Gallatin Valley residents are invited to the first Winter Bloom Lantern Parade organized by the local non-profit Random Acts of Silliness beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, at Gallatin Regional Park. Spectators will enjoy hundreds of colorful lanterns inspired by the natural world as the parade meanders through the park accompanied by singers from the Bozeman Symphonic and Threshold choirs.

Inspired by the rich history of lantern parades and festivals around the world, Random Acts of Silliness is excited to start a new tradition in this community, said Executive Enchantment Director Danielle Thomsen. To spark light, joy, creativity, and connection during a dark time of year, the Winter Bloom theme was inspired by a similar event in the UK. Focusing on plants, animals, and insects felt like the perfect fit for this Valley of the Flowers, the name used by some indigenous people for the Gallatin Valley. 

“People are going to be blown away by the vibrance and creativity of our community!” said Thomsen. “We are going to light up the night with a glowing garden of gorgeousness!”

Hundreds of lanterns will come from a variety of sources: lanterns are being made by professional artists, Montana State University Art students, and members of the community. Some lanterns will be made in community workshops led by Random Acts of Silliness and at drop-in sessions at the Bozeman Public Library. Led by an enormous queen bee, the procession will contain a kaleidoscope of lantern themes, shapes, and sizes under the ambiance of choral and folk music.

“The Bozeman Symphony is proud to partner with Random Acts of Silliness for this first annual event,” said Education and Community Engagement Coordinator Cierra Wallace. “Members of our Symphonic Choir will be singing under the warm glow of lanterns, voices uniting in this uplifting experience of a creative community.”

The parade is expected to take approximately 45 minutes and will be visible from most parts of the park. Spectators are encouraged to carpool as parking is limited, and to dress for the elements as there is no seating, shelter, or concessions on the parade route. 

This event is free for our community to enjoy thanks to generous support from sponsors Design 5 Landscape Architecture and Sarah Day Bozeman Real Estate. For more information, please visit  https://www.randomactsofsilliness.com/winter-bloom-2024

BOZEMAN — John Paxton, a computer science professor and director of Montana State University’s Gianforte School of Computing in the Norm Asbsjornson College of Engineering, has been named student Advisor of the Year by oSTEM, a national organization whose acronym  stands for Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

A faculty member since 1990 and adviser of MSU’s student chapter of oSTEM since its formation in 2017, Paxton helps chapter members with their professional and personal development.

“Personally, I am honored and humbled to receive this award," Paxton said. "Institutionally, this award recognizes Montana State University’s deep commitment to helping all students succeed. The students in the oSTEM at Montana State chapter are inspirational and it is deeply gratifying to play a small role in preparing them for impactful STEM careers and happy lives.”

Paxton received the award at the national oSTEM conference in Anaheim, California, in November. The mission of oSTEM is to help members of the LGBTQ+ STEM community lead more successful lives in the professional, academic and personal realms. Along with breakout sessions and keynote speakers, the annual conference features a career fair where students can meet and engage with industry professionals.

“This is an award that I share with the students and the university,” Paxton said. “There would be no award without students who are comfortable being members of our student oSTEM chapter. And there would be no award without Montana State University’s fantastic support of students who historically have encountered barriers to success.”

Before MSU had its own 0STEM student chapter, Paxton organized a trip for students to attend the national oSTEM conference in Denver in 2016. Shortly thereafter, MSU students formed an official club, with Paxton serving as its adviser.

Currently, MSU’s oSTEM chapter has about 25 members and meets twice a month. Meetings tend to focus on professional development, with presentations on topics such as resume writing and interview skills.

Bau Sauvage, a computer science major and the club’s co-president, along with junior psychology major Jacob McCandless, said Paxton has been a positive impact personally, while also making the computing school more accessible to all students, including women and minorities.

“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned from him is how to advocate for myself,” Sauvage said. “He’s taught me things about communicating with people, how to phrase things in ways that are not aggressive or more facilitating of open conversations.”

Meanwhile, Paxton enjoys seeing these students succeed while bringing their full identifies to both their personal lives and to the workplace.   

“To advise our local oSTEM chapter and watch these students grow both personally and professionally is incredibly satisfying,” Paxton said.

Now in his 34th year at MSU, Paxton has developed a reputation not only as a leader in his field but as a faculty member who takes pride in helping his students succeed in all aspects of life.

“His care for the students is evident in everything he does, and I saw how much the students care for and appreciate him,” said Ryan Anderson, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering who also attended the oSTEM conference. “He is a joy to be around, talk to and work with. Attending the conference with him and getting to interact with such a great group of students was a true highlight of my fall semester.”

On February 2, 2024, Gallatin County 911 received a call for an injured paraglider near Big Sky. The paraglider was “speed flying” when they hit a tree, fell roughly 20 feet and sustained a leg injury. A friend of the paraglider was able to call 911 to report the incident, set and splint the injured limb, and relay the patient’s location to emergency responders.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section responded to assist. It was determined the patient’s location was technically challenging terrain and a helicopter rescue would be the best course of action.

A helicopter rescue team from Central Copters Inc. responded to assist the injured paraglider. A short-haul rescue was performed. The patient was successfully transported to Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the injured paraglider’s friend for their quick action, and points to this incident as a reminder to extreme sport participants of the importance of having a trusted partner or group while engaging in high-risk sports.

BOZEMAN — The American Society of Civil Engineers’ Transportation and Development Institute has awarded Kelvin Wang its 2024 James Laurie Prize. Wang is the director of the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University and a professor of civil engineering in MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. 

The award recognizes Wang’s “leadership in the advancement of transportation engineering research, including his outstanding contributions to the practice of advanced technologies of 3D laser imaging and AI-based solutions,” according to the ASCE.  

“Receiving the prestigious James Laurie Prize is a fitting recognition of Dr. Wang’s contributions to the transportation field,” said Craig Woolard, head of the Department of Civil Engineering. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Wang leading WTI and being part of the MSU Department of Civil Engineering.”  

Wang is known for his technological achievements in 3D laser imaging and associated artificial intelligence solutions for highway and airfield pavement surveys and bridge evaluations. He has more than 30 years of experience in transportation and civil engineering. 

“I thank ASCE for giving me the award, and my family, friends and colleagues who supported me in my career,” Wang said. “I hope this award will help me and MSU draw societal attention to the needs of transportation improvements, particularly in rural America.”  

Wang was named director of the Western Transportation Institute at MSU in 2023. Prior to joining MSU, he was Regents Professor and Dawson Chair of Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University. He also previously served as president of ASCE’s Transportation and Development Institute. 

He was a highway engineer for the Arizona Department of Transportation for four years and a professor at the University of Arkansas for 18. In 2017 Wang received the prestigious Francis C. Turner Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, and he was named a distinguished member of ASCE in 2021.  

WTI at Montana State is one of the nation’s largest transportation institutes focused on rural transportation issues, and it has twice been designated as a National University Transportation Center by the U.S. Department of Transportation. WTI has conducted research at local, state and federal levels in 35 states and 22 countries. 

On January 30, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office provided a press release where 49 road signs from various parts of the county had been stolen.  A Gallatin County citizen saw the press release and came forward with valuable information which ultimately led to the arrest and charge of one  18 year old Bozeman resident.  This investigation continues as deputies follow up on additional leads.  Currently, 46 of the 49 stolen road signs have been recovered from various locations in Gallatin County.  Sheriff Dan Springer thanks the public for their assistance in this case and reiterates, it is the trust and relationship with our community that is often the key to solving many of these cases.

Nonprofits located in or serving Gallatin County are invited to register for Montana’s largest 24- hour giving day hosted by One Valley Community Foundation.

Gallatin County, MT - Nonprofits across Gallatin County are invited to register for the landmark 10th annual Give Big Gallatin Valley, scheduled for May 2nd and 3rd, 2024. Hosted by One Valley Community Foundation, this 24-hour giving day has become a cornerstone event in the region, dedicated to supporting local nonprofits and celebrating their impact on communities in our region.

Over the past nine years, Give Big Gallatin Valley has raised over $14.3 million for 425 local nonprofits, making it the largest 24-hour giving day in Montana. In 2023 alone, 6,650 donors rallied together to contribute $2,923,009 to 250 nonprofits during Give Big. Celebrating a decade of generosity, One Valley hopes to break records again by raising $3 million during Give Big 2024.

This annual event plays a vital role in providing critical support to nonprofits of all sizes, empowering them to raise unrestricted funds, the most difficult and important type of funds to galvanize. By participating in Give Big, organizations gain access to a broad donor base, with funds raised sustaining essential programs and services. Reflecting on the impact of Give Big, Stevie Croisant from We Are HER, a participating organization from the 2023 event, emphasized, “As a 100% volunteer-run organization, Give Big is crucial for us to sustain our mission. During Give Big, we raise 40% of our annual operating budget. We're grateful to One Valley Community Foundation for making this community-wide fundraiser possible.”

Nonprofits located in or serving Gallatin Valley are encouraged to register for this year's event by visiting GiveBigGV.org before the March 15th deadline. One Valley Community Foundation offers a range of resources, including educational webinars and promotional materials, to assist nonprofits in maximizing their impact during the event.

"One Valley is thrilled to be hosting our 10th annual Give Big Gallatin Valley this year,” said Jill Ellwood, One Valley Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Programming and Relations Manager. “What began as a vision of raising $100,000 in 24 hours ten years ago has evolved into an event eagerly anticipated by our community each year. Witnessing the power of collective action and its profound impact on our local nonprofits is truly inspiring.”

With the continued growth of our community, local nonprofits face increasing service demands and funding needs. One Valley Community Foundation, in collaboration with the event’s headline sponsor, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, invites community members from Bozeman to West Yellowstone to join forces at GiveBigGV.org on May 2nd and 3rd and celebrate the nonprofits that play a vital role in cultivating a strong and vibrant Gallatin County.

For more information and to register for Give Big Gallatin Valley, visit GiveBigGV.org.
About One Valley Community Foundation

Gallatin County is now accepting applications from projects seeking funding through the county’s Open Lands Program. 

This year, the voter-approved Open Space levy is estimated to bring in over $3.55 million total. While a majority of that money funds conservation projects, such as conservation easements for private landowners, about $887,000 has been earmarked by the Gallatin County Commission for “other eligible projects.” 

Applicants for projects that fall into the “other eligible projects” category are encouraged to apply for this funding from now through March 18. 

These projects must be related to land acquisition, capital improvements, and maintenance projects that support the purpose of the Gallatin County Open Space levy. Applicants must demonstrate how a proposed project is related to the provision of recreation, protection of water quality of streams and rivers, management of growth, or protection of wildlife areas. Projects must provide a tangible and compelling public benefit or provide public access, preferably both. 

Following the application process, the Open Lands Board will score submitted proposal and recommend projects to the Gallatin County Commission for final funding approval. 

Projects funded last year in this category included money for construction of a trail near West Yellowstone, maintenance of the Headwaters Trail System in Three Forks, a river and pond restoration project in Big Sky, land acquisition for Eagle Mount in Bozeman, Gallatin Valley Land Trust’s East-West connector trail project, and wildlife habitat and water quality improvements at the Gallatin County Regional Park. 

“This is a great way that we can collaborate with our community partners,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Jennifer Boyer. “I’m really excited that we continue to get a lot of interest in this funding opportunity and that it’s supporting projects across our county.” 

Eligibility, application instructions and submittal requirements are available online here.  

The maximum award for a project in this round is $100,000. Applicants are limited to public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and property owners’ associations. 

Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on March 18 to the Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development, 311 W. Main St., room 108, Bozeman MT, 59715. 

For questions or more information, contact Sean O’Callaghan at 406-582-3130 or sean.ocallaghan@gallatin.mt.gov. 

BOZEMAN — Accounting students from Montana State University’s Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship are offering free help preparing tax returns for MSU students and individuals who made less than $60,000 last year.

The 2024 help sessions will be held on the MSU campus in Jabs Hall, Room 215, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the following dates: Feb. 21, 26, 28; March 4, 6, 18, 20, 25, 27; April 1.

Interested participants are encouraged to make an appointment to guarantee a spot. There will be a limited number of walk-in spots each day. Visit https://bit.ly/msu-vita-2024 to view and book available appointments. Only one appointment is allowed per individual – people with multiple bookings will be removed from all appointments on the schedule.

At the sessions, upper-division and graduate accounting students will prepare federal and Montana state income tax returns and answer tax questions. Free electronic filing will be available for most 1040 forms.  

“The mutually beneficial nature of this program is what makes it so special,” said Brian Gillespie, dean of MSU’s business college. “Students gain valuable real-world experience while providing an essential service for the local community.”

Individuals who are interested in free tax preparation assistance should bring their 2023 W-2 forms, Form 1099, Forms 1095-A, B or C (Health Insurance Marketplace Statements), any other tax documents, a photo ID, Social Security cards for each person listed on the return and copies of their 2022 tax returns, if available.

The student accounting volunteers are part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, program, which was established by the Internal Revenue Service to assist people who may find it difficult to pay for tax preparation services.

Each student accounting volunteer has passed an IRS tax preparation exam, completed at least one comprehensive tax course, received specific training related to common tax issues and has access to a variety of federal and state reference materials. The sessions are sponsored by the MSU Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

For more information, visit https://www.montana.edu/business/accounting/vita/.

This June, voters in Gallatin County will get to decide if they’d like to study changing the form of their county government.  

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, Gallatin County Commissioners voted to put a question on the June 4 ballot asking voters if they’d like to establish and fund a study commission to examine Gallatin County government and make recommendations for changes. 

The Montana Constitution requires that every 10 years, each city and county government in the state ask their voters whether they want to undertake a review of their local government.  

If voters agree to establish and fund a study commission, seven citizens will be elected in a nonpartisan election in November to serve. They will be tasked with studying the existing form, powers and delivery of public services of our county government and compare those with other forms of government available under state law. 

If approved, the cost of the study commission would be capped at one half of one mill, which is equivalent to about $360,000. 

The last time voters opted to study Gallatin County government was in 1994. 

“This opportunity afforded by our state constitution is the only chance we as citizens get to take a hard look at the way our local governments operate,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Scott MacFarlane. “Everyone agrees that Gallatin County has many new and different challenges than we had decades ago, and perhaps the tools we use to address those challenges could use an update.” 

Since the local government review election is for cities and counties, voters who live within city/town limits of Bozeman, Belgrade, Manhattan, Three Forks and West Yellowstone will be presented with the question of whether to hold a local government review election twice (once for the county of residence and once for the city/town of residence.) 

For more information on this process, please see the Montana State University Local Government Center’s website.