Week of November 6, 2024
Week of November 6, 2024
The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in the murder of former Three Forks resident Dustin Kjersem. At a press conference on October 31, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer announced that 41-year-old Daren Christopher Abbey had confessed and was arrested for the killing that took place in October in the Moose Creek area near Big Sky. Abbey, who is in custody at the Gallatin County Detention Center in Bozeman, has been charged with one count of deliberate homicide and two... Full story
A U.S. Forest Service budget shortfall appears likely to force some of the centers that produce the avalanche forecasts relied upon by Montana's backcountry skiers and snowmobilers to scale back their operations this winter. The possibility has drawn concern from a coalition of recreation-oriented groups, which sent a letter earlier this month urging the agency to fully staff the 14 avalanche centers USFS administers across the nation, three of which serve portions of Montana. The group wrote...
The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University a grant to assist workforce development in the railway sector across the state of Montana. The $6.4 million grant is part of an infrastructure initiative funded by the DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration and announced on Oct. 29. The award is part of a $2.4 billion rail-improvement law that funds 122 projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C. The infrastructure initiative, which is administered through FRA’s Consolidated...
The City of Bozeman’s indoor pool, known as the Swim Center, is slated to wrap up renovation work and reopen to the public on Nov. 6. Over $6 million, including a 2021 bond initiative, has been invested to renew this 50-year-old facility in an effort to provide a safe and welcoming experience for all users. “We can’t wait to welcome swimmers back to the pool,” Bozeman Parks & Recreation Director Mitch Overton stated. “This renovation was significant and provided a long list of needed updates to the state’s only indoor 50-meter...
Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson last week announced a new pilot program to hire and train veterans with disabilities to operate heavy construction equipment from a remote and accessible location. "We have a responsibility to support those who have served our country," Gov. Gianforte said. "Through this grant, we are empowering veterans with good-paying jobs and helping them transition after a life of service. I'm proud to join DLI in...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, along with partners at the Heart of the Rockies Initiative, will be working over the next five years to help landowners proactively reduce conflicts with grizzly bears using nearly $12 million in federal funds. FWP has been awarded nearly $5 million in Department of Interior funding from a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant. This new funding complements more than $6 million provided by a Regional Conservation Partnership Program grant from the U.S. Department Agriculture’s Natural Resources and...
In unofficial results from the November 5 election, voters in Gallatin County overwhelmingly rejected a proposed increase to the local option motor vehicle tax. In the latest update by the Gallatin County Elections Department on November 6 at 10:13 a.m.., the measure that would increase the current tax from .5% to .7% is failing by a vote of 33,128 to 16,861. Earlier this year, officials said about 70% of the tax generated goes to support Gallatin County operations, with “roughly 30% going to the county’s general fund, 30% going to the... Full story
The City of Three Forks officially launched a new look on its website. According to City officials, it's been eight years since the last update, and the former site wasn't providing the best experience for the end user. They hope the new site will enhance user experience and help minimize clicking into downloaded PDFs or digging deep within pages to find items. City Clerk Crystal Turner said the changes at www.threeforksmontana.com went live on October 30, and the transition should be seamless....
Chronic wasting disease was recently detected in an elk on the north end of the Ruby Mountains in Hunting District 322. CWD is a contagious neurological disease that infects mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It's always fatal, and there is no known cure. It was first detected in Montana’s wild herds in 2017. A hunter harvested the CWD-positive elk adjacent to the lower Ruby Valley, where CWD has been observed at high prevalence locally in both white-tailed and mule deer. While this is the first time CWD has been detected in elk...
GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 1, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 10/31/24 00:31 CFS24-151819 PATROL CHECK BULL TROUT RD and JACKRABBIT LN LE - Documented 00:34 CFS24-151820 PATROL CHECK E VALLEY CENTER RD and FREMONT LE - Documented 00:45 CFS24-151822 PATROL CHECK HEIGHTS CIR and MAMMOTH FORK DR LE - Documented 00:49 CFS24-151825 PATROL CHECK THORPE RD and FRONTAGE RD (0.2 LE - Documented 01:16 CFS24-151828 OUT W/ VEHICLE LE - Documented 01:22 CFS24-151830 PATROL CHECK AMSTERDAM RD and CAMP CREEK RD LE -... Full story
GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 3, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/02/24 00:02 CFS24-152986 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Warning 00:06 CFS24-152990 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Warning 00:20 CFS24-152994 PATROL CHECK E NEAL ST and ALLEY (29.9 feet) LE - Documented 00:25 CFS24-152996 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Warning 00:35 CFS24-153001 PATROL CHECK LE - Documented 00:36 CFS24-153002 ALARM MEADOW VILLAGE DR and MARKET PL LE - Documented 00:36 CFS24-153003 PATROL CHECK CANDLELIGHT DR and WYLIE CREEK LE - Documented 00:55 CFS24-153010... Full story
GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 2, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/01/24 00:04 CFS24-152447 TRAFFIC HAZARD HIGHWAY 287 and RIVERVIEW RD (16.9 LE - Documented 00:05 CFS24-152448 PATROL CHECK GALLATIN RD and COTTONWOOD RD LE - Documented 00:09 CFS24-152451 PATROL CHECK RIVER ROCK RD and NORTH SHORE DRLE - Documented 00:17 CFS24-152458 OUT W/ VEHICLE LAURA LOUISE LN and DRIVEWAY LE - Documented 00:33 CFS24-152461 77 STUCKY RD and COTTONWOOD RD (0.1 LE - Agency Assist 00:38 CFS24-152464 PATROL CHECK N MAIN ST...
GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 5, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/04/24 00:07 CFS24-153886 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Warning 00:14 CFS24-153888 PATROL CHECK HUFFINE LN and DRIVEWAY (123.3 feet) LE - Documented 00:19 CFS24-153889 PATROL CHECK E VALLEY CENTER RD and DRIVEWAY LE - Documented 00:40 CFS24-153894 PATROL CHECK RUNNING IRON RD and STRAIGHT IRONLE - Documented 00:49 CFS24-153897 77 INTERSTATE 90 HWY and ACCESS (0.5 LE - Agency Assist 01:07 CFS24-153898 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Documented 01:16 CFS24-153899... Full story
Fire season in Montana still has not ended. Thirty-five fires continue to burn across the state, though the combined acreage makes up a small amount of the total burned this season. A continued drought in the east will help maintain fire-prone conditions through early November, though Monday night brought precipitation and cooler temperatures to western Montana, according to Dan Zumpfe, a meteorologist based in Missoula for the National Weather Service. "Certainly for western Montana, it looks...
Conservative groups are working to undermine support for Montana’s Medicaid expansion in hopes the state will abandon the program. The rollback would be the first in the decade since the Affordable Care Act began allowing states to cover more people with low incomes. Montana’s expansion, which insures roughly 78,800 people, is set to expire next year unless the legislature and governor opt to renew it. Opponents see a rare opportunity to eliminate Medicaid expansion in one of the 40 states that have approved it. The Foundation for...
GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 4, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/03/24 00:07 CFS24-153454 PATROL CHECK JACKRABBIT LN and SPANISH PEAK DR LE - Documented 00:08 CFS24-153455 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Case Generated 00:19 CFS24-153460 PATROL CHECK LE - Documented 00:21 CFS24-153461 PATROL CHECK TALC RD and DRIVEWAY (156.1 feet) LE - Documented 00:23 CFS24-153462 OUT W/ VEHICLE LE - Documented 00:24 CFS24-153463 PATROL CHECK ELK GROVE LN and MORGAN CREEK LE - Documented 00:32 CFS24-153468 PATROL CHECK FRONTAGE RD... Full story
MEDIA REPORT Printed on November 4, 2024 CFS Date/Time Street Name Code : Description 10/27/24 00:18 TF REST PROPATROL : PROACTIVE PATROL 10/27/24 00:20 C ST ACC : 911-Accidental 10/27/24 01:20 SUSP : Suspicious 10/27/24 07:04 24 : 24/7 10/27/24 07:43 BROADWAY ST CITASST : Citizen Assist 10/27/24 08:10 24 : 24/7 10/27/24 08:43 24 : 24/7 10/27/24 08:44 24 : 24/7 10/27/24 08:45 24 : 24/7 10/27/24 08:45 N OAK ST FOLLOWUP : Follow up 10/27/24 08:52 BOBERTS TIRE FOLLOWUP : Follow up 10/27/24 12:37 THAZ : Traffic Hazard 10/27/24 15:03 SULLIVAN... Full story
While their season came to an end at last week's 5B District Tournament, the Three Forks High School Volleyball team had a shining moment with a thrilling five-set come-from-behind victory in the opening round on October 31 against rival Manhattan. After falling 26-24, 25-16 to the fourth-seeded Tigers in the first two sets, the fifth-seeded Wolves stormed back, winning the final three sets, 25-14, 25-23, 15-7. After losing in three sets the prior week to Manhattan, Three Forks Head Coach Jodi...
It was a dominant performance in all three phases of the game for the Three Forks High School Football team, who came out of the gates strong and never looked back in a 43-6 Class B Playoffs opening round win on November 2 at Huntley Project. With the win, the Wolves (7-3) advance to the Quarterfinals and November 9 matchup at undefeated and top-ranked Malta (10-0). Moments after the victory, Three Forks Head Coach Connor Sullivan said they put in a game plan for the Red Devils on October 25,... Full story
Three Forks High School Senior Claire Van Vleet will be continuing her cheer career in college. Last week, Van Vleet signed to join the Rocky Mountain College Cheer team. Three Forks Cheer... Full story
Through everyday actions and shared moments, we have the opportunity to shape the world around us-whether through small acts of kindness, time spent with others, or the values we pass on to those close to us. In Gallatin County, each of us contributes to a legacy rooted not only in the land itself but also in deep connections, compassion, and a commitment to our community. With a unique blend of longtime residents and newcomers drawn by Montana's beauty, Gallatin County is constantly evolving....
Whenever the postseason arrives for baseball, it usually means a return appearance from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Whenever I watch a televised game at Dodger Stadium, I’m always transported back to a time and place when I once slipped and dumped an entire tray of beer and “Dodger Dogs” onto the hard concrete of the concourse. It was an epic disaster to watch four beers and four dogs go flying through the air in slow motion. What was worse was the look my sister gave me, as beer covered about 80 percent of my clothing. She had paid a ton...
The annual Can the Griz food drive, a friendly off-field competition between Montana State University and the University of Montana, will be collecting donations Nov. 9-23. The battle to see which school and community can collect the most donations for their local food bank is now in its 25th year. "Can the Griz is the Gallatin Valley Food Bank's biggest food drive of the year – the food and money raised in these two weeks will help keep the shelves stocked well into next year," said Kim...
Montana State University will open its campus, classrooms, facilities and residence halls to prospective students and families on Friday, Nov. 1, at the next MSU Friday event. MSU Fridays are full-day programs offering in-depth previews of college life at MSU. They include information sessions and presentations about what the university has to offer, sample classes taught by MSU’s top professors, and campus tours including the residence halls and campus facilities, such as American Indian Hall and the newly opened Student Wellness Center....
To celebrate our hunting heritage in Montana, Gov. Greg Gianforte launched the third annual Youth Hunting Story Contest in August for Montana youth and apprentice hunters ages 10 to 17. The deadline to enter the contest is Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. To enter the contest, hunters must submit a story of no more than 500 words and a photo from their 2024 hunt. Hunters must be Montana residents and licensed hunters or apprentice hunters between the ages of 10 and 17. Eligible entries include harvesting any legal game, furbearer animals or birds in...
The train pulled out of the station and took dad on his last ride October 19, 2024. Don Doty passed away peacefully in his sleep with his favorite belt buckle on and his camo moccasins. Don was 93 and lived a long and adventurous life. Don was born in Three Forks to Rose Walbert Doty and Orville Doty (Orville was killed working on the TF airport when Don was a child). They preceded him in death along with his grandparents Ed Walbert of whom Don was very fond, and Sady Walbert. He is also... Full story
September 9, 1930 - October 25,2024 Harold was born in Matoe, South Dakota. His parents, Jacob and Rose, had a small farm where they raised their nine children; Harold was the youngest. His father was severely injured working on the railroad. Harold decided to leave school after completion of the 8th grade and began working to help the family make ends meet. He held various jobs supporting his parents and sisters until he met LaVerna Litzau. Harold and Laverna were married August 14, 1953. They... Full story
