Author: Press Room

New Business Licenses February 2024

18 April 2024
Press Room
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Mc Properties LLC, 2205 Myrtle Dr, (406) 698-3675, Propp, Karin, Service, Billings, 59102

D Nez Studio Salon, 2906 1st Ave N, (406) 839-3595, Nez, Duane, Retail Sales, Billings, 59101

Magic City Commercial Cleaning, 484 Greenspring Pl, (406) 647-3607, Kephart, Erik  Billings, 59102

Platinum Exterior Solutions LLC, 2039 Pryor Ln, (406) 690-3434, Hall-Shipley, Vincent, General Contractors, Billings, 59102

Heights Inn Mobile Court, 496 Riley Dr, (406) 252-4581, McCune, Jeremy, Billings, 59105

Billings Vacation Rentals LLC, 1206 Cordova St, (406) 670-9790, Clancy-Loveridge, Megan,Service,Billings, 59102

Beartooth Sewing, 1441 15th St W,  , Weigel-Vernard/Weigel, Timber/Weigel,Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

One Sock Lizzy, 615 Avenue D, (812) 340-5039, Sloffer, Elizabeth Marie Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

The Pamper Cottage LLC, 1831 Main St Ste 1, (406) 500-1556, Egelans/Nelson, Jamie/Chantel,Service, Billings, 59105

Liz Enslow Counseling, 930 Jackson St, (406) 690-5937, Enslow, Service, Billings, 59101

Milk River Ag, 40350 Us Hwy 2, (406) 399-1113, Jensen (Member), Ryan, Retail Sales, Chinook, 59523

Micah Olds Construction, 2406 Brentwood Ln, (406) 224-2225, Olds, Micah, General Contractors, Billings, 59102

Bar 10 LLC, 1236 South Hay Creek Rd, (406) 224-2945, Barlow, William, General Contractors, Pryor, 59066

Evergreen Services, 3201 Leeann Blvd, (812) 704-3456, Elkin, Bethany, Service, Billings, 59102

Heishman Custom Engravers, 3867 Avenue C, (406) 860-4400, Heishman, Steven, Service, Billings, 59102

Redmex Billings LLC, 4110 Bennett Ave, (307) 251-2779, Solorzano, Alex,  Restaurants, Billings, 59105

Dan Sullivan, 1802 Alderson Ave, (406)671-5038, Sullivan, Dan – Dan Sullivan, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59102

Price Unlimited, 416 Gay Pl, (406) 717-9778, Price/Fry, Adam/Jill – Price Unlimited, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

NHJ Properties, 1103 Cook Ave, (406) 579-4903, Pancheau, Hannas, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59102

American Cornhole League Montana, 2901 Beech Ave, (406) 839-0723, McDuffie, Melvin, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Liberty Title & Land Company, 1575 Shiloh Rd Ste F, (406) 204-7020, Wells/Dawson, Steve/Mark, Service, Billings, 59106

Mountain Peak Counseling & Consulting, 2048 Overland Ave Suite 102a, (406) 298-0979, Jansma, Phyllis, service, Billings, 59102

Destefano Consulting LLC, 1780 Shiloh Rd Ste B, (307) 299-9431, Destafano, Quinn,  Service, Billings, 59106

Switzer Land Holding LLC, 2147 Poly Dr, (406) 656-4288, Switzer, Karen, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59102

Solid Ground Rentals LLC, 241-259 Westchester Sq S, (406) 656-4288, Switzer, Karen, Service, Billings, 59105

Baileys Frozen Novelties, 133 Clark Ave, (406) 860-7034, Beals, Christi, Restaurants, Billings, 59101

B&B Equities LLC, 8428 Stillwater Dr, (541) 232-0401, Burns, Coby, Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59106

7f Services LLC, 6620 12 Mile Rd, (406) 647-9424, Finch, Lindsey, General Contractors, Shepherd, 59079

Concordance Health Care Solutions, 1535 Industrial Ave, (406) 371-2052, Cheek, Brianna, Wholesale, Billings, 59101

Zac Birdinground Construction, 1223 Cortez Ave, (406) 861-5187, Birdinground, Zac,  General Contractors, Billings, 59105

A & Z Construction LLC, 1777 Birdie Ln, (406) 850-4424, Leep/Norris, Austin/Zach, General Contractors, Billings, 59106

Picture Perfect Landscaping And Sprinklers LLC, 3101 Buttercup Dr, (406) 839-0641, Sheridan, Patrick, Service, Billings, 59102

Just Vapes, 1313 Grand Ave 8b, Brockman, Cathie, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

West End Farmers Market, 3201 Hesper Rd #5, (406) 702-0283, Leberger, Marc, Service, Billings, 59102

Angel-Up Remodeling Construction, 3810 Bestrom Cir, (406) 860-2245, Moreno-Sandoval, Pedro Angel, General Contractors, Billings, 59101

Giftedbird Massage, 2215 Broadwater Ave, (406) 691-9000, Raffaell, Tina, Solo Practitioner, Billings, 59102

Cleaner Office LLC, 3820 Avenue C, (406) 839-3904, Adams, Cheyann, Service, Billings, 59102

Bruguier Design & Construction LLC, 972 Senora Ave, (541) 419-1737, Bruguier, Julene, General Contractors, Billings, 59105

Elite Property Solutions LLC, 331 Howard Ave, (406) 860-9179, Wilson, Dawn,  Service, Billings, 59101

Fine Line- Residential Home Improvement, 1204 Fairvale Dr, (406) 606-9754, Stauffer, Direlle, Service, Billings, 59101

Grime Scene Unit LLC, 435 19th St W, (406) 608-7373, Jenkins, Andrea, Service, Billings, 59102

Morning Star Cleaning, 670 Revolution Ave, (406) 539-5727, Fishel, Marlen, Service, Billings, 59105

NCI Group Inc Dba Fortify Building Solutions, 7570 Entryway Dr, (406) 970-2039, Ruvalcaba, Edith,  Manufacturing, Billings, 59106

Beartooth Mountain Creative, 1709 Sagebrush Rd, (858) 952-8949, Kelso, Alethea , Service, Billings, 59105

All In The Details LLC, 487 S 44th St W Apt 5-309, (406) 850-1639, Pearl, Edward A,  Service, Billings, 59106

Dumpster Direct LLC, 8930 Longmeadow Dr, (307) 267-1722, Entrekin/McClure, Josh/Dylan, Service, Billings, 59106

Kiss From A Nose Dog Bakery, 1125 Custer Ave #5, (406) 894-9926, Alvarez, Debbie,  Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Billings Mediation Center, 100 N 27th St Ste 255-A, (406) 672-4570, Mclean, Temple,  Service, Billings, 59101

Full Throttle Auto & Cycle Sales Inc, 2506 Phyllis Ln, (406) 259-1347, Mitchell, Cord  Auto Business, Billings, 59102

Crisp & Green, 1595 Grand Ave #240,  , Gisi, Phil,  Restaurants, Billings, 59102

Atlas Retail Services, 5176 Waring Road 46, (760) 420-1276, Bloor, Craig, General Contractors, San Diego, 92120

Health Haven Vending LLC, 2451 Bonito Loop, (406) 318-9633, Dewiter, Douglas,  Retail Sales, Billings, 59105

Healing Minds, 944 Avenue B, (406) 696-5260, Lewis, Breanne, Service, Billings, 59102

P1n3-Tech Solutions, 1601 Lynn Ave, (406) 927-3310, Newman, James, Service, Billings, 59102

The Tin Tavern LLC, 40 Jefferson St, (406) 850-5058, Child, Amber, Service, Billings, 59101

Treasure State Improvements, 2611 7th Ave N, (307) 262-1441, Gray, James, General Contractors, Billings, 59101

Lindaland Embroidery LLC, 8455 Black Marlin Dr, (406) 860-7483, Werbelow, Linda,  Service, Billings, 59106

Raymond Handling Concept Corp (General Construction, 41400 Boyce Rd, (562) 745-7500, Lopez, Sonny, Corp (General Construction, General Contractors, Fremont, 94538

Blick’s Body & Paint, 6552 South Frontage Road #4, (406) 647-4858, Blickley, John,  Auto Business, Billings, 59101

Fifth Click, 626 S 38th St W Unit 1, (406) 200-2493, Sullivan, Andrew, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Sunshine Massage, 511 N 30th St, (406) 503-2561, Jia, Sujuan, Solo Practitioner, Billings, 59101

Ks Chuckwagon, 152 Whitebird Crk Rd, (406) 780-1540, Kornick, Kyle & Sarah,  Restaurants, Columbus, 59019

Sc Salz LLC, 3835 Avenue C, (406) 672-6699, Salz, Claire, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Yellowstone Investigative Services LLC, 1125 Kootenai Ave, (406) 698-2097, Wallis, Vincent, Private Investigators, Billings, 59105

Precision Warehouse Design LLC, 1408 S Main St #319, (972) 251-0999, Dewall Marc, , Service, Carrollton, 75006

Sapper Tile, 911 Washington St, (406) 208-1791, Johnson, Matt, General Contractors, Billings, 59101

Elite Health And Wellness, 1532 Sage Dr, (406) 855-7126, Shvets, Alyona, Service, Billings, 59105

Finpro Solutions LLC, 1239 Harvard Ave, (406) 861-8546, Gillen, Lyman, Service, Billings, 59102

Midwest Shooting Center, 1020 Central Ave Ste 4, (406) 239-9320, Mcquillan, Thomas ,Retail Sales, Billings, 59101

La Cocina Filipina, 2260 St Johns Ave, (406) 861-7453, Vicente, Lain, Restaurants, Billings, 59102

Laura Rumba (Libra Ventures), 1636 Touch Stone St, (406) 750-7818, Rumba, Laura , Real Estate Rental, Billings, 59106

Contra Enterprises LLC, 2012 Storehouse Rd, (307) 258-5964, Dvarishkis, Christianna, Real Estate Rental, Shepherd, 59079

Stevens Equipment Supply LLC, 220 S 8th St W, (406) 206-7029, Levra (Vp), Karen,  Wholesale, Billings, 59101

Kaur LLC-Bullwackers, 1517 Broadwater Ave, (406) 248-9855, Kaur, Amandeep,  Billings, 59102

Antoinette’s Cajun Cuisine, 410 Pennsylvania Ave, (406) 200-1919, Lowery, Antoinette,  Restaurants, Laurel, 59044

Rebecca Baumgardner Psycotherapy LLC, 208 N Broadway Ste 313, (406) 894-0179, Baumgardner, Rebecca, Service, Billings, 59101

H & T Arms: Custom Works Of Montana, 2142 Harnish Blvd, (910) 835-7036, Hanson, Chandler, Service, Billings, 59106

Mountain Movement Rehab And Training, LLC, 4109 Palm Beach Way, (727) 686-0702, Lukas, Cara,  Service, Billings, 59106

Music Teacher & Class’ Performance Gives Gift

18 April 2024
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by Jose Bustos

What A Wonderful World. 

On January 26, 2024, my wife, Zee and I were gifted with a resplendent invitation to Will James Middle School 8th Grade music class sessions conducted by Erin Grummett.  Delightful is saying it lightly. And, as one who is long on words, I find myself short for words that gives justice to this most gratifying and captivating performance by a most talented 8th grade music class.  A class most accomplished in band wind instruments and percussion.  A masterly rendition of songs we listened to, gives credence to the person responsible for these exceptional musicians, Erin Grummett, a gifted music instructor.  We witnessed a virtuoso conducting her class of 43 8th grade musicians. 

Mrs. Grummett’s class performed George Weiss and Bob Thiele’s composition of “What A Wonderful World,” with a touch that seemed as though all her musicians were recording it for the world to listen to, yet there was an audience of only two, my wife and myself.  That song was recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1967, and of course now has become what is called in the music entertainment world as a “standard.”  Another song they performed for us was “Get Back,” written by one of the world’s most prolific and popular song writing teams of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, (my guys), The Beatles.

Most heart wrenching though was a Military medley embracing all the uniformed services.  Knowing that I had spent many years in the Air Force and Army, Mrs. Grummett chose this medley.  As we are a military family, our daughter a sailor, and son a Marine — both Mrs. Bustos and myself poured forth with emotional, heart-felt tears, our gratitude overflowing.  

Erin Grummett received her initial music degree, Bachelor of Music Education at University of Montana at Missoula and then credentialed with her Masters in Conducting from the American Bands College at Southern Oregon University in 2009.  She and her husband, Bryan Grummett, complement each other in their professions, as both are music educators, and were both hired by the School District 2 on the same day in 1995.  Bryan Grummett teaches music at Lewis & Clark Middle School, and has actually taught at this school since 1995.  Erin will be approaching her 30th year with Billings Public Schools and her 15th year at Will James in April of this year.

I found Erin Grummett to be a fascinating individual, most pleasant and ever smiling, humble, yet so very talented. She is proficient in 12 different wind instruments, but favors and specializes with the saxophone, as that instrument was the one she first played in primary and junior high school and was “instrumental” in helping her fall in love with music and the aspiration to eventually teach music.  Her mother told her that she could play anything she wanted except for the drums and the oboe, thus her decision to choose the saxophone.

Erin Grummett is also gifted with the discernment of evaluating a student’s interest, i.e., the ability to tell if a student should be assigned to her class and, or most importantly, the ability to define which instrument may be most appropriate for a student, or is it really one that fits with that child’s personality? 

And now for the diamonds of Will James, the Music Class.  I interviewed Grace Waller, Isla Hardin, Allie Treese, Ava Prescott, Lincoln Pearson, Paige Loberg, Sloan Shulund and Wynstin Olson.  One of the first of things that kindled my interest in these most talented musicians, is the distinctive first names, they are so unique and simply attest to the exclusive, vogue culture of America.  These names I find, are students simply stating, “I am different, I am unique there is no other like me, see me, see my talent.”  Obviously when they were born, mom and dad knew this child would be gifted, outgoing and with a drive for their own future independence. 

Many of these students shared with me their visions for their lives after high school and college.  One of Erin’s students will be working with his very successful dad in the construction industry.  Another will pursue medicine.  Some of the other musicians simply want to attend college in a discipline they have not yet decided on.  All the students, these gifted musicians I interviewed, had additional current interests, such as helping out fellow classmates with life skills, library assistance, ballet, and a greenhouse environment class.  This latter was most interesting, as the students that attend this class learn about growing various types of produce and decorative flowers that are then marketed at a spring sale on May 11, 2024 at Ben Steele Middle School.

I asked each student what brought them to their love for music, and what keeps their interest in this God-given talent, and of course each had their own story to tell.  The one thing that they all seemed to share, is that they enjoy a cohesion they can’t find in any other class.  Each felt they play a small, but most significant part of their own classy school music “family.” Practicing (studying) their instrument is homework, it has to be done, but when in class playing any song, this environment for each student is their group unity, their individual reward.

We look whole heartedly towards attending one of their concerts.

Poll: Majority of Likely Voters Do Not Trust News Media

18 April 2024
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By Casey Harper, The Center Square

Americans do not trust several major U.S. institutions, particularly the national news media.

The Center Square Voters’ Voice poll found that 43% of Americans say the media is trustworthy, compared with 54% who said it is not trustworthy.

Younger people were more likely to trust the media, with 47% of those ages 18-34 saying they trust it and 46% saying the opposite.

The numbers steadily worsen as likely voters get older, with 41% of likely voters 65-years-old and older saying they trust the media, compared to 57% who do not.

With the presidential election coming in November, the poll also asked voters how confident they feel about the following statement: “The media will report on the issues that matter most to you.” Only 42% said they were confident that was the case, while 54% said they were not confident.

When asked whether the “media will cover all candidates fairly,” only 31% were confident the media would do so while 65% were not confident.

Only 36% of likely voters were confident the “media will provide enough context for voters to understand their choices” while 60% were not.

Democrats were far more likely to trust the national news media, 63%-33%. Only 24% of Republicans said they trust the media while 73% do not. Independents agreed, 35%-59%, on the same question.

Republicans have been more skeptical of the media for years, but former President Donald Trump famously called the media “the enemy of the people” and “fake news,” making the relationship between Republicans and the media far more adversarial.

The mainstream media has taken fire for their coverage of Trump, for dismissing the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian interference when time has proven the story as mostly true, and pushing the now largely debunked Trump-Russian collusion narrative, and more.

As for other U.S. institutions, notably, the poll found that Democratic voters do not trust the U.S. Supreme Court whereas Republicans do, and Independents are split. Overall, 56% of likely voters trust the court, while 40% do not.

The U.S. presidency saw a similar rating, but Congress fared much worse. The survey found that only 41% of likely voters trust the U.S. House of Representatives, compared to 54% who do not.

The U.S. Senate fared a bit better with 46% trusting and 50% not trusting.

American likely voters trust their state legislatures 59%-36%, according to the poll.

Latest Report Card Gave State Its Poorest  Grade

18 April 2024
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Last month, WalletHub, a personal finance company, ranked Montana 36th in its Most & Least Innovative States (2024) report. But how business friendly is the state in other categories?

A look at other media and think-tank producers of similar studies shows Montana faring slightly better, and in one, fantastic. So, what does it mean? “These surveys are fine to a point,” said Ronda Wiggers, Montana state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “But you have to factor the criteria used and other considerations before drawing any conclusions. Still, they do provide some considerations for state policymakers to discuss.”

Below is a sample of where Montana ranks in other reports:

* 5–Tax Foundation’s 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index

* 13–Forbes Best States to Start a Small Business (2024)

* B–Truth in Accounting’s Financial State of the States 2023

* 22–Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom Index

* 25–US News’ Best States 2023

* 33–American Legislative Exchange Council’s Rich States Poor States

* 35–CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business

* 36–Wallet Hub Most & Least Innovative States (2024)

NFIB does not rank states. Instead, it ranks environments and conditions for small businesses as a whole across the nation. Its most prestigious report, called the gold standard measurement of the Main Street economy, is the monthly Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) report, also known as the Optimism Index.

“The SBET is one of the few archival data sets on small businesses, particularly when research questions address business operations rather than opinions,” according to this one-page history of SBET. “Today, it’s the largest, longest-running data set on small business economic conditions available.”

The April SBET Report

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index decreased by 0.9 of a point in March to 88.5, the lowest level since December 2012. This is the 27th consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98. The net percent of owners raising average selling prices rose seven points from February to a net 28% percent seasonally adjusted.

“Small business optimism has reached the lowest level since 2012 as owners continue to manage numerous economic headwinds,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Inflation has once again been reported as the top business problem on Main Street and the labor market has only eased slightly.”

Key findings include:

* The net percent of owners who expect real sales to be higher decreased eight points from February to a net negative 18% (seasonally adjusted).

* Twenty-five percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business (higher input and labor costs), up two points from February.

* Owners’ plans to fill open positions continue to slow, with a seasonally adjusted net 11% planning to create new jobs in the next three months, down one point from February and the lowest level since May 2020.

* Seasonally adjusted, a net 38% reported raising compensation, up three points from February’s lowest reading since May 2021.

As reported in NFIB’s monthly jobs report, 37% (seasonally adjusted) of all owners reported job openings they could not fill in the current period. A net 21% (seasonally adjusted) plan to raise compensation in the next three months, up two points from February. The percent of small business owners reporting labor quality as their top small business operating problem rose two points from February to 18%. Labor cost reported as the single most important problem for business owners decreased by one point to 10%, only three points below the highest reading of 13% reached in December 2021.

Fifty-six percent of owners reported capital outlays in the last six months, up two points from February. Of those making expenditures, 38% reported spending on new equipment, 24% acquired vehicles, and 17% improved or expanded facilities. Ten percent of owners spent money on new fixtures and furniture and 5% acquired new buildings or land for expansion. Twenty percent (seasonally adjusted) plan capital outlays in the next few months.

A net negative 10% of all owners (seasonally adjusted) reported higher nominal sales in the past three months, up three points from February. The net percent of owners expecting higher real sales volumes declined eight points to a net negative 18% (seasonally adjusted).

The net percent of owners reporting inventory gains fell six points to a net negative 7%. Not seasonally adjusted, 12% reported increases in stocks (down one point) and 22% reported reductions (unchanged). A net negative 5% (seasonally adjusted) of owners viewed current inventory stocks as “too low” in March, down one point from February. A net negative 7% (seasonally adjusted) of owners plan inventory investment in the coming months, unchanged from February.

The net percent of owners raising average selling prices rose seven points from February to a net 28% seasonally adjusted. Twenty-five percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, up two points from last month.

Unadjusted, 13% reported lower average selling prices and 43% reported higher average prices. Price hikes were the most frequent in finance (61% higher, 10% lower), retail (54% higher, 6% lower), construction (51% higher, 4% lower), wholesale (50% higher, 17% lower), and transportation (44% higher, 0% lower). Seasonally adjusted, a net 33% plan price hikes in March.

The frequency of reports of positive profit trends was a net negative 29% (seasonally adjusted), up two points from February, but still a very poor reading. Among owners reporting lower profits, 29% blamed weaker sales, 17% blamed the rise in the cost of materials, 13% cited usual seasonal change, and 12% cited price change. For owners reporting higher profits, 53% credited sales volumes, 23% cited usual seasonal change, and 12% cited higher selling prices.

Two percent of owners reported that all their borrowing needs were not satisfied. Twenty-seven percent reported all credit needs met and 59% said they were not interested in a loan.

A net 8% reported their last loan was harder to get than in previous attempts. Four percent of owners reported that financing was their top business problem. A net 17% of owners reported paying a higher rate on their most recent loan, up one point from February.

The NFIB Research Center has collected Small Business Economic Trends data with quarterly surveys since the fourth quarter of 1973 and monthly surveys since 1986. Survey respondents are randomly drawn from NFIB’s membership.

Judge Strikes Down Emissions Rule

18 April 2024
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A federal judge in Kentucky struck down a Biden administration rule that required states to measure and report the greenhouse gas emissions from any vehicles traveling on the national highway system, according to a report in Epoch Times.

“With this victory in court, we’re slamming the brakes on the Biden Administration’s politics that make no sense,” said Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, who led a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in suing the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) over the rule that sought to force states to cut carbon dioxide emissions on their roads.

Multiple states that sued over the rule argued that it could dampen job creation and eliminate future economic development.

Judge Benjamin Beaton of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky blocked the FHWA rule on April 1, calling it “invalid” and “a statutorily unsupported and substantively capricious exercise of the [FHWA] Administrator’s rulemaking authority.”

Montana Highlights April 15, 2024

17 April 2024
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A new rest area off of Interstate 90 opened recently, one year after it was originally suppose to open. The Headwaters Rest Area in Three Forks is near U.S. Highway 287 and the Bridger Brewing Facility. It was built by a local developer, who constructed the new rest stop facility in exchange for acquiring the old rest area property off of North 19th Avenue in Bozeman.

Recently two sections of road in Yellowstone National Park have opened to non-motorized vehicles. Since last week 49 miles of U.S. Highway 89 have been available for cyclists, providing paved recreational opportunities from the West Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs with travel thru Madison and Norris Junctions.

The operators of the Séliš Ksanka QÍispé Dam got the go-ahead in last month to keep more water in Flathead Lake this spring. This is an effort to avoid a repeat of last summer’s low water levels. Energy Keepers, Inc., the company that oversees the dam on the south end of Flathead Lake, had previously petitioned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deviate from the lake’s Flood Risk Management Plan. While the lake is usually lowered to make room for spring runoff, the Corps determined that the risk of flooding is minimal, according to Energy Keepers.

Glacier National Park officials expect construction on the Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Upper McDonald Creek Bridge to end this year. Other projects, like water infrastructure and road improvements in the Swiftcurrent developed area will be beginning. New construction projects slated for 2024 include the installation of fiber optic lines, the rehabilitation of roads near park headquarters and a dust mitigation treatment in Many Glacier. Park officials One of the largest upcoming projects includes the construction on the Swiftcurrent Water Distribution System and road rehabilitation, which will begin after the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn, Many Glacier Hotel and Many Glacier Campground close for the 2024 season.

Dozens of people showed up to a Bozeman city commission meeting recently to push the city to stop a development proposed for the city’s midtown area. The “Guthrie” building is proposed for the corner of North 5th Avenue and Villard Street. Developers HomeBase Partners are proposing to build a five-story, 111-unit building that will include half of the units as affordable housing. The units will be a mix of one-bedroom and studio apartments, and the half affordable units will be restricted to 80% of area median income, which in 2023 numbers is an income of $67,350 for a two-person household.

The escalation of extreme wildfires has prompted a critical examination of wildfire management strategies. A new study from the University of Montana reveals how fire suppression ensures that wildfires will burn under extreme conditions at high severity, exacerbating the impacts of climate change and fuel accumulation. The study used computer simulations to show that attempting to suppress all wildfires results in fires burning with more severe ecological impacts.

Starting in November, anglers will be able to fish year-round in stretches of two rivers close to the Yellowstone National Park gates in both West Yellowstone and Gardiner.Fishing access is only currently allowed in all areas of the park from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend – May 25 this year – through Oct. 31 each year. Under the new regulations, anglers will be able to fish the Madison River from the Montana-Wyoming border to the park boundary near Yellowstone’s west entrance in West Yellowstone, as well as on the Gardner River from Osprey Falls downstream to where the river meets the Yellowstone River near Gardiner. Beginning in 2025, an annual fishing permit for the park will be valid Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. The rest of the park will still only allow fishing from Saturday of Memorial Day weekend 25 through Oct. 31.

Last month, the Lake County commissioners petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about “a real and dangerous public safety threat” due to the “dangerously low level of Flathead lake during western Montana’s wildfire season.” The commissioners blamed Energy Keepers Inc., which operates the Seliš Ksanka Qispe (SKQ) Dam at the foot of Flathead Lake. Energy Keepers responded  that “quite simply, the county’s petition is nothing more than an effort to ensure a constant summer lake level to benefit a small group of lakefront dock owners.

As part of a nationwide program, MAP Brewing of Bozeman has partnered with the Gallatin Watershed Council to create the Earth to Beer Hoppy Blonde Ale. Earth to Beer seeks to inspire breweries to support environmentally conscious producers and suppliers, build relationships between breweries and local environmental nonprofits and financially support the nonprofits.

Watts and Kennedy Farmers Union Insurance of Miles City has moved its office location to 2610 Main Street. Watts and Kennedy had been in their previous location for nearly 30 years, purchasing the building in 1997.

Montana State University plans to break ground soon on a new building for its computer science programs. The university will fund the construction of Gianforte Hall using a $50 million donation from the Gianforte Family Foundation. Gov. Greg Gianforte will be at the ceremony from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on April 17. The event will be on the planned site for the new building next to Norm Asbjornson Hall and the campus parking garage.

Dave Pike purchased the Tupelo Grille in Whitefish last fall from Pat Carloss. The restaurant then closed for renovations. The newly remodeled business opened in mid-February. The kitchen was the focus of the renovation, but the work extended into the restaurant. The menu remains virtually the same.

Amazon opened is first logistics facility in Montana, at a ceremonial ribbon-cutting with Gov. Greg Gianforte and Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier. The 71,000-square-foot building is northeast of the Wye, where U.S. Highway 93 splits off of Interstate 90 enroute to Kalispell. Amazon has hired about 100 employees, not counting delivery drivers who work for independent contractors. It will process and between 6,500 and 7,000 packages a day with capacity to expand.

A new Chipotle restaurant will open on the west side of Bozeman, at the intersection of Cottonwood Road and Oak Street at the Northwest Crossing Development. It will feature a new concept called  “Chipotlane”—which allows people to order their food through the app and pick it up at the restaurant.

Job Market Not So Great for Native-born

17 April 2024
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While the labor markets seems to be returning to 2019 – 2020 levels, a closer look reveals that it isn’t all that great for native-born Americans. For many of them it has been declining for the past four years because of job losses to illegal immigrants, according to Epoch Times. Illegal immigrant numbers are obscuring actual conditions.

Since 2020, the number of illegal immigrants working in the US have increased 3.4 million, according to stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), while the number of US born workers declined by 78,000.

The number of illegal immigrants capturing the jobs has been more than double legal immigrants, according to the Brookings Institute. Although the Center for Immigration Studies suggests that that number is probably off considerably because it is hard to know how many illegal immigrants have entered the country and found work. They estimate that half the job gains have gone to illegal immigrants.

Economist Steve Moore proclaimed that the US actually “desperately needs” more legal immigrants, who possess high skill levels or special talents, but illegal immigrants tend to be less educated and do not bring such skills.

An article in Epoch Times reports that while the BLS includes illegal immigrants in their statistics, they identify them as “undocumented workers” and they deliberately mix their total with the total number of legal immigrants so as not to publicly disclose the number of illegals. Were the numbers available, the Center for Immigration Studies director, Steven Camarota said he believes it would reveal that half the job growth has gone to illegal immigrants.

In March 2024 there were a total of 31 million immigrant workers, making up about 20 percent of the US labor force, of which the Center for Immigration Studies estimated 9 million were illegal immigrants. That number increased 2.4 million in 2023 according to The Congressional Budget Office.

The Center has been concerned with a decline in the labor force participation of U.S.-born working-age men from the 1960s to the present. The decline is more pronounced among the less educated and it is linked to many social problems, including overdose deaths and crime.

Epoch Times reports that employed illegal immigrants include individuals who have been apprehended and released into the country, individuals who have managed to evade the Border Patrol, officially known as “gotaways,” and individuals who have overstayed their visas.

The Heritage Foundation points out that because of the illegal immigrants’ impact on the job market American workers also earn less than they would otherwise.

EV Mandates Transfer Wealth from Poor to Wealthy, Red to Blue

17 April 2024
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President Joe Biden’s new EV mandates will likely prove to be a sizable wealth transfer from rural red regions of America to urban blue sections, and to wealthy Democrats who reside in them, according to reports.

The Biden administration has imposed the “strictest” rules in history for the auto industry staring in 2027. On March 20, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its tailpipe emissions rules for the auto industry, which will effectively force carmakers to have one-third of new car sales be plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) by 2027 and more than two-thirds by 2032.

The rule will likely prove to be “a sizable wealth transfer from rural red regions of America to urban blue sections, and to wealthy Democrats who reside in them,” according to reports.

News reports say that the new regulation represents a dramatic increase from current EV sales, which were about 8 percent of the new car market in 2023.

While environmentalists cheer, critics say that the measures will be particularly punitive for huge segments of the U.S. population who don’t want, can’t use, or can’t afford EVs. If carmakers go with the rules, the cost of remaining gas-fired cars and trucks will likely escalate as demand dwarfs supply.

Energy analyst, Robert Bryce, said, “In reality it’s a type of class warfare that will prevent low- and middle-income consumers from being able to afford new cars.”

As many traditional car buyers struggle, the federal subsidies and incentives continue to flow, to the benefit of EV buyers.

According to an October 2023 report by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as much as $48,000 of the cost of the average EV sold in the United States is paid, not by the owner, but in the form of “socialized costs” that are spread out among taxpayers and electricity consumers over a 10-year period.

These socialized costs come in the form of taxes, government subsidies, fuel economy credits paid by gas carmakers to EV manufacturers, and higher electricity bills as consumers absorb the capital costs required to expand the power grid and install new charging stations.

The report states that “the average model year 2021 EV would cost $48,698 more to own over a 10-year period without $22 billion in government favors given to EV manufacturers and owners.”

These dollars, which do not take into account the additional dollars that gas-car owners will likely pay for their vehicles as manufacturers are forced to make fewer of them, amount to a government-mandated wealth transfer to affluent EV owners, paid by those who often cannot afford to buy EVs.

The new EPA mandate is “aimed at accommodating a very narrow segment of the auto-buying public: wealthy, white Democrats who live in a handful of liberal communities,” Mr. Bryce said. “EV ownership is largely defined by class, ideology, and geogaphy.”

Bryce reported in Epoch Times that 57 percent of EV owners earn more than $100,000 annually, 75 percent are male, and 87 percent are white. In addition, EV buyers are overwhelmingly Democrats, with 71 percent of Republicans stating in a Gallup poll that they would not consider owning an electric vehicle.

 Data from the Department of Energy supports this view. As of year-end 2022, California had 903,600 registered EVs in the state, or 37 percent of all EVs owned nationwide.

The next largest number of EV owners were in Florida, Texas, and Washington state, with 168,000, 149,000, and 104,100 EVs respectively, followed by New Jersey, New York, Georgia, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

According to a report by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, “if you count all the EVs in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Montana, and Idaho, they account for less than one percent of the total U.S. sales.”

In attempting to force Americans to switch to electric cars, a number of blue states including California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington are on track to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035, according to non profit group Coltura, which advocates for the switch from gasoline to electric cars.

There are practical reasons why people are unwilling to spend thousands of dollars more on electric cars. According to a November 2023 AAA survey, the primary reasons for people not to buy electric cars are a lack of charging stations, limited range, and time to charge the battery.

A recent Rasmussen poll found that 65 percent of Americans surveyed don’t think they’re likely to make an EV their next automobile purchase.

Another poll of voters found that only 14 percent were strongly in favor of regulations to phase out gas-powered cars and trucks, while nearly 60 percent were against. Opinions split along party lines, with 53 of Democrats in favor of the EPA regulations and 76 percent of Republicans against, with 59 percent of independents also opposing.

The strongest support for EV mandates came from people earning more than $150,000 a year.

The Clean Freight Coalition, a trucking trade group that supports a transition away from fossil fuels, said that the timeline set by the new EPA rules was impossible to meet given current technology and infrastructure, and that the Biden administration’s EV plan would bring significant harm to commercial vehicle operators, the businesses they serve, and consumers.

Jim Mullen, Clean Freight Coalition executive director, told the Washington Examiner, “Today, these vehicles fail to meet the operational demands of many motor carrier operations, reduce the payload of trucks, and thereby require more trucks to haul the same amount of freight, and lack sufficient charging and alternative fueling infrastructure to support adoption.”

The reliably pro-Democrat United Auto Workers Union (UAW) initially opposed the EPA mandate, fearing lost jobs due to the fact that EVs require fewer American workers to assemble components that often originate in China and that many of the new EV assembly plants being built by carmakers are in non-union states like Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.

The UAW came around to supporting the EV plan, however, after the EPA adjusted its regulations to slow the pace of the transition.

The Biden administration’s barrage of climate-related energy and automotive mandates, critics say, fall into a category of what a recent report by the Cato Institute calls “policy beyond capability.”

Commissioners Send Letter to Tester

17 April 2024
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Yellowstone County Commissioners have sent Senator Jon Tester a letter asking him to support a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging them not to implement a request from California to require zero-emissions from railroad locomotives.

The letter states that the waiver being requested by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is unaffordable by many railroad companies and it would force more freight traffic onto roads. And, further, the technology that would be necessary to meet the mandate does not exist.

 The waiver being requested would allow California and any other states to require zero-emission railroad locomotives by 2030. “The CARB regulation would limit the useful life of over 25,000 locomotives by barring those 23 years and older from operating in California. This policy ignores the operational reality that locomotives are long-term and capital –intensive investments that travel not just in one state but across the 140,000 –mile North American rail network. Small railroads cannot simply replace these locomotives and may face bankruptcy if the rule is approved. In addition, CARB would require railroads to deposit as much as $800 million per year per railroad into “spending accounts” that could only be used to purchase zero –emission equipment.”

The commissioners point out that those same passenger and freight railroads serve Montana and connect farmers and miners to west coast customers and they would be forced to comply with the same  mandate to serve those customers.

“One of the main economic responsibilities of the federal government is to facilitate interstate commerce and economic cooperation. It is for this very reason that interstate commerce laws preempt state laws. Please support and join the Manchin/Ricketts letter in the Senate that requests the EPA reject the CARB waiver.”

Commercial and New Residential Building Permits April 15, 2024

17 April 2024
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Commercial

Rimrock II, LLC/ Jones Construction, Inc, 4040 King Ave W Com Addition $2,000,000

Briarwood The/ TW Ridley LLC, 3429 Briarwood Blvd, Com Addition, $250,000

Vision Holdings Billings LLC/ Exterior Design Solutions, 1747 Poly Dr, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $22,000

Minot Builders Supply Inc/ J And B Contracting Services, Inc/ 3032 Cel Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding $49,352

Square 106 LLC, 1678 Shiloh Rd, Com Footing/Foundation Permit, $10,000

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1818 Annafeld Pkwy W, Com New Townhome Shell, $400,000

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6217 Norma Jean Sq N, Com New Townhome Shell, $450,000

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6223 Norma Jean Sq N, Com New Townhome Shell, $400,000

Albertson’s Stores Sub LLC/ ADT Commercial LLC Dba Everon, 2334 Central Ave,

Com Remodel $7,500

New Albertson’s Inc #2025/ ADT Commercial LLC Dba Everon, , 611 N 27th St, Com Remodel, $7,500

Popelka Enterprises LLC/ ADT Commercial LLC Dba Everon, 670 Main St, Com Remodel $7,500

Thiel, Larry V/ Randall Siding, 2910 Grand Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $12,050

Cline, Brett M & Marcus R/ Donahue Roofing & Siding Llc, 723 Central Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $45,804

Cowles Montana Media Company/ Finishing Touch Exteriors Inc, 2045 Overland Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $35,370

Billings Clinic/ Empire Roofing Inc, 2702 8th Ave N, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $127,869

Larsen Family Properties/ Jones Construction, Inc, 2075 Overland Ave, Com Remodel, $150,000

Residential

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6217 Norma Jean Sq N, Res New Accessory Structure, $50,640

Infinity Home LLC/ Infinity Home LLC, 1820 W Thunder Mountain Rd, Res New Single Family, $248,786

Infinity Home LLC/ Infinity Home LLC, 2243 Lindero Blvd, Res New Single Family, $250,214

Infinity Home LLC / Infinity Home LLC, 602 Chino Cir, Res New Single Family, $278,370

Dirk Arnold Construction/ Dirk Arnold Construction, 860 El Rancho Dr, Res New Single Family, $340,000

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6221 Eva Marie Ln, Res New Single Family, $147,578

Lorenz Construction LLC/ Lorenz Construction, 3553 Rachelle Cir, Res New Single Family, $230,726

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1818 Annafeld Pkwy W, Res New Townhome, $0

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 1820 Annafeld Pkwy W, Res New Townhome, $0

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6217 Norma Jean Sq N, Res New Townhome, $0

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6219 Norma Jean Sq N, Res New Townhome, $0

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6223 Norma Jean Sq N, Res New Townhome, $0

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6225 Norma Jean Sq N, Res New Townhome, $0

Felton Associates Inc/ Chamberlain Construction, 1314 Anchor Ave, Res New Single Family, $465,000

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6201 Eva Marie Ln, Res New Single Family, $132,114

McCall Development Inc/ McCall Development, 6195 Eva Marie Ln, Res New Single Family, $147,360

Sartorie, Michael/ J & M Development, 1132 Truck Farm Pl, Res New Two Family, $391,683