Author: Press Room

Billings New Business Licenses – January 2025

20 February 2025
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Entity Protect Registered Agent Services LLC, 1925 Grand Ave Ste 127#430, (917) 695-7501, Boaron, Eliav, Service, Billings420 Lexington Ave Ste 2400, New York, NY 10170

Clean Queens, 139 Cerise Rd, (406) 894-0578, Nelson/Anderson, Kaye/Madison, Service, Billings

Eastridge Retreat LLC, 1945 Eastridge Dr, (801) 577-5769, Hurst, Emily, Real Estate Rental, Billings 8402 Hideaway Trail, Billings 59106

CK Investment Properties LLC, 354 Glenhaven Dr, (307) 359-1418, Holcomb, Cheryl, Real Estate Rental, Billings354 Glenhaven Dr, Billings

Subway #11991, 1038 Main St Ste 4, (307) 608-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Subway #18033, 2499 King Ave W Ste B, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings1211 24th St W Ste 5,      Billings

Subway #17160, 2900 12th Ave N, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Schwartz Brothers, Masonry Inc, 2192 W Skokie Dr, (406) 248-3003, Schwartz, Taylor, Contractors, Billings

Steel Magnolias & Co, 1940 Grand Ave Ste A, (406) 698-8702, Smithson/Sorgenfrei, Jaclyn/Aimee, Cosmetology, Billings 

R.O. Tools LLC, 847 Crist Dr, (406) 696-1484, Latham, Mitch, Retail Sales, Billings 

Obsidian Sharp Edges LLC, 1721 Vuecrest Dr, (406) 672-5419, Howell, Amanda, Service, Billings

WCUB Dynasty LLC, 3021 4th Avenue S Apt 2, (406) 697-6853, Adams, Victor Anthony/Xander Michael, Retail Sales, Billings 

McInnis Outdoors LLC, 923 Rimrock Rd, (406) 876-4234, McInnis, Melinda/Troy, Retail Sales,PO Box 52, Billings 59103

Mastech Solutions, 1720 Rosecrans Dr, (406) 927-7906, Mascarena, Esteban, Service, Billings

Blooms & Brooms, 811 Terry Ave, (406) 208-6862, Blake, Chenoa, Retail Sales, Billings    

Hot Shots, LLC, 1503 Linda Ln, (509) 844-1285, Akins Sr, Jackie, Service, Billings    

Albright Vending LLC, 7616 Lewis Ave, (208) 848-6587, Albright/Heger, Dalton/Therese, Retail Sales, Billings 59106, 934 Bench Blvd, Billings

Nidatwventure.Com, 7925 Eland Ave, (605) 430-7765, Wood, Nida, Misc, Billings 59106,

House Of Avery Bridal, 2111 Grand Ave, (406) 606-0504, Schell, Kady, Retail Sales, Billings

Performance Advantage, LLC, 517 24th St W, (435) 216-8785, Dunsdon, Irvin P, Solo Practitioner, Billings204 Wyoming Ave, Billings

Club Lux and Casino X, 1123 1st Ave N, (406) 794-9756, Lorenz, Cindy, Liquor License, Billings 5060 Maple Ridge Circle, Billings 59106

Earthbound Cafe LLC, 207 N Broadway Ste C30, (818) 515-7511, Ploeg/Johnson/Rogers, Joshua/Jessica/Nicholas, Restaurants, Billings41 Red Rock Dr, Billings

Ten40investing, LLC, 404 N 31st St Ste 423, (406) 409-3450, Bautista, Christian, Service, Billings

English Properties LLC, 5411 Frontier Dr #3, (406) 321-2082, English, Jenna, Real Estate Rental, Billings

Subway #17236, & Subway #35908, 3031 Grand Ave Ste 300, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Billings1211 24th St, W Ste 5, Billings

Subway #34791, 251 Main St, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Subway #45822, 820 Shiloh Crossing Blvd Ste F, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings, 1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Subway #56984, & Subway #56985, 1649 Main St,  2525 King Ave W, (307) 680-8989, Lovett (Partner), Jessi, Restaurants, Billings, 1211 24th St W Ste 5, Billings

Children’s Art Classes, 1780 Shiloh Rd Ste D, (406) 661-2782, Hodge, Nicole, Service, Billings 59106

Bell Property Solutions LLC, 941 Rimrock Rd (406) 208-4693, Bell, Gard, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 12611 37th Place Ne, Lake Stevens, WA, 98258

Big Sky 4 Season Service LLC, 2124 Rehberg Ln Apt 3, (406) 561-4324, Herman, Trevor, Service, Billings   Spectrum Hope Fund, 3932 1st Ave S Unit 2, (406) 530-5317, Huck, Timothy G, Service, Billings

Leprechaun Labs, 1420 Emma Ave, (952) 297-6049, McNichol, James & Laurie, Retail Sales, Billings

Body Remedies LLC, 720 Grand Ave, (509) 435-7567, Morin, Rashonda, Solo Practitioner, Billings821 N 27th Ste C-#1031, Billings

Sunshine Express (Cafe), 2390 Overlook Dr Ste 108/110, (406) 248-3320, Zentner, Marlee, Restaurants, Billings, 443 S 23rd St W, Billings

Almalli Wellness LLC, 777 15th St W, (406) 647-3000, Malli, Sarah, Service, Billings, 6800 Earl Ave, Huntley, 59037

Floorx, LLC, 610 Bench Blvd Suite 4, (406) 671-7820, Stovall, Clint, Service, Billings 

Reahs Ministries, 1925 Grand Ave Ste 108, (406) 860-7785, Gavett, Rebekah, Service, Billings

Southpaw USA Inc, 10427 Mint Lane, (417) 540-1333, Holden, David, Contractors, Neosho, MO, 64850, Po Box 3715, Joplin, MO, 64803

O.M. Customs LLC, 13 W Antelope Trl, (541) 815-0567, Britt, Chance, Retail Sales, Billings 

Dave Merkel Music & Sound LLC, 2500 Wyoming Ave, (406) 281-4006, Merkel, David G, Service, Billings

Platinum Cleaners, 3909 N Tanager Ln, (509) 969-0091, Scroggins, Joseph, Service, Billings

S.A.R. Painting LLC, 220 Yellowstone Ave, (506) 598-4757, Rogers, Steven, Service, Laurel, 59044

D&A Financial Services Inc. 111 S 24th St W, (406) 248-1006, Rogers (Accountant), Tanner,  Retail Sales, Billings 2156 Hill Field Rd Ste 3, Layton, UT, 84041

Stone Soup Garden LLC, 2241 Old Us 10, (406) 853-5728, Certain, Patrick J, Retail Sales, Laurel, 59044

Barn Swallow Bread, 2720 Rehberg Ln, (406) 208-0309, Noel, Margaret, Retail Sales, Billings

Coulson City Construction, 1415 6th Ave N, (406) 717-9151, Reimers, Charlie, Contractors, Billings 

Danielle Salo LMT, 1001 S 24th St W Bld 3 Room 310, (907) 978-3678, Salo, Danielle, Solo Practitioner, Billings 

Four Directions, 2048 Overland Ave, (406) 647-8464, Contois, Shirley, Service, BillingsPO Box 80411, Billings

1111 New Beginnings, 2048 Overland Ave Suite 102b, (406) 210-8168, McCoy, Kendy, Service, BillingsPO Box 80411, Billings

R & R Roofing, 12 S 8th St W, (406) 661-3771, Ring, Chad, Contractors, Billings 

It’s Spotless, 6709 High Hill Road, (406) 876-5433, Herden, Michelle, Service, Shepherd, 59079

Tup Tim Thai, 2916 1st Ave N, (406) 839-5078, Williams, Christopher/Srisuda, Restaurants, Billings

Crimson Stain Woodworks LLC, 6040 Severance Rd, (406) 661-0078, Tiry, Eric, Service, Billings

#1 Tobacco Vape and Cigar LLC, 1201 Grand Ave Ste 2, (313) 290-7615, Furooz, Radad, Retail Sales, Billings 

Canyon Creek Construction LLC, 1639 Cheryl St, (541) 280-7940, Bennett, Kyle D, Contractors, Billings

Temco Logistics, 3218 S Frontage Rd Bld 100 Ste 104, (909) 492-4046, ParkerBerlinder, Service, Billings20 Executive Park Ste 200, Irvine, CA, 92614

Kolata Consulting LLC, 953 Neptune Blvd, (406) 855-2154, Kolata, Kera, Service, Billings 

Yoders Donut Company LLC, 348 N Douglas St, (307) 254-1352, Yoder, Josh, Restaurants, Powell, WY, 82435

A Day To Care 2901 Monad Rd #99, (406) 927-9466, Ellthorpe, Charity, Service, BillingsPO Box 23201, Billings 59104

McRae Builders LLC, 3943 Pioneer Rd, (406) 860-2632, McRae, John, Contractors, Billings

Beevers Family Insurance, 2718 Montana Ave #216, (505) 635-0640, Beevers, William Michael, 

Consor North America Inc, 1478 S 30th St W, (888) 451-6822, Cas, Matthew Paul, Engineer, Billings6505 Waterford District Dr Ste 470, Miami, FL, 33126

Waste Removal Of Montana LLC, 1925 Grand Ave, (406) 371-1564, Pyrzewski, Todd, Service, Billings 

Beautifully Noted LLC, 6215 Ridge Stone Dr N, (605) 786-4645, Schneller, Brenda, Service, Billings 

MCB Construction, 1109 Firth St, (406) 390-6164, Bradley, Michael, Contractors, Billings

Tony Derosa, 1559 Mullowney Ln, (406) 304-6944, Derosa, Anthony – Tony Derosa, Contractors, Billings

Resilient Recovery, 208 N Broadway Ste 346, (406) 794-2003, Mellum, Abbigail, Service, BillingsPO Box 82, Park City, MT, 59063

The Burger Dive, 1603 Grand Ave Suite 145b, (406) 281-8292, Halsten, Brad, Restaurants, Billings 

Barnyard Bubbles, 624 Claremont Rd, (307) 202-3035, Kotar, Nicole, Restaurants, Billings 

Vega Exteriors, 1015 N 24th St, (406) 694-4827, Collado, Urbano, Service, Billings 

2 N It Cleaning LLC, 1107 High Ridge Dr, (406) 200-4546, Lynch/Bentham, Schaunna/Brittany, Service, Billings

Billings Building Permits February 15, 2025

20 February 2025
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Commercial

Shawn & Lindsay Reichenberg Li|Miner Construction Inc, 437 Bernard St, Com New Warehouse, $723,008

St John’s Lutheran Ministries|Jones Construction Inc, 2509 Mission Wy, Com Addition, $500,000

Joel Smith |I.B.D. Elite Remodel, 2820 Central Ave, Com Remodel, $500,000

City Of Billings (Airport)|Morgan Contractors Inc, 1901 Terminal Cir, Com Remodel, $400,000

Jennifer Raft |Jorden Construction, 178 S 32nd St W, Com Remodel,  $85,000

Belleau Wayne A|Johnson Controls Fire Protection Lp, 2250 King Ave W, Com Fire Systems, $6,829

Rocky Vista University LLC, 4130 Rocky Vista Way, new School, $15,000,000

CPP LLC 1/3 Int|Wagenhals Enterprises Inc, 755 Calhoun Ln, Com New Store/Strip Center, $800,000

106 N 20th St, Shift Holdings LLC Ac Collision Center, Com Remodel, $325,000

OBW 2 LLC |Jones Construction Inc, 1001 Shiloh Crossing Blvd, Com Remodel, $150,000

Dunham’s Sports |Southpaw USA Inc, 300 S 24th St W, Com Remodel, $120,000

Rachel Helmer |Jorden Construction, 2631 St John’s Ave, Com Remodel, $65,000

United Properties Inc|Hardy Construction Co. 490 N 31st St, Com Remodel, $15,000

Residential

Infinity Home LLC |Infinity Home LLC, 2032 Cypress Pt, Res New Single Family, $264,658

McCall |McCall Development, 1810 St Peter Ln, Res New Single Family, $193,176

McCall |McCall Development, 1810 St Peter Ln, Res New Accessory Structure, $23,232

Wells Built Inc |Wells Built Inc., 5409 Apple Rose Ln, Res New Two Family, $254,598

Wells Built Inc |Wells Built Inc, 5415 Apple Rose Ln, Res New Two Family, $254,598

Wells Built Inc |Wells Built Inc, 5421 Apple Rose Ln, Res New Two Family, $254,598

Mt Homes Inc |4 Mt Homes Inc, 2244 Lindero Blvd, Res New Single Family, $174,672

Mt Homes Inc |4 Mt Homes Inc, 2238 Lindero Blvd, Res New Single Family, $172,945

Will the Mutant Elephants Hijack Another Session?

23 January 2025
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By Roger Koopman

If you happen to be at the state capitol during the coming session, you are likely to encounter Mutant Elephants in the hallways, restrooms and chambers.  Although their footprint on the legislative process is immense, their presence goes mostly unnoticed by the voting public.  They appear mild-mannered, but are actually quite dangerous.

Mutant Elephants have the bodies of elephants but the heads of donkeys.  They are Republicans who have grown Democrat heads.  A political evolutionary marvel, perhaps caused by ingesting toxic amounts of socialist junk food, combined with diets deficient in the ideas of liberty.  Or maybe it’s just cultural conformity and establishment political ambition that leads to this bizarre cross-breeding with genetic opposites. 

Exactly where to draw the biological line is debatable, but approximately 30 percent of legislative Republicans appear to have mutated.  With some, the ears are longer and the hee-haw is louder, making them more easily recognized.  But beware of them all.  They move as a herd, and trample our freedoms just as effectively as the pure strain donkeys they run with.  Come January 6th, they will be at it again.

Meanwhile, mutant donkeys with elephant heads are an extinct species, that haven’t been spotted for 40 or 50 years.

Fundamentally, there are two philosophies of government, historically represented by the two major parties.    One concept – often called “The American Idea” established by our founders, insists that freedom is the birthright of all people, that our natural rights are bestowed by God, and that the primary purpose of government is to protect and secure those rights – as stated in the Declaration of Independence.  This is the philosophy of small government and big people – of humanity left free to achieve incredible and miraculous things.  It is the philosophy that trusts freedom, thereby limiting the scope and powers of government within its constitutional bounds. 

Such are the core conservative beliefs of the traditional Republican Party, resulting in a legislative advocacy that empowers the individual through free markets, open competition, consumer choice, private property rights, lower taxes, educational liberty and uncensored, unintimidated free speech.  By contrast, the government model of the Democrat Party stands consistently in opposition to these concepts, and envisions an aggressive and growing government that provides a “solution” for most everything.  Talk to any “well-meaning” Democrat politician and you’ll pick up on this immediately.  It is the ideology of liberalism — of prideful politics, that ultimately leads to human degradation and economic ruin.

However, you would be wrong to assume that the Montana Legislature is a forum for these competing ideas of the two parties.  You would also be mistaken to assume that the heavily Republican numerical majority in recent sessions has translated into many conservative victories.  For the 47-plus years I’ve lived in Montana, there has never been an actual conservative majority in the legislature.  Why?  Because the donkeys all vote as donkeys, while at least one-fourth of the elephants – elected as Republicans — consistently join the Democrats to sabotage strong conservative legislation, working instead to pass Democrat-inspired Big Government bills.  Yes, it is a travesty of which few GOP voters are aware.  We keep thinking we are electing Republicans!

It’s no surprise that the Mutant Elephants have organized themselves into something called “The Solutions Caucus.”  A more accurate name would be “The Government Solutions Caucus,” patterned after the Democrat approach to public policy, believing that all issues require government solutions.  Hereafter, they should be referred to that way.

Until the next election cycle, we will be confronting even more Big Government Republicans than in ‘23, thanks to the active role of Governor Gianforte, targeting the conservative Republicans for defeat with his public endorsements.  This in turn encouraged hundreds of thousands in out-of-state PAC donations to flow to the mutants.  That’s what we are dealing with.

The one hope is that organizations like MCA (which is planning a new website to regularly track the votes of GOP legislators) will hold the Mutant Elephants’ big feet to the fire, and motivate their constituents to fiercely communicate their disapproval.  Come primary time, the true elephants who mistakenly elected these people will not forget.

Roger Koopman, Bozeman, is a former state legislator and Montana Public Service Commissioner.

US Freedom Level Drops

23 January 2025
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By Ian Vásquez

The United States has slipped in its ranking as a free country from 7th in 2000 to 17th in the tenth edition of the annual Human Freedom Index, which is co-published by the Cato Institute and the Fraser Institute. The 2024 report paints a picture of the state of global freedom and freedom within 165 countries, drawing on 86 indicators of personal, economic, and civil liberties dating back to the year 2000.

The top three countries in this year’s report are Switzerland, New Zealand, and Denmark; the bottom three are Iran, Yemen, and Syria, in descending order.

Compared to 2007, most countries are less free, having lost a significant amount of economic or personal freedom or both. 

The high point in global human freedom since 2000, measured on a population-weighted basis, occurred in 2005–2007. It was followed by a slow decline in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and then a precipitous decline in 2020 with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, setting any gains to global freedom back more than two decades. Global freedom saw a small improvement in the third year of the pandemic, 2022, the last year of the report.

Writing about the report, Ian Vásquez of  the Cato Institute, said, “The index reflects our belief that freedom should be measured carefully because it has inherent value and because it plays a central role in human progress. We define freedom as the absence of coercive constraint and think of it as a social concept that recognizes the dignity of the individual.”

*  Human freedom is strongly and positively related to well-being, including income, innovation, social tolerance, environmental performance, levels of charity, life expectancy, lower child mortality, etc.

*  Economic and personal freedom are strongly related. If you value high levels of personal liberty (such as freedom of expression, religion, or personal lifestyle choices), you should value a relatively high level of economic freedom, which is supportive of the other freedoms.

*  The world suffers from a high degree of inequality in freedom. Only 14.1% of the world’s population lives in the top quartile of countries in the index. Fully 77% of the world’s population lives in the least free countries in the bottom half of the index.

Nicaragua, Syria, Turkey, Hong Kong, and Hungary are among the top ten jurisdictions that have seen their freedoms decline most since 2007, the year that marked the high point in global freedom.

Out of ten regions, the Middle East and North Africa are the least free and are some of the regions that saw their freedom fall since 2000.

Global freedom of expression has been on a long-term decline since 2000 and is the category of freedom that saw the greatest drop since that year. 

Human freedom deteriorated severely in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Most areas of freedom fell, including significant declines through 2022 in freedom of movement, expression, and association and assembly; and in sound money. After having fallen significantly in 2020 and further in 2021, human freedom increased in 2022 but remained well below its pre-pandemic level during the third year of the pandemic. On a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents more freedom, the average human freedom rating for 165 jurisdictions fell from 6.98 in 2019 to 6.76 in 2020 and to 6.73 in 2021, and then increased in 2022 to 6.82. On the basis of that coverage, 87.4 percent of the world’s population saw a fall in human freedom from 2019 to 2022, with many more jurisdictions decreasing (130) than increasing (28) their ratings and 7 remaining unchanged. The sharp decline in freedom that began in 2020 comes after years of slow descent following a high point in 2007. In the third year of the pandemic, global freedom remained at a level far below what it was in 2000.

The data show that there is an unequal distribution of freedom in the world, with only 14.1 percent of the world’s population living in the top quartile of jurisdictions in the HFI and 43 percent living in the bottom quartile.

The countries that took the top 10 places, in order, were Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark, Luxembourg, Ireland, Finland, Australia and Iceland and Sweden (tied at 7), and Estonia. Selected jurisdictions rank as follows: Canada (11), Japan (12), Germany (14), United Kingdom and United States (tied at 17), Taiwan (19), Chile (31), South Korea (32), France (34), Brazil (70), South Africa (73), Argentina (80), Mexico (94), India (110), Ukraine (122), Nigeria (126), Russia (139), Turkey (142), China (150), Saudi Arabia (155), Venezuela (159), and Iran (163). Out of 10 regions, those with the highest levels of freedom are North America (Canada and the United States), Western Europe, and Oceania. The lowest levels are in the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Women-specific freedoms, as measured by five indicators in the index, are strongest in North America, Western Europe, and East Asia and are least protected in the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia.

There is a strong relationship between freedom and median and per capita income. Jurisdictions in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significantly higher average per capita income ($56,366) than those in other quartiles; the average per capita income in the least free quartile is $15,826. The HFI also finds a strong, positive relationship between human freedom and democracy, and between human freedom and a range of human well-being indicators including tolerance, charitable giving, life expectancy, and environmental health, among other measures.

Subsidies Prop Up Failure

23 January 2025
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By Evelyn Pyburn

The message that is conveyed in the marketplace whenever government funded subsidies are applied to any commodity is so glaring it is hard to imagine how so many – apparently learned experts – miss it so completely. Government subsidies scream to the high heavens that a product has no market viability. That is to say it is a money loser. It does not serve the market – consumers – in a profitable way – it costs more to produce than the value it generates. It is the very essence of failure.

It is no great insight when people point to a subsidized product and predict long-term failure – “long term” because no matter for how long the period of subsidization is set, be assured it will be extended and extended, again and again.

What is worse – anything in the market that is dependent on subsidies will always remain in that position, ALWAYS. So reasoning that a subsidy is only meant to allow the commodity opportunity to become viable is a pipedream – or worse, a scheme to make some people rich at taxpayer expense.

As reprehensible as that might be, the greater loss to society is that subsidies wind up condemning what might be a very good idea to eternal failure because those who are drawn to participate in the subsidies have zero incentive to change — to improve the product, or make it market viable. Why should they? To do so means the end of subsidies that eliminate market risk. Subsidies give participants immunity to the market.

Incentives matter.

A subsidized market does not attract entrepreneurs; it attracts exploiters who are dedicated to milking the system. A product like electric vehicles, a concept which holds many positives and promises great potential, will never become economically viable as long as it is subsidized – as long as the government is a partner.

The damages to the automobile manufacturers who have lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a consequence of their schemes with the government to subsidize electric vehicles was entirely predictable. The product was a loser in the marketplace, which is why the government subsidized it; and once subsidized, it was never going to become profitable. The realities of subsidies is a basic principle of economics, which any company executive should understand as clearly as the ‘law of supply and demand’. The CEOs were either wholly unqualified to be leading the companies, or not the innocents they would want us to believe. They thought they would get away with bilking the taxpayers. 

Subsidies discourage entrepreneurs because of the corruption involved. There are plenty of incidents in which innovators – those who dare to upset the apple cart – have been undermined by the political alliances that subsidies create. Successful innovators would upset their cozy alliance — the easy “profits” to the businesses and the power to politicians. 

Taxpayer funded subsidies create special interest groups who give politicians power. The greatest example of that which we are currently enduring is the quashing of individual liberties being instigated in the name of global warming.  While people who object to the laws, which are invading all aspects of our lives, are being ridiculed as “global warming deniers,” the truth is most are not denying the possibility that the planet is warming (Earth is going to eventually be burnt to a cinder, so why wouldn’t it gradually be warming?) — they are objecting to using that possibility as a ploy for eliminating our freedom. If we are to deal with such threats we will need the freedom to do so. What? We are supposed to count on government to save us from the perils that loom?

Subsidies do serve a purpose for some people, hence, fake entrepreneurs and politicians often work in tandem to make the efforts of innovators as difficult as possible, if not downright illegal. Innovators cannot be allowed to succeed because it would upset the cozy alliances.

Look around the community at those things in which government is involved, real business people don’t go near them – at least not until the government has made such a mess of things that it opens the door for opportunity.  Competition (like FedEx or UPS) only challenged the US Postal Service once technology and market demand for greater efficiencies opened the door to a market that the government was managing incredibly poorly.

One can only speculate, but the many years of city government promising to enter the Billings convention services market, surely must have impacted one company’s decision about the risk factors involved in investing to remodel their convention center, and probably dissuaded others from entering the business. No one wants to have to compete against a government that can forcibly acquire capital from hapless taxpayers, no matter how poorly they manage things.

Those who believe that “clean energy” alternatives such as wind and solar hold promise for the future should take note. These alternatives only exist because of subsidies. In fact, they are so wholly subsidized by the government that there have been reports that some “investment” costs were fully paid for by subsidies before the first day of energy generation. Such is not a market environment that holds promise for the future of such technologies. The number one priority of those on the forefront of these enterprises is to continue the subsidies. A product that can economically sustain itself will never happen as long as this is the situation.

The great irony is these energy alternatives do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions as we consumers are constantly told they do. The case is made that they do, by not including all the costs involved in getting them to market. The amount of the subsidies that the government gives to the generating facility is an indication of how much of their cost – hence their emissions — is not being accurately calculated.

So, when was the last time a news announcement about a new wind or solar facility included the amount the project is being subsidized? Why would such important information for taxpayers be left out?

All that deception is a tragedy for society because the concepts of wind and solar energy are great – especially for areas in the world where electrical grids like that in the US do not exist. To develop an energy technology that is truly economically viable would serve the world unlike anything ever devised to sustain humanity. But one has to suspect that would-be innovators are not focused on them because subsidies have destroyed all incentives to do so.

Subsidies sustain failure by destroying incentives.

Stockman Insurance Merges with Jacoby Insurance Group

23 January 2025
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Stockman Insurance has announced it is merging with Jacoby Insurance Group, a health and benefits agency based in Helena. Jacoby Insurance Group focuses on life and health insurance, offering Medicare insurance health plans, life & disability income insurance, long-term care insurance, small group employer insurance and property & casualty insurance.

Vice President and General Manager, KC Keith, says the merger is transformational for Stockman Insurance, allowing the agency to expand its services and enter the insurance benefits arena. “By offering health and benefits solutions, we enhance our ability to provide comprehensive insurance products to all Montanans,” stated Keith.

All Jacoby Insurance Group employees have been offered employment with Stockman Insurance. Meg Jacoby, owner and lead agent, will be joining Stockman Insurance to lead the new health and benefits department. “With her extensive expertise in the health and benefits field, Meg will play a crucial role in designing and implementing our vision of delivering tailored insurance solutions to meet the diverse needs of Montanans,” added Keith. “We are confident that her leadership and knowledge will significantly contribute to our mission of providing exceptional service and support to our clients.”

“My entire staff and I have worked very hard for many years to set a gold standard for providing help, guidance, and advice for our clients navigating the complicated world of health insurance,” said Jacoby. “Medicare in particular can be especially frustrating, and we go way beyond what any 1-800 number can provide. We are excited to bring our brand of customer service and knowledge to Stockman Insurance and look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence for many years to come.”

NWE to Energize Data Centers

23 January 2025
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NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. announced a letter of intent to provide energy services for a developer planning new data centers in Montana. The centers will be served as part of NorthWestern Energy’s regulated business, which is expected to lower the cost per customer to operate NorthWestern’s Montana generation resources. The energy service load is expected to be a minimum 50 megawatts, beginning in 2027, with growth to 250 megawatts or more by 2029.

The company also announced plans to provide electric supply service to Altas Power Group at its Butte, Montana data center. The new energy supply load is expected to be 75 megawatts beginning in 2026, with forecasted growth of up to another 75 megawatts in the subsequent three to five years.

“Reliable energy service is a critical component in this effort. This development will create new jobs, increase the state’s tax base and demonstrates how Montana’s open-for-business mindset and pro-growth programs are driving the state’s prosperity.”

 “NorthWestern Energy’s strategic resource acquisitions and diverse generation portfolio position us as a pivotal economic partner in Montana,” said NorthWestern Energy President and CEO Brian Bird. “As a regulated energy company, we offer reliable power from a clean energy portfolio at competitive rates, making Montana an attractive destination for new businesses and industries. This collaboration underscores NorthWestern Energy’s commitment to economic development, innovation and excellence in energy service delivery.”

Today, NorthWestern Energy is one of the cleanest energy companies in the nation, with most of the company’s power generation from hydro, wind and solar resources. NorthWestern Energy’s recent addition of on-demand energy generation from the Yellowstone County Generating Station and the anticipated additional capacity from the Colstrip Plant, starting January 2026, strengthens its ability to serve existing and new Montana electric customers reliably at lower customer costs.

“This investment in Montana is a significant milestone for our state’s economic growth and technological advancement, possible because of work done to provide more certainty for data center developers,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Reliable energy service is a critical component in this effort. This development will create new jobs, increase the state’s tax base and demonstrates how Montana’s open-for-business mindset and pro-growth programs are driving the state’s prosperity.” 

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services that enrich lives and empower communities while serving as long-term partners to our customers and communities. We work to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors. We do this by providing low-cost and reliable service performed by highly-adaptable and skilled employees. We provide electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 775,300 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. Our operations in Montana and Yellowstone National Park are conducted through our subsidiary, NW Corp, and our operations in South Dakota and Nebraska are conducted through our subsidiary, NWE Public Service. We have provided service in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and in Montana since 2002.

Montana Ranks 5th in Taxes

23 January 2025
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The Tax Foundation recently released its 2025 State Competitiveness Index. This study revealed which states are taxpayer-friendly for both individuals and businesses. States are ranked based on income, sales, excise, property, capital gains, corporate, payroll, estate, and VAT consumption taxes. The Tax Foundation found that Wyoming is the most taxpayer-friendly state, Montana is 5th, Idaho is 11th, and Washington is 45th.

Wyoming was the top-ranking state for the fifth year in a row mostly because of its lack of corporate or individual income tax. Additionally, it has no inventory, franchise, occupation, or value-added taxes. It also enjoys tax exemptions for manufacturers and data centers. Wyoming has the luxury of having no corporate or personal income tax due to significant tax revenue from minerals. Although Wyoming’s exact tax model can’t be copied, its principles can be applied everywhere.

Idaho improved from its prior ranking of 16th to 11th. This can be attributed to its individual and corporate tax rates declining from 5.8% to 5.695%. Idaho has no statewide property tax (local tax only), no estate tax, and a 33-cent gas tax. Idaho currently collects $4,541 in state and local tax collections per capita. Idaho can improve its ranking by lowering individual income taxes even more.

Montana has an individual income tax ranging from 4.7% to 5.9%. Montana has a relatively low tax burden with a property tax rate of 0.69%, no estate tax, and a 33.75 cent gas tax. Montana collects $5,065 in state and local tax collections per capita. Montana has been trending in the right direction by passing multiple tax cuts in the 2023 legislative sessions. Included was lowering the income tax ceiling from 6.75% to 5.9%, increasing the small business exemptions from $100,000 in 2021 to now almost $1 million in 2024, and lowering the capital gains tax to make Montana the 4th lowest in the country. Gov. Gianforte recently announced that he plans to reduce the state income tax even more to 4.9%.

Montana Infrastructure Ranks Poorly

23 January 2025
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A report compiled by the Montana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Montana relatively poor grades in the state of its infrastructure. They ranked Montana in 14 categories ranging from bridges and roads to schools to airports to wastewater systems.

Montana received a C grade in 11 categories: aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, energy, hazardous waste, public parks, rail roads, solid waste and waste water. C means mediocre and requires attention.

Montana received a D grade in two categories, schools and stormwater, which indicated they are poor and at risk. The final category, broadband, received an incomplete grade.

The state’s highest ranking, a C+, went to the rails category.

The state’s schools earned a D in the report due primarily to aging buildings and facilities.

“The challenges are further compounded by rising energy costs and declining student enrollment, placing additional strain on already tight school budgets. As a result, Montana’s schools are struggling to meet the demands of their aging infrastructure while providing a safe and healthy learning environment for students,” the report stated.

Montana Highlights January 15, 2025

23 January 2025
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Pusuit has acquired the Montana House in Apgar Village in Glacier National Park. The  Montana House has celebrated and showcased over 500 local and indigenous artisans for nearly 65 years. The company said it will continue to showcase local artists under Pursuit ownership. 

A recent study provides reassurance that Yellowstone Park’s famous supervolcano will unlikely erupt anytime soon. The journal Nature states that while a significant amount of magma is beneath the Yellowstone Caldera, it is stored in small, separate pockets rather than a flowing reservoir, reducing the likelihood of a major eruption.

Guns N Things in Glendive will close. A recent sale opportunity did not pan out so Ernie and Karel Huether decided to close.

River City Brews Rafting Tours, a Missoula company that offers guided raft trips along with local craft beverages, has been bought by Sara and Jared Forsythe.

Applications for a permit to float the Smith River began on Jan. 2, and will be accepted through Feb. 15. The permit drawing will be held on Feb. 19. Applicants can apply for a Smith River float permit online at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Automated Licensing System. Successful Smith River applicants will be notified via email shortly after the permit drawing is conducted.

Zero to Five Montana, in partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Bright Futures Birth to Five program, is offering a one-time grant opportunity for Montana employers through the Family Forward Montana initiative to develop an employer-sponsored child care program. Grants will range from $10,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and scope of the employers project plan.

The permit issued by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to Tintina Montana Incorporated (now Sandfire Resources) to manipulate approximately 250 million gallons of groundwater in pursuit of a 14 million-ton copper deposit in Meagher County has cleared its second and final legal challenge before the Montana Supreme Court.

Acropolis Gyros, a Greek food restaurant at 117 South Avenue W. in Missoula, has announced it is closing. The final day will be when supplies run out. The business has been listed for sale since July.

A new oven weighing 84,000 pound oven has arrived at Tech Woods USA in Ronan. This Moldrup thermal modification oven is used by Tech Woods USA to produce hardwood gunstock blanks, as well as flooring and other wood products. The oven was designed in Denmark and Singapore and manufactured in Vietnam.

Several transportation projects are in underway in the Flathead. Glacier Park International Airport is moving ahead with the next phase of its expansion project, West Reserve Drive in Kalispell is being rebuilt with additional traffic lanes and Columbia Falls is in the first stages of a multi-million-dollar road reconstruction project.  

The Sibanye-Stillwater mine vice president Heather McDowell grew up in Bridger, near the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River. McDowell has become the face of the company over the last two months. McDowell has been the vice president for legal and external affairs for Sibanye-Stillwater,  for seven years. She has served as the spokesperson for the mine, communicating news of the layoffs to local communities.

Big Sky Resort is opening the new year with a new gondola and the longest eight-person lift in the world. This is part of the expansion of  Montana’s biggest ski area. The Madison 8 replaces the older Six Shooter lift, offering a high-speed eight-person option with heated seats and weather shields, which has become a resort standard.

First Interstate Bank has donated their former branch building, located at 402 N. Center, to One Health in Hardin. One Health provides in-person and virtual healthcare services to anyone in need.

The owner of the Dakota Access Pipeline recently became the latest party to join the defense in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s new lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Dakota Access LLC asked to join the lawsuit to protect its private business interests in the pipeline’s operation. Dakota Access spent billions developing the pipeline and has standing contracts requiring DAPL to continue transporting oil.

Youth Dynamics Inc., a statewide children’s mental healthcare provider merged with Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch last fall. Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch is a statewide agency founded in 1957 and headquartered on a 410-acre campus west of Billings.

Josh O’Connor, who currently serves as a senior vice president and regional publisher of Carpenter Media, has been named the next CEO of Wick Communications, owner of the Williston Herald and Sidney Herald.

The Williston Basin International Airport has seen a steady increase in boardings so far in 2024. XWA recorded 10,239 boardings in October 2024, a 14.63% increase from 8,932 boardings from the same month in 2023.

Choteau’s Magon Miller is purchasing Meraki Coffee from Mary Shore. She is renaming the drive-up coffee shop “Latte Lane”

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Workers in Montana’s manufacturing sector saw their wages increase by nearly $8,000 on average over the past year, according to a report by the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center at Montana State University.

The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation and Roosevelt Center will Red Lodge Summer Fest 2025 on Aug. 1-2, 2025. Headliners and additional acts will be announced in January with ticket sales. Red Lodge Summer Fest will be held at the Roosevelt Center and adjacent property at 519 S Broadway.

The Montana Department of Commerce has issued grants more than $350,000 to agricultural operations to support and promote agritourism. Montana Moments, LLC, an agritourism business based on the Mahlstedt Ranch east of Circle, was one of 17 recipients of the grant. Montana Moments’ grant will be used to permanently expand attendance capacity at Montana Moments by funding the purchase of tables, chairs and tents, a utility trailer and riding helmets. Montana Moments offers branding weekends, women and girls’ cattle handling retreats on foot and on horseback, a family ranch and rodeo package, children camps, homestead homemaking retreats plus a variety of other

Logan Health in Kalispell is closing its inpatient rehabilitation facility in February with plans to turn the facility into a surgical unit.

Jacksons Food Stores, a convenience store chain based in Idaho, has taken over the operation of three Noon’s convenience stores in Missoula.