendar year, Missouri River basin runoff above Sioux City, Iowa totaled 19.9 million acre-feet, 78% of average. For 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is forecasting runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa to be near- average at 24.5 MAF, 96% of average.

The 2026 forecast is based on current runoff trends, soil moisture conditions, generally below-average plains snowpack and near-average mountain snowpack. At the start of the 2026 runoff season, which typically begins around March 1, the total volume of water stored in the Missouri River Mainstem reservoir system is expected to be 49.0 MAF, 7.1 MAF below the top of the carryover multiple use zone. The System is designed to use the water contained within the carryover multiple use zone to support the eight Congressionally authorized purposes during extended droughts. Those purposes are flood control, navigation, water supply, irrigation, hydropower, recreation, water quality control, and fish and wildlife.

There is enough water in the river for all water supply needs. Access to the water remains the responsibility of the facility owners and operators. “Weather and river conditions continue to be monitored and releases from Gavins Point Dam will be adjusted to the extent practical to help mitigate any negative effects of the cold weather. We know the importance of our operations to water supply,” added Remus.

Mountain and Plains Snowpack:

Mountain snowpack in the upper Missouri River Basin is accumulating at average rates. As of Jan. 4, mountain snowpack in the Fort Peck reach was 99% of average, while the mountain snowpack in the Fort Peck to Garrison reach was 100% of average. More than half the mountain snowfall typically occurs from Jan. 1 to mid-April and normally peaks near April 17. The mountain snowpack graphics can be viewed at: https://go.mil/mr-mtn-snowpack. While there are some small areas of above average plains snowpack, the plains snowpack is generally below average for this time of year.

Fort Peck Flow Test:

Test releases from Fort Peck that would assess the potential benefits of alternative management scenarios for the pallid sturgeon had been planned to be implemented in 2026. The test would include two higher Fort Peck release periods, in late April and June, with target flows at Wolf Point, Montana. While the Corps continues the planning process for a 2026 Fort Peck Flow Test, current reservoir studies indicate there will not be a sufficient volume of water in the Fort Peck Reservoir to conduct the test in 2026.

Reservoir Forecast:

Fort Peck Dam
Average releases past month – 5,000 cfs
Current release rate – 5,000 cfs
Forecast average release rate – 5,000 cfs
End-of-December reservoir level – 2222,7 feet
Forecast end-of-January reservoir level – 2221.6 feet
Notes: Releases will remain at 5,000 cfs in January and February.
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 435 million kWh of electricity in December. Typical energy generation for December is 670 million kWh. Total energy generation for 2025 was 7.7 billion kWh of electricity, compared to the long-term average of 9.4 billion kWh. Forecast generation for 2026 is 8.0 billion kWh.

From the Glasgow Police Department:

On 1/10/25 Duane Evan Mosely 36 YOA was arrested at his residence in Glasgow.

Mosley was charged with Sexual Intercourse without Consent, Unlawful Restraint and Criminal Mischief/Vandalism of a cellphone from an incident that occurred on or about the 12/22/25.

Mosley was also charged with Strangulation of a Partner of Family Member, Unlawful Restraint and Assault with a Weapon from an altercation that occurred at his residence the night of 1/9/26.

Lastly, Mosley was charged with Disorderly Conduct for an altercation the occurred at the Valley County Detention Center on 1/10/26.

A search warrant was obtained, and evidence was collected from Mosley’s residence.

The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

At this time, the Glasgow Police Department would like to ask the community to respect the Victim’s rights to privacy during a situation such as this. The Victim in this case has been assisted by the Glasgow Victim Witness Specialists. Thank for your assistance during this time of healing.

Four new hunting districts across the state recorded a detection of Chronic Wasting Disease since July 2025, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said Friday.

The four districts were in FWP regions 3, 4 and 6. Those regions cover the south west, north central and northeast parts of the state.

The department announced since July, there were 433 positive Chronic Wasting Disease tests out of 8,574 tests to date, an increase from last year, though FWP said it was too early to make any authoritative call on potential new trends.

“Without this data, the risk of CWD going undetected increases, which can lead to significant, long-term declines in herd health and hunting opportunities,” a recent FWP release said. “Proactive management based on hunter-submitted data is the only way to help ensure Montana’s big game populations remain resilient for future generations.”

Of the positive results, 250 were white-tailed deer, 179 were mule deer, and four were elk.

As a comparison, from July 1, 2024, to March 25, 2025, there were 356 positive CWD tests on slightly less than 10,000 samples, according to the 2024 CWD report, published by FWP. However, it’s notable high concentrations of animals were tested in areas already known to have CWD.

The data helps biologists track where the disease is moving and guide where the agency might take management action, such as an extended season on a particular animal and where to concentrate their sampling efforts.

“We use the proportion of positive CWD tests from adult hunter-harvested animals to calculate prevalence in each hunting district,” Jacobsen wrote. “To calculate prevalences, we use data from the last three years. We also look at new detections in hunting districts.”

From July to present, the agency processed 8,574 samples, with 433 of those returning a positive test. The fourth week of the season, Nov. 13-19, saw 1,741 samples collected — the highest sampling week ever for that period. The agency processed samples from 4,537 white-tailed deer, 3,047 mule deer, 944 elk and 46 moose.

FWP wasn’t ready to make any determinations on prevalence of the disease compared to last year, as they need to clean the data — a report on the 2025 hunting season and CWD is expected this summer. There are still active hunts on some animals as well, which could also influence the data.

“We would like to thank our hunters and local communities for your collaboration with our seasonal CWD staff who handled collecting and receiving their samples throughout the season,” Sam Treece, FWP’s wildlife CWD technician supervisor, said in a press release. “We are sincerely grateful each and every year for your contributions in aiding the wildlife heritage of Montana.”

On average, hunters received their tests back in an average of 7.6 days.

CWD is a neurological disease that elk, deer and moose can be infected with, and it’s neither a virus or bacteria. Instead, it’s a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy — a naturally occurring protein, called a prion, that is not broken down by the animal the way it should be.

The disease can be spread through contact with feces and other bodily fluids. Importantly, soil that has been contaminated with any of those fluids can also infect other animals. CWD is always fatal to the creature, and animals can spread the disease long before they develop symptoms.

There isn’t a cure for the disease, and there’s been no recorded transmission of CWD to a human. However, meat from CWD-positive animals should still never be eaten.

There are several ways to get animals tested — hunters can remove an animals lymph nodes and mail them in, or bring the head to any FWP regional office. The results of the test can be then found online.

About 30% of Montana’s hunting districts have CWD-positive animals, and the state has invested significant resources into tracking the disease for nearly three decades.

Extended hunting season

FWP also recently announced it was extending the season on white-tail deer hunting in some parts of southwestern Montana due to a rise in CWD cases there.

The extended season runs through Feb. 15, 2026, in all of Hunting District 309 and portions of HDs 301, 304, 311 and 312. Those are primarily along the Gallatin River corridor where white-tailed deer are most concentrated, FWP said in a press release. The goal of the hunt is to reduce the white-tailed population density.

The agency also reminded hunters to check the specific boundaries of the CWD hunt and that there are weapon restrictions in Hunting District 309.

“Reducing deer numbers in key areas is one of the most effective tools we have to slow the spread of CWD,” Region 3 wildlife manager Warren Hansen said in a press release. “Early action improves our ability to keep disease prevalence low, protect mule deer and elk from potential spillover, and maintain a healthier deer herd overall.”

The Montana Lottery has awarded $1,169,138 in high-tier prizes since January 5.

A high-tier prize is any prize of $600 or more. Winners of $5,000 or more are listed below.

• A Billings winner, playing Montana Millionaire, claimed their prize of $1,000,000 on January 5. The winning ticket was purchased at On The Run in Billings.

• A Glasgow winner, playing Powerball, claimed their prize of $50,000 on January 6. The winning ticket was purchased at Town Pump of Great Falls on 401 10th Avenue South.

• A Vaughn winner, playing Shake A Day, claimed their prize of $19,925 on January 5. The winning ticket was purchased at Ramble Inn, Inc. in Sun River.

• A Flaxville winner, playing Shake A Day, claimed their prize of $18,075 on January 8. The winning ticket was purchased at Kick Ass Bar and Grill.

• A Havre winner, playing MT Slots, claimed their prize of $17,150 on January 8. The winning ticket was purchased at Golden Spike Bar in Havre.

• A Havre winner, playing Shake A Day, claimed their prize of $14,837 on January 8. The winning ticket was purchased at Golden Spike Bar in Havre.

• A Laurel winner, playing Big Sky Bonus, claimed their prize of $12,895 on January 9. The winning ticket was purchased at Stop N Shop in Laurel.

Governor Greg Gianforte Thursday announced that Montana homeowners can now apply for the 2026 Homestead Reduced Rate, delivering on his commitment to provide permanent and meaningful property tax relief for Montanans.

“Recognizing the burden of rising property taxes, we worked with the Legislature to deliver permanent and meaningful property tax relief,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Thanks to our reforms, 80% of Montana homeowners saw lower property taxes last year. While those who claimed a property tax rebate are already enrolled for the lower rate this year, homeowners can verify their status or claim the lower rate by visiting Homestead.MT.gov.”

Largely a function of local jurisdictions, property taxes fund local government services, with approximately 80 percent of property tax revenue from residential homeowners going directly to local jurisdictions and the remaining 20 percent going to the State of Montana which returns the amount in full to help fund K-12 public schools throughout the state.

Beginning December 1, 2025, Montana homeowners became eligible to apply for the Homestead Reduced Rate for the 2026 tax year. To qualify, applicants must attest that they will own and live in their Montana home as their principal residence for at least seven months during 2026. When applying, homeowners will need to provide the property’s physical address, geocode, and the names and Social Security numbers of the property owners.

House Bill 231, carried by Representative Llew Jones, R-Conrad, established the Homestead Rate, which takes effect this year. The Homestead Rate is a new, lower property tax rate for long-term rentals and primary residences, the places Montanans call home.

Properties that qualified for and received the 2025 property tax rebate will automatically qualify for the 2026 Homestead Reduced Rate if ownership has not changed and the property continues to be used as the primary residence. Additionally, the application period for the Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate is now open. To qualify, properties must be rented to tenants as their residence for periods of 28 days or longer for at least seven months of the year. Applicants will need to provide the property’s physical address, geocode, owner information, and details on rental income and expenses.

In November, Gov. Gianforte announced that nearly 80% of homes will see a tax cut from the reforms, with about 10% seeing property taxes remain flat. The average savings for homeowners who saw a tax cut was more than $500, not including the up to $400 property tax rebate available to eligible homeowners.

Senate Bill 542, carried by Senator Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, establishes new, tiered tax rates to deliver property tax relief for Montanans for their homes, small businesses, farms, and ranches in 2025 and provided a property tax rebate for Montanans for their primary residence. Eligible Montana homeowners could claim a rebate up to $400 last year for property taxes paid in 2024.

Last year, more than 235,000 Montana homeowners claimed and received a property tax rebate. Montana homeowners who claimed and received a property tax rebate in 2025 may be automatically enrolled in the Homestead Rate for 2026, provided the homeowner did not move or change ownership in 2025.

Montanans can verify enrollment or apply for the Homestead Reduced Rate and Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate by visiting homestead.mt.gov.

From Energy Information Administration:

The U.S. retail price for regular grade gasoline averaged $3.10 per gallon (gal) in 2025, $0.21/gal less than in 2024. This year marks the third consecutive year of declining nominal retail gasoline prices, according to data from our Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update.

Crude oil prices are the largest component of U.S. gasoline prices. U.S. gasoline prices fell in 2025 because of lower crude oil prices, which were driven by oversupply concerns and a weaker global economic outlook in the first half of the year that dampened demand.

U.S. retail gasoline prices have fallen every year since 2022, when prices spiked to their highest since 2014 when adjusted for inflation after petroleum product prices increased sharply following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The retail gasoline price was highest in 2025 in early April when it reached $3.24/gal, still less than 2024’s high price of $3.67/gal, also reached in April. Similar to 2024, the 2025 high price preceded the summer driving season, which is when gasoline use peaks in the United States and often sets the highest prices of the year. Summer prices were relatively lower for gasoline and other petroleum products because of lower crude oil prices through the second half of the year. Retail gasoline prices decreased to an annual low of $2.81/gal in late December, as low crude oil prices combined with declining crack spreads at the end of November.

U.S. gasoline consumption in 2025 decreased on an annual average basis by less than 1% from 2024. Despite slightly lower consumption, a small increase in net exports in 2025 contributed to similar inventory levels as 2024. In 2025, Memorial Day gasoline prices, which signal the start of the summer driving season, were their lowest since 2020, when adjusted for inflation.

After the 2025 summer season, tightness in the global refining sector caused gasoline prices to increase just above their 2024 levels for September—the first month in which that happened this year. This relative tightness persisted through October and November, as higher refining margins led to gasoline prices that were about equal to 2024 prices going into Thanksgiving.

U.S. gasoline prices vary regionally, reflecting local supply and demand conditions and differences in state fuel specifications and taxes. The annual average retail price for regular grade gasoline in 2025 ranged from a low of $2.39/gal on the Gulf Coast to a high of $4.32/gal on the West Coast.

Governor Greg Gianforte Wednesday announced Montana’s unemployment rate rose to 3.3 percent in November, continuing the record of over four consecutive years of unemployment at or below 3.4 percent.

Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.3 percent lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.6 percent in November. Montana remained in the top ten states in the nation with the lowest unemployment rates.

Montana’s labor force added approximately 2,200 workers over the last two months ending in November, while total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) increased by nearly 800, generating an increase in the unemployment rate. Payroll jobs grew over the last two months, with gains in administrative services and transportation offsetting declines in government and healthcare employment. October 2025 unemployment data are unavailable due to the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis over the two months from September to November 2025. Over the last twelve months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. Core inflation, or the index for all items less food and energy, rose 2.6 percent over the last 12-months. The energy index increased 4.2 percent for the 12 months ending November. The food index increased 2.6 percent over the last year.

The unemployment rate in Valley County was 2.9% which is higher than one year ago when it was 2.2%. The labor force in Valley County is 3539 which is down 34 from last year at this time.

The City of Glasgow has announced the launch of a new mass notification system designed to keep residents informed about critical utility services, service disruptions and city emergencies. Powered by Daupler Notify, the platform allows the city to communicate directly with citizens.

The system is part of a broader effort to provide “more of what matters” to the local community by ensuring transparency during maintenance and emergencies.

Real-Time Updates for Residents.

By registering for the service, residents can receive instant alerts regarding:

Service Interruptions: Immediate notification of water or wastewater outages and other local disruptions.

Repair Progress: Real-time updates on how repairs are proceeding.

Restoration Estimates: Accurate information on when services are expected to be fully restored.

City Emergencies such as in the event of inclement weather.

One of the key features of the new system is user customization. Residents can choose their preferred contact method, including text messages, emails, or voice calls.

How to Register.

The city has made the sign-up process straightforward for all mobile users. To get started, residents can:

Visit the City of Glasgow website, http://www.cityofglasgowmt.com and click on “Glasgow Notification System Signup Information QR Code Setup or Daupler Notification Website – No QR Code.

If you are using the QR code, use a smartphone camera to scan the official registration code.

Create a Profile: Enter a name and phone number to begin receiving alerts.

Add Locations: Users can monitor multiple locations that matter to them, such as their home, workplace, or other properties within the service area.

The platform also includes a central dashboard where users can view a history of past notifications in one place.

Nathan Chasing Horse, the former "Dances with Wolves" actor accused of sexual abuse, was temporarily thrown out of court Monday after he disrupted proceedings with demands he be allowed to fire his defense attorney a week before trial.

Judge Jessica Peterson in Las Vegas ordered his jury trial to proceed next week as planned.

Chasing Horse has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges, including allegations that he sexually assaulted women and girls and that he filmed himself sexually abusing a girl younger than 14. Prosecutors allege he used his reputation as a spiritual leader and healer to take advantage of Native American women and girls over two decades.

Peterson ordered him removed from court Monday for trying to speak over her. He argued that his attorney, Craig Mueller, did not come to visit him and did not file timely. He asked that a public defender who previously represented him be his attorney.

Mueller, a private defense attorney, told the court his client was ready and privately told the judge that one of his investigators had visited with Chasing Horse. He declined to comment to The Associated Press.

Best known for portraying the character Smiles A Lot in the 1990 movie "Dances with Wolves," Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, which is home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation.

Tribal authorities on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation (in Poplar, Montana, home to the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes) banished Chasing Horse in 2015. Tribal leaders voted to bar him from the reservation amid allegations that included human trafficking, spiritual abuse, intimidation of tribal members, and other concerns about his conduct.

After his Nevada arrest and the accumulation of more evidence, the Fort Peck Tribal Court issued a warrant charging him with aggravated sexual assault tied to alleged incidents on the reservation from around 2005.

Tribal investigators said they could pursue the case once victims came forward following his Nevada arrest. However, Chasing Horse remains in custody in Nevada, and because he is banned from the reservation, he is unlikely to ever be taken into tribal custody on Fort Peck soil unless he is removed there from jail.

After starring in the Oscar-winning film, according to prosecutors, Chasing Horse began propping himself up as a self-proclaimed Lakota medicine man while traveling around North America to perform healing ceremonies. When he was arrested in 2023, he was living in a North Las Vegas house with his five wives, according to prosecutors.

The case sent shock waves across Indian Country. The original indictment was dismissed in 2024 after the Nevada Supreme Court ruled prosecutors abused the grand jury process when they provided a definition of grooming as evidence without any expert testimony. However, the court left open the possibility of charges being refiled, and a new indictment was brought later that year.

Prosecutors claim Chasing Horse led a cult called The Circle, and his followers believed he could speak with spirits. His victims went to him for medical help, according to a transcript from a grand jury hearing.

Prosecutors expect the trial to last three weeks. It is scheduled to begin next Monday.

With the start of the new year, Montanans on the lowest end of the pay scale will get a small boost as the state’s mandatory minimum wage increase goes into effect.

As of Jan. 1, Montana’s minimum wage increased from $10.55 to $10.85.

Stemming from a 2006 law, Montana’s minimum wage is subject to a cost-of-living adjustment, based on the national increase in the consumer price index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

According to state law, Montana businesses not covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act are those whose gross annual sales are $110,000 or less may pay $4 per hour.

Montana is one of 30 states — plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands — that have a minimum wage higher than the federal rate of $7.25.

Twelve states, plus D.C. adjust their wages annually based on set formulas.

Montana has one of the lowest minimum wages that exceeds federal levels, with only West Virginia coming in lower among states at $8.75. The highest minimum wage is in D.C., at $17.25.

From National Weather Service Office in Glasgow:

2025 was a notable weather year for Glasgow. Overall, 2025 was the 19th warmest year with an average temperature of 44.8 degrees.

It’s important to note this average is using data since 1948.

Two locally notable storms affected Glasgow this year: a severe thunderstorm on June 15th and a blizzard on December 17th. Both events inflicted damages in town as well as other locations across northeast Montana.

Total precipitation for 2025 was 13.45" which is 0.01" above average. Total snowfall for 2025 was 41.0" which is 0.3" above normal. Of the 41.0" of 2025 snow, 15.1" fell from January through March whereas 25.9" fell from November through December.

Every day, millions of Americans across the country rely on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to send all sorts of important things like time-sensitive documents, bill payments, applications, or even tax filings or payments. But some changes are coming.

This year, the USPS is making a pretty significant change that will impact anyone sending a time-sensitive document through the mail.

USPS Changing Postmark Process
For many time-sensitive documents, the postmark date is more important than the date that the document actually physically arrives.

The official postmark is a mark that shows where and when mail was accepted by the United States Postal Service. It has been used in law as proof that an individual met a deadline, such as submitting a ballot by Election Day, tax returns, or bill payments.

In the past, a USPS postmark would indicate the date when mail was dropped in a mailbox or submitted at the post office counter. However, that is now changing, USA Today has warned, and it could lead to late fees or problems for those unaware of the change.

Beginning in 2026, the USPS has instituted a new rule that the postmark will now reflect the date an envelope is first processed by an automated USPS sorting machine. This would mean that the postmark could come days after it was dropped off, rather than on the actual drop-off date.

How Does This Impact You
For years, it's been widely assumed that a letter would be postmarked the day that it arrives at the post office. Now, thanks to a recent modernization push, that will no longer be the case, and it could impact you.

Anything that relies on postmark dates for deadlines can be impacted by later postmarks and risk late fees, penalties, or delinquency. This includes tax filings, payments, charitable contributions, legal filings, ballots, rent payments, and other kinds of bills.

As a result of this change, time-sensitive mail should be mailed several days before the deadline. Alternatively, people can still go inside their local post office and ask for a hand-stamped "manual postmark" on the date, or use certified mail.

But simply dropping a letter in the mailbox and expecting it to be postmarked that day will no longer work.

The City of Glasgow is searching for a new Public Works Director and Chief of Police in 2026.

Glasgow Public Works Director Paul Skubinna announced on Monday that he will resign his position January 17th. The Glasgow City Council Personnel Committee will meet on Thursday to begin the process on replacing Skubinna.

Glasgow Police Chief Robert Weber has also announced he will be retiring this year. The Glasgow City Council has already started the process in finding a replacement for Weber.

The long-awaited Farmer Bridge Assistance rates are out! Rice and cotton will receive the highest per-acre rates, in keeping with earlier predictions.

On the last day of 2025, USDA announced the Farmer Bridge Assistance program rates for row crop and oil seed farmers hit hard in 2025 by the ongoing trade wars.

“Farmers who qualify for the FBA program can expect payments in their bank accounts by Feb. 28, 2026,” says Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in the announcement.

The following per-acre rates apply:

Corn: $44.36
Soybeans: $30.88
Wheat: $39.35
Cotton: $117.35
Rice: $132.89
Peanuts: $55.65
Sorghum: $48.11
Barley: $20.51
Canola: $23.57
Sunflower: $17.32
Lentils: $23.98
Peas: $19.60
Oats: $81.75
Mustard: $23.21
Safflower: $24.86
Flax: $8.05
Chickpeas: $26.46 (large), $33.36 (small)
Sesame: $13.68

Oil seeds rapeseed and crambe — which were included in the original list of commodities to receive payments according to USDA’s Dec. 8 announcement of the bridge payments — were not included in the Dec. 31 rate list.

The payments, which amount to $11 billion, are intended to bridge the gap between current economic straits of farmers dealing with “unfair market disruptions” and the stepped-up farmer support programs from the previously titled “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which will take effect in October 2026.

In addition to the $11 billion for row crops, $1 billion was set aside for specialty crops and sugar. The Dec. 31 rate announcement, like the Dec. 8 initial announcement of the bridge payments, notes “timelines for payments to producers of these crops are still under development.”

The bridge payments are funded under the Commodity Credit Corporation and will be administered by the Farm Service Agency based on 2025 acreage reports. Payments will be released to eligible producers by Feb. 28 with a limit of $155,000 per entity or individual.

— With the 2026 filing season quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service is urging taxpayers to take a few simple steps now to prepare for filing their 2025 federal income tax returns. Visit Get Ready on IRS.gov for checklists, updates and no-cost filing options.

One of the most important steps taxpayers can take is to access their IRS Individual Online Account. IRS Individual Online Accounts are available 24/7, to view account information, make payments, manage communication preferences and protect tax information.

Use direct deposit
Due to the presidential executive order, Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account the IRS is phasing out paper tax refund checks. The IRS encourages taxpayers who do not have a bank account to open one so they can receive refunds by direct deposit.

Review new 2025 tax law changes
Recent legislation, such as the provisions in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, includes several new deductions and credits that may reduce tax bills or increase refunds. Beginning in 2025, to be eligible to claim certain credits for other dependents, the taxpayer and their spouse, if filing jointly, must have valid Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers issued on or before the due date of their returns (including extensions).

New Trump Accounts for eligible children
Parents, guardians and other authorized individuals will be able to open Trump Accounts, a new retirement savings vehicle for children under the age of 18 with a valid SSN. A pilot program contribution of $1,000 will be available for children who are U.S. citizens and born from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2028. Visit trumpaccounts.gov for details.

Income from payment apps and online sales
All income from part-time work, gig activities or sales of goods and services is taxable. Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions, will be issued by payment card companies for any amount and by payment apps and online marketplaces when payments exceed $20,000 and more than 200 transactions occur for the year.

Digital assets reporting requirements
Taxpayers who bought, sold or received digital assets, including cryptocurrency, stablecoins or NFT, must report those transactions. Some taxpayers may receive Form 1099-DA from brokers. Regardless, all taxpayers must answer the digital asset question on Form 1040 and report any related income, gains, or losses. Visit Digital Assets for more information.

Get ready now
Take a few steps today, reviewing tax law changes, gathering documents and using online tools, to help ensure a smoother less stressful experience when filing taxes in 2026.

The Glasgow National Weather Service has compiled the statistics from 2025 in Glasgow.

2025 was the 19th warmest year on record, going back to 1948. The average temperature for the year was 44.8 degrees.

The high temperature of the year was 101 degrees, 12 degrees off the record from 1900. The lowest temperature recorded was -31, which was 18 degrees warmer than the record of -59 in 1936.

Two notable storms affected Glasgow this past year: a severe thunderstorm on June 15th and a blizzard on December 17th.

That severe thunderstorm on June 15th produced a wind gust of 71mph and half dollar sized hail. That wind gust broke the record for the highest gust recorded in June.

The blizzard on December 17th produced a wind gust of 78mph, which broke the record for the highest December wind gust.

Total precipitation for 2025 was 13.45, one hundredth ahead of the average. Total snowfall for the year was right at 41 inches, .3 above normal. 25.9 inches of that snow fell in November and December. The annual precipitation record is 22.96 inches, set in 2011. The snowfall record is also from that year: 93.4 inches.

Other records of note:
- March was the 6th warmest March on record
- April was the driest since 1984 (.01)
- June 22nd was unusually cold: the high was only 55, the coldest June high since 2009.

Spring was the 7th warmest on record, and the driest since 2017

Summer was the coolest and wettest summer since 2019. July and August only had one day each with triple digit temperatures.

Fall was the fifth warmest on record.

December 2025 was the wettest December on record, with 1.72" of precipitation. December 11th was the wettest December day on record, with .94" of precipitation, and 7.5 inches of snow.

WOLF POINT, MT — Great Northern Development Corporation (GNDC) is proud to announce a new tourism loan that helped the Children’s Museum of Northeast Montana purchase its downtown Glasgow building — a major step forward for one of the region’s most beloved educational and family attractions.

The loan was made possible through GNDC’s Tourism Revolving Loan Fund, a special financing program created with support from the State of Montana to strengthen tourism-related businesses across the region. With additional support and coordination from Missouri River Country, this project was identified as an eligible tourism attraction — a key contributor to the region’s visitor economy and family recreation opportunities.

The program offers flexible terms, competitive rates, and opportunities to partner with local banks to help businesses and nonprofits grow and invest in regional tourism assets.

“The Children’s Museum has become a cornerstone of family recreation and education in Glasgow,” said Kelcie Bates, Loan Officer at GNDC. “This loan helps them transition from renting to ownership — building long-term stability and allowing them to expand their programming for local families and visitors alike.”

Since its founding in 2005, the Children’s Museum has provided hands-on learning experiences for kids ages 2–10 through creative, themed exhibits like Main Street, Pollinator Exhibit, The Roxy Theater, and World Wildlife Experience. The museum attracts visitors from across Montana and beyond, serving as a regional hub for interactive learning and family tourism.

Executive Director Stacey Fast worked closely with GNDC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Lending Department throughout the project — from early business planning to financial packaging and loan approval.

“GNDC’s support made all the difference,” said Fast. “They helped us navigate the process step-by-step. Owning our building means we can reinvest in our exhibits and continue serving families in rural Montana for generations.” This project represents how GNDC’s Tourism Loan Fund supports local investments that strengthen the region’s tourism economy, enhance community vitality, and help organizations reach long-term sustainability.

“This is exactly the kind of project this fund was built for,” said Tori Matejovsky, Executive Director of GNDC. “We’re investing in local assets that make our region more vibrant and welcoming — while supporting organizations that add real value to their communities.

The GNDC Tourism Revolving Loan Fund was established in 2024 through a state tourism development grant to support businesses and nonprofits that contribute to the regional visitor economy. The program offers flexible financing, competitive rates, and partnership options with local lenders for projects that expand tourism and strengthen rural communities. Eligible uses include property purchases, facility improvements, and equipment that enhance tourism infrastructure across GNDC’s service area.

(GNDC) Great Northern Development Corporation is the regional economic and small business development organization serving Valley County and the broader northeast Montana region. As a mission-driven nonprofit, GNDC partners with local, state, federal, and private stakeholders to bring resources, investment, and opportunity to rural communities. GNDC’s programs include small business advising through the SBDC, FADC, NABA, business lending, Brownfield Program, and community infrastructure planning — all focused on building a more resilient and prosperous region.

www.gndc.org 406-653-2590

Miles City Firefighters were working an active residential fire at the intersection of N. Montana Ave. and Palmer Street. The residents were all accounted for, according to the Miles City Fire Department.

The 2025 Local Little Christmas is going on through December 31st.

Pick up your card at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture, have it punched by participating merchants when you check out, then return your card to the Chamber by January 8, 2026, to receive your entry form for the gift card giveaway.

Cards do not have to be completed – for each $100 spent, you will be given an entry into the gift card giveaway.

(Press release from Phillips County Undersheriff Jordan Arthur)

At approximately 1930 hours on Friday, December 26th, the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency phone call regarding a domestic disturbance at a residence located on Stage Road south of Dodson. The caller reported that during the disturbance, a male subject had discharged a firearm inside of the residence while she and several juveniles were present on the property.

While PCSO Deputies were responding, phone contact was made with the reporting party, who advised that the male suspect had fled from the residence inside of a plow truck and was possibly still armed with a firearm. It was determined that the male suspect had driven to a nearby abandoned ranch house in order to hide from law enforcement.

Due to the severity of the incident, all PCSO Deputies and the Undersheriff were called out and responded to the address to establish a perimeter around the residence where the male suspect was believed to be hiding. A mutual aid call was made to other law enforcement agencies, which included the Ft Belknap Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol, Northeastern Montana Special Response Team, and the Montana Sheriff’s Mutual Aid group.

While waiting for assisting agencies to respond, phone contact was made with the male suspect, who advised that he still possessed a firearm. In addition, the male suspect attempted to provide false information to law enforcement by stating that he was at a separate residence in a different location.

After approximately 2 hours, PCSO Deputies were able to persuade the male suspect via phone to surrender peacefully and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

The male suspect was arrested and charged with 3 counts of Felony Criminal Endangerment, Partner Family Member Assault 2nd Offense, and Obstructing a Peace Officer.

Our office would like to commend the PCSO team and assisting Law Enforcement agencies that responded to this incident, as it was likely through their actions and professionalism that this incident resulted in a peaceful outcome with zero injuries.

Montana law enforcement is increasing patrols near you this holiday season.

With holiday celebrations underway, law enforcement agencies across Montana are increasing patrols to help keep our travelers safe.

Every impaired-driving crash impacts real people, including our neighbors, families, and friends. The most recent verified crash data from 2023 shows that 34% of fatal crashes involved an alcohol-impaired driver. Preventing these crashes and fatalities starts with personal responsibility.

“Please plan ahead, and don’t drive if you’re impaired,” said Valley County Undersheriff Chris Richter. “We will be increasing our presence on Montana’s roadways to help keep everyone traveling across the state safe.”

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is supporting local law enforcement agencies through overtime funding provided statewide. Increased patrols will continue through New Year’s Day.

The Glasgow School Board has passed a resolution setting a school election for May 5th, 2026. The election will feature a Trustee Election along with a Levy Election.

State law requires school districts to pass resolutions setting elections by December 11th.

The board can choose to cancel an election if needed but they need to set the date of the election by December 11th.

There are two Trustee positions on the Glasgow School Board up for election in 2026. Blaine White and Whitney Tatafu both have terms expiring in 2026.

All interested in being a candidate for the Glasgow School Board will find more information on the school website or contacting the Central Office.

There’s a number of significant issues and federal positions at stake in the 2026 midterm elections.

The most-watched race in the Montana will be for Montana’s Senate seat as Senator Steve Daines’ seat is up.

Montana also has two house seats up for election, currently held by Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke.

Several ballot initatives are seeking signatures ahead of the November election including requiring judicial elections to remain non-partisan and capping increases on property tax assessments.

In Valley County, a whole slate of county offices will be on the ballot in 2026 including a county commission seat currently held by Paul Tweten along with county attorney, county treasurer, county sheriff and county clerk and recorder.

A cold front Saturday will bring much colder temps to NE MT Sat night through Sun night. NW winds 15 to 25 mph will develop Sat afternoon and continue Sat night. Wind chills Sat night and Sun morning will be as cold as -40.

A Wolf Point man accused of murdering a man by arson on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was arraigned this week, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Anthony David Flynn, 35, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with felony murder and arson. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, Flynn faces mandatory life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston presided. Flynn was detained pending further proceedings.

Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on or about September 28, 2024, at and near Wolf Point, Flynn unlawfully and with malice aforethought killed John Doe, by smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, in the perpetration of arson.

Count 2 of the indictment alleges that on or about September 28, 2024, at and near Wolf Point, Flynn willfully and maliciously set fire to and burned a structure at 200 1st Ave. S. in Wolf Point.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, and State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.

The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a transit permit to Mr. S. Nicholas Claus of the North Pole, a distributor with Gifts and Good Cheer, Inc. The permit will allow reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the night of Dec. 24, 2025, and 6 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2025, local time, through or over any U.S. border port

“USDA is delighted to grant Mr. Claus and his reindeer a special permit to enter the United States, ensuring a seamless journey for the joy they bring each holiday season,” said Dudley Hoskins, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. “We extend a warm welcome to Mr. Claus and recognize the vital role of U.S. whole milk and cookies in fueling his festive flight.”

USDA has confirmed that the reindeer will arrive pulling a wooden sleigh with jingling bells attached, filled with brightly wrapped gifts

Freezing rain is expected late tonight and Christmas Day. Parts of Phillips and Valley Counties could receive a tenth of an inch of ice or more. Take it slow and allow extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you should you encounter icy conditions.

From Valley County Search and Rescue:

We are pleased to announce that we will be providing transportation services on New Year's Eve. To arrange for a ride, please contact one of our designated drivers. We will transport you downtown, eliminating the need to drive yourself. Our vehicles are warm and comfortable. We encourage you to take advantage of this community service. We extend our gratitude to our members who have generously offered their time and vehicles.

Additionally, we would like to thank the DUI Task Force for their donation of $1,000 to Valley County Search and Rescue.

Governor Greg Gianforte today requested President Donald J. Trump issue an emergency declaration to respond to damage caused by high winds on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

“On December 17, 2025, a historic, long-duration high-wind event and associated blizzard caused widespread destruction across Montana,” Gov. Gianforte wrote. “Driven by strong cold fronts undercutting an atmospheric river, the storm produced gusts between 60 and 90 miles per hour (MPH) in valleys and over 100 MPH in mountainous regions. Most critically, the storm caused structural failure of the roof of the water holding tank supplying the Fort Belknap Indian Community.”

The governor also wrote that the damage exposed the Fort Belknap’s primary water source to potential contaminants, necessitating a boil order for approximately 700 homes, a detention facility, a hospital, restaurants, and tribal offices.

The impact of the wind and snow during the recent weather event significantly affected the entire State of Montana with 43 of 56 counties recording gusts of 70 MPH or greater. In northeastern Montana, these winds combined with heavy snow led to blizzard conditions lasting up to five hours.

Gov. Gianforte concluded, “Given the severity and complexity of this emergency, I respectfully request FEMA's assistance through an Emergency Declaration. Federal support is essential to ensure the health and safety of the affected population.”

From National Weather Service:

Beginning late Christmas Eve a chance of a wintry mix of light snow, freezing rain, and rain looks to last through Christmas afternoon. Monitor the forecast if you are planning to travel for the holiday.

Merry Christmas from Live Under the Big Sky!

From all of us at KLTZ Radio, Stan & Hayley want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for listening and supporting Live Under the Big Sky throughout the year.

We’ll be taking a short holiday break, but we’ll be back on January 6th with new shows and conversations you love.

Enjoy the season, stay safe, and have a wonderful Christmas under the Big Sky. ????

— Stan & Hayley

Havre, Mont. – Dec. 22, 2025 – NorthWestern Energy will conduct a planned power outage at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, affecting NorthWestern Energy electric customers along the Hi-Line from the Havre area east to Glasgow, including customers in Big Sandy, Box Elder, Chinook, Dodson, Fort Belknap, Harlem, Hinsdale, Lohman, Malta, Nashua, Saco, Savoy, St. Marie, Wagner and Zurich.
The outage is expected to last approximately one hour.

On Dec. 17, severe winds damaged the transmission powerline serving NorthWestern Energy customers along the Hi?Line. To maintain service, NorthWestern Energy connected to a transmission line with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) that included energy source feeds from Fort Peck Hydro Generation and the Eastern Interconnection until repairs to the normal source could be completed. Transmission powerlines deliver power to the substations and distribution powerlines that serve customers.
Crews safely completed repairs to the 75-foot-tall powerline structure. With repairs finished, NorthWestern Energy must reconnect customers to normal transmission powerline configurations.

“Thanks to WAPA’s cooperation and coordination, our customers along the Hi-Line didn’t face an extended outage from this transmission line damage,” said NorthWestern Energy Vice President Transmission Mike Cashell. “Using the WAPA line kept the lights on while our crews worked on other Hi-line customer outages first, then safely repaired the transmission line.”

With repairs finished to our transmission line, a planned power outage is required to safely reconnect to NorthWestern Energy’s transmission system.

NorthWestern Energy is coordinating with critical services and local officials in Hill, Blaine, Phillips, and Valley counties to minimize impacts during the planned outage.

Gov. Greg Gianforte on Thursday issued an executive order declaring a wind disaster in Montana.

The order authorizes the use of state government resources, including funding, to address needs arising from an extreme wind event across the state this week.

On Wednesday, communities throughout the state experienced a severe high-wind event, with sustained winds near 65 miles per hour and gusts nearing 100 miles per hour battering Montana.

Glasgow recorded a record high wind gust for December of 78 miles per hour. Glasgow also received 4.4 inches of snow as the result of the blizzard.

Ravalli, Wheatland, Mineral and Flathead counties as well as the cities of Hamilton and Harlowton have enacted emergency declarations and city, county, state, and tribal personnel are working to remove debris, the governor said in a press release.

Additionally, the Montana Disaster & Emergency Services State Emergency Coordination Center is activated and expects to receive declarations of emergencies from additional local and tribal jurisdictions as a winter storm cell continues to move through central and eastern Montana.

NorthWestern Energy crews and contractors were working to restore service to more than 35,000 customers who experienced a power outage Wednesday, the utility said in a news release.

NorthWestern said crews were working “as quickly and safely as possible.”

Strong winds across Montana have caused power outages and interruptions to communications infrastructure, NorthWestern said.

Some customers who called NorthWestern’s “Customer Care” line earlier may have experienced dropped calls due to these conditions.

NorthWestern said safety is the top priority: “Please stay away from all downed or damaged power lines.”

The utility also advised people to use extreme caution and check for any power lines that may be hidden beneath debris when clearing out from the windstorm.

NorthWestern also provided the following information:

Customers experiencing outages are asked to report them:

Online at https://www.northwesternenergy.com
Or call 888-467-2669
For the most up-to-date outage information, visit:

https://www.northwesternenergy.com/outages/outage-map

Glasgow National Weather Service:

Strong to dangerous wind gusts are expected today into Thursday morning. Winds will be strongest during the late afternoon and early evening hours today. Rain will transition to snow in the late afternoon and early evening with blowing snow and blizzard conditions.

Story from Montana Free Press:

Nick Vertz suspected calm weather wouldn’t soon return after last week’s high-speed wind event that recorded 101-mph winds in Glacier County. The Billings-based National Weather Service forecaster said Montanans should expect exceptionally strong gusts Tuesday night and Wednesday.

“I joke that the weather’s just playing catch up with how mild of a fall and start to the winter we had,” Vertz told Montana Free Press on Tuesday.

Nearly the entire state is under an official high-wind warning, meaning the weather service expects wind speeds of 58 mph or greater. While the official warning status may vary by region, the weather service anticipates the strong winds will move west to east through late Wednesday evening.

Winds aloft, higher altitude gusts that generally exceed wind speeds on the surface, are both unusually powerful and relatively low in altitude. Vertz says high-speed winds aloft blowing downward is the result of warm weather.

“You can think of it as pushing those strong winds aloft down to reach the surface,” Vertz said.

Though much of Montana experienced a similar strong-wind pattern last week, Vertz said this system is a statewide event and that the weather service has “more confidence in those stronger winds to occur just all across the board.”

With gusts coming out of the northwest, Vertz advised caution for drivers headed north or south, who would likely experience the “full brunt of those crosswinds.”

Montana’s most recent experience with a major wind event on a similar scale occurred in January 2021, according to Vertz.

Ongoing flooding in northwest Montana makes the area particularly vulnerable to high-wind hazards, like saturated soil around tree roots, according to Bryan Conlan, a weather service meteorologist based out of Missoula.

“Anywhere within western Montana at this point, with these strong to damaging winds, trees could blow over,” Conlan said.

Gov. Greg Gianforte on Wednesday requested President Donald Trump issue a presidential disaster declaration in response to the flooding in the northwest part of the state.

As even more ocean moisture makes its way from the Pacific Northwest into Montana via “atmospheric rivers,” precipitation is likely to continue in western Montana.

“One of the differences between this and the prior system is there will be a very strong cold front that’ll be coming along,” Conlan said.

A cold front on Wednesday will mix with moisture from the atmospheric river, producing a combination of rain and snow. Cold air also leads to winds aloft descending, resulting in strong wind across high elevations in western Montana. On Monday night, winds in Glacier National Park reached almost 100 mph.

“This is going to be a fairly strong event,” Conlan said.

A Sand Springs woman accused of tampering with drugs at a local health care center admitted to charges this week, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Kailyn Marie Smotherman, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with consumer products. Smotherman faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release.

U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for April 15, 2026. Smotherman remains released with conditions pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on January 19, 2023, Kailyn Marie Smotherman was discovered to have been tampering with controlled substances at the Garfield County Health Center in Jordan, Montana, where she worked as the Director of Nursing. Staff at the facility entered Smotherman’s locked office to retrieve a narcotics log and noticed several suspicious items, including hospital stock narcotics, an IV pole, tourniquets, needles, IV equipment, replacement vial caps, replacement medication labels, and what appeared to be blood on many surfaces. During a subsequent search of the office, staff and law enforcement found numerous vials of fentanyl that had been tampered with (caps removed and replaced) or had been emptied. They also discovered other controlled substances that had been replaced.

Staff reported concerns patients may have received saline solution instead of pain medication in the months preceding the incident.

A forensic chemist with the Food and Drug Administration conducted an analysis of the containers confiscated from Smotherman’s office and concluded the controlled substances had been tampered with and adulterated.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The DEA, FDA and Garfield County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

Northern Plains Independent:

Roosevelt County received more funds from oil revenue in the second quarter, April through May, than it did in the year’s first quarter.

For the second quarter, the county received $731,922.24 compared to $657,800 in the first quarter. Roosevelt County had $4,109,220.71 in collections, and the state returned $1,878,324.52 to Roosevelt County entities.

In the second quarter, the State of Montana returned $67,452.39 to Valley County entities on collections of over $131,000.

Richland County topped the state with $16,067,789.05 in collections.

Fallon County ranked third, behind Richland and Roosevelt, with $3,784,735.71 in collections.

Of the collections for Roosevelt County, the Bainville School District received $612,165.53.

The Culbertson School District received $126,047.93.

Amounts for other school districts in the county were Poplar at $15,260.32, Froid at $10,382.61, Wolf Point at $4,147.08 and Brockton at $982.58.

Other funds included $186,517.62 for elementary retirement, $138,432.52 for high school retirement and $51,466.09 for countywide transportation.

Roosevelt County Commissioner Gordon Oelkers noted that Phoenix Energy has joined Kraken Oil as a major player in the county. Companies have been gaining rights for section units which cover four miles.

Interest is running from the Missouri River to McCabe south to north, and from the Big Muddy River to the North Dakota border west to east.

“That’s where all the spaces are,” Oelkers said.

There seems to be a large increase of interest in the Culbertson area.

“If oil stays at least $60 a barrel, it will keep rolling,” Oelkers said of activity.

He hopes for a “slow, constant” growth in the area.

Glasgow Elks Lodge #1922 held their Hoop Shoot on December 7, 2025, at the Glasgow High School gymnasium.

The Elks Hoop Shoot is a free-throw program for youth ages 8-13. The program is open to students from Malta, Saco, Hinsdale, Glasgow, Nashua, Lustre, Opheim and Frazer.

27 Students ranging in those ages participated in the Hoop Shoot. The winners will be eligible to attend the District contest in Sidney on January 10, 2026. Those winners at district will advance to the State finals in Livingston, which will be held February 14, 2026. Regional finals will be held in Rapid City, SD on March 7, 2026, with the National finals concluding the Hoop Shoot on April 18, 2026, in Chicago.

This program could not happen without Elks members to coordinate, volunteers to assist, and the Glasgow High School for the use of the gym. Thanks to Ed Stein, Scott Cassel and Sam Waters – Elks Hoop Shoot Committee and Michael Erickson – Glasgow Athletic Director.
Glasgow Elks #1922 would like to thank the various Elks officers, members, and community volunteers who stepped up to give these kids a great Sunday afternoon- Theresa Hubbell, Max Knodel, Marisa Brockmier, Barry Gilman, Steve Long, Robyn Cassel, Sally Stein, John Pankratz, Jim Childress, Tim Ryan, Karen Breigenzer, Judy Waters, and Corie Love.

The winners are (from left to right): 8 – 9 Boys, Tenzin Gonzales – Nashua; 10 – 11 Girls, Kila Tatafu – Glasgow; 8 – 9 Girls, Aurora Markle - Glasgow; 10 – 11 Boys, Eli Love – Glasgow; 12 – 13 Boys, Tate Allestad – Opheim and 12 – 13 Girls, Amelia Odom – Glasgow.

Montana law enforcement is increasing patrols near you this holiday season.

With holiday celebrations underway, law enforcement agencies across Montana are increasing patrols to help keep our travelers safe.

Every impaired-driving crash impacts real people, including our neighbors, families, and friends. The most recent verified crash data from 2023 shows that 34% of fatal crashes involved an alcohol-impaired driver. Preventing these crashes and fatalities starts with personal responsibility.

“Please plan ahead, and don’t drive if you’re impaired,” said Valley County Undersheriff Chris Richter. “We will be increasing our presence on Montana’s roadways to help keep everyone traveling across the state safe.”

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) is supporting local law enforcement agencies through overtime funding provided statewide. Increased patrols will continue through New Year’s Day.

Vision Zero

This is a Vision Zero message from MDT. This and other enforcement and educational campaigns are strategies to reach Vision Zero – zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana roadways. For more information about Vision Zero, contact Kevin Dusko, MDT State Highway Traffic Safety Supervisor, at 406-444-7411.

To request an alternative accessible format of this document, please contact MDT’s ADA Coordinator at 406-444-5416, Montana Relay Service at 711, or by email at mmaze@mt.gov .

The Glasgow City Council met in regular session on Monday.

Action items at the meeting:

New City Council members Kristi Brabeck and Darcia Shindler were sworn in as members of the Glasgow City Council. The two new members will take office on January 1st and will serve 4-year terms. Brabeck and Schindler replace Dan Carr and Doug Nistler on the council. Nister is retiring after 8 years and Carr was defeated in the November election by Brabeck.

Current council member Stan Ozark was also sworn in for a new term and will begin his 4th four-year term on the council in January.

Glasgow Mayor Rod Karst was sworn in for another 4-year term and will begin his 5th year as Glasgow Mayor in January.

The Council also approved hiring Robert Rodriguez for the open Water/Wastewater Operator Position and Scott Runnigen was hired as the Cemetery Caretaker position.

City Judge Tasha Morehouse-Mix was reappointed as the Glasgow City Court Judge for another 4-year term effective January 1, 2026.

The Powerball jackpot has surged to a staggering $1.25 billion after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Monday night.

The jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing is now the second-largest Powerball prize this year, lottery officials said.

It also marks only the second time in Powerball history that the game has generated back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots.

The jackpot rolled after no ticket matched all six numbers — white balls 23, 35, 59, 63, 68 and red Powerball 2 — drawn on Monday night.

Two tickets, sold in Arizona and California, matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes.

If you were to win the Powerball Jackpot, you would choose between taking a lump sum payment of an estimated $572 million or take the annuity option spread over 30 years at $41.7 million per year.

As a Montana resident you would have to pay federal and state taxes on your winnings.

With the lump sum payment, the federal tax bill would be an estimated $212 million. The Montana tax would be an estimated $25 million. After taxes, you would walk away with $335 million.

If you were to take the annuity option, your gross annual payment would be $41.7 million per year for 30 years. $18.3 million would be taken in Federal and Montana taxes every year giving you an estimated $23.4 million every year for 30 years.

Of course you would have to win before you can even consider the tax implications. The odds of winning the Powerball Jackpot are considerable. 1 in 292,201,338 are the odds of you winning this jackpot.

Two Mexican men who entered the United States illegally were each sentenced last week to 39 days in prison, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Victor Manuel Uribe Luna, 35, and David Suarez-Olivera, 45, each pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of illegal reentry.

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

The government alleged in court documents that on November 2, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop off U.S. Highway 2 near Malta. The vehicle contained three individuals, only two of whom initially presented identification.

The driver was identified as Victor Manuel Uribe Luna and he presented a California Driver’s License as identification. Two passengers were also present in the vehicle, one of whom was identified as Suarez-Olivera. All three subjects were found to be present in the country illegally.

A records check found that Uribe Luna was formally removed from the United States on January 13, 2021, and he does not have legal documentation to enter, pass through, or remain in the United States.

A records check found that Suarez-Olivera was formally removed from the United States on January 26, 2006, and is likewise prohibited from re-entering the country.

During processing, both defendants acknowledged being citizens and nationals of Mexico without legal documentation to enter, pass through, or remain in the United States. They further acknowledged crossing the international boundary illegally without inspection by an Immigration Officer at a designated Port of Entry.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. U.S. Border Patrol and Phillips County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

Press Release from Phillips County Sheriffs Office:

At approximately 2230 hours on Friday, December 12th, the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding a domestic disturbance at the Cedar View Apartments in Malta.

Upon arrival, PCSO Deputies located all of the parties involved and it was discovered that two of the male subjects had obtained lacerations and stab wounds. After medical evaluation, the injuries were determined not to be life threatening and the subjects were later released from the hospital after receiving treatment.

A male subject has been arrested and charged with Assault with a Weapon and Aggravated burglary charges in connection to this incident. The resulting investigation determined that this incident was isolated to the parties involved, and that there is no threat to the public. The investigation is still on-going in order to determine the events that lead up to the incident.

Our office would like to thank the community members that promptly reported this incident to law enforcement, as it allowed Deputies to be dispatched and arrive on scene within minutes of the incident taking place.

Governor Greg Gianforte last week announced Montana’s unemployment rate was at 3 percent in September, marking the twelfth straight month under 3 percent and over four consecutive years of unemployment at or below 3.4 percent, a new record.

Due to the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics delayed the release of monthly unemployment numbers for states. Data for the month of October has been cancelled and data for November is scheduled to be released on January 7.

The latest report from Montana Department of Labor and Industry reports that 31 residents of Valley County filed for unemployment benefits for the week of November 22nd. The prior 4 week average is 29 unemployment claims. A total of $12,383 in unemployment benefits was paid out in Valley County for the week ending November 22nd. Over 3 million was paid out in unemployment benefits in the State of Montana for the week ending November 22nd.

“Montana remains in the top states with the lowest unemployment as our workforce grows and businesses create more good-paying jobs,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through our new initiative, 406 JOBS, we will continue to unlock pathways to work so all eligible Montanans are able to thrive in a meaningful career.”

Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.4 percent lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.4 percent in September. Montana remained in the top ten states in the nation with the lowest unemployment rates.

Montana’s labor force added approximately 880 workers in September while total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) increased slightly. Payroll jobs declined slightly over the month, with gains in the healthcare sector offset by declines in the transportation and warehousing sector. Over the first nine months of the year payrolls jobs have added at total of 700 jobs.

Joining the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI), Governor Greg Gianforte last week announced more than 32,000 Montana businesses will see a reduction in 2026 unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates following the implementation of recent reforms, resulting in a savings of more than $23 million.

“By reforming our tax code and cutting back the thicket of red tape tying up job creators, we’re helping Montana businesses grow and attracting investment to the Treasure State,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Montana remains one of the best places in the country to start and own a small business. We’ll continue to make meaningful improvements to support business owners and the good-paying jobs they create.”

In July 2024, DLI Commissioner Sarah Swanson ordered a complete review of the UI trust fund, to ensure that the tax rates are fair to employers and that the trust fund is actuarially sound during economic downturns. The analysis revealed that the UI system in Montana is well-designed and that the trust fund was healthy enough to support a reduction in tax rates.

To codify the new tax rates, during the 2025 legislative session the Montana legislature passed, and the governor signed into law, House Bill 210, sponsored by Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, to create an automatic trigger to reduce rates when the trust fund balance exceeds 2.8 percent of total wages for the previous fiscal year.

“HB 210 made the UI system more efficient and predictable for the employers who fund it – producing significant tax savings – without reducing the UI benefits that Montana workers rely on,” said Sarah Swanson, Commissioner of Labor & Industry. “We will continue modernizing UI so it supports workers when they need it and keeps employer costs fair and reasonable.”

In 2026, 32,873 employers will see a UI tax rate reduction of 0.20 percent for all experience-rated employers. Additionally, more than 7,100 employers will receive a zero percent tax rate. Individual employers will begin receiving their 2026 tax rate classification letters next week.

Montana’s UI system is consistently rated among the top programs in the United States due to Montana’s practice of basing UI taxes and benefit amounts on actual average wages in Montana, rather than using a fixed statutory amount. That flexibility allows the trust fund to avoid overcollection while also preserving solvency.

To improve Montana’s business climate, the governor has also reformed the business equipment tax to ease the burden on small business owners, made Montana’s capital gains tax rates the fourth lowest in the nation, invested to boost trades education and build a stronger workforce, advanced reforms to increase Montanans’ access to more affordable housing, cut unnecessary, burdensome regulations, and made historic investments in infrastructure.

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

The Glasgow Fire Department and the Valley County Long Run Fire Department responded to a house fire Thursday evening at 431 10th Street North in Glasgow. The departments were called out at 10pm Thursday evening and wrapped up at 4am Friday morning.

Firefighters battled temperatures below zero and wind chills of twenty below as they worked to stop the blaze from spreading to other homes in the neighborhood. The home was a complete loss according to Glasgow Fire Chief Brandon Brunelle and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

12 firefighters responded to the fire with 4 trucks. Firefighters dealt with a hydrant that froze and a truck that shut down and had to be towed.

No injuries were reported according to Chief Brunelle. The volunteer firefighters still have plenty of work to do today as they thaw out all the gear used to battle the blaze.

The Glasgow High School Educational Trust (GHSET) gratefully acknowledges a recent donation to the trust from Marjorie (Johnson) Bollinger and Gerald Bollinger in memory of Marjorie’s mother, Violet L. Johnson. Violet was an active multitalented crafter, gardener, musician, and a bridge and bingo enthusiast. Violet and her husband, Wallace L. “Wally”, were residents of Fort Peck for many years. Gifts in memory of Violet L. Johnson will be given on an ongoing regular basis.

For over 60 years, gifts like the Bollinger’s have facilitated the GHSET in its mission to support Glasgow High School (GHS) alumni pursuing higher education and to assist with purchases of equipment and programs for GHS that are not financed by traditional taxpayer-funded sources through the budgeting process.

The GHSET was founded in 1964 by the GHS Class of 1938. Members of the Class of 1938 had a desire to give back to their home town community of Glasgow; that aspiration resulted in the establishment of the GHSET, its goal was to assist Glasgow’s alumni achieve higher education, with the help of financial aid. Later, the GHSET, was amended to allow assistance to the high school with programs and equipment that would facilitate students learning experiences.

The GHSET awards financial aid to GHS alumni pursuing higher education at colleges/universities and trade schools. All GHS graduates attending an accredited college or trade school and that are in good academic standing are encouraged to apply. The application, which lists all requirements that must be met, and additional information, is available at www.ghsedutrust.org. Financial need has always been a primary consideration; therefore, the trust has established levels of support to meet student’s different needs.

Since the GHSET’s inception, more than 2,740 gifts of financial aid have been given to over 800 different students; totaling more than $3,220,000.00.

Every department of GHS has received gifts over the years, which have provided for the enrichment of the educational experience of every student. The community at large also benefits when it attends school events or uses the high school’s facilities. The trust has given over 130 gifts to the high school; totaling more than $346,000.00.

More than $3.5 million has been gifted for the benefit of GHS graduates and families of Glasgow High School!

At their November 19, 2025, semi-annual business meeting the following students were awarded financial aid from the trust for the 2026 spring semester in honor (IHO), in recognition (IRO), or in memory (IMO) of the individual(s) whose name is(are) listed.

First-time recipients: Mary Dykema, IMO Violet L. Johnson; Eli Feezell, IMO Ricardo F. “Rick” Leader; Connor Hudyma, IRO Don & Beryl Pehlke; Emmah Mix, IMO John & Dolores Wesen; Elle Stone, IMO Brenna Billingsley Sundby.

Third-time recipient: Michael Hoyer, IMO Wallace L. “Wally” Johnson.

Fourth-time recipient: Bergen Miller, IHO the Class of 1969.

These 7 student awards are in addition to the 17 students who were awarded spring semester gifts at the Trust’s July 23,2025, semi-annual business meeting.

The GHSET is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, classified as a 509(a)(1) public charity. All donations are tax deductible. Only the interest on the principal of the GHSET is gifted.
Donations to the trust that total $500 or more, cumulatively, in the name of a specific individual, organization, or event qualify for a one-time naming opportunity in honor, in recognition, or in memory of a specific name.

Donations of $10,000 or more, cumulatively, allow for an ongoing naming opportunity on a regular basis.
A complete list of gifts that have been awarded to students and GHS, along with the naming opportunity associated with each gift, are located at GHS and the Pioneer Museum; they are updated at the end of each calendar year.

Additional information about the trust and a donation form may be found on the trust’s website at www.ghsedutrust.org

The GHSET would like to thank all their donors for their generosity and support! Your donations are gifts that keep giving!

Heavy snow is expected across much of central Montana through Saturday morning, with lesser amounts in far northeast Montana.

There is some uncertainty as to where this snow band will set up which means the location of the highest amounts may fluctuate a bit.

Additionally, a harsh snowfall accumulation gradient is possible along the edge of the snow band which means locations within the snow band may receive significant snowfall accumulations while locations just outside the snow band might receive much less.

Be sure to check road and weather conditions before heading out and always carry an emergency kit in your vehicle.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has assumed jurisdiction over long-running appeals challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s approval of American Prairie’s bison grazing on federal allotments in Phillips County, Montana, a move ranchers say could finally bring resolution to a dispute that has been stalled for years.

The December 9, 2025 memorandum directs the Office of Hearings and Appeals to transfer all filings and case materials to the Secretary’s office, placing final review authority directly in Burgum’s hands. The appeals were brought by the State of Montana, the Governor’s Office, and the North Phillips County Cooperative State Grazing District following BLM decisions issued in 2022.

Montana Stockgrowers President and Phillips County rancher Lesley Robinson said the Secretary’s action marks a significant shift after years of inaction.

“This whole process has been in limbo for a long time,” Robinson said. “We entered the appeal with the North and South Phillips County Grazing Districts years ago, and it’s essentially just been sitting there. With Secretary Burgum taking jurisdiction, we have more confidence that something will finally be done.”

Robinson said the case extends well beyond a single allotment and could influence future grazing decisions across the West.

“A lot of what was requested in this change of use sets precedent,” she said. “That’s why ranchers across Montana — and even in North Dakota — stepped up to support this appeal. It’s not just about one allotment; it’s about how these decisions affect public-lands grazing everywhere.”

At the center of the dispute is whether federal grazing law was properly applied to American Prairie’s proposal to graze bison for conservation purposes. Robinson said the Taylor Grazing Act was never intended to govern conservation herds.

“We’re talking about a bison herd that’s managed for conservation, not production,” Robinson said. “The Taylor Grazing Act governs specific species, and bison are not one of them. That’s the core issue with using these grazing leases the way they were approved.”

The controversy dates to August 2022, when the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Phillips County grazing districts, and state officials filed appeals arguing that BLM’s decision violated federal land-management laws and failed to account for impacts on neighboring livestock operations and rural communities. Requests to halt grazing during the appeal were later denied by the Office of Hearings and Appeals, allowing bison grazing to proceed while challenges continued.

Robinson said ranchers are prepared to see the process through, regardless of the outcome.

“We’ll wait for the decision and go from there,” she said. “But we’re in this because we don’t believe this is a precedent that should be set.”

By assuming jurisdiction, Secretary Burgum now has direct authority over how the appeals are reviewed and resolved — a step ranchers hope will bring clarity to a case that has shaped public-lands grazing policy debates for more than three years.

The appeals were brought by the State of Montana, the Governor’s Office, and the North Phillips County Cooperative State Grazing District following BLM decisions issued in 2022.

A Winter Storm Warning for freezing rain and heavy wet snow has been issued through 8 PM Today. Snow is expected to the north of the warning, with rain and slick roads to the south. Snow amount of more than 6 inches are possible this morning along Hwy2 from Malta to Poplar.

A fire on Wednesday destroyed an out-of-use grain elevator in Wolf Point.

Lindsey McNabb with Roosevelt County Disaster Emergency Services said calls came in shortly after 11 a.m. MT of a fire at the old Peavey elevator on Front Street.

McNabb said the main structure is a total loss, but the silos remain intact. She said no injuries have been reported.

The fire was contained but still going as of late Wednesday afternoon, according to McNabb. She said there is no threat to the public.

Various local, tribal and state agencies responded. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Glasgow School Board has passed a resolution setting a school election for May 5th, 2026. The election will feature a Trustee Election along with a Levy Election.

State law requires school districts to pass resolutions setting elections by December 11th.

The board can choose to cancel an election if needed but they need to set the date of the election by December 11th.

There are two Trustee positions on the Glasgow School Board up for election in 2026. Blaine White and Whitney Tatafu both have terms expiring in 2026.

All interested in being a candidate for the Glasgow School Board will find more information on the school website or contacting the Central Office.

Today we extend our sincere thanks to the Valley County Community Foundation for their incredibly generous donation of $16,000 toward our new building!

It’s community support like this that fills our hearts with cheer and will deliver a new food bank building.

This is a notification from the Public Works Department that the Street Department will be conducting snow removal operations in accordance with the City’s Snow Removal Plan.

Snow pick-up in the downtown area will occur before business hours tomorrow morning (12/12/2025).

Removal will be conducted in accordance with the priorities shown on the attached map. Residents are asked to please refrain from on-street overnight parking in the downtown area.

For more information, please visit the City's webpage or call (406) 263-8076.

HAVRE- The results are in from the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Havre check station for the 2025 hunting season. The check station was open for eight weekends from Oct. 11 (the opener of general antelope and pheasant) through Nov. 30 (the end of the deer/elk general season). Overall, hunter numbers were about the same as last year and the long-term average. Except for antelope, big game numbers were well below average, and upland bird harvest was mixed.

Biologists gather a lot of valuable information and biological data on game animals brought through check stations. FWP appreciates all hunters’ cooperation in this effort. Note that the harvest data described below includes only animals that were brought through the Havre check station and represents a real-time partial representation of the region-wide harvest. FWP subsequently conducts a telephone survey throughout the winter to estimate hunting and harvest levels throughout the region and across the state.

Hunter numbers that stopped at the check station (1,681) were up 1% from 2024, and 5% below the long-term average, but were notably distributed differently across the hunting seasons.

“Hunter numbers at the check station were up 27% at the beginning of the season after antelope and pheasant season opened, but down 15% during the general deer and elk season,” noted Havre-area biologist Scott Hemmer, who manages the station. “Most notably, deer hunter numbers were down 11% from last year and 14% below the long-term average.”

Mule deer brought by the check station totaled 346 for the year, which was down 6% from last year and 35% below the long-term average, and the lowest seen since 2015. Mule deer doe harvest was down the most at 66% below the average, while buck harvest was 23% below average.

“Reduced mule deer doe harvest was expected again this year with fewer antlerless mule deer licenses issued and restrictions on antlerless mule deer harvest on public land,” added Hemmer. “However, there were quite a few reports of hunters seeing better numbers of antlerless mule deer and younger mule deer bucks, but fewer mature bucks.”

For the year, 67 white-tailed deer were brought by the station, which was 43% lower than 2024, and 56% below the long-term average.

“The lower white-tailed deer numbers recorded this year were expected due to the epizootic hemorrhagic disease outbreak along the Milk River and subsequent reductions in antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses,” said Hemmer, “and understandably, hunters reported seeing fewer white-tailed deer this year.”

The number of antelope checked, whose general season ended on Nov. 9, saw a big increase from 2024 (up 55%), and only 3% below the long-term average. 232 antelope were brought by the check station this year.

“Most antelope hunters reported improved numbers of antelope seen compared to recent years,” said Hemmer, “and this was our largest number checked since 2010.”

For the year, 26 elk were recorded, which is 37% above last year but 31% below the long-term average. Below average elk numbers, particularly from Missouri Breaks hunting districts, was expected again this year due to reductions in antlerless elk licenses issued for those districts in response to below objective elk populations.

For the eight weeks that the check station was open, the pheasant harvest of 639 birds was down 11% from last year, and 14% below the long-term average. Sharp-tailed grouse (126 birds) harvest was about the same as last year and the long-term average. Gray (Hungarian) partridge harvest (89) was 11% below 2024, but still well above the long-term average.

“Reports from the western half of the region generally indicated better upland bird numbers than the past several years,” noted Hemmer. “Reports from the eastern half of the region indicated numbers were down from the last couple years.”

Duck harvest (36) was down from last year and the long-term average.

FWP Region 6 thanks all hunters for stopping by the check station.

“Overall, it appeared a lot of hunters were able to make it out into the field this fall,” said Hemmer. “We sure appreciate and enjoy visiting with the hunters that come by the check station, and it’s great to hear stories about a successful hunt. Thanks for stopping by!”

The Glasgow School Board will meet tonight at 6pm in the Gary F. Martin Board Room in the district central office building.

The federal government will provide $12 billion to U.S. farmers who have been hurt by “unfair market disruption,” President Donald Trump said at a White House roundtable event Monday.

Trump said repeatedly the funding was available thanks to tariff revenues, framing his aggressive trade policy as a boon to farmers rather than a drag on their global market share as critics of the policy suggest.

“I’m delighted to announce this afternoon that the United States will be taking a small portion of the hundreds of billions of dollars we receive in tariffs… and we’re going to be giving and providing it to the farmers in economic assistance,” Trump said.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, though, told reporters following the event that the money came from the department’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which is funded through regular appropriations from Congress, according to a White House pool report.

The money, which the administration officials described as “bridge payments,” would be in farmers’ hands by the end of February, Rollins said.

While not officially marketed as a part of a series of Trump events spotlighting affordability issues, the president said several times he was addressing an affordability crisis he “inherited” from President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

“The Democrats cause the affordability problem,” Trump said. “And we’re the ones that are fixing it.”

The bulk of the funding, $11 billion, would go to row crop farmers who grow barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, crambe, flax, mustard, rapeseed, safflower, sesame and sunflower, according to a USDA statement. The department was planning to reserve $1 billion for unnamed specialty crops, Rollins said.

Trump, Rollins and other Cabinet-level officials said the payments were to be used as a “bridge” before policies enacted in Republicans’ massive spending and tax cuts law this year are implemented.

“This bridge is absolutely necessary based on where we are right now,” Rollins said.

They blamed the Biden administration for a more negative outlook for farmers. Biden failed to close trade deals and a focus on environmental policy led to increased costs for the agriculture industry, they said.

The package limits payments to $155,000 per recipient, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce told reporters on a conference call late Monday afternoon.

Iowa farmer Cordt Holub spoke at the White House event, where he thanked Trump for the package.

“I want to say thank you for this bridge payment,” he said. “It’s Christmas early for farmers.”

Louisiana rice farmer Meryl Kennedy said the industry was struggling, but thanked Trump for the aid funding and changes to reference prices in the Republican megabill.

“Our farmers can feed this nation and many nations abroad, but we need fair trade, not free trade,” she said.

But they did not mention the effects of tariffs, which critics of the president have said are responsible for diminishing agricultural exports and hurting farmers’ bottom lines.

House Agriculture Committee ranking Democrat Angie Craig of Minnesota said in a statement the package “picks winners and losers in the farm economy,” and would not provide certainty to farmers or reduce high operational costs.

“It will not bring U.S. agricultural exports back to pre-trade war levels,” she said. “It also ignores (the) fact that the president’s tariffs are responsible for the immense financial strain felt not just by America’s farmers, but also working people, manufacturers, retailers and small businesses. All Americans are tired of the affordability crisis created by this administration and congressional Republicans. We will be right back here a year from now unless the administration changes its policies.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, also slammed the program.

“The reason farmers need relief at all is largely because Donald Trump betrayed them and decimated their businesses with his disastrous tariffs,” Schumer said in a floor speech Monday. “Now, Donald Trump is patting himself on the back, acting like a hero to farmers while using taxpayer dollars to clean up the mess he created. It’s textbook Donald Trump incompetence.”

Asked by a reporter during the roundtable if he would be open to another round of relief for farmers, Trump said it would depend on how international trade develops and said farmers would not want further aid.

“It depends on where we go,” he said. “China is buying a lot. Other countries are buying a lot. And you know, the interesting thing about the farmers, they don’t want aid. They want to just have a level playing field.”

He later indicated it would be unnecessary.

“We’re going to make the farmers so strong — and I’m not even talking about financially, because they just want to be able to produce what they can produce,” he said. “We’re going to make them so strong that it will be, indeed, a golden age for farmers.”

Rollins told reporters following the event that Trump was “open to more.”

A big Thank You and Merry Christmas to Glasgow Boy Scout Troop 861 and St. Raphael Parish’s Knights of Columbus who both made generous donations today.

The Boy Scouts collected donations for the food bank during their tree sales and provided matching funds for a total donation of $500.

The Knights of Columbus donated $4,000 for food purchases and toward our new building.

The Food Bank is raising money to build a new distribution and storage center. Over $200,000 has been raised toward a goal of $483,750.

If you are interested in supporting the effort to build a new distribution and storage center, you can donate to the Food Bank at:
Valley Community Emergency Food Bank
Box 63
Glasgow, Mt 59230

Thank you to these wonderful organizations for the support and Merry Christmas to all!

On Friday, volunteers collected $12,141.00, and an additional $1,000.00 was pledged. As of today, $17,706.00 is set aside for school lunches and food pantry programs. The committee is already planning to put these funds to work in January to Valley County Schools.

Year-end donations will continue to roll in. If you are still planning to support the Block of Bucks program, your donation can be dropped off at Opportunity Bank.

Thank you, Valley County, for once again opening your hearts to care for people in our community.

Again, this year the Glasgow Kiwanis Club will be raising funds by ringing the bell. We are looking for volunteers to help us raise funds to be used for service projects and support of organizations such as the Glasgow Kiwanis Swim Team, Valley County 4-H Clubs, Scouts, Bring Up Grades, Snack Pack, Key Club, Builders Club, the Easter Egg Hunt, helping the Chamber sponsor the Bag Pipe Band for homecoming, singing carols at Prairie Ridge, Nemont Manor, and the Valley View Nursing home as well as many other projects.

For those wanting a tax receipt, you may make checks out to “Kiwanis Foundation of Montana” and put them in the kettle or mail them to Kiwanis, PO Box 174, Glasgow, MT 59230 and include your name and address along with the request for a tax receipt that will be mailed to you. Those wishing to volunteer some time in helping to ring the bell can contact Rocky Zimdars at (406) 263-8352 or email him at rockingrz@gmail.com

The holiday season officially kicked off in Valley County on Nov. 21 as community members gathered at the Elks Lodge for the 21st annual Festival of Trees, a cherished fundraising tradition hosted by the Valley County HOPE Project.

Guests enjoyed a prime rib dinner generously donated by Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital and catered by Doris Ozark. The meal was served by the Tampico Boys 4-H Club, while the Glasgow High School wrestlers volunteered earlier in the day to help with setup-both groups contributing to the warm, community-centered spirit of the evening.

In the week leading up to the festival, local creators, families and organizations poured their talent and creativity into crafting Christmas trees, wreaths and centerpieces for the annual auction. Some projects took days or even weeks of careful planning and decoration. To help anyone looking for ideas or inspiration, Glasgow resident Lindsey Peterson once again hosted her popular Christmas Decor Demo at the Elks Lodge on Nov. 20.

This year's Festival of Trees sold out once again, with all 130 available tickets spoken for. Following dinner, attendees bid on 64 donated items, with Brian Austin returning as the evening's auctioneer.

Adding to the total was a quilt lovingly crafted by Glasgow's Janice Lawrence. Raffled off prior to the event, the quilt was won by Brenda Tarum, and all proceeds from the raffle were donated to the HOPE Project.

Thanks to the community's generosity, the event raised an impressive $20,330.

Founded in 2004, the Festival of Trees has grown from a small gathering with 10 to 15 donated trees into a major holiday tradition featuring an ever-changing variety of trees, wreaths and seasonal decor. While the items have evolved over the years, the purpose has remained the same: to support neighbors in need.

The HOPE Project-short for Helping Others Pay Expenses-works to ensure that no Valley County resident has to forgo essential needs due to the financial strain of medical hardship. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization relies on fundraisers and individual donations, distributing an average of $30,000 each year to local families.

Community members seeking more information or wishing to apply for assistance can visit the Valley County HOPE Project Facebook page or website at valleycountyhope.com. Applications are also available at Expressions, 235 4th St. S., and the organization may be reached by call or text at 406-263-4673 or by email at valcohope@gmail.com

As the Festival of Trees celebrates two decades, it continues to shine as a reminder of the generosity, creativity and community spirit that define Valley County.

Fewer than half of Montana students in grades 3 through 8 are at or above grade-level proficiency standards in language arts and math.

That’s according to the first statewide results of a new standardized assessment implemented during the last school year.

The Office of Public Instruction released the statewide scores of the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year Assessment, or MAST, before the Thanksgiving holidays. State superintendent Susie Hedalen said while OPI has work to do training teachers on administering the test and early data shows a need to improve student outcomes, the format has been well received by students and offers usable data for educators.

Montana’s average of students who tested at or above proficiency levels for their grade was 43.1% in language arts, and 36.9% in math.

The results for Valley County students in grades 3-8:

33.8% tested at or above proficiency levels for their grade in language arts

39.7% tested at or above proficiency levels for their grade in math

While OPI says that the new testing format precludes direct comparisons from previous years, the scores are similar to those from the 2021-22 school year, which showed 46.1% and 36.5% of students proficient in language and math respectively following a well-reported slump in student achievement attributed to COVID-19’s impact on education.

“In literacy we are higher than in math. That’s a trend we’ve seen for many years,” Hedalen told the Daily Montanan in an interview. “I look at this as really important data for us to make data-driven decisions.

Hedalen, a Republican, said she’s excited that the new MAST format allowed educators to receive feedback on student outcomes quickly.

MAST was implemented statewide during the 2024-2025 school year after piloting the test for two years under former state Superintendent Elsie Arntzen.

As opposed to previous standardized testing formats, MAST involves “testlets,” smaller math and English Language Arts tests that take place during four testing periods in the school year, creating a “through-year assessment model.”

The goal is to offer more immediate feedback to educators, students, parents and administrators by providing multiple data points to track progress and alter curriculum or teaching strategies throughout the year to benefit students.

But it may take some time for educators to smoothly integrate the new testing regimen in classrooms.

A survey, shared with the Board of Public Education during the summer, collected responses from 246 teachers across the state and showed that while the more frequent but shorter test format helped engage students and provide feedback, some teachers found they tested topics not covered in classes and they seemed “irrelevant to instruction.”

According to the survey, 72.8% of teachers felt “unable to schedule testlets in a way that aligns with their syllabus,” and a vast majority reported insufficient training in the new protocol.

Hedalen, elected in November 2024, said she had heard similar feedback from educators and administrators since she came into the position this year.

“I believe this has been very challenging … coming from the field I felt that myself,” Hedalen said. “Educators needed more professional development. We didn’t get an understanding of the new assessments to a broad enough audience. We needed to do more with school leaders and educators”

“There’s lots of work to back up, make sure we’re on the same page, schedule testlets, and align with curriculum,” she said. “And then teachers have the data on which students are connecting on the standards, and which students are reaching proficiency and which ones might need more support.”

The survey conducted last school year included responses from more than 35,000 students, and a majority reported preferring the distributed assessment format over a single end-of-year exam, and most reported feeling positively about how the testlets helped their learning outcomes.

Hedalen said that the first round of MAST scores should be taken with a grain of salt given it’s the first year, and that when she looks at the bigger picture of Montana students across all grade levels and compared to national standards, students are doing comparatively better.

She said that comparing national testing data shows that Montana students have had one of the highest bounce-back rates from COVID-era scores. Scores from 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress assessments show Montana 8th graders ranking 10th in math proficiency and 4th in reading proficiency compared to all states.

In addition, Hedalen said high school ACT scores this year showed the highest language arts proficiency for Montana students since the test was adopted in the state, and she pointed to data coming in from new early literacy programs which show promising trends for younger students.

“Those are all exciting data points to me, but I completely acknowledge we have work to do,” she said. “It is really great we have a new, more accurate baseline on how students are doing in language arts and mathematics according to our state standards, and we’re going to work to provide students what they need to get college and career ready, especially with math.”

Caring Hands is announcing significant updates to its long-standing Block of Bucks program, reflecting evolving community needs and new opportunities to support local families.

When Block of Bucks began, the program—then overseen by a different organization—it focused exclusively on purchasing winter outerwear for children. In recent years, however, community partners such as St. Raphael’s Catholic Church have stepped up with coat drives, effectively meeting that original need. At the same time, Caring Hands has faced ongoing challenges in securing volunteers to assist families with clothing shopping and in sourcing infant and toddler items.

In response to these changes, Caring Hands Inc. is reshaping the Block of Bucks program for 2025. Caring Hands' mission is to pursue the vision that women and families have the resources to reach their full potential by improving the lives of women and families through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

The annual Block of Buck fundraising will still take place on Friday, December 5th in the two Glasgow downtown intersections.

Beginning in 2025, funds raised for Block of Bucks will no longer be used to purchase winter clothing. Instead, Caring Hands will redirect these resources to support Valley County public school lunch programs and school-based food pantries. These funds may be used to help pay for student lunches or to supply weekend and vacation food boxes for children in need. The organization has already received enthusiastic community feedback in support of this shift.

Caring Hands is also launching a new program, Bare Necessities, to provide essential items such as underwear, socks, and sports bras to children in need. Vouchers will be distributed through local schools and youth-serving agencies, ensuring that supplies reach families efficiently and respectfully.

Caring Hands extends heartfelt thanks to the individuals, businesses, and community partners whose generosity has sustained the Block of Bucks program over the years. Your support has been instrumental in helping Valley County families stay warm, secure, and cared for. The organization invites the community to join in supporting these new initiatives as it enters a fresh chapter of service in 2025.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen is encouraging drivers to be responsible before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle as December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The Montana Highway Patrol will be doing their part to keep the roads safe by increasing patrols to crack down on drunk and drugged drivers.

This year, Montana’s roadways have seen 178 traffic fatalities, approximately 64 of which were suspected to be alcohol related, a 20 percent decrease from 81 from last year. Each of these tragedies are preventable.

“I’m glad to see alcohol-related fatalities are down so far this year. Help us keep it that way this holiday season. Please, be responsible and don’t get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” Attorney General Knudsen said. “Together, we can make sure everyone gets to and from their destination safely.”

“Our troopers are well trained to spot impaired drivers and will be increasing patrols to stop them during Christmas and the New Year. If you drive drunk or drugged, you will be caught,” MHP Colonel Kurt Sager said. “Help us keep Montana roads safe this season. By simply having a plan if you’ll be drinking, you could save a life.”

When celebrating this holiday season, plan ahead and stay safe. Designate a sober driver before any event involving alcohol, use a ride-sharing service, or public transportation when available. If you are hosting, serve responsibly, and ensure guests have safe options to get home if they’ve been drinking.

Join the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture for Gingerbread Dreams Christmas Stroll and Parade of Lights this Saturday, December 6th.

Noon - Santa arrives in Glasgow, escorted by the Glasgow Fire Department to visit Reynolds Market and Albertsons
1-3 p.m. Free matinee at Valley Cinemas: Shrek
2:30 p.m. Polar Plunge Registration
2-5 p.m. Santa visits at Sean Heavey Gallery for photos
4 p.m. Polar Plunge
5:30 p.m. Tree lighting ceremony with GHS Swing Choir performing
6 p.m. Parade line-up
6:30 p.m. Parade of Lights

Sidney, MT | Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 4:00 pm | Elk’s Club
Miles City, MT | Friday, December 5, 2025 | 7:00 pm | Downtown: 8th & Main
Glasgow, MT | Saturday, December 6, 2025 | 4:00 pm | 325 1st Ave S

Special Olympics Montana is inviting the community to one of the most exhilarating and visually irresistible events of the winter season. Polar Plunges return to Eastern Montana this weekend, and local thrill seekers are gearing up for a plunge that promises icy water, warm hearts, and powerful stories worth capturing.

What to Expect
Dozens of Montanans will charge into frigid waters to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Montana athletes. Expect costumes. Expect team spirit. Expect law enforcement officers, athletes, families, and first-timers leaping together for a cause that never fails to deliver big moments and even bigger smiles.

A Montana Tradition with Statewide Impact
The Polar Plunge first splashed onto the scene in Whitefish in 1999. It has grown into a powerhouse movement with 14 plunges across the state every year, drawing thousands of participants. Collectively, these brave souls raise more than $350,000 annually. Every dollar stays in Montana and fuels year-round training, competitions, health programs, and leadership opportunities for local Special Olympics athletes.

Why This Matters
This is not just a quick dip in cold water. It is a frontline look at community
inclusion and the unstoppable spirit of Special Olympics athletes. Media will find strong visuals, compelling human interest stories, and enthusiastic local voices ready to share why they plunge.

The Cold Weather Advisory continues through 10 a.m. for the Hi-Line. Very cold wind chills as low as 30 below are expected this morning.

The cold moved into northern Montana on Saturday: Chester was the coldest town in the nation on Saturday, at -23. Harlem was -19, Chinook -17, Havre -14, Malta -13. Poplar was the coldest in the nation on Sunday, at -26. Glasgow was at -16 on both Saturday and Sunday.

That winter storm that rolled through ahead of the cold front brought 3.4" to Glasgow (.16 of moisture) with reports as high as 9" in Dickinson, North Dakota.

The 1st half of 2025 Real Estate Taxes are due & payable on or before 5pm Nov. 30th or within 30 days after the tax notice is postmarked, whichever is later. Unless paid prior to that time the amount due will be delinquent & will draw interest at the rate of 5/6 of 1% per month from the time of delinquency until paid & 2% will be added to the delinquent tax as a penalty. Because Nov. 30th is a Sunday, taxpayers have until 5pm Mon. Dec. 1st to pay without penalty or interest.

The 2nd half of 2025 Mobile Home Taxes are due Nov. 30th. Because Nov. 30th is a Sunday, taxpayers have until 5pm Mon. Dec. 1st to pay without penalty or interest. The taxes will be considered delinquent Tues. Dec. 2nd & are subject to penalty & interest, thereafter.

Payment may be made at the Treasurer’s office at the Valley County Courthouse during regular business hours, at the Red Drop Box outside the North & East Door of the Courthouse, mailed to Valley County Treasurer, 501 Court Square #3, Glasgow, Montana 59230 or online at www.valleycountymt.gov/1236/Treasurer or by calling 1-866-549-1010. The Bureau code for Valley County is 8778528.

HELENA – Fish and Wildlife Commissioners have proposed several amendments to the 2026/2027 hunting regulation proposals released by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks last month. Amendments are open for public comment through Dec. 1.

Commissioner amendments will be posted as they are received and processed by FWP staff. This process includes developing a response to the amendments, which is included in the amendment proposal online.

If you are interested in what amendments are being proposed or in commenting on the proposed amendments, please continue to check back to the Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting webpage for the latest information.

Amendments

Commissioner Brooke, who represents FWP Region 3 in southwest Montana, has an amendment to remove the maximum let-off for hunting bows. Currently, hunting bows can have maximum of 80 percent let-off. The amendment was requested because no archery manufacturers advertise an 80 percent let-off.

Commissioner Cebull, who represents FWP Region 5 in southcentral Montana, has two amendments. The first amendment would retain the archery black bear fall sub-quota in all black bear management units with quotas, but increase the quota percentage allowed from 20 to 30 percent. The second amendment would allow hunters to purchase and accrue bonus points for any limited draw black bear permits.

Chair Robinson, who represents FWP Region 6 in northeast Montana, has an amendment that could reduce the number of nonresident deer hunters by up to 5,000 hunters per year. The amendment would prevent FWP from selling nonresident deer licenses made available when nonresident hunters purchase an Elk Combination License. The change would reduce the number of nonresident deer licenses sold by up to 5,000 depending on the number of Elk Combination Licenses drawn.

Commissioner Ian Wargo, who represents FWP Region 1 in northwest Montana, has proposed three amendments. The first amendment would change FWP’s regulation proposals in Regions 2 through 5 to make antlerless mule deer B licenses valid only on private land, with the exception of hunting district 388. The second amendment would generally limit the harvest of elk on public land to one per person per year and make antlerless elk opportunity either by the general elk license or by a limited number of antlerless elk permits for specific hunting districts where general opportunity would be excessive.

Additionally, this second amendment would also make elk B licenses either only valid on private land or valid on land outside the National Forest boundary not to include FWP lands or Bureau of Land Management lands, or other variations to ensure the licenses are not valid on large tracts of public lands. The exception to this would be where biologists deem appropriate, they could offer an elk B license to either-sex or brow-tined bull elk permit holders. These elk B licenses would have the same area limitations as the held permit.

Commissioner Wargo’s third amendment would reduce bighorn sheep license quotas for three specific licenses. The licenses it would reduce quota on are:

250-20 Any Ram: 1 to 1?
680-30 Adult Ewe: 5 to 1?
680-31 Adult Ewe: 15 to 1?

Process

FWP’s biennial hunting season setting process is a lengthy effort to identify potential changes needed in the hunting regulations. This process involves formal scoping meetings around the state, which were held in late spring. FWP staff solicited feedback from hunters, landowners and other members of the public through the scoping process and a public survey.

After the scoping was complete, staff worked to incorporate the things they heard into a suite of regulation proposals that were released for public review Oct. 29.

Fish and Wildlife Commissioners can offer amendments to FWP’s proposals, and those amendments will be published online for review and public comment. Commissioners may offer amendments at any time, including at the meeting on Dec. 4. More amendments are expected in the coming days. Published amendments include a response from FWP. People interested in the regulation proposals should check the FWP website regularly.

The commission will meet and make a final decision on hunting regulations for the 2026 and 2027 hunting seasons on Dec. 4. The meeting will be held in Helena at the Capitol, Room 317, starting at 8 a.m. If you’d like to attend via Zoom, you must register online by 12 p.m. on Dec. 3.

Online registration for the 39th Annual Montana Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament starts at 9 a.m. on Monday, December 1st. The online-only registration link will be available at www.montanagovcup.com and on the Montana Governor's Cup Walleye Tournament Facebook page.

For more details, visit the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture's Facebook page or call them at 406-228-2222.