On July 9th, 2024, at 10:18 PM, Gallatin County 911 Dispatch received a call from a skier who had encountered an individual having trouble making their way down “The Great One” couloir near Fairy Lake. The individual had suffered a fall and was bleeding from an injury to the shin and suspected a possible broken ankle.

The reporting party and the injured subject made their way to a rocky overhang out of the elements and awaited assistance from rescuers. Volunteers from the GCSSAR Valley section and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the trailhead near Fairy Lake. A hasty team made their way to the patient in order to conduct a medical assessment and provide first aid while a second team followed with additional equipment and a third team cleared the trail of various obstructions that had gathered during the winter. GCSSAR volunteers were able to assist the subject to the trailhead where they elected to transport themselves to follow-on medical care.

Sheriff Springer would like to thank the individual who stopped to assist a fellow skier in need and remind recreators that it is always a good idea to have the means to contact emergency responders when engaging in extreme sports. Furthermore, it is advised to be sure to carry more food and water than you expect to need because the remote nature of backcountry rescue means you may be waiting several hours for help if you find yourself unable to get out on your own.

On July 9, 2024, at approximately 5:45 pm, there was a rollover motor vehicle crash on Gallatin Road at mile marker 71 (immediately north of the mouth of Gallatin Canyon in the northbound passing zone area). The crash resulted in the death of the driver. The driver was travelling southbound in a pickup truck towing a camper trailer.

The joint investigation involving the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol has gained information that a dark sedan was travelling northbound at a high rate of speed weaving in and out of traffic and may have caused the crash. The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the dark colored sedan. If you have dash camera footage of the incident or information about the vehicle, including make, model, color, and/or license plate number, please contact Montana Highway Patrol Dispatch at 855-647-3777.

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is advising anglers that portions of the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Jefferson, Madison, Ruby and Sun rivers, as well as the Clark Fork River and Silver Bow Creek in their entirety, will be closed to all fishing daily from 2 p.m. to midnight, effective at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10. The restrictions will stay in effect until conditions improve.

Hoot-owl restrictions are issued for:

• Big Hole River –

  • from the Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road to the confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River

  • from the Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Beaverhead River

• Beaverhead River – from Highway 41 near East Bench Road to the confluence with the Big Hole River

• Jefferson River – from the confluence of the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers to the Missouri River

• Madison River –

  • Lower section, from the Warm Springs Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Jefferson River

  • Above Hebgen Lake, from Hebgen lake to the Yellowstone National Park boundary

• Ruby River – from the confluence with the Beaverhead River to Duncan District Road

• Sun River – from the mouth of Muddy Creek to the Highway 287 bridge

• Clark Fork River – from the mouth of Warm Springs Creek to the mouth of Rock Creek

• Silver Bow Creek – its entirety

FWP's drought policy provides for angling restrictions when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished or when maximum daily water temperatures reach at least 73 degrees for three consecutive days. Water temperatures of 77 degrees or more can be lethal to trout.

These restrictions are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when conditions like this exist. One short-term strategy to address heat-induced stress in Montana's wild trout is to reduce catch-and-release mortality by alerting anglers to fish only in the morning. 

Anglers can reduce stress on fish at all times of the year by getting fish to the net or in hand quickly, keeping them in the water and reviving them prior to releasing them back into the river.  

If high temperatures and extremely low flows persist, anglers may want to consider fishing areas with less stressful temperatures and conditions, such as larger lakes or reservoirs, or higher elevation waterbodies.

For the latest waterbody restrictions and closures, click here.

Kari Maxwell will exhibit her latest body of work at Cello Bozeman this August.  This new work is primarily inspired by the buffalo and wild horse population in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. 

Maxwell, a resident of Minneapolis, has had gallery representation in Bozeman for over 17 years. She is the featured artist at Cello (2 West Main Street) on Friday, August 9 from 6- 8pm.  

Additional appointments can be made to meet the artist on Saturday, August 10 or Sunday, August 11 at karimaxwell@mac.com

Cello’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10am - 6pm, Saturdays 10am - 5pm and Sundays 11am - 5pm.

Maxwell's painting career began in 2004 with her paintings of cows (see Brown, Curt, "Painter finds grace and beauty in the eye of a cow", Star Tribune, February 15, 2014).  She has held a steady presence in the midwestern and western art communities ever since.  

In addition to her past and current animal subjects, Maxwell has exhibited her abstract paintings, watercolors, mixed media work and painted portraits.  The pull she experiences towards painting her animal subjects, however, has been like no other.

A few years ago, Maxwell read this excerpt from Robin Wall Kimmerer's book, Braiding Sweetgrass which seemed to connect many of the dots for her regarding this pull:

"...in the Native ways of knowing, human people are often referred to as 'the younger brothers of creation'. We say that humans have the least experience with how to live and thus the most to learn - we must look to our teachers among the other species for guidance.  Their wisdom is apparent in the way they live.  They teach us by example."

For more information, contact:
Kari Maxwell
campsite.bio/karimaxwell
karimaxwell@mac.com
612.695.2167

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several private pond applications and environmental assessments (EAs). For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the links provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices.

Willow Creek Land Company II, LLC private pond license review

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock Yellowstone cutthroat trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is a 2.45-surface-acre pond located at the end of Falls Creek Road in Park County. The pond is near Clyde Park approximately 0.21 mile east of an unnamed tributary to Falls Creek, which is a tributary to the Shields River. There is no documentation of fish within Falls Creek. The pond is fed by a groundwater well located at the site. The outlet consists of an Argi-Drain control structure. The discharge flows out onto a dry swale with no chance to reach state waters. Risk of escapement is minimal. Fish that do escape the pond will be stranded on dry ground with no chance of reaching state waters. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are native to the Shields River basin. Yellowstone cutthroat Trout could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or through senescence. The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.

Comments due July 9.

Hull private pond license review

A private landowner is applying for a Private Fish Pond License and proposes to stock rainbow trout in an unnamed private pond. The pond is 0.34-surface acre, constructed by excavation, and located off East River Road, near the small communities of Pine Creek and Pray, in Park County. The pond is located approximately 0.1 mile (100 yards) east of Elbow Creek, which is a tributary to the Yellowstone River. Brown trout, rainbow trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish have been documented in lower Elbow Creek and in the Yellowstone River. The pond has no inlet or outlet. The pond is filled via spigot and hose, which is fed by a groundwater well located at the site. The pond is filled manually by the landowner. There is no outlet from the pond. If water were to crest the pond edges, it would flow into adjacent fields before reaching Elbow Creek. Risk of escapement is minimal. Fish that do escape the pond will be stranded on dry ground with no chance of reaching state waters. Rainbow trout have been documented in lower Elbow Creek and are present in the Yellowstone River. The rainbow trout could be removed from the pond via chemical treatments or through senescence. The project is sponsored by the private landowner and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term and the license is transferable.

Comments due July 9.

Translocation of westslope cutthroat trout within the Thompson River drainage to Big Hole Creek draft EA

FWP is proposing to transfer non-hybridized westslope cutthroat trout to suitable fishless habitat in the headwaters of Big Hole Creek (Thompson River drainage) from multiple populations across the Thompson River drainage.

Comments due July 9.

Lox private pond application EA

A landowner is applying for a private fish pond license and proposes to stock rainbow trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The pond is an off-stream reservoir supplied by groundwater sources. The private pond is approximately 0.1 surface acre and located near (approximately 1 km) Bear and Rock creeks and Red Lodge. The risks of stocking the pond with hatchery-reared rainbow trout and Yellowstone cutthroat trout are minimal and escapement by natural means is highly unlikely. Additionally, Rock Creek has established populations of non-native rainbow trout that are managed as sport fish.

The project is sponsored by the private landowner, and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term, and the license is transferable.

Comments due July 12.

Pyrenees Rescue Center Trust private pond application EA

A landowner is applying for a private fish pond license and proposes to stock Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The pond is located on private land near Barlow Creek, which is a tributary to West Red Lodge Creek. The pond is supplied by groundwater sources and contains a domestic groundwater water right for fishery purposes (43D 30018332). The private pond is approximately 0.3 surface acres and approximately 1.2 miles southeast of Luther, Carbon County. The outlet of the pond is a screened (approximately3/4-inch mesh) 10-inch culvert pipe with a two-foot drop. In addition, it is an earthen dam pond and fish escapement is likely during both normal operations and high flow events. Fish surveys in West Red Lodge Creek have documented both non-native sport fish (e.g., brown trout, brook trout) and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the east fork of West Red Lodge Creek. Although non-native salmonids are present, the fisheries management goals for this drainage include reducing the numbers of rainbow, brown, and brook trout where Yellowstone cutthroat trout could be negatively affected. The risks with stocking the pond with hatchery-reared Yellowstone cutthroat trout is minimal as escapement is likely but Barlow Creek experiences intermittent flows in drier years.

The project is sponsored by the private landowner, and the license would be active for a period of 10 years from the year of issuance (2024). The license can be renewed for additional 10-year intervals at the end of each term, and the license is transferable. Private landowner would stock pond upon approval of the private pond license application.

Comments due July 16.

Saddlehorn private pond EA

A private landowner is proposing to stock a newly constructed pond on their property on Barn Dance Trail near Bigfork. The landowner is seeking a permit to stock rainbow trout and westslope cutthroat trout into the private pond.

Comments due July 18.

BOZEMAN – Many Montana State University students arrive in Bozeman — at its roughly 5,000 feet above sea level — and only climb from there, ascending southwest Montana’s many peaks. But a team from MSU’s College of Letters and Science descended nearly 17,000 feet below MSU’s elevation, traveling to some of the deepest areas of the sea on a recent research cruise.

Postdoctoral researcher Andrew Montgomery and doctoral student Sylvia Nupp are part of associate professor Roland Hatzenpichler’s multidisciplinary lab in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. This spring, Montgomery and Nupp traveled to the Guaymas Basin off the west coast of Mexico for a monthlong research cruise that made Nupp the first student from Montana to descend to the deep sea, according to Hatzenpichler.

It was a trip that Nupp had been preparing for since she arrived at MSU in 2021, after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Arkansas.
“This happened to be the project that he had funding for at the time, so he asked if I would be interested in deep-sea research, and I said absolutely,” she recalled.
Hatzenpichler’s lab conducts a breadth of microbial research, from work exploring the human gut microbiome to examining the microbes that live in extreme environments, such as Yellowstone National Park’s thermal features. Nupp and Montgomery’s work on the ocean floor fell into the latter category, and the Guaymas Basin is an ideal location for such work.

An image of a deep see hydrothermal vent structure named Matterhorn is captured by Montana State University graduate student Sylvia Nupp and post doctoral researcher Andy Montgomer during a dive to ~3700 meters in the Pescadero Basin in the Gulf of California. Sampling equipment on the DSV Alvin can be see in the foreground. Photo courtesy Andrew Montgomery

“Scientists have been studying the Guaymas Basin for about 40 years,” said Montgomery, who is nearing the end of a three-year postdoctoral appointment at MSU supported by an award from the National Science Foundation for early-career scientists. “The reason that it’s interesting is that the tectonic plates meet there, and the way they move creates hydrothermal activity in the subsurface, similar to what happens in Yellowstone. The sediments are very organic-rich, and the combination of those two things means that the microbiology is very, very interesting.”

The pair spent nearly all of April aboard a research vessel with about 60 other people. The scientist cohort — which also included researchers from Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas, Wisconsin and Mexico — worked long days to collect and process samples from the ocean floor, maximizing their short time on the ship.

Nupp and Montgomery were interested in collecting sediment from the ocean floor and analyzing it for the presence of carbon-cycling microbes. Such organisms that live near the extremely hot vents are known as thermophiles, named for their high tolerance for heat.

“Microbes inhabit every inch of this earth and places we can’t even imagine, with different temperatures, pressures and pHs,” said Montgomery. “In this lab, we’re studying microbes that live at what we consider the limits of life.”

During the trip, Montgomery conducted two deep-sea dives and Nupp experienced her first. They descended in a submarine called the DSV Alvin, a type of submersible vehicle used specifically for research, which is equipped with robotic arms operated by a pilot to collect samples from the ocean floor.

The team visited two primary sites located at roughly 6,000 and 12,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. It took nearly two hours to reach the deeper site once Alvin departed the ship. Despite extensive training, Nupp said nothing prepared her for the rush of diving in the submarine.

“When they actually closed the hatch and it was time to go, I was so excited. We splashed down into the water and it was just instantly beautiful,” she said. “You could see bioluminescence through the window, which was amazing, and the sea floor itself was kind of incredible. It looked vaguely familiar, because there are crabs and shrimp and things that you’re used to seeing, but it was all kind of weird and suspended.”

Each dive took roughly eight hours, with two scientists accompanying a pilot on each trip. At the sites, each researcher sought different samples. The trips included geochemists, microbiologists and geneticists conducting widely disparate research all at the same location. Nupp scanned the ocean floor for Beggiatoa, colorful microorganisms that grow in filamentous mats of vibrant colors. Their presence, she said, is an indicator of thermal activity and the carbon-cycling microbes they were looking for. The robotic arms of the submarine scooped up mud and sediment from the ocean floor and packaged it in plastic tubing.

After the long dive day, the scientists immediately shifted into processing samples as quickly as they could. While they can withstand extreme temperatures, the microbes in the samples are sensitive to environmental changes, so the sediment had to be processed in a temperature-controlled room that Nupp likened to a giant refrigerator. Working through the night, the scientists recorded thorough notes describing the exact attributes of each sediment sample before slicing them into inch-thick “horizons,” which help to examine the variety of life present at different sediment depths. They repeated the process through every sample: roughly 80 bottles, Nupp said.

While the work was taxing and time-sensitive, Montgomery said the pressure created a unique sense of camaraderie within the team, even though they all came from different institutions.

“It’s almost like if you were going to a summer camp,” he said. “You’re constrained to the same group of people for an extended period of time, and that builds some community that otherwise takes a while to come together naturally.”

Nupp and Montgomery have returned to MSU with samples to study over the coming months. Many microbes collected in extreme environments are notoriously difficult to cultivate for study in a laboratory. Nupp’s continued work will seek to isolate, identify and study the organisms that are contributing to carbon cycling near the sea floor’s thermal vents in Guaymas Basin. Nupp said Hatzenpichler has pioneered new methods of incubating such microbes, so she said she is in an ideal environment to further her study.

She also plans to continue collaborating with the scientists she met on the ship. As individual teams pursue their own veins of study, their discoveries will provide fodder for new inquiries across the group.

“This is exploratory work. We’re trying to look at what organisms are doing, because we don’t have an understanding of that yet,” Nupp said. “The next step is setting up incubations with different carbon compounds to see what would produce methane and show activity of methanogens. I’d never been on a research cruise before, so there was a lot of learning from everyone and figuring out where my work fit into that. It was a very, very collaborative environment, which made it so much fun.”

Nupp, Montgomery and Hatzenpichler also brought their fascination to two local elementary schools, where they discussed work on a research ship. Students painted Styrofoam cups, which were then attached to the outside of submersible Alvin, and taken to the deep sea. Compressed by the incredibly high pressure, the cups shrank dramatically. After they came back to Bozeman, Nupp and Montgomery gave students their compressed cups and chatted with them about their experiences in the deep sea.

More information about research in the Hatzenpichler lab can be found at www.environmental-microbiology.com.

Cloud development pipelines have become the backbone of modern software development, offering scalability, flexibility, and speed. However, these benefits have significant risks that can jeopardize your organization's security and operational efficiency. According to Forbes, there has been a 72% increase in data breaches in recent years.

Securing these pipelines is crucial to prevent Intellectual Property (IP) theft, production delays, and malware insertion. Without robust security entitlement measures, the very advantages of cloud development can turn into vulnerabilities.

Understanding cloud development risks
Adopting cloud services and automation has led to a rapid increase in human and machine identities. This explosion complicates Identity and Access Management (IAM). Each identity must be managed and secured, but the sheer number and diversity make this task daunting. The proliferation of identities can create security gaps if not properly managed, leading to unauthorized access and potential breaches.

Tracking and managing identities across various cloud services and applications is a significant challenge. Traditional IAM systems often fall short of providing the necessary visibility in dynamic cloud environments. Without clear visibility, it is challenging to understand who has access to what resources, how these access rights are being used, and whether any misuse is occurring. This lack of visibility can lead to unmonitored access and increased risk of data breaches.

Granting excessive privileges to users is a common issue in cloud environments. Often, users are given more access rights than necessary, which can be exploited by malicious actors. The principle of least privilege, which advocates for granting the minimum necessary access, is essential in reducing the attack surface. Ensuring that each identity has only the required permissions with the help of cloud identity entitlement management solutions can minimize the risk of privilege escalation and data exfiltration.

Step-by-step guide to mitigating risks with CIEM

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) is a specialized approach to managing and securing identities and access rights in cloud environments. CIEM focuses on visibility, monitoring, and enforcement of access policies to ensure that identities have appropriate privileges and that any deviations are quickly identified and addressed.

Step 1: Increase visibility across your cloud environment

Tracking identity paths

To manage identities effectively, it is crucial to track the entire path of each identity across different cloud environments. This involves using native connectors and APIs to collect data from various cloud platforms. By understanding the flow and interactions of identities, organizations can gain insights into potential vulnerabilities and areas requiring tighter controls.

Surface access data

Securing identity and access management in cloud environments requires collecting data from various sources such as IaaS (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), SaaS (Salesforce, Office 365), IAM systems (Okta, Azure AD), and custom applications. This comprehensive data collection provides a holistic view of access patterns and potential risks. By analyzing this data, security teams can identify anomalies and areas where access may need to be restricted.

Step 2: Set clear thresholds for access privileges

Understanding access patterns

Analyzing access patterns is essential for identifying which privileges are regularly used and which are stale. This involves examining historical access data to determine normal behavior and detect deviations. By setting thresholds, organizations can establish what constitutes acceptable access levels for each identity.

Review and adjust access levels

Regularly reviewing and adjusting access levels based on analysis is critical for maintaining security. Contextual insights, such as user roles and typical access times, can inform these adjustments. By continually refining access privileges, organizations can ensure that they adhere to the principle of least privilege and minimize the risk of over-privileged identities.

Step 3: Create policies and continuously monitor them for changes

Policy creation and enforcement

Creating and enforcing policies that govern access privileges is vital for maintaining a secure environment. These policies should be designed to detect and respond to risky changes, such as privilege escalations or unauthorized access attempts. Continuous policy enforcement ensures that the security baseline is maintained over time.

Detection and alerting

CIEM solutions are equipped to detect potential risks, such as unused privileges or unexpected access patterns. The system can alert security teams to take appropriate action when such risks are identified. This proactive approach helps mitigate threats before they cause significant damage.

CheckRed’s comprehensive CNAPP solution

CheckRed's Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) offers a comprehensive solution to cloud security challenges. The platform includes Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM), and Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP). Its CIEM solution directly addresses the challenges and risks of cloud identity and access management by providing comprehensive visibility and control over diverse identities.

CheckRed’s entitlement management solution aggregates data from IaaS, SaaS, IAM systems, and custom applications, offering a unified view of access patterns and potential risks. It enhances security by identifying over-privileged identities, enforcing the principle of least privilege, and continuously monitoring for anomalies and risky changes. Automated tools and regular audits ensure access privileges are properly managed, thereby mitigating risks of unauthorized access, IP theft, and production delays.

Advantages of CheckRed’s comprehensive approach

CheckRed's comprehensive approach to cloud security offers several significant advantages. By integrating CIEM with other components of its Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP), including Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), and Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP), CheckRed provides a holistic and unified security solution. This seamless integration ensures that all aspects of cloud security are covered, from identity and access management to workload and application security. The platform's ability to collect and analyze data from multiple sources allows for enhanced visibility and control, enabling security teams to detect and respond to threats more effectively.

CheckRed's unified approach reduces complexity and improves efficiency. Instead of managing disparate security tools, organizations benefit from a centralized platform that streamlines security operations. This comprehensive solution simplifies the management of security policies and compliance requirements and facilitates faster incident response times. By providing continuous monitoring and automated enforcement of security policies, CheckRed's CNAPP ensures that organizations maintain a robust security posture, minimizing the risk of breaches and ensuring access privileges are consistently aligned with business needs.

Implementing Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) is crucial for mitigating risks in cloud development pipelines. CIEM helps increase visibility over the attack surface, set baselines for access privileges, and continuously monitor risky changes. With a comprehensive solution like CheckRed's CNAPP, organizations can manage identities and access rights effectively, ensuring robust security and operational efficiency in their cloud environments.

CIEM provides a strategic approach to cloud security by addressing the challenges of exploding identities, lack of visibility, and over-privileged identities. Leveraging CIEM and the integrated components of CheckRed's CNAPP offers a powerful defense against the complex risks associated with cloud development

BOZEMAN — As the Fourth of July approaches, local law enforcement agencies, in partnership with the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP), are encouraging Montanans to plan a sober ride home before celebrations begin. The Bozeman Police Department and MHP will increase their presence and patrols over the holiday, focusing on preventing impaired driving and making DUI arrests to ensure Montanans make it home safely.

“Our goal is to ensure everyone in the community can celebrate the holiday safely and responsibly. Not only is drinking and driving illegal, it’s incredibly dangerous,” said Bozeman Police Patrol Captain Hal Richardson. “Driving under the influence puts everyone at risk. If you plan on drinking, plan for a sober ride home.”

Here are some tips to help keep drivers and communities safe this holiday:

Designate a Sober Driver: Plan your safe ride home before the party starts. Choose a non-drinking friend as a designated driver.

Find a Sober Driver: Do not drive if you’ve been drinking. Call a sober friend, or use a taxi or ridesharing service.

Be a Responsible Host: If you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, ensure all guests leave with a sober driver.

Be a Good Friend: If someone has been drinking, do not let them get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help find them a safe ride home.

Buckle Up: Seatbelts are the best defense against impaired drivers.

Report Impaired Drivers: If you see an impaired driver on the road, keep a safe distance and call 911.

The Fourth of July is known as the “100 Deadliest Days,” when the most traffic fatalities and crashes occur in Montana and across the country. Bozeman Police and MHP are committed to reaching Vision Zero, an ongoing statewide campaign by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to strive for zero deaths and zero serious injuries on Montana’s roadways.

According to MHP, if drivers have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher, they could receive a DUI charge and other serious consequences, including having their driver’s license revoked, being required to take mandatory classes, and receiving possible jail time and paying up to $10,000 in fines and legal fees.

Montana’s sobering statistics highlight the need for law enforcement to be on high alert over the holiday. Montana has the highest fatality rate in the nation for the number of deaths caused by impaired drivers per vehicle mile traveled. 63% of all traffic fatalities in Montana are the result of impaired driving, and from 2012-2021, 1,268 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver.

“While shocking, these statistics are entirely preventable,” said Captain Richardson. “Having a plan for a sober ride is a simple, responsible action that helps keep these numbers down, gets us closer to zero, and keeps our community safe.”

For more information about Vision Zero, contact Tammy Ross, Montana Department of Transportation, 406-444-9192, or tross@mt.gov.