Wednesday, May. 7th, 2025

Baldy Mountain Stranded Hiker Rescue

On May 3rd, 2025, at 6:32 p.m., Gallatin County 911 Dispatch received a call from an individual who was stranded on Baldy Mountain. The subject had attempted to travel from the Bridger Ridge trail toward the Sipes Canyon trailhead and encountered deep snow. After “post-holing” in waist deep snow in shorts and a t-shirt for a time, the subject had superficial injuries to the legs and was cold and exhausted.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office deputies requested GCSSAR assistance to locate and assist the subject. The subject had adequate food, water, and cell phone battery, but no warm clothing. The determination was made that the safest course of action would be a helicopter rescue, which would more quickly mitigate the risk of hypothermia and not require rescuers to risk their own safety while post-holing in the dark.

The subject remained in contact with rescuers via cell phone and was able to regain the ridge, where they were picked up by the GCSSAR Heli Team and Central Copters Inc. and flown to the Search & Rescue facility at the Bozeman Fairgrounds. The subject did not require any further medical attention and was given a GCSO courtesy ride to their hotel.

Gallatin County Sheriff Daniel Springer would like to thank Central Copters and the SAR Heli team members who ensured a successful rescue. Furthermore, he would like to remind hikers that conditions at altitude are often not the same as at the trailhead, especially in the spring, so it is always a good idea to bring warm clothing and dress in layers. Finally, when pressed for time, a shortcut may seem like a good idea, but it is better to return by the known safe route you took to get there, as alternate routes may have unexpected hazards.

Add a Comment »

Tuesday, May. 6th, 2025

How Can I Select Prescription Drugs Online?


There are legitimate pharmacy websites that provide privacy, convenience, cost savings, and security while buying medications. Every webpage is different. Many dangerous internet pharmacies advertise that they can provide prescription medications at steep discounts, frequently without a prescription, according to the U.S Food and Drug Administration. Outside of the regulations that licensed pharmacists observe, these online pharmacies frequently sell unlicensed, fake, or otherwise dangerous medications. People can get medical certifications and consult with qualified physicians remotely through NextClinic, an online healthcare portal.

Speak with a medical professional

The healthcare professional will evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and any pertinent lab or diagnostic data during the remote consultation. For discussing your health issues, the physician will diagnose you and decide whether you need prescription medicine for therapy. To guarantee precise diagnoses and suitable treatment regimens, telehealth practitioners are taught to pose probing questions.

The pharmacist manages drug interactions and keeps an eye on your prescriptions.

It is crucial that you inform the pharmacist about all of your medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements. This makes it easier for the pharmacist to keep an eye out for any possible interactions and give you the information you need to safely manage your prescriptions online.

The Pharmacy Complies with Privacy Laws to Protect Your Personal Information

Trusting a pharmacy is having faith in their ability to protect and maintain the privacy of your sensitive health information. Select a pharmacy that provides comprehensive details about how your prescription and private data are safely kept on a server that complies with HIPAA. Make sure that only your healthcare practitioner has access to your information and that they have your consent.

Bonus: Resources and Information

In order to educate their clients and strengthen the bond between them and their pharmacy, certain online pharmacies may produce material (blogs, email subscriptions). This might provide you with a better understanding of the pharmacy's values and resources, even though it might not directly address the pharmacy's reputation. Therefore, before making a choice, it could be wise to look over the pages on their website.

Verification Procedure and Prescription Requirements

Prescription validity: A legitimate prescription is crucial since it guarantees that you are getting the appropriate drug for your particular ailment. It also aids in stopping the usage or misuse of specific drugs.

Procedures for verification: Before distributing prescription drugs, trustworthy internet pharmacies will always need a legitimate prescription from a certified medical practitioner.
Select a trustworthy telehealth supplier

Choosing a reliable telehealth provider is the first step when ordering prescription drugs online. Seek out a service with a user-friendly UI, a license, and good client evaluations. Making sure the telehealth provider respects patient privacy and confidentiality and conforms with state and federal laws is crucial. Doctors will evaluate your needs and provide prescriptions online the same day if you just submit your request using our safe portal.

Verify the legitimacy of the drug sale

An authentic online pharmacy would never put illegal pharmaceuticals on its website. The Pharmacy Council ought to certify these online pharmacies. Finding out the pharmacy's licensing by researching its details on other pertinent websites is a crucial way to confirm the e-pharmacy you choose to purchase medication from. Steer clear of buying prescription medicines from websites or mobile applications that frequently sell them without a prescription.

Support for Customer Service

A pharmacy should maintain a relationship with its customers even if it operates online. Seek out a drugstore that respects client opinions. Choose one that is also simple to get in touch with. Is that their sole email address? Or do they offer open direct messages on social media and a phone line to assist you or respond to any inquiries you might have? The more accessible, the better!

Authenticity and Product Quality

Medication source: It's critical to pick an internet pharmacy that purchases its drugs from reliable producers and distributors. Examine their suppliers' details and see if they have relationships with reputable pharmaceutical firms.

Medication authenticity: Genuine drugs will have distinct batch numbers that can be compared to the manufacturer's documentation. Additionally, take note of the medication's packaging. Make sure the packaging seems authentic and professional, and look for tamper-evident seals.

Fill out a medical survey

This includes explaining your symptoms and documenting any pertinent information. The information you give will be used by our medical staff to assess whether the drug you have chosen is suitable for your condition. Please take note that we handle data with extreme caution, guaranteeing its privacy and confidentiality. We will authorize the prescription if you have identified the appropriate course of action, enabling you to finish your order.

Get your prescription filled online

The healthcare practitioner will electronically send the prescription to a partner pharmacy or the pharmacy of your choosing if they decide that prescription medication is necessary. To ensure a smooth process, some telehealth companies might even offer pharmacy services of their own. To guarantee that the medication is delivered to the right place, precise contact and address information is crucial.

Add a Comment »

Monday, May. 5th, 2025

City to Invest $26 million in 2025 Infrastructure Construction Projects

BOZEMAN  — The City of Bozeman’s Department of Transportation & Engineering and Department of Utilities announce 12 capital projects totaling $26,315,882 coming in the 2025 construction season. These improvements focus on a shared commitment to renovating existing infrastructure while investing in new capacity to mitigate the demands from growth within the Gallatin Valley.

Utility renovation and replacements include 5,012’ of sewer main, 7,375’ of water main, and 1,236’ of storm main along eight different streets across three separate neighborhoods. Capacity projects will construct a sewer lift station and force main from the Riverside Community to the city Water Reclamation Facility for improved environmental quality by reducing nutrient impacts on the East Gallatin River and improvements to the city’s water infrastructure on its Sourdough Intake. City Streets Division will perform more than one mile of street paving associated with the utility improvements to reduce impact on the community and save taxpayer funds that would typically be spent on contractor services.


Transportation improvements include a mill & overlay of S 19th from Main Street to Kagy Boulevard in coordination with the ongoing Montana Department of Transportation mill & overlay of N 19th from Main Street to I-90 creating smooth pavement for over 3.5 miles of the busiest arterial street in southwest Montana. The city will also continue its “Friction Seal” treatment of local subdivision and downtown streets to reduce the impacts of traditional tar and chipping. Three safety projects will add a mid-block crosswalk on Oak Street near Gallatin High, construct permanent median restrictions at Oak Street and Flanders Mill following the city’s successful pilot project, and complete permanent construction of the city’s Black Avenue Bicycle Boulevard. Finally, new capacity to manage growth will include the connection of N 27th between Baxter and Cattail with a 2-lane Collector street, shared-use paths on both sides of the street, a traffic signal at Baxter Lane, and a roundabout at Cattail Street.


Project funding includes a mix of grants, Impact Fees paid by development, and city assessments for improvement to existing infrastructure.

Add a Comment »

Catching on: FWP, MSU ask anglers for help with trout research in southwestern Montana

BOZEMAN – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff, in cooperation with Montana State University, have begun the second year of tagging trout in the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby and Madison rivers.

This effort is part of ongoing research aimed at understanding trout declines and fish health concerns in rivers in the upper Missouri River Basin. When anglers report these tags, it helps researchers better understand how environmental conditions and other factors contribute to population recruitment, survival and mortality of trout.  

“This is a great chance for anglers to take an active part in this research that will benefit the fishery,” said FWP Fisheries Manager Mike Duncan. “We need your help. Please report the tagged fish you catch.”

Each tag has a unique number and will be attached to the fish near the dorsal fin. Anglers who catch a tagged fish should use clippers to remove the tag as close to the skin as possible while minimizing handling time and exposure to air for the fish, then submit a report for each tagged fish they catch from the four rivers mentioned above. These reports will include information such as the tag number, date, location, condition of the fish, gear type used, and whether the angler released or harvested the fish.

A how-to video on this process is available on FWP’s website.

Anglers who submit reports may be eligible for rewards. Anglers who report blue tags will be entered into regular drawings for gear and fishing trips. Yellow tag reports are each worth $100.

Anglers may encounter fish that are still carrying tags from last year. These tags may be covered with a thin film of algae, making them less noticeable. However, the same reporting process and reward opportunities apply to these tags.

Anglers can submit reports by visiting mtcfru.org/msutag or by calling 406-994-2384.

Anglers and other river recreationists may also meet staff from MSU while on the river. These creel clerks will be interviewing recreationists as part of the research effort.

This research kicked off in 2024 after annual sampling in 2023 found fish numbers to be at or near historical lows in sections of the Big Hole, Beaverhead and Ruby rivers. Since then, FWP has been working closely with MSU to study fish mortality, recruitment and health.

To learn more about the cooperative research, click here.

Add a Comment »

Friday, May. 2nd, 2025

Tinworks Art Announces 2025 Exhibition A Kin to Clay

Bozeman, MT—For its 2025 exhibition season, Tinworks Art will present A Kin to Clay. Celebrating the remarkable legacy of clay in Montana, this exhibition explores the relationship between a diverse but connected group of artists who have worked with clay and earthen materials to uncover shared histories and creative affinities.

“Clay and earthen materials are distinct because they hold the stories of the landscapes and hands that have shaped them,” said Jenny Moore, Director of Tinworks Art. “When artists work with these materials, they participate in a dialogue that spans generations and cultures. This exhibition invites audiences to see clay not as a material, but as a vessel of cultural memory that embodies resilience, transformation, and a profound sense of place. These ideas are central to our vision at Tinworks Art.”

At the heart of the exhibition is the work of beloved Bozeman artist and teacher Frances Senska (1914- 2009). Senska, who founded the ceramics department at Montana State Universtiy in 1946, is celebrated for her dedication to working directly with the land and her community—digging wild clay, building her own kilns, and nurturing generations of artists such as Montanans Rudy Autio and Peter Voulkos. She was also instrumental in establishing the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2026. A selection of Senska’s double-spouted vessels and ceramic partridges will be on view, alongside the work of Marguerite Wildenhain (1896-1985), the first female master potter of the Bauhaus. Wildenhain fled Nazi Germany and later founded Pond Farm, a pottery studio in Northern California where she trained Senska. She also led an early influential workshop at the Bray.

The exhibition continues with A Clay Sermon, a video installation by Chicago-based contemporary artist and potter Theaster Gates that he filmed while in residence at the Bray. His practice evokes the power of ceramics to carry stories of labor and craft, survival and strength. His video installation will be presented alongside a selection of his Brick Reliquaries and work inspired by Peter Voulkos. The exhibition will also include vessels by poet-potter David Drake (c.1800-1870s), an enslaved man in South Carolina who signed and inscribed poetry on his crafted pots as an act of resistance at a time when it was illegal for enslaved people to be literate. Gates inspired a reconsideration of Drake’s pottery, as a testament to the human will to endure and to create, and has included Drake’s pottery in several of his own exhibitions.

Argentinian artist Gabriel Chaile will be onsite through June 2025. Chaile, known for his monumental earthen sculptures, will reconstruct his adobe vessel Ella vendrá a pagarle todo (She will come to pay him for everything), first presented at BAMPFA, which references family members and Indigenous ancestors, as well as forms that repeat throughout visual culture, taking on new significance with each new context. In addition, Chaile will present a new work in the form of an earthen communal oven. Each month through the exhibition season, Tinworks will invite the community to bake bread in the oven sculpture from flour harvested last year from Agnes Denes’ Wheatfield—An inspiration. The seed is in the ground.

Denes will continue her activation of Tinworks’ field with a new ecological artwork, Sunflowers—to Follow the Wheat. The field of bright pink sunflowers chosen by Denes will help rejuvenate and restore the land at Tinworks, demonstrating nature’s resilience while bringing a sense of surprise and beauty to the community.

A dynamic element of the exhibition is an open call from Tinworks to Montana’s clay community to submit work for inclusion in A Kin to Clay. These works will highlight the vibrant and diverse contemporary ceramic practices found throughout the region. Displayed as an acculumation, they echo the way generations of artists-in-residence left vessels throughout the grounds of the Bray, in reflection of both this creative community and of the transmutation of raw earthen material to enduring creative expression.

More information can be found at tinworksart.org

Long-term View

Support

In addition to seasonal exhibitions, Tinworks presents work on long- term view by artists who have been commissioned to make new work for the site or who have been in residence.

Layli Long Soldier’s I don’t trust nobody but the land was commissioned in 2023. Installed on the façade of a former grain storage building and highlighting a line from Long Soldier’s published poem, Whereas, the work is a multi-dimensional exploration of Indigenous identity, cultural memory, and the interplay between language and landscape.

Wills Brewer, 2024 artist-in-residence, created A Repetition of Histories, layering harvested seed and soil, discarded brick, regional clay, sand, and compost to create an adobe work representing regeneration, reciprocity, and the development of Bozeman’s NE neighborhood. His lightbox photograph,
A Tornado is a Ladder You Can’t Climb Down, is inset in Tinworks’ north facing façade, in dialogue with the public trail on Tinworks’ site that will soon be developed into a city street.

Public Programs

Family and Community
June 21 through October 18
Tinworks’ free family and education programming includes daily drop- in activities in our Family and Community Space, summer art camps, family resources, workshops for adults and children, monthly film screenings, and a variety of poetry, storytelling, and creative events. Tinworks offers free exhibition tours and accompanying activities for area schools, clubs, and social groups.

Roots in the Sky
August 23 and 24
Montana’s premier chamber choir, Roots in the Sky presents
Lucid Bodies, a meditation on the legacy of earthen materials and our ties to the landscapes we call home through works by Alex Berko, Michael Gilbertson, Caroline Shaw, and Dale Trumbore, and including four world premieres of pieces written for Roots in the Sky as part of its 2025 Choral Composition Program.

Gallatin Clay Tour
September 6 and 7
Visit curated open studios across the Gallatin Valley for presentations of new work by regional artists working in clay and ceramics.

Isabel Shaida and Naomi Shafer
October 3, 4 and 5
Movement artists Shaida and Shafer present Kafka’s Monkey,
a theatrical adaptation of Franz Kafka’s A Report to an Academy. A daring one-woman performance that touches on themes of origin, autonomy, and collective responsibility.

Tinworks is grateful for all of our supporters whose generosity makes everything we do possible. A special thanks to our Board of Directors, Founding Director’s Council, American Bank, KGLT, Minarik Architecture, and Yellowstone Public Radio for their continued commitment to our exhibitions and programs.

Partners

A special thanks to our partners: Bozeman Public Library; Gallatin Conservation District; Gallatin Valley Food Bank; KGVM; KGLT; MSU, College of Art and Architecture; MSU, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology; MSU, Hilleman Scholars; and The Rialto.

About Tinworks Art

Tinworks Art is a non-profit art space in Bozeman, Montana. Tinworks brings together artists, their work, and community in evolving spaces, where art meets the American West. Tinworks welcomes everyone and presents exhibitions that are free to all.

Tinworks Art is located at 719 N Ida Ave in Bozeman, Montana and is currently open seasonally through the summer and fall. For more information and hours of operation, visit tinworksart.org.

Add a Comment »

Regarding the Proposal for Gallatin County to enter into an interlocal agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain non-local undocumented immigrants at the Gallatin County Detention Center

BOZEMAN - One of the key functions of the County Attorney is to provide legal advice, much like general counsel, to the Gallatin County government, including the County Commission. In this role, County Attorney Audrey Cromwell identifies legal risks that can inform County decisions and equip the Gallatin County Commissioners to 1) work within the bounds of the law and 2) ensure the County is not exposed to unnecessary legal risk or costly litigation. 

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s office has recently proposed entering into an interlocal agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain non-local undocumented immigrants at the Gallatin County Detention Center. The proposal to dedicate 10 beds to hold a potential 1,200 non-local ICE detainees annually, exposes Gallatin County to significant legal liability and compromises the County’s ability to serve its own community members. 

Under the Tenth Amendment, states and localities cannot be compelled to enforce federal immigration laws (Printz v. United States, 521 U.S. 898 (1997)) and any voluntary participation exposes those governments to legal risks when constitutional rights are infringed. The U.S. Constitution ensures that every person in the United States—regardless of immigration status— has the fundamental right to due process. Undocumented status is a federal civil enforcement, rather than criminal: ICE detainers and administrative warrants are issued for alleged civil violations of immigration law, not criminal charges and, as such, are not reviewed by a judge to determine if they are based on probable cause. The civil nature of these warrants coupled with the federal government’s current willingness to circumvent constitutional safeguards in the name of expediency has led to recent errors and documented violations of due process (See recent U.S. Supreme Court cases Noem v. Abrego Garcia, 145 S.Ct. 1017 (2025) decided April 10th, 2025 and A.A.R.P. and W.M.M. v. Trump, 24A1007, order issued April 19th, 2025). 

By entering into an interlocal agreement with ICE, detentions at the Gallatin County Detention Center later found to be unlawful could cost Gallatin County taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, in litigation costs. In January 2025, Suffolk County in New York faced a federal class-action lawsuit concluding with the court finding the county’s detention practices of undocumented immigrants unlawful and the county responsible for up to $60 million in damages. Additionally, in Galarza v. Szalczyk, 745 F.3d 634 (3d Cir. 2014), a U.S. citizen was wrongfully held on a civil ICE detainer leading to significant damages against the local government. These and other cases indicate the significant risk associated with inadvertently participating in unlawful ICE detentions. 

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department’s assertion that under the proposed ICE contract, only undocumented immigrants charged with crimes would be housed at the County’s already overburdened facility, does not align with the realities of current ICE enforcement practices, which present a real possibility that individuals without criminal charges may be detained and sent to the Gallatin County Detention Facility. This recently occurred in Bigfork on March 4, 2025, where 17 immigrants were arrested at a job site and held solely on civil ICE detainers. 

Additionally, a commitment to house non-local detainees risks increasing resource expenditures and compromises the County’s capacity to serve its own community: all undocumented immigrants housed at the Gallatin County Detention Center, although purportedly held for brief 72-hour periods, would be subject to intake, housing protocols, security supervision, medical screening, and constitutionally mandated healthcare. If a detainee suffers a medical emergency or mental health crisis while at the Gallatin County Detention Facility—including suicide, injury, or death—the potential for Gallatin County to be held liable is significant. 

Gallatin County already participates in the federal 287(g) Warrant Service Officer (WSO) program, a robust, limited cooperation initiative that allows trained local law enforcement officers to perform certain functions of ICE officers. This collaboration ensures that undocumented individuals charged with crimes in Gallatin County are properly flagged and held for ICE. Gallatin County’s engagement with 287(g) preserves a clear distinction between criminal prosecution—the County’s statutory responsibility—and civil immigration enforcement, which remains a federal obligation. In the past year, only 1.4% of Gallatin County’s jail population consisted of individuals flagged for ICE holds, indicating that the current system effectively identifies and processes local cases without overburdening local resources or creating exposure to legal liability from broader, non-local, non-criminal immigration enforcement and detention activities. 

“Gallatin County’s participation in the federal 287(g) program—which ensures that undocumented individuals charged with a crime in Gallatin County are flagged and held for ICE—is extremely effective,” states County Attorney Audrey Cromwell. “Given constitutional concerns regarding due process, significant legal liability, and added strain on overburdened County resources, I have advised the Commission against entering into an additional interlocal agreement with ICE to detain non-local undocumented immigrants in the Gallatin County Detention Center. Nothing about this detention contract makes Gallatin County a safer place to live, work, or go to school—in fact, voluntarily becoming a detention center for ICE could not only expose the County to significant liability, but also damage relationships within our community, leading to lower rates of crime reporting, witness cooperation, and engagement with victim services.” 

Add a Comment »

Thursday, May. 1st, 2025

Downtown Bozeman Association Presents – 25th Annual Music on Main Lineup

The Downtown Bozeman Association is proud to present the 25th Annual Music on Main summer concert series this summer in Historic Downtown Bozeman. Music on Main will be located on Main Street from Rouse to Black Ave. The fun begins at 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM on Thursday evenings from July 3rd to August 7th. This event is hosted by the Downtown Bozeman Association and is free and open to the public.


Live bands, both local and touring, will be featured in this 6-week series. Music starts at 7 PM and lasts until 8:30 PM. The 2025 lineup, sponsors, and event policies are below:

July 3rd – Yam Haus
July 10th – Kalyn Beasley
July 17th – John Roberts y Pan Blanco
July 24th – The Dead & Down
July 31st – Neon Rainbow
August 7th – NOT.GREENDAY

Bring the kids from 6:30-8 PM to the Coca Cola “Kids’ Zone” on South Bozeman Avenue with inflatables other interactive activities provided by the Gallatin Area’s best Non-Profits. Grab a bite to eat from one of our many rotating food vendors, step into a few of the downtown stores that stay open late, and of course enjoy outstanding live music from popular local and nationally recognized bands!


This event is 100% funded by our business sponsorships – thank you to our sponsors!

Our Presenting Sponsors: 94.7 "The Moose", Bloom Montana, Element Bozeman, Kenyon Noble, Lehrkinds Coca Cola & Coors Light, Montana Kush, Pendleton Whiskey, Toyota

Our Gold Sponsors: Groundworks, Kimpton Armory Hotel, Little Stinkers, NBC Montana, Rocking R Bar

Our Silver Sponsors: Open Range, Pure Dispensary

Our Bronze Sponsors: Bridgercare, First Security Bank, Pub 317, Sign Solutions, Sweet Pea Festival

And, our Friends of Music on Main: Outside Bozeman, Double Dogs Cannabis

We’re still looking for great organizations to help support MoM through sponsorship! Please reach out to info@downtownbozeman.org if interested.

The Downtown Bozeman Association, the City of Bozeman, and the Bozeman Police Department would also like to remind the public of the rules and regulations regarding the Open Container Waiver for the 2025 Music on Main summer concert series:

The Open Container Waiver allows for anyone over the age of 21 to have an open container of alcohol within the "event area" purchased by one of the licensed beverage establishments within the "event area" ONLY. The "event area" includes; Main Street from Black to Rouse Avenues and side-streets to the alleys during the Music on Main event from 6-9 PM on Thursday nights from July 3rd – August 7th, 2025 ONLY. Anyone with an open container outside of these perimeters before 6 PM or after 9 PM will be subject to a $100 open container ticket issued by the City of Bozeman.


There are also NO glass containers, NO pets, NO coolers, and NO smoking allowed in the event area. Music on Main is a Smoke and Vapor-free Event! For assistance quitting tobacco contact 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

For more information, please visit downtownbozeman.org/mom contact the Downtown Bozeman Partnership office at 406-586-4008.

Add a Comment »

Montana PBS breaks ground on major facility expansion at Montana State University


BOZEMAN
— More than 250 people gathered at Montana State University on Tuesday to celebrate the long-awaited expansion of Montana PBS on campus.  

The ceremonial groundbreaking to expand the MSU Visual Communications Building, which currently houses Montana PBS and the MSU School of Film and Photography, featured speakers who outlined the benefits the renovation will bring to Montana PBS, MSU students and people across the state.  

The groundbreaking marked the culmination of eight years of work, including designing the updated building and raising $31.5 million to fund it, said Montana PBS Director and General Manager Aaron Pruitt, also a graduate of the MSU School of Film and Photography. The expansion will add 32,000 square feet to the VCB, extending it to the corner of South 11th Avenue and Grant Street, giving Montana PBS a more visible public face. 

The renovation will include a shared lobby connecting the film and photography school with the offices of Montana PBS, KGLT radio and Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. Planned technological improvements include a large TV studio, production control rooms, a green screen studio, video editing suites and other broadcast technology. 

The expansion will also create a new 192-seat classroom that will double as a screening venue, production studio or event space, to be named for the late Montana PBS co-founder Joseph S. Sample, whose grandson was in attendance on Tuesday. 

In his remarks, Pruitt highlighted Montana PBS’s rich history. Starting as a small public television station, KUSM-TV at MSU sent out its first broadcast signal in 1984. Thirteen years later, it merged with KUFM-TV at the University of Montana to become Montana PBS, which now broadcasts five channels statewide with more than 275,000 viewers each week of original programs, such as “Montana Ag Live” and “11th and Grant with Eric Funk.” 

Pruitt also recognized several people who helped create Montana PBS, including founding general manager Jack Hyyppa and Friends of Montana PBS founder Nancy Thompson Flikkema, who will be honored with a space in the building called “Nancy’s Nook.” Video panels framing the stage also recognized the largest donors and commended the more than 600 individuals who contributed to the Building Possibilities campaign. 

“It is so heartwarming for me that many of these individuals are right here with us today, and they are still investing their energy, time, donations and enthusiasm for the next chapter of Montana PBS,” Pruitt said.  

The expansion will benefit both students and employees, he said, bringing Montana PBS staff together into one building for the first time in more than a decade. The technological improvements will also allow MSU students more opportunities to gain broadcast experience, such as by covering Bobcat athletics events.  

MSU President Cruzado – speaking at the final groundbreaking ceremony of her presidential tenure – commended the efforts of Montana PBS staff, contractor Steve Langlas and Associates, designer Charley Franklin at SMA Architecture and Design, and MSU’s Campus Planning, Design and Construction team for turning the vision for the building into a reality. The expanded building will join the MSU South Campus District, which encompasses the new Student Wellness Center and Norm Asbjornson Hall, as well as Jones and Gianforte halls, which are currently under construction.  

Cruzado underscored that Montana PBS is the state’s largest classroom.  

“Today I am reminded of how much the educational mission of Montana PBS aligns with Montana State University’s core educational mission,” Cruzado said. “Montana PBS gives us an electronic town square sharing ideas, opinions and information. It tells Montanans’ stories, shares quality children’s programs, informs us through news programming and much, much more.” 

The event also welcomed MSU mascot Champ and classic PBS character Clifford the Big Red Dog, a cheerful display of the relationship between MSU and PBS. Attendees flocked to take pictures with the mascots after the ceremonial groundbreaking, which featured Pruitt, President Cruzado, Jack Hyyppa, Nancy Flikkema, Charley Franklin, Steve Langlas, donor Terry Payne and Friends of PBS Board Secretary Peg Wherry donning hard hats and digging shovels into the grass at the corner of 11th and Grant.  

“Today is the realization of the vision for creating a public face and a public space for Montana PBS,” said Wherry, who also delivered remarks. “This is when the ideas and the what-ifs start to turn into bricks and mortar.” 

While actual construction is slated to begin later this year with the goal to complete it by fall 2027, the groundbreaking symbolized the start of a new vision for Montana PBS after nearly a decade of planning. 

“That future came a step closer today, and it looks bright,” Wherry said. She then referenced a line often heard on PBS broadcasts.  

“Thanks to everyone here and as always, thanks to viewers like you.” 

Add a Comment »

Western landowners support new bipartisan caucus in opposing proposed sales of public land

DENVER – The Western Landowners Alliance applauds the formation of the bipartisan public lands caucus to protect our public lands. Better management of our public lands is a shared priority across party lines and fence lines in the West. Western Landowners Alliance members steward tens of millions of acres of private and public land, and recognize the challenges facing federal land management and budgets. We are also acutely aware of the nation’s real housing deficit. However, disposal of federal land is not a practical solution to either problem.

Therefore, with limited exceptions, Western Landowners Alliance does not support the sale of federally managed public lands. We do support voluntary, equitable land exchanges to resolve checker boarding and inholding issues in the interest of both parties. We believe the integrity of the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) needs to be maintained and that public lands should be managed in accordance with the multiple-use mandate contained therein.

Multiple use lands are a shared natural heritage, essential to meeting current and future natural resource needs. Public lands provide for timber, grazing, energy, water, wildlife and recreation. These resources become ever more valuable and important with a growing population and the competition for diminishing natural resources around the world. The conversion of public lands to urban development, and the attendant loss of the many resources they supply, is a direct threat to national prosperity and national security. The nation’s housing needs can be met through better land use planning that reduces sprawl, confronts water resource limitations, and tempers real estate speculation.

Sustained public investment in public lands is essential. At the same time, the current federal lands management system is hamstrung with regulations, staffing issues, budget shortfalls, stakeholder conflict and litigation. The solution is not to dispose of federal lands and natural resources but to improve their management in collaboration with states, local communities and affected stakeholders. Partnership-based approaches such as Good Neighbor Authority, stewardship contracting, and the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program have repeatedly demonstrated the success and positive outcomes that result from strong collaborative approaches. These efforts have led to reduced bureaucracy, red-tape, litigation and costs. Federal policies and investments should focus first and foremost on strengthening these approaches and the capacities of federal, state, local and private partners to participate.

Add a Comment »

Wednesday, Apr. 30th, 2025

Deceased Individual Located in Moffit Gulch – Investigation Ongoing

On April 29, 2025, at approximately 1402 hours, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a deceased individual in the Moffit Gulch area. Deputies and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene and confirmed the presence of a deceased adult female.

The individual has been identified as Lisa Gillette, a resident of Bozeman, Montana. Her next of kin have been notified.

At this time, no foul play is suspected. However, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office will continue to investigate the matter until the cause and manner of death are determined.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Gillette during this difficult time.

Add a Comment »

News Comments