Thursday, Jun. 9th, 2022

HRDC to Begin Summer Lunch Program for Kids on 6/13

BOZEMAN, MT — In its continuing effort to combat food insecurity across our community, HRDC will again provide free, freshly made, nutritious meals to children 18 and under throughout the summers months at numerous locations in Bozeman and Big Sky beginning on Monday, June 13th.

HRDC’s Kids Summer Lunch Program is provided in supervised locations where kids can stay active and spend time with friends while enjoying a delicious lunch. The meals are tasty, are crafted from scratch with local ingredients whenever possible, follow USDA nutrition guidelines, and help all families save money. There is not an application process, and the program does not require proof of income.

Bozeman locations include:

Beall Park – Monday through Friday from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm; Lunch is served next to the pavilion on the corner of East Villard and North Bozeman.
Bozeman Public Library – Monday through Friday from 12:00 - 1:00 pm; Lunch is served by the main entrance at the top of the front circle.
Gallatin Valley Food Bank – Monday - Friday from 1:00-4:00 pm; Meal pick-up is available.
Kirk Park – Monday through Friday from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm; Lunch is served under the trees next to the Beall St parking lot.
MSU Family and Graduate Housing – Monday through Friday from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Lunch is served at the playground on the corner of W. Garfield and Paisley Court. 
Story Mill Park – Monday through Friday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm. Lunch is served under the pavilion in front of the Learning Garden.
• Wagon Wheel Trailer Park – Fridays only from 12:00 – 1:00 pm. Lunch is served on the green space next to the speed bump on the west loop near the Koch entrance.
Walton Homestead Park – Monday through Friday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm. Lunch is served next to the playground just south of Scrubby’s Car Wash on the corner of 15th and Juniper. 


Those seeking the closest meal site in the Bozeman area can text “LUNCH” or “COMIDA” to 304-304.

Summer lunch serving areas beyond Bozeman include:

Belgrade School District – Monday through Friday from 12:00 – 1 pm at the Middle School East Cafeteria. Hot lunch is served June 13th - August 17th with no meal service available July 4th & 5th.
Belgrade Supper – Thursdays from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Join the Mighty Spork food truck for free kids meals and pay-what-you-can suppers at the Belgrade Community Market  at Lewis and Clark Park
Big Sky Community Food Bank – Meals available during regular food bank hours, June 13th through August 26th. 
• Livingston – Free lunch will be available; details pending. 
Three Forks School – Monday through Friday; free breakfast from 8:00 – 9:00 am and free lunch from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Meals will be served from the Three Forks School’s food trailer located near the football stadium concession stand.

Food insecurity is an income issue, and poverty is one of the strongest predictors of food insecurity. 1 in 7 Gallatin County residents live below the federal poverty level. The USDA estimates that until a family’s income is 185% above the poverty line, they are at risk of experiencing food insecurity. Last year, HRDC’s Kids Summer Lunch Program served 31,848 meals. On average, more of each household’s income in Gallatin County is going toward increased housing costs this year. HRDC’s Gallatin Valley Food Bank, the entity that oversees the Kids Summer Lunch Program, is expecting an increase in demand for summer lunches as a result of the higher cost of living that is impacting our community.

“In addition to paying higher rents and higher prices for gas and other commodities, households are experiencing a dramatic increase in food costs as well,” said Lyra Leigh-Nedbor, HRDC’s Child Nutrition Program Coordinator. “It’s no wonder it has become increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Our Kid’s Summer Lunch Program is a simple way families can substantially save on their monthly food budget. Not only do kids get a great lunch and an opportunity to hang out with friends, parents enjoy a stress-free way to provide nourishing meals while making a dent in their monthly grocery bills. It’s a win-win all the way around!”

HRDC is a private, not-for-profit Community Action Organization focused on building a better community through its nearly 50 initiatives aimed at combatting poverty in southwestern Montana. HRDC’s Gallatin Valley Food Bank believes nobody should go to bed hungry and they work hard to act as the critical link between food and the people who need it, including providing nutritionally balanced lunches for kids throughout the summer months.

More information about HRDC’s Kid’s Summer Lunch Program can be found at https://gallatinvalleyfoodbank.org/get-help/summer-meals/

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

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Administrate Earns First Great Place to Work Certification™


June 9, 2022 — Bozeman, MT
:  Administrate, the premier learning technology platform designed to scale and manage the complexities of enterprise training, announced today that for the first time in the company’s ten-year history, they are officially Certified™ as a Great Place to Work®. The prestigious award is based on a survey of current employees sharing their experience working at Administrate, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. This year, 88% of employees said it’s a great place to work – 29 points higher than the average U.S. company.

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention, and increased innovation.

“Building a great work environment is a dream we all share at Administrate, and I couldn’t be more proud of this team and this accolade,” said John Peebles, CEO. “We’re committed to doing better as a company every day. I’m thrilled to become Certified as a Great Place to Work as we innovate in all areas of the organization to ensure our progress continues.”

According to Great Place to Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, are twice as likely to be paid fairly, and enjoy a sustainable work-life balance.  “It’s the only official recognition determined by employees’ real-time reports of their company culture,” said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place to Work.

“Since Administrate helps businesses scale their training and employee development activities, it’s particularly gratifying for the company to be Certified as a Great Place to Work; recognizing the effort spent developing this dedicated, disruptive and ambitious team,” said Niki McKenzie, Administrate Board Member and Joint Managing Director at Archangels, the oldest continuously operating business angel syndicate in the world. “As a long-term investor in the business, it’s been great to see their growth as enterprise customers further utilize the unique offering of their platform.  I’m excited to watch where Administrate goes from here.”

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About Administrate

Administrate is the premier learning technology platform designed to scale and manage the complexities of enterprise training. Organizations such as Royal Caribbean Group, Siemens Healthineers, and Maersk leverage one configurable interface to automate manual processes, manage complex training schedules and logistics, and create robust intelligence reports from previously untapped and siloed data. This leading cloud-based technology helps enterprises uncover insights that drive strategic business decisions and future-proof their learning technology, demonstrating real ROI and the business impact of effective corporate training. The company was founded in 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has offices in Bozeman, Montana, Beirut, Lebanon, and Dublin, Ireland. Jump into the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn

We’re Hiring!

Are you looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit Administrate’s careers page at https://www.getadministrate.com/careers/

About Great Place to Work Certification™

Great Place to Work® Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place to Work-Certified. 

About Great Place to Work®

Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All™.

Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Wednesday, Jun. 8th, 2022

Are Essay Writers Safe and Trustworthy?


Writing essays is not that easy. That is why many students from different parts of the world use essay writing services to get professional assistance with their written assignments and home tasks. It is an effective way to complete all writings on time and learn to write excellent papers. Apparently, it helps save time, focus on more important things, and balance life, study, and work. Before buying an essay, you may ask yourself: Is it safe and legal to do it, and should I trust these writers? You can find answers to these questions and much more below. 

Are essay writers legit? 

Essay writers are experts who an essay writing firm officially hires. They have the necessary skills and experience to complete different types of written assignments. This educational service is legit because writing services provide support for those who face difficulties with doing their writing tasks and homework. Writers are specialists who do their job and are responsible for the quality and delivery of papers. If you use essays as samples to learn how to write excellent papers and improve your writing skills, you do not violate any rules. The purpose of a free essay writer is to provide a quality paper that you will use to improve your academic performance and learn how to write and submit high-quality writings. The legitimacy of online essay writers depends on the reputation and trustworthiness of the company they work in. If this firm has a strong ethical policy and regulations ensuring you get unique content that is not shared with third parties, you can be completely sure the service and its writers are legit. 

Can I trust essay writers? 

Most essay writing services are safe and trustworthy. It depends on their experience in the industry and feedback from customers. Writers working in these firms are well-prepared and qualified. Essay experts in the best writing services are graduates of top universities and native speakers. They have years of experience in this industry and thousands of written pages. It implies they have advanced competencies in structuring, editing, and proofreading written workers. Legit essay writers also have a solid background in different disciplines such as sociology, management, marketing, and philosophy. An essay writing firm will ensure that the writer with the appropriate background will work on the written task in nursing or psychology. 

When selecting essay writers, good academic writing firms have different stages of control and testing to check the knowledge, background, skills, and experience of a candidate. Writers must prove they can cope with different written assignments and deadlines and show they are stress-resistant and flexible. Writing firms provide extensive training and development support to ensure their writers have relevant knowledge of new versions of writing formats and updated backgrounds in their expert areas. So, you may not hesitate to trust essay writers if you buy a paper from a legitimate writing service. 

How to find the best writer? 

The best writers work in credible and highly-rated essay writing services. It means that you should first find a good firm. The following tips will help you find the best writing services: 

1. Visit the website and find samples of completed essays. Most essay writing firms have official websites and publish samples of finished orders to show the level and quality of writing. These websites also contain different information on prices, deadlines, and disciplines they are experts in. Read available samples and decide whether you are satisfied with the quality of the writing.

2. Check feedback from other customers. Students tend to leave their reviews on writing services. It is especially informative for those who try the service for the first time. Firms that are confident in their reputation and experience have a feedback page where you can find different reviews and learn about the pros and cons of that service. In these comments, students often leave helpful insights. For instance, they may recommend choosing the top ten writers to get a high-quality paper.

3. Learn more information about their services and policies. Diversity of services implies that the writing firm has significant experience in the field. It also increases the chances they have essay writers for hire with diverse backgrounds who can prepare a personalized paper from scratch. Ethical, privacy and intellectual property policies also show whether the service is transparent and professional. The online essay service CustomWritings is a vivid example of a company with strong policies and guarantees of original and quality essays.  

4. Make sure they allow communicating directly with writers. Good essay writing companies allow customers to chat with writers and exchange all necessary information. It shows that they are confident in the professionalism and responsibility of their experts. You may ask writers different questions about the order and essay, specify instructions, and ask for additional assistance as the case may be. 

Will I get caught if I buy an essay?

If you buy an essay from a low-rated essay writing service, you may have no guarantees that you will not be detected. Experienced and reputable companies have strict privacy and intellectual property policies that protect their customers' personal information and ensure the completed papers are plagiarism-free. Remember that buying a written assignment is helpful for you to improve your writing skills, save time, and get high-quality samples for the future. Using the service for self-development and educational purposes, you will not have problems getting caught or detected by your instructors. 

Is it possible to get a plagiarized or poorly written essay? 

Again everything depends on the essay writing firm you choose. Still, most companies prioritize plagiarism and quality because these characteristics impact customer satisfaction and determine the professional level. No one will return to the writing firm providing plagiarized works. Most services are interested in delivering papers of exceptional quality. If you buy an essay from reputable and experienced firms with professional writers, you have minimal chances of getting a low-quality plagiarized paper. These services have strict rules for their experts, and even if they violate any writing principles, they are fined or severely penalized. 

What guarantees will I get after buying an essay? 

To ensure that buying essays written by experienced writers is trustworthy academic writing services provide guarantees for clients. You should check them on the website before placing an order. A good writing firm has separate policies regulating situations when you may not be satisfied with the quality of your order. In this case, companies offer two options. The first one is to request a revision. You may contact the writer directly or support specialists and specify why you need a particular part of your essay revised. It may not follow initial instructions or have a high plagiarism rate. The writer will make the necessary changes shortly and return the updated paper. If your essay does not meet most of the requirements and instructions and you are completely dissatisfied, you can apply for a full or partial refund. Credible writing services respect their clients and approve refund or revision requests if they are valid and fair. 

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Tuesday, Jun. 7th, 2022

FWP seeks public comment on OHV grant proposals


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.

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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 8th for Two New Affordable Housing Complexes in Bozeman


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/

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Monday, Jun. 6th, 2022

Gallatin County Weed District Seeking Nominations For Noxious Weed Management Award


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.

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The Bozeman Symphony presents John Williams: 90th Birthday Bonanza


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.

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Friday, Jun. 3rd, 2022

Self-driving vehicle tech company Aurora announces facility to be built on MSU Innovation Campus

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.

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6 Driving Tips for Your First Road Trip


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.

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Idaho man sentenced in Montana wildlife trafficking case


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.

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This is so typical of a sign in, which we should not have to do to check if we or some one in our party got a permit. I have been working or "creating an account" for 30 minutes and just get the same ...

Smith River permit drawing results available

Sunday, Mar. 10, 2024