Week of November 20, 2024

  • Fentanyl Crisis: 6 overdoes in 72-hour span

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice

    There was alarming news last week in southwest Montana when Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff Ed Lester reported six non-fatal fentanyl overdoes in a 72-hour span. According to Lester, a new and strong supply of illicit fentanyl powers has been introduced in the Butte area and appears to be causing the spike in overdoses. Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser said it is very concerning to see fentanyl powder in Butte, let alone anywhere in Montana. While the Broadwater County Sheriff's Office has not... Full story

  • Justice for Laysa: LeDoux sentenced to 30 years in prison

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice

    At a hearing last week, Alexander Norbert LeDoux was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his actions in a January 4 fatal head-on collision that killed 22-year-old Laysa Grewell on Interstate 90 near Three Forks. In a change of plea hearing on September 13, LeDoux pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and criminal endangerment. He also changed his plea to no contest on a charge of Fleeing from or Eluding a Peace Officer. Montana's 18th Judicial District Court Judge Peter Ohman sentenced LeDoux...

  • Upcoming Gallatin County Future Land Use Map & Housing Strategy Adoption Hearings

    After nearly a year of collaborative planning, the Gallatin County Planning Department is excited to announce that the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) and Housing Strategy (HS) have entered the adoption phase. As these plans move forward, community members are encouraged to take part in the upcoming public meetings and share their input, helping shape the future of growth, development, and housing in Gallatin County. The County Growth Policy, adopted in 2021, set a vision to guide growth,...

  • Gallatin County Sheriff's Report November 16, 2024

    GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 17, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/16/24 00:00 CFS24-159835 PATROL CHECK COUNTRYSIDE LN and BAKER ST (37.1 LE - Documented 00:08 CFS24-159836 PATROL CHECK CENTRAL AVE and FOURTH ST (53.6 LE - Documented 00:14 CFS24-159838 PATROL CHECK W CAMERON BRIDGE RD and LE - Documented 00:22 CFS24-159841 RECKLESS INTERSTATE 90 HWY and ON RAMP LE - GOA / UTL 00:38 CFS24-159846 HOLDUP/PANIC PENWELL BRIDGE RD and DRIVEWAY LE - Referred 00:48 CFS24-159853 PATROL CHECK TALC RD and DRIVEWAY... Full story

  • Gallatin County Sheriff's Report November 17, 2024

    GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 18, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/17/24 00:04 CFS24-160314 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Documented 00:05 CFS24-160315 77 CAMP CREEK RD and DRIVEWAY (194.3 LE - Documented 00:05 CFS24-160316 PATROL CHECK OUSEL FALLS RD and SOUTH FORK RD LE - Documented 01:19 CFS24-160330 SEXUAL CRIME AMSTEL CT and ROYAL RD (30.5 feet) LE - Case Generated 01:28 CFS24-160333 PATROL CHECK LITTLE COYOTE RD and SEEWAY RD LE - Documented 01:33 CFS24-160335 PATROL CHECK LONE MOUNTAIN TRL and BIG PINE DR LE... Full story

  • City: Notifications for Specific Service Lines

    The City of Three Forks is in process of sending a mailing to property owners and tenants of certain water service lines. As you'll recall, the City conducted inventory from mailed and emailed surveys, as well as cross-referenced information based on any records we may have had, known data in Montana Cadastral, and other sources, of known LEAD and known GALVANIZED water service lines. This inventory was required to be submitted to DEQ by 10/2024. We are now at the stage of notifying customers...

  • Gallatin County Sheriff's Report November 18, 2024

    GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 19, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/18/24 00:01 CFS24-160658 PATROL CHECK LITTLE COYOTE RD and SEEWAY RD LE - Documented 00:08 CFS24-160660 PATROL CHECK SPRUCE CONE DR and BIG PINE DR LE - Documented 00:13 CFS24-160664 PATROL CHECK OUSEL FALLS RD and SOUTH FORK RD LE - Documented 00:14 CFS24-160665 PATROL CHECK HOMESTAKE DR and PROSPECT LOOP LE - Documented 00:16 CFS24-160666 PATROL CHECK STRAIGHT IRON RD and RUNNING IRONLE - Documented 00:28 CFS24-160669 PATROL CHECK... Full story

  • Broadwater County Sheriff's Report November 10 - 16, 2024

    MEDIA REPORT Printed on November 18, 2024 CFS Date/Time Street Name Code : Description 11/10/24 01:26 EB ON RAMP Agency : Agency Assist 11/10/24 02:09 HWY 287 NB TSTOP : Traffic Stop 11/10/24 07:31 24 : 24/7 11/10/24 07:42 45.915631, -111.629763 911OPN : 911 Open Line 11/10/24 08:06 B ST MEDEMER : Medical Emergency 11/10/24 08:33 24 : 24/7 11/10/24 08:33 24 : 24/7 11/10/24 08:39 24 : 24/7 11/10/24 08:39 24 : 24/7 11/10/24 09:07 TOWN PUMP PROPLOST : Lost Property 11/10/24 09:32 PARK TRAIL RANCH NB TSTOP : Traffic Stop 11/10/24 10:12 N OAK ST... Full story

  • House elects leadership

    Representative Brandon Ler of Savage has been elected as Speaker of the House for the upcoming 69th Legislative Session "We're ready to get to work for the people of Montana," Representative Ler said last week. "We are going to dig deep into some difficult issues and work together for all Montanans." Representative Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls has been elected as Majority Leader. "Montanans have entrusted Montana Republicans to come to Helena to solve problems," said Fitzpatrick. I look...

  • Group takes another run at initiative to cap Montana property taxes

    Eric Dietrich, Montana Free Press

    A group that has repeatedly sought to advance ballot initiatives that would cap property tax growth on Montana homes said last week that it is taking another run at the idea, proposing a constitutional amendment that could appear on the 2026 ballot if it survives likely legal challenges and qualifies via a signature drive. Bozeman attorney Matt Monfortion, the director of Cap Montana Property Taxes, said in an interview Wednesday that he doesn’t believe property tax proposals circulating in advance of the 2025 Legislature will do enough to...

  • Free Supplemental Trapping Permit available online

    During the 2024-2025 trapping season, those who are targeting predators and/or nongame within a court-established geographic area for personal or livestock protection purposes will need to have a new Free Supplemental Trapping Permit. This new permit was established Nov. 12 by the Fish and Wildlife Commission as proposed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to gather data and insight on predator and nongame trapping efforts within a specific court-established geographic area. Here are the key details for predator and nongame trappers to know...

  • Gallatin County Sheriff's Report November 19, 2024

    Page 1 of 8 GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 20, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/19/24 00:10 CFS24-161122 COMMS PROB VAQUERO PKWY and DRIVEWAY (57.1 911 - Duplicate Call 00:36 CFS24-161130 PATROL CHECK HEIGHTS CIR and MAMMOTH FORK DR LE - Documented 00:55 CFS24-161135 PATROL CHECK BIRCH LN and E MAIN ST (13.7 feet) LE - Documented 00:56 CFS24-161136 PATROL CHECK BISON TRL and E VALLEY CENTER RD LE - Documented 00:59 CFS24-161137 FOLLOW UP LAURA LOUISE LN and DRIVEWAY (73.4 LE - Documented 00:59... Full story

  • Gallatin County Sheriff's Report November 15, 2024

    GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on November 16, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 11/15/24 00:07 CFS24-159371 SUSPICIOUS TIMBER VIEW CIR and RIDGE LINE LN LE - Documented 00:29 CFS24-159378 PATROL CHECK OUSEL FALLS RD and SOUTH FORK RD LE - Documented 00:30 CFS24-159379 SUBJECT STOP LE - Warning 00:39 CFS24-159381 PATROL CHECK LONE MOUNTAIN TRL and BIG PINE DR LE - Documented 00:58 CFS24-159384 PATROL CHECK GALLATIN RD and DRIVEWAY (108.4 LE - Documented 01:02 CFS24-159388 PATROL CHECK GALLATIN RD and BEAVER CREEK RD LE -... Full story

  • Three Forks Cross Country athletes compete at NXR Northwest Regionals

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice

    Three Forks Cross Country was well represented, with four high school student-athletes competing at last Saturday’s prestigious NXR (NIKE) Northwest Regional Championships at Eagle Island State Park in Idaho. According to Coach Matt Robb, the Three Forks Running Club members Cass Violett, Bella Jones, Jacoby Berg, and Teegan Gifford had a successful weekend. “Each race is pretty packed with runners, so it can be hard to maneuver around the course, and I thought they ran pretty well,” Robb... Full story

  • Column: A knock on the door and a new vacuum

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice

    Since my never-ending senior year of college, I've had the opportunity to work for several different newspapers in various roles. Each one of these jobs has been a valuable learning experience and a chance to add to my tool belt while at the same time making some lifelong friends. There have been some papers I've liked a lot more than the others, but I would not trade any of those experiences because I'm better because of them. While most of my time since college has been spent at newspapers,... Full story

  • Guest Opinion: River lovers, now's the time to pass Montana Headwaters Legacy Act

    Kristin Gardner, Charles Wolf Drima and Scott Bosse Montanans For Healthy Rivers Coalition As the dust settles after a contentious and polarizing election, we have an opportunity to bring Montanans together around an issue that transcends party lines: the health of our rivers. Montana’s free-flowing rivers are critical to our state’s prosperity, our unmatched way of life, and our flourishing fish and wildlife. They provide us with clean water for drinking, irrigation, and world-class recreation. Montana’s agriculture and our rapidly...

  • Letter to the Editor: Hope & the Holidays

    Are you like me, having had a Beaver Cleaver childhood in which the holidays were full of gifts, food and stress-free merriment? If yes, please join me in helping kids less fortunate have a festive Christmas by contributing in some way to Hope & The Holidays. Founded in 2010, this 100% volunteer-run program provides toys, games, crafts and a family-sized holiday meal basket for our neighbors that are struggling to afford working and living in our gorgeous mountain towns. Look for the toy donation boxes when you are shopping; do some Amazon...

  • New $3 million grant at Montana State to support dozens of STEM teachers in rural, underserved areas of Montana

    Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service

    A new six-year, $3 million grant-funded project at Montana State University will support dozens of science, technology, engineering and math teachers in rural and underserved areas of Montana as they work toward graduate degrees in science education or deepen their expertise as teachers. The project ultimately aims to strengthen STEM education for students in rural areas of the state. The grant comes from the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which works to...

  • 'Holidazzle' Holiday Show scheduled for November 23

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice

    A holiday event later this week in Three Forks will feature over 50 vendors. The Holidazzle Holiday Show is scheduled for Saturday, November 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Three Forks High School Gym. According to one of the organizers, Brooke McLees, she started the show a few years ago, and this year, Lana Torrence asked to help, which got her excited about the event again. McLees said there will be a huge variety of items at the show, including homemade jewelry, horseshoe art, pens,... Full story

  • Headwaters Trail System applying for two grants

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice

    It will be a busy winter for Headwaters Trails System Director Gene Townsend. At last week's Three Forks City Council meeting, the governing body gave Townsend the go-ahead to apply for $100,000 grants to the Montana Trail Stewardship Program and the Montana Recreational Trail Program. According to Townsend, the maximum amount you can apply for with each grant is $100,000, with the trail system usually paying the 10 percent match for the Montana Trail Stewardship Program Grant. He added that...

  • Strong start to the season continues for Three Forks Speech and Drama

    It was another great weekend for the Three Forks High School Speech and Drama team. Competing for the second time this season last weekend in Conrad, the Wolves came away with a second-place finish in Drama and third place in Speech. Lance Demaray dazzled at the meet, finishing first in Student Prepared Oral Interpretation. The dynamic crew of Zane Pauzauskie, Taylor Teske, Zoe Dabling, and Layna Vanderby continued their strong start to the 2024 campaign with a second-place finish in Classic... Full story

  • Three Forks Area Ambulance Monthly Community Update

    October 2024 brought 28 calls for Three Forks Ambulance. It was a month focused on training and developing our new team members and striving to serve our community. We are excited to say we've continued adding EMTs and Drivers to our roster, with a total crew size of 23 personnel at present. There continues to be a strong need for local drivers that can operate the ambulance for our EMTs. We will train from zero experience and drivers must be 18 years of age or older. See our website, 3faa.org... Full story

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