Archive: September 2024

You are the Private Sector

16 September 2024
Evelyn Pyburn
No comments

By Evelyn Pyburn

So, how dare a political candidate even mention the concept of privatization!

When people started asking me about Republican candidate Tim Sheehy’s comments about privatizing health care, etc. as though it was an outrageous thing to say, my answer has been, “I only wish I thought he intended to do it.”

More than anything, though, I was most amazed at people’s response to it. Even that Senator Jon Tester should be so over the cliff as to think it would be a persuasive argument against his opponent! Not that it isn’t obvious that Tester is all for government controls, and fully in league with the socialists or Marxists, but I didn’t realize that the public in general would be so horrified about privatization that it could be used convincingly in a political debate in the United States of America. How truly sad and disappointing about the state of things in our country.

 We were never meant to be a county in which government ran or controlled the economy. The government was supposed to be as separate from the economy as it is from religion. The reason should be readily apparent in the current state of affairs. Most of the issues that trouble us today, including the very existence of “the swamp,” are manifestations of government controlling economic activity.

The real reason politicians and government leaders hate and fear Donald Trump is because he poses a threat to a system that has made a great many of them very rich in the selling of favors, pilfering, bribing, embezzling and other means of appropriating the unearned. President Biden and his son are not alone. They were simply more brazen than most.

But it is still hard to believe and disheartening that so many average Americans do not have greater appreciation for the amazing success and grand achievements that they have all been part of, as participants of the private sector. They are the private sector! They are the ones that Sen. Tester is disparaging.

The US is the strong, successful and desirable place to live that it is because of the private sector – not because of government. In fact, given the staggering mountain of regulations and tyrannical threats from government, that the private sector – the producers in our country – must deal with, it is most accurate to say that it’s in spite of the government that the private sector continues to produce.

One must understand that the government has nothing – absolutely nothing —  that it didn’t first confiscate from its citizens. Government creates absolutely nothing and advances our standard of living not at all. Everything that politicians are always eager to take credit for is not their doing one iota. They must always first take from the private sector which often means the disruption and destruction of the efforts of the private sector.

That is why all the other “isms” fail so quickly. To be in charge, the authoritarian regimes must destroy the very means – the creativity, ingenuity, and productivity – – of its citizens that it otherwise depends upon. If citizens are allowed to retain the personal, individual power they must have in order to produce, then there is nothing for the power mongers to appropriate and upon which to build any kind of pretense of supremacy.

I am sure that much of the reason that appreciation of the private sector has diminished so significantly is that we have been generations removed from a real free market, and those generations have no knowledge of it. They have certainly been taught nothing about it in government schools, and so intertwined is government in our daily lives, many people can’t imagine how we would manage without it.

And, sadly, it is undoubtedly true, as so many others aspects of American life is demonstrating, there is an ever greater lack of the moral integrity which spawns the free market AND which the free market spawns.

Much of the support of government programs came from and continues to be advanced by people seeking the unearned. The woman pleading for government health care in the Tester ads says as much. She wants free health care – knowing full well that it is not free — knowing that the unearned wealth for which she grabs must first be extracted from other citizens – from her neighbors.

People have responded saying “but without the government no one can afford health care.” But that is exactly what government intervention spawns. The only reason most people can’t afford health care is because the government has made it unaffordable. If you want to make any commodity unaffordable, just get the government involved. In my life time, there was a time, in which people could afford their own health care – and insurance was something of a novelty.

The recent experience with the COVID epidemic revealed, most excruciating, exactly how much government runs our medical system and what has come of it when hospitals and medical professionals bow more deeply to government than to their patients. Because of that there has been an increasing exodus, by medical professionals from government dominated institutions, who are going back to the private sector; and one of the first things they are reporting is how greatly they can reduce their prices.

Can you imagine how incredibly affordable health care might be if the people in the business ran their business without government intrusions, regulations, mandates, edicts, price controls, etc. Health care would be eminently affordable for most people. And, remember, before government programs, hospitals were often built, managed and supported, specifically to serve the poor, by philanthropic institutions – they too are part of the private sector.

A return to private markets in medical care would mean more options, better care and, yes, lower costs.

So if Tim Sheehy is a believer in the private sector more power to him. So am I. And, tsk, tsk, tsk that Sen. Jon Tester is not.

What Kamala Harris Doesn’t Get about Food Costs

16 September 2024
Press Room
No comments

By Scott Lincicome,

Cato Institute,

In North Carolina, Kamala Harris called for a new federal law to ban “price gouging on food.” Such a law might be popular, but it would have, at best, no impact on grocery prices and might even make the problem worse. That’s especially unfortunate because it distracts from all the federal policy changes that actually could reduce food prices.

The evidence that price gouging was responsible for the post-pandemic spike in food prices is somewhere between thin and nonexistent. A recent report from the New York Federal Reserve found that retail food inflation was mainly driven by “much higher food commodity prices and large increases in wages for grocery store workers,” while profits at grocers and food manufacturers “haven’t been important.” Similarly, a 2023 report from the Kansas City Fed observed that rising food prices were overwhelmingly concentrated in processed foods, the prices of which are more sensitive to (and thus driven by) labor-market tightness and wage increases.

Even if excessive corporate profits had been the cause of higher food costs, a price-gouging ban would do nothing to relieve Americans’ current burdens for the simple reason that food prices long ago stopped rising. From January 2023 to July 2024, the “food at home” portion of the Consumer Price Index increased by just over 1 percent, much less than the overall rate of inflation, and consistent with the long-term, pre-pandemic trend. The U.S. Department of Agriculture adds that the share of consumers’ income spent on groceries, which did tick up during the pandemic, declined last year and remains far below levels seen in previous decades. Did corporate profiteering suddenly just stop?

The real culprit is the host of federal laws and regulations propping up prices to benefit corporate interests.

In reality, the grocery business has always had notoriously thin profit margins. The industry’s average net profit margins were just 1.18 percent in January 2024—ranking 80th of the 96 industries surveyed and lower than the margins the food industry recorded in all but one of the past six years. Even Biden White House economists’ own analyses of grocery-price inflation in both 2023 and 2024 downplayed corporate profiteering when discussing recent price trends and what’s behind them.

Inflation is generally a macroeconomic issue, driven by broad monetary and fiscal policies, not the choices of individual corporate actors. Food prices in particular are shaped by volatile forces—weather, geopolitics, natural disasters—beyond government control or influence, which is why economists’ “core inflation” metric omits them. As economics textbooks and centuries of experience teach us, limiting the amount that companies can charge is more likely to reduce supply by discouraging investment and production: a recipe for both shortages and higher, not lower, prices in the long term. The main solution to voters’ grocery angst is simply time, as normal market conditions return and American incomes slowly outpace U.S. food prices.

That fix, of course, is a nonstarter for candidates running for an election just months away and tagged, fairly or not—mostly not—with causing higher grocery prices.

The good news is that an eager White House and Congress, laser-focused on food prices, have plenty of policy reforms available that would give American consumers some relief. The bad news is that they would all involve angering powerful business interest groups, which is why they never actually happen.

Start with trade restrictions. To protect the domestic farming industry from foreign competition, the United States maintains tariffs and “trade remedy” duties on a wide range of foods, including beef, seafood, and healthy produce that can’t be easily grown in most parts of the country: cantaloupes, apricots, spinach, watermelons, carrots, okra, sweet corn, brussels sprouts, and more. Special “tariff-rate quotas” further restrict imports of sugar, dairy products, peanuts and peanut butter, tuna, chocolate, and other foods. These tariffs do what they are designed to do: keep prices artificially high. Sugar, for example, costs about twice as much in the U.S. as it does in the rest of the world. The USDA conservatively estimated in 2021 that the elimination of U.S. agricultural tariffs would benefit American consumers by about $3.5 billion.

In addition to tariffs, regulatory protectionism—against imported products such as tuna, catfish, and biofuel inputs—causes more consumer pain for little health, safety, or environmental gain. The 2022 baby-formula crisis exposed the degree to which Food and Drug Administration regulations effectively wall off the U.S. market from high-demand, safely regulated alternatives made abroad—alternatives that the Biden administration tapped when the crisis hit.

Propping up the domestic food sector is a long-standing American tradition. For dairy products, the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 artificially raises milk, cheese, and other dairy prices, while USDA loans to sugar processors effectively create a price floor for sugar. Produce-marketing orders allow U.S. fruit, nut, and vegetable farmers to limit supply and set rigid inspection rules and other terms of sale that stymie foreign competition and entrepreneurship and further increase domestic prices.

Finally, there’s U.S. biofuel policy. The federal Renewable Fuel Standard, created by Congress in the 2000s, requires a certain amount of biofuels to be blended into transportation fuel. The purpose of this mandate is ostensibly environmental: Burning corn-based ethanol produces lower greenhouse-gas emissions than burning gasoline. But, as a 2022 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded, when the environmental impact of growing and processing the corn is taken into account, ethanol contributes significantly more to climate change. The fuel standard thus has a negative environmental impact even as it significantly increases U.S. corn prices and reduces the land available for other crops. The Congressional Budget Office and other organizations estimate that artificial demand for ethanol has raised Americans’ total food spending by 0.8 to 2 percent. Additional price pressures are likely on the way, if they’re not here already: A 2024 Kansas City Fed analysis estimates that Inflation Reduction Act subsidies for “clean” and plant-based transportation fuels could boost demand for and prices of oilseed crops and vegetable oils.

Our elected officials not only ignore these measures but actively work to add even more.

This reveals a sad reality for American consumers. The federal policies inflating U.S. food prices all result from the same political malady: Each one on its own costs the average person a few cents here and there, but it delivers big and concentrated financial benefits to American cattlemen, shrimpers, farmers, sugar barons, and other powerful groups. As a result of this imbalance, we consumers rationally ignore the policies, while the beneficiaries fiercely lobby to maintain them.

So, when elected officials must choose between modestly reducing Americans’ grocery bills and delivering many millions of dollars’ worth of regulatory goodies to entrenched political benefactors, the choice is simple. Consumers don’t stand a chance.

“Corporate greed” is indeed a problem in the U.S. grocery market. Just not in the way politicians say it is.

UM Tech Dept. Gets $6.5 million Grant

16 September 2024
Press Room
No comments

Montana Technological University has been awarded $6.5 million from Department of Defense using Defense Production Act (DPA) authorities to create seven online stackable certificates that will grow the workforce needed to boost domestic supply of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

Critical minerals and rare earth elements are necessary for advanced manufacturing of modern technology, but currently they are sourced from foreign countries, creating national defense concerns.

The certificates will upskill the labor force, which has been detrimentally impacted by the loss of accredited educational programs in the U.S. over the past several years. Very few programs that do remain offer remote courses. Students will take courses online in Extractive Metallurgy; Mineral Processing; Mineral Deposit Exploration; Hydrogeology of Mines; Mining Engineering; Mineral Project Management & Evaluation, and Environmental Management for Mining Operations.

Classes will launch in Fall 2025.

Taylor Brown, Legacy Award

16 September 2024
Press Room
No comments

The Billings Chamber of Commerce has announced that Taylor Brown is the recipient of the 2024 Legacy Award.

This outstanding community leader and business owner will be honored during the 2024 Billings Chamber Annual Meeting, October 22, at Pub Station, sponsored by NonStop Local and Marsh McLennan Agency.

Taylor Brown is well known in the Billings community, throughout Southeast Montana, and across the state and nation as an ag broadcaster. Raised on the family ranch in Sand Springs, Brown attended college at Montana State University where he earned a degree in agriculture.

He came to the Billings area shortly after graduation, proudly calling Huntley home, and began working for Conrad Burns at Northern Broadcasting System. Brown has built a name for himself as a trusted voice of agriculture and his unwavering commitment to supporting rural communities, ranching, and farms, in Montana and throughout the west.

In 1986, he and his wife Shannon, purchased Northern Broadcasting System, and today, Northern Broadcasting System has grown to encompass digital content, radio, and television delivering agriculture, weather, news, sports, and talk content on over 70 stations in four states.

Son Colter, daughter Courtney Kibblewhite and her husband Jonathan have all joined the management team at NBS, and the company has grown to 20 employees. His passions in agriculture, youth, and business led him to public service, as he was elected to office and served in the Montana Senate from 2009-2016. Brown served as Majority Whip, and chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee, as well as the Senate Education Committee. Through his career, Brown has amassed a number of awards and accolades, including being a past National President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, inducted as a member of the NAFB Hall of Fame, founding REAL Montana, and receiving an honorary doctorate from Montana State University in 2021. One has to look hard to find someone who is more synonymous with agriculture, youth, business, and advocating for the rural way of life than Brown.

In recent years, he helped establish the Lockwood FFA Alumni Chapter and his efforts in the legislature helped pave the way for Lockwood High School to come into existence. He has been an active member of the Billings Chamber Ag Committee from the start, working on policy, serving pancake breakfasts for youth, volunteering on sub-committees, and bringing newsworthy information to the monthly meetings. “Taylor was one of the founders of the Chamber Ag Committee and has been tireless in his support of this community,” shares one of his nominators. “I cannot think of a person who has given more of themselves in support of Billings, Montana and business”.

The Legacy Award is presented to an individual who has consistently demonstrated success in improving the business and economic climate in addition to the quality of life for residents of Billings over their lifetime. Previous honorees include George Selover, Sam McDonald, Don and Marilyn Floberg, Ron Sexton, Joseph Sample, Michael Schaer, Jim Soft, Tom Scott, Karen Sanford Gall, Bill and Merilyn Ballard, Bruce MacIntyre, Bill and Mary Underriner, Ziggy and Stella Zeigler, Dr. Bob Wilmouth, Kris Carpenter, Jim and Chris Scott, and Mike Nelson.

Brown will be honored during the 2024 Billings Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting on October 22, 2024 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Pub Station. Tickets for this event can be purchased at BillingsChamber.com

States Purge Polls

16 September 2024
Dennis Pyburn
No comments

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Aug. 26 that more than 1 million ineligible voters have been removed from the state’s voter rolls in the past three years, including more than 6,500 noncitizens and 457,000 people who are dead. Of the 6,500 potential noncitizens removed from the voter rolls, about 1,930 have a voter history.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said this month that he issued an executive order removing 6,303 noncitizens from voter rolls. Likewise, Alabama removed at least 3,251 noncitizens and Ohio removed 137.

Record High New Businesses; Second Fastest Wage Growth

16 September 2024
Press Room
No comments

Montana’s Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson issued an upbeat labor report on Labor Day. The report shows employment continues to grow, unemployment remains near record lows, and wage growth over the last year resulted in an increased standard of living for Montana workers.

A significant finding is that Montana ranks 2nd in the nation for fastest wage growth since 2020. Another important fact is that business formation in Montana reached a record high of 23,000 new business in 2023.

Swanson’s report states that while the state continues to face a workforce shortage, with two job openings for every one unemployed person, there are signs that the labor market is beginning to ease. Over 10,000 more Montanans entered the labor market in 2023 – a welcome sign for many businesses who have been struggling to find workers.

Labor market highlights include:

–The Montana labor force reached a record high of over 580,000 people mid-way through 2024. Strong wage growth and a significant uptick in in-migration has helped increase the available pool of workers for Montana businesses.

–Montana ranks 4th in the nation for the highest rate of in-migration since 2020. The state’s population grew by 4.7% from 2020 to 2023 due to in-migration, translating to an additional 51,000 people.

–About 73% of people who recently moved to the state are either employed or actively seeking work, which is higher than the labor force participation rate of existing residents.

–Montana ranks 8th in the nation for fastest employment growth since 2020 – adding over 30,000 jobs through the first half of 2024.

–Employment grew by 1.6% in 2023, translating to 8,700 jobs added.

–Professional services grew fastest among the private sector, adding 1,120 jobs at a growth rate of 4.1%.

–Healthcare added the most jobs in 2023, creating over 2,340 new jobs.

–The average wage earned by Montana workers reached $57,230 in 2023, growing by 5% over the year. Montana ranks 2nd in the nation for fastest wage growth since 2020.

–Real wages grew 0.8% in 2023, the 6th fastest among states. Real wage growth suggests that Montana workers are able to afford more goods and services with their wages than before.

–Professional service workers had the fastest real wage growth of 5.1% in 2023. The average wage reached $94,600, making it the second highest paying industry in Montana after natural resources.

–Tight labor market conditions persisted in 2023, with nearly two job openings for every one unemployed person.

— The state’s aging population and increased retirements have driven long run declines in labor force participation. A total of 330,000 Montanans are not employed or actively seeking work. Most (61%) of these individuals are retired.

The strength of Montana’s labor market helps support economic growth in the state. Record-high business formation propelled economic output to new heights. Continued growth in the Montana economy translated to more income for Montana households. Inflationary pressures eased in 2023, providing some relief to household budgets. Montana workers and businesses drove economic expansion throughout the state.

–Montana’s economic growth of 2.2% in 2023 was an acceleration from the prior year.

— Montana ranks 1st in the nation for GDP growth in the professional services industry, driven by the expansion of high-tech opportunities in the state.

— Nearly 2,000 new professional services businesses were started in Montana in 2023, which accounts for almost half of all new businesses established in the state.

— Business formation in Montana reached a record high of 23,000 new business in 2023

— Montana ranks 3rd in the nation for self-employment, with nearly 30% of the workforce operating their own business.

— Personal income has risen by 7.5% annually since 2020 – ranking Montana 4th fastest for growth among states.

— Per capita income rose to $63,918 in 2023 – ranking 28th among states.

— Price growth moderated in 2023 across a variety of goods and services. By mid-2024, inflation fell to 3% over-the-year.

–Housing prices continue to be the primary driver of inflation. However, the pace of housing price growth is beginning to slow in Montana.

— Montana home prices rose 4.7% in 2023 compared with 5% nationwide.

— The typical home value in Montana averaged $470,000 in the first half of 2024 – representing a 70% rise in home values over the last five years.

NFIB: Finding Help Still Big Problem

16 September 2024
Press Room
No comments

Finding help continues to be a huge problem for the nation’s small businesses, according to the latest Jobs Report put out monthly by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading association of Main Street enterprises.

 “Our Jobs Report is a national snapshot, not broken down by state,” said Ronda Wiggers, state director for NFIB in Montana. “The employment situation in Montana is a little better than in the rest of the nation in part due to better state policies we have in place. But our Main Street entrepreneurs here share with their national brethren small businesses’ overriding concern about the fate of the Main Street Tax Certainty Act (H.R. 4721, S. 1706), which would make the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent. Without it, taxes will increase on over 90% of small business owners if Congress fails to act.”

“Job openings on Main Street remain historically high as small business owners continue to lament the lack of qualified applicants for their open positions. Owners have grown understandably frustrated as attempts to fill their workforce repeatedly stall and cost pressures continue to rise.”

 Highlights from the Latest Jobs Report

* Overall, 62% of small business owners reported hiring or trying to hire in August, up five points from July. Fifty-six percent (90% of those hiring or trying to hire) of owners reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill.

 * Thirty-six percent have openings for skilled workers (up four points) and 15% have openings for unskilled labor (down one point)

 * Job openings in construction were up five points from July and over half of them (60%) have a job opening they can’t fill. Job openings were the highest in the transportation, construction, and manufacturing sectors, and the lowest in the agriculture and finance sectors.

* A seasonally adjusted net 13% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, down two points from July.

Mulvaney Joins Visit Billings

16 September 2024
Press Room
No comments

Polly Mulvaney joined Visit Billings, managed by the Billings Chamber of Commerce, as the new Group Sales Manager. In her new role, Mulvaney will manage meeting and convention recruitment as well as group tour sales for the destination.

 She has spent her career in outdoor hospitality, travel and tourism industry, working in Montana and the western region while serving the U.S. and Canada. Her marketing, sales, franchise division and relationship building skills equate well to member services and support that are central to the Group Sales Manager position.

“Polly is no stranger to tourism or chamber work, as she has worked for KOA, the Bozeman and Billings Chambers of Commerce, and Colorado Tourism Board,” says Alex Tyson, executive director of Visit Billings. ”We are excited to have Polly back home with the Visit Billings team and look forward to the vast expertise and industry knowledge she brings to this role, as she elevates Montana’s City nationwide.”

Mulvaney is a proud alumna of Montana State University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. She is pursuing certifications as a Certified Autism Travel Professional (CATP) and a Professional in Destination Management. 

She has called Billings home for over two decades with her husband, has three grown children and two Golden Retrievers. Outside of work and family life, Mulvaney enjoys fly fishing and is a new fan of pickleball.

Montana Not Sticky Enough

14 September 2024
Press Room
No comments

While Montana has been one of the leading states in attracting newcomers over the past few years, not all of them stay. They don’t “stick,” according to moveBuddha.com.

Montana had the second least “stickiness” in the nation in 2024. Montana loses 87% of its movers to other states. The only other state, which was more prone to losing their residents to out-migration was Alaska losing 90 percent. Wyoming is third at 86%.

The study that moveBuddha conducted revealed that seven of the least sticky states were in the Mountain West. The study analyzed over 175,000 searches on their moving cost calculator to get real-time insights into where relocating Americans plan to move. They ranked all 50 states by their stickiness – “their ability to keep relocating residents within state lines.”

The study aligned the rankings of statewide economic data and quality-of-life indicators to see which factors might contribute to a state’s lack of stickiness.

The Mountain West is home to 7 of the 10 least sticky states of 2024.

But just because a state was low in stickiness, didn’t mean they ceased attracting additional new comers. Montana, in addition to being among the most low stickiness states, continues to gain new residents. Montana maintains positive in-to-out move ratios.

In fact, Montana has the highest in-to-out move ratio in the country since 2020, averaging 2.37 new residents from beyond state lines for every Montanan who leaves.

The study found that the reasons people leave a state has most to do with the cost of living and real estate prices, rather than GDP growth or jobs. In short, high overall costs mean more residents will call it quits, even though newcomers may still find the state appealing.

“Many of these states have grown their populations enough to see local prices soar and locals panic. Real estate prices increase, and more newcomers come, but others are forced to leave an economy that’s leaving them behind.”

Montana Highlights – September 15 2024

14 September 2024
Press Room
No comments

The Montana Department of Corrections is considering a 90-bed prerelease facility in Kalispell. The center would be located on East Oregon Street at the former Greenwood Village Inn & Suites hotel. Prerelease centers are designed to assist offenders with their transition from a secure facility back into the community and provide an alternative to incarceration. The state has 10 such facilities..

Seth Soley and the Hageness family have purchased Whitefish-based Rocky Mountain Transportation Company from Dale Duff. The company has grown from a taxi service  started in 1946 to offer additional services including a tow service, the only ambulance service in town, volunteer fire department trucks and interstate bus schedules. They also operate the shuttle up Big Mountain named the SNOW bus and private charters, shuttles around Glacier National Park and transfers from Glacier Park International, plus school bus contracts.

United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts  may hold the fate of the Colstrip coal-fired power plant in his hands. Lawyers for Talen Montana and NorthWestern Energy, the owners of the power plant, have asked the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court for temporary stay of two rules that owners of the plant say leave them with two terrible choices: Either invest $350 million in upgrades to the pollution controls, or shutter the plant, leaving power customers in Montana facing high energy rates or unreliable power. Colstrip’s owners warn that without a halt to the EPA’s rules, Colstrip will not have enough time to comply with the law; and, that even if Colstrip does agree to foot the $350 million in estimated upgrades, the company won’t have enough time to recoup the costs before the plant eventually ceases operation.

United Airlines has announced a new seasonal flight between Bozeman Yellowstone (BZN) and Washington-Dulles International Airport. Flights will kick off Dec. 21 and run through March 29, according to BZN. United already offers daily service to Bozeman from Chicago-O’Hare, Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco, and Denver. The Bozeman airport has  released its winter schedule with seven airlines serving 20 destinations. That includes JetBlue Airways adding its premium JetBlue Mint service during weekend ski season flights to Bozeman-Yellowstone from Boston Logan International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

A victim of the 2022 Red Lodge flooding, Rocky Fork Inn, has been acquired by the City of Red Lodge and is set to be demolished this fall.

With the start of fall there are many opportunities for travelers to explore Montana’s less visited communities and  events across the state. Events such as the Makoshika Music and Arts Festival (Sept. 14) in Glendive, the Music and Arts Festival (Sept. 14) in Boulder, Hi-Line Harvest Festival (Sept. 20-21) in Chester and Havre Festival Days (Sept. 20-22) in Havre are just a few of the possibilities. Other itinerary highlights include enjoying locally sourced burgers from local stops on the Visit Southeast Montana Burger Trail; viewing the fall colors on a scenic drive through the Seeley Swan Corridor; viewing some of the darkest skies and brightest stars in the lower 48 along Montana’s Trail to the Stars; and going back in time by embarking on a dinosaur dig or stopping in at a museum along the Montana Dinosaur Trail. 

The Williams County Commission in North Dakota met recently to hear plans for a potential power plant project by Basin Electric Power Cooperative to be located in Williams County. A representative spoke to the board about the project and the company’s involvement in the region, which includes the Pioneer Generation Station  which is in the process of having more generators added to the site. Basin has donated approximately $25,000 to local charitable causes in Williams County.

The National Weather Service in Bismarck has released projections for the upcoming winter season. Residents in the MonDak region can expect a colder winter than usual. The NWS released the report to give residents in the region an idea of what to expect as fall gives way to colder weather. One of the findings is that La Niña conditions are expected to emerge this fall and have a 74% chance of continuing through the winter. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under La Niña conditions winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the southern continental United States and cooler than normal in the north

Owners Ethan and Kayla Giles have returned to Teton County to raise their family and establish their business, EK Giles Electric. Ethan is a licensed master electrician with 20-plus years of experience in all aspects of electrical work. His experience ranges from large commercial projects to airfield/runway lighting to high-end residential. The new business is located at 10 Second Road NE. 

Stillwater Christian School, Kalispell  marked a back-to-school open house by celebrating a $5 million donation for a building expansion from local businessman Paul Wachholz, a local real estate agent in Kalispell.

Big Sky Economic Development is leading the charge to develop Coulson Park as a gateway park on the bank of the Yellowstone River, in selling raffle tickets to raise funds. The goal is to build a pump track at Coulson Park, as well as pursue five other projects in local parks. Raffle prizes include tickets and trips to sport events, gas for a year, a side of beef, etc. Tickets are $50 and only 2,000 tickets will be available. The drawing will be September 19. Call 869-8409, or email dianne@bigskyeda.org

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is recommending 48 fishing regulation changes this year ahead of a fall Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. While most of the changes are aimed at simplifying regulations, there are a few significant changes that anglers could see for the 2024-25 season. Those changes include a single hook only restriction on the Flathead River, the removal of the west district northern pike standard limit and the ability to fillet a fish on the water. At its Oct. 10 meeting, the state Fish and Wildlife Commission is expected to vote on whether to accept, amend or reject the changes. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is accepting public comment on the proposals in anticipation of the meeting. 

Stockman Bank has opened a new Hutton Ranch Bank location. The Hutton Branch is the Stockman Bank fifth Flathead Valley location. The bank offers new accounts, and loan products for commercial development, construction, real estate, agricultural and consumer lending. The branch also has a drive-up and ATM. Stockman Bank is Montana’s largest, family-owned, community bank, with locations across the state.

Air Force officials at a recent town hall meeting in Lewiston could provide few details about the new plans for the Sentinel Missile project. The Sentinel program, designed to remove the aging Minute Man III missiles and replace them with the Sentinel missile. The project also includes updating silos and communications. The project exceeded its budget, which ballooned to an estimated $141 billion. That triggered a mandated review of the project. Lewistown will be the site of a workforce hub which house 2,500 to 3,000 construction staff and support personnel, although not all at the same time. Belt, Stanford, Denton, Judith Gap and Winifred will each have construction storage areas of 10 to 20 acres that will be in place for several years.

Missoula County, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new $13.5 million National Conservation Legacy Center. The two-story, 26,000-square-foot building will be constructed using mass timber at the museum’s 31-acre campus at 6305 Highway 10 West. The Center should be completed by late 2025.

Two technology companies based in Missoula were named to Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America for 2024. Submittable, which provides a social impact platform for companies looking to do good and Pathlabs, which provides services to independent agencies, both ranked high on the prestigious list. According to the magazine, the rankings are based on a percentage of revenue growth from 2020 through 2023. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 2020. Submittable reported an annual growth over three years of more than 370%. It was the fifth time the company has made the list.