HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on proposed 2022 Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant proposals. Public comments will be accepted through Friday June 24, at 5 p.m.

The OHV program received 11 grant requests and proposes to award $418,381. The program receives funding through OHV/motorbike registrations, gas tax and the Summer Motorized Trail Pass revenues.  Montana’s Off-Highway Vehicle Program supports projects such as trail maintenance, signs, trail stewards, ethics education, noxious weed control, safety and mapping efforts. Grant awards are allocated by FWP with recommendations from the citizen-based Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee (OHVAC).

The public is invited to comment on the funding requests. To submit comments online and see a summary list of the 2022 OHV grant application funding requests, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/grant-programs/off-highway-vehicle

The public may also send comments to: Montana FWP, Attn: Seth McArthur, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

Full grant applications are available by request in the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division office at FWP headquarters located at 1420 E. 6th Avenue in Helena, Montana 59620.

BOZEMAN, MT — HRDC and Seattle-based GMD Development, LLC are hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 8th, for Perennial Park and Arrowleaf Park, their jointly-developed affordable home communities near 19th Avenue and Tschache Lane. A portion of the project — 96 units — is dedicated to affordable, independent-stye living for adults 55 and older, while the remainder of the below-market priced community was designed for residents of any age. Total apartment homes and townhomes in this combined development exceed 200 units.

City and County dignitaries, along with members of Bozeman Chamber of Commerce’s Green Coat Ambassadors, will be in attendance to help celebrate the addition of these rental properties to the area’s housing stock.

Adults 55 and older seeking affordable, independent style living arrangements can now lease an apartment home at Perennial Park. Amenity highlights in this community include a schedule of social activities, paths throughout the property lined with benches and tables, community gardens, library, and a fitness room.

Arrowleaf Park offers comfort and convenience, balanced with affordable rent, for those seeking housing in the Bozeman area. New residents will be able to enjoy the perks of brand-new apartments including full and complete kitchens with stainless steel appliances, wood-style vinyl plank flooring and plush carpets, washers and dryers in-unit and large energy efficient windows. Each apartment home includes a private balcony, and the townhouse-style homes include a front patio and a fenced backyard.

Located at 1619 Tschache Lane and served by HRDC’s Streamline, the development provides one-, two- and three-bedroom units with convenient, co-located supportive services from Community Health Partners, including medical, dental, and mental health clinics, and a 96-student early childhood education center from Family Promise.

Perennial Park and Arrowleaf Park were developed with funding assistance from Low Income Housing Tax Credits provided by the Montana Board of Housing and with additional support from the City of Bozeman.

“In addition to the many on-site amenities, Perennial Park and Arrowleaf Park offer residents easy access to numerous retail outlets and other convenient services along 19th Avenue,” said Steve Dymoke, GMD Development Partner.

Heather Grenier, HRDC’s President/CEO, is pleased the leasing process is underway. “Residents in our community have experienced diminishing affordable rental opportunities in our current market. We are grateful to GMD for sharing in our vision to create a high-quality development to serve this critical need. It’s such a relief to see these homes come online and be leased by waiting community members.”

HRDC is a private, not for profit Community Action Organization, Community Development Corporation, and a Certified Housing Development Organization. With experience in project and community development ranging from historic preservation to community housing trusts along a housing continuum that spans homelessness to homeownership, HRDC has completed a total of over $120 million dollars in housing and public facilities development since the early 90's. HRDC brought the first community housing trust development to the state of Montana and has since developed and/or preserved more than 900 homes that Montanans can afford across Southwest Montana. HRDC’s development activities are supported by housing programming and property management services provided through in-house property management.

GMD Development is a private, mission-based developer/owner of affordable housing based in the Pacific Northwest and is committed to a proactive and solutions-oriented approach to the challenging task of creating affordable housing for families and seniors that delivers meaningful outcomes for communities and changes people’s lives. GMD Development targets higher growth markets with the significant disparity between average workforce incomes and affordability.

Interested parties can visit https://www.perennialparkmt.com/ or https://www.arrowleafpark.com/for more information regarding income qualification and the application process.

Donors, volunteers, and community members can learn more at https://thehrdc.org/

To kick off Montana Noxious Weed Awareness Week, the Gallatin County Weed District announces the opening of nominations for a new award to recognize area landowners for their work in controlling noxious weeds in our area.

Gallatin County would like to recognize land owners and managers who do an exceptional job of controlling noxious weeds. These stewards are not only caring for their own land, but are helping to protect the wild lands and local agriculture that make our county such a wonderful place to live.

The Weed District would like to honor these individuals or groups who are a vital part of noxious weed management in our county with the Gallatin County Weed District Outstanding Noxious Weed Management Award.

If you know of a person or a group who has shown exceptional leadership in the management of noxious weeds on private land in Gallatin County, please nominate them for this award. The winner will be recognized by the Gallatin County Commission and the Weed District in September at a commission public meeting.

Please fill out this nomination form, or contact the Weed Distrust to obtain a copy of the form. Nominations are due by July 31.

The Gallatin County Weed District is located at 903 N. Black Ave. in Bozeman. Staff can be reached at 406-582-3265 or weeddistrict@gallatin.mt.gov.

Information about the Outstanding Noxious Weed Management Award can also be found on our website.

More info on Montana Noxious Weed Awareness Week:

Montana Noxious Weed Awareness Week was established in 2021 as a way to highlight the invasive plants in our state that outcompete native grasses and wildflowers and can seriously impair wildlife habitat, agriculture and recreational opportunities.

Noxious Weed Awareness Week is observed the first full week of June. This year it will be celebrated June 5-11.

Media contact:
Steve Saunders, Gallatin County Weed Board Member
406-580-1027
weeddistrict@gallatin.mt.gov

Below are photos of common noxious weeds in Gallatin County. Photos provided by the Gallatin County Weed District.

Bozeman, June 2022 – The Bozeman Symphony presents John Williams: 90th Birthday Bonanza, an entire concert dedicated to one of the greatest film composers of all time. Hear your Bozeman Symphony perform themes from timeless film classics such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Hook, and more. This concert is perfect for all ages to celebrate John Williams’ 90th birthday and his most memorable scores.

“I want to make the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra a household name in our community, and part of doing that is looking outside the classical music repertoire,” says Norman Huynh, Music Director. “Music from films is something everyone will recognize, and who better to present than an entire concert of John Williams’ instantly recognizable scores?”

American Composer John Williams’ works have brought cinema to life for seven decades, making him one of the most prolific, and critically acclaimed film composers in history. The Bozeman Symphony encourages all to attend this exciting performance highlighting orchestra in film.

After nearly selling out the Saturday and Sunday performances in January, the Symphony added a performance on Friday, June 26, so everyone can experience this unforgettable concert.

The Bozeman Symphony looks forward to welcoming local rising star Cade Fiddaman for a violin solo during the epic Theme from Schindler’s List. Fiddaman is a sophomore at Montana State University with a double-major in music and mechanical engineering. He has competed and won in local, regional, and state music competitions, including the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Performance Competition and the Montana Association of Symphony Orchestras 2021 Young Artists Competition.

In addition to Fiddaman, the Bozeman Symphony’s principal trumpet Sarah Stoneback will be featured during Williams’ With Malice Towards None from the 2012 historical drama Lincoln, and principal clarinet Wendy Bickford will be featured during Viktor’s Tale from the 2004 film, The Terminal.

Performances will be held in person on Friday, June 24 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, June 26 at 2:30 PM, at the Willson Auditorium (404 West Main Street), downtown Bozeman. These performances would not be possible without strong community support and sponsorship. The Symphony wishes to thank David Ross and Risi for their season sponsorship, and David and Kippy Sands for supporting this performance.

Ticketing: Individual tickets are available for purchase online at bozemansymphony.org or by phone at 406-585-9774. Tickets at the door based on availability. Adult tickets range from $27.00-$67.00. Student discounted tickets are available. If you already purchased tickets to the Saturday and Sunday performance in January your tickets will automatically transferred to the new postponed dates on Saturday, June 25 or Sunday, June 26 performance respective to your previous purchase.

Please contact the Bozeman Symphony with questions you have regarding performance, ticket sales, venue, seating information, and COVID-19 safety protocols.

BOZEMAN – Aurora, a leader in self-driving vehicle technology, announced today that it will build a 78,000-square-foot facility in Bozeman at the Montana State University Innovation Campus.

The modern, two-story facility will include research and development laboratories, a world-class manufacturing space and clean room facility, and more. In collaboration with MSU, Aurora also plans to open a new, state-of-the-art lidar test range.

Lidar is short for light detection and ranging, a sensing method that sends pulses of laser light to determine the presence, shape and distance of objects, often in great detail.

In a press announcement, the company said the facility is part of its continuing investment in prototyping and testing purpose-built lidar technology.

“Through our new facility, we are deepening our commitment to the region’s rich history and leadership in photonics,” the company said. “We are also excited to create opportunities for the next generation of photonics experts interested in cutting-edge autonomy applications. Our new facility will be located on Montana State University’s Innovation Campus, building upon and strengthening our relationship with the school that has produced industry-leading photonics engineers and innovations for more than 30 years.”

“Aurora’s decision to open one of its major facilities on the Innovation Campus is a testament to the value Montana State University brings to the table as the state’s largest research enterprise," said Jason Carter, vice president of research, economic development and graduate education at MSU. "We have decades of experience in optics and photonics, and most importantly, we have graduates who are eager to work in cutting-edge industries like self-driving.”

With more than 50 years of combined experience, MSU’s Optical Technology Center, or OpTeC, and its Spectrum Lab have been a national leaders in lidar and other laser optics research and have helped foster one of the nation’s highest concentrations of laser-optics companies in Bozeman.

Founded in 2017, Aurora has offices in seven cities, including Bozeman. In 2019, it purchased Bozeman-based Blackmore, a company known for its work on frequency modulated continuous wave lidar. Several of Blackmore’s founders conducted research at MSU before establishing the company. A year later, Aurora unveiled its FirstLight lidar technology, which improves long-distance sensing and highway driving capabilities for Aurora Driver, the company’s suite of sensors and computers for self-driving vehicles.

“With our business-friendly environment, unmatched quality of life, and hardworking and talented workforce, Montana is emerging as a national hub for innovators like Aurora,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said. “We’re thrilled by Aurora’s investment in Montana through its new state-of-the-art facility and look forward to the opportunities their investment will bring hardworking Montanans.”

“Great news to have Aurora expanding here in Bozeman and creating new jobs for hardworking Montanans,” said U.S. Sen. Steve Daines. “Bozeman is a hot bed for visionary innovation and next-generation technology. I appreciate Aurora’s enduring commitment to invest in our great state and people.”

“The city of Bozeman’s long time support of the photonics sector and our partners at Montana State University, Gallatin College, and the Montana Photonics Industry Alliance attract innovative companies to Gallatin Valley and grow Montana’s economy,” said Brit Fontenot, city of Bozeman economic development director. “Aurora’s expansion in Bozeman will strengthen the industry in the region and will create meaningful career opportunities for over 800 employees who work in the photonics industry. We look forward to partnering with Aurora as they build the future of autonomous vehicles right here in Bozeman.”

Montana State University’s Innovation Campus is being developed by Charter Realty & Development as the master developer of the 42-acre project in partnership with the Montana State University Alumni Foundation and its subsidiary, the MSU Innovation Campus. Once complete, the campus will house more than half a million square feet of technology and office space.

Road trips are a lot of fun and they are a great way to get to know the place you’re visiting. When you’re driving on your own, you get a chance to explore the country without having to worry about itineraries and schedules.

It also allows the driver to go off the familiar path and experience the country as the locals do. If you want to have such a trip, you should take the time to prepare and anticipate the problems that you may need to deal with, while abroad. That way you can relax and enjoy your visit.

Prepare The Car

Before going on the road in the first place, you should prepare the car. That way you know that things won’t go wrong while you’re in the middle of nowhere and in a country you’re not familiar with. It’s best to start with tires, fluid levels, and breaks since they tend to wear out as they are used.

A car battery, lights, and other tech features should also be examined before going on a trip. It’s useful to make sure your emergency kit is ready and stocked and that you know how to use all the items contained in it. It takes about a week to do all this so make sure you start ahead of time.

A Permit for Driving Abroad

In order to drive abroad, you’re going to need an international driving permit issued by IDA (International Drivers Association). It’s a document allowing you to rent a vehicle and drive it for a year when in a foreign country. The permit is only valid if you have a national license with you as well, and it too needs to be valid.

A driver also needs to have an ID document on their person the whole time. Driving permits aren’t considered to be such documents and you’re going to need a photo ID such as a passport with you. None of this paperwork covers car insurance, which is another document you’re going to need to provide if stopped while abroad.

Set Up a Budget

It’s important to set up a budget to cover the cost of the trip itself. This doesn’t include the cost of the activities you plan for the visit, which is a separate item. The budget should cover renting the car, getting an insurance policy for it, and gas expenses.

It’s also useful to take into account other, smaller expenses that are also essential for driving in a foreign country. This can include the cost of snacks and water to get you covered if you’re away from a major city, as well as toll charges if any apply.

Time Your Drive Well

Having your own car means you can time your drive as you want to. It’s best to avoid driving at night if you’re not familiar with the area and if you’re not well-rested. An average drive shouldn’t take longer than 2 hours, after which you should take a 20-minute rest.

Try not to drive more than 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on how experienced you are at the wheel and where you’re going. These may seem like a lot of restrictions to put on yourself when you control the itinerary but they are mostly about safety.

Snacks and Refreshments

Make sure you’ve prepared snacks and refreshments before the trip. Use the stops and breaks to restock on these and try to have at least one meal for every person in the car, at all times. Some drivers overlook these since they plan to while making stops and taking a break from driving.
Still, it’s a good backup to have in case something goes wrong and you get stuck far away from a city. There are no rules – pack and eat what you love, just make sure you always have water.

A Playlist

Long drives can be somewhat boring. This isn’t a problem on its own, but it can also affect how focused you are on the road and therefore how safe you are. It’s therefore useful to have a playlist for the ride to keep you occupied and maintain your energy levels. Singalongs are also a good way to keep the kids engaged during the drive.

The playlist can also include podcasts, just keep in mind that listening to conversations can be more distracting than listening to music. If you’re a new driver this may be overwhelming, especially if you’re driving through a big city with a lot of traffic.

DILLON – An Idaho man was sentenced Tuesday in Beaverhead County District Court following a long-term investigation into a case involving the trafficking and commercialization of wildlife parts in Montana.

Yan Fong of Pocatello was sentenced to 10 years with the Montana Department of Corrections with all but 100 days suspended and was ordered to pay a fine of $25,000, as well as court fees. He also lost his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges in Montana and 46 other states for six years.

In 2017 and 2018, Fong unlawfully purchased 11 black bear gall bladders, four black bears, 24 black bear paws, three mountain lions, two mule deer, one elk and seven bobcats in Montana and transported them back to Idaho.

Fong was charged with one felony count of unlawful sale of a game fish, bird, game animal or furbearing animal; and one felony count of unlawful possession, shipment or transport of a game fish, bird, game animal or furbearing animal.

Fong is also facing pending charges for similar conduct in California and Idaho.

Montana game wardens rely on tips from people who observe crimes against wildlife. Anyone with possible information about these crimes is encouraged to visit go.usa.gov/xJTzB to provide details or call the FWP violation reporting hot line at 1-800-TIP-MONT. Callers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

If you're looking to make a major purchase without the high-interest rate, it's time for a credit score boost. A good credit score opens the door to low-interest lending, better auto loans, and more. A quick way to get this boost is with a credit card. Credit cards improve your credit score in a multitude of ways. Read on to find out how.  

Credit Cards Help You Establish Credit History 

All three credit bureaus gather information about your spending habits and creditworthiness to establish a credit score. A credit card offers you the ability to establish this history. When you pay on time, you're rewarded with an increase in points on your credit score. When you don't pay on time, you lose points. No one knows the exact formula credit bureaus use to calculate a score. What is known is that the following items are considered in creating that score:

• Payment history
• Utilization
• The ratio of payment history to the number of open accounts
• Used credit vs. available credit
• Type of credit usedHard inquiries (Anytime you apply for a credit card using your full social security number, that company requests information from the credit bureaus to verify your application and check your score – this is a hard inquiry.)

Low Credit Utilization is Rewarded with Credit Score Increases 

The fastest way to establish a good credit score is to show good utilization. Credit utilization is the amount of credit used from your credit limit. There are two utilization factors on your credit report, and both factor into your score. One is the ratio of overall credit spent from your total available credit limit. 

The second is the utilization ratio of the credit spent from one single credit card.

Spending too much of your credit (more than 30%) displays risky spending behavior. Banks and finance companies consider this information when deciding to lend to you. It also affects how much they'll lend. Consistently low credit utilization is rewarded with frequent score increases. The opposite is true for consistently high credit utilization. 

Inheriting Good Credit Provides a Score Boost

Yes. You CAN inherit a good credit score. Major credit card companies and some store cards offer an Authorized User option to their clients. This allows them to add an individual to their account. If someone adds you as an Authorized User, you will receive your own separate credit card with either the same credit limit or an adjusted one. 

So how does this increase your credit score?

You inherit the account holder's payment history, credit age, and credit limit. Someone with a $10,000 credit limit and a stellar payment history over ten years can add significant points to your score. However, a person with poor payment history or a young account could cause your score to sink. The key is ensuring the person adding you hasn't missed a single payment. 

By now, you may be wondering if an account holder can add you to more than one account? The answer is yes. Not only can you be added to more than one account, but you could also be added to more than one person's account as an Authorized User. This is a great way to establish a credit history if your score is too low to qualify for a starter credit card. 

On-Time Payments Boost Your Credit Score

One major factor in boosting your credit score is paying your credit card on time – but there is a caveat. If you pay your card to a $0 balance before your credit card company creates your monthly statement, it will report zero utilization to each of the three major credit bureaus. This results in a stale score (aka one that doesn't move much). 

The key is to keep your utilization above zero but under 10% and pay this amount once your statement arrives. 

Note: Although 1% to 10% is the best credit card utilization ratio, anything under 30% is ideal. 

Good Payment History Yields More Card Offers

According to Experian, adding an additional credit card can boost your score by reducing your utilization. However, they warn that you may notice an immediate decrease in your score after applying for a card. The older your credit history is, the better your score. When you apply for a new card, it reduces the age of your credit overall. Therefore, the score slightly decreases when you apply for the new card. But not to worry, this decrease is temporary and will rebound with good payment history and consistently low utilization.  

Credit Cards Build Business Credit Too

Some major lenders offer credit cards for business owners. These cards have much higher credit limits than personal credit cards. If your business is new or lacks revolving accounts, a business credit card is just what you need to help establish history. However, this process could take a few months. If you're in a pinch and you have a stack of unpaid invoices, invoice factoring from a factoring company could help.  

An invoice factoring company purchases your business's invoices – allowing you to make emergency purchases or payments without waiting for your customers to pay up. In some cases, waiting could affect your ability to pay back personal and business credit cards, ultimately tanking both scores. If your business is struggling financially, look into invoice factoring as a solution to keep your credit card payments on track.

Conclusion

As you can see, credit cards – when used responsibly – boost your credit score from many different angles. As long as you maintain a low balance, pay on time, and maintain an increasing age, you'll enjoy the benefits of a low-interest lifestyle. The critical thing to remember here is that late payments tank your score, so ensure all payments are received on time.

If you own a business, this could prove difficult – especially if your customers' invoices are outstanding. Invoice factoring from a reputable factoring company is always an option to avoid late credit card payments.  

What credit score are you aiming for? Would you use a credit card to build your credit score? Leave your comments below — we would love to see what you think.

Kei Braun, an 8th-grade student at Chief Joseph Middle School, Bozeman, Montana, has recently been selected to perform with the National Middle School Honor Band at Carnegie Hall, New York, on June 18, 2022.

Braun will play the alto saxophone during this prestigious 5-day program culminating with the Carnegie Hall performance and states, “It is an incredible opportunity to play on such a world-renowned stage. I am humbled by my teacher’s support and my friends and family assisting me.”

The Carnegie Hall concert on June 18, 2022, includes students from 39 states and Canada. Braun was selected through a rigorous process of teacher recommendation, written essays, and performing audition and is the only student chosen from Bozeman, and as far as is known the only student from Montana.

Mrs. Michel Sticka, Band Director at Chief Joseph Middle School, commented: "I could not be more proud of Kei's accomplishments. He is such a tremendous musician and has worked so hard to receive this opportunity. Kei will be a strong and positive representative of our Band program, our school district, and the entire state of Montana."

Braun’s family has been holding a variety of fundraising activities to help pay for the estimated $5,000 cost to participate including family support, a GoFundMe campaign “Help Kei to Carnegie Hall”, a Bozeman Friends of Music scholarship, a National Honor Band scholarship, and holding a hand-made fudge fundraiser.