Author: Press Room

Shafer Named Treasurer

26 July 2023
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In a unanimous vote, Yellowstone County Commissioners named Marci Shafer, Billings, as the Treasurer for Yellowstone County, replacing Sherry Long who is retiring. Shafer will assume her new position on August 1.

Shafer was one of five people who applied for the position.

The appointment is the fulfillment of a goal for Shafer. Ten years ago she ran as a Republican candidate to be county treasure but was defeated by Sherry Long in the primary. Shafer in fact worked in the County Treasurer’s office prior to that — 6 years in the motor vehicle department and 7 years in the treasurer’s department.

In the interim, Shafer has remained in public service having worked for the past 7 years in the Department of Revenue’s property assessment department.

Shafer commented that she hopes the transition will go smoothly in order to maintain great public service for the taxpayers and to continue good relationship with the departments in Yellowstone County and with the Department of Revenue.

Shafer is a native of Billings, having left the city to live in Huntley a few years ago. She and her husband, Ole, of 44 years, have two children. During her spare time Shafer enjoys motorcycle trips and riding horses and most outdoor activities. 

Among the other candidates who applied for the position was Henry (Hank) Peters, who currently works in the Treasurer’s office. He was among the three the commissioners interviewed, which besides Shafer, included Katherine (Kate) Becker. The other candidates were: Tamara E. Parnell and Lorena (Rena) Rickard.

Rosendale Comments – BLM Conservation Lease Plan

26 July 2023
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US Congressman Matt Rosendale commented to the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on their proposed Conservation and Landscape Health rule that will lock up swaths of public land for “conservation leases”.

“This rule is just another example of the Biden Administration weaponizing the government to appease radical environmentalists at the expense of the people of Montana,” said Rep. Rosendale. “This expansive rule will limit recreation, timber, grazing, and important energy development on public land. Even more consequential is the impact this will have on cattle ranching, which will require Montana ranchers to compete with coastal corporations for the limited number of available leases.

He sent the letter on June 28 to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning objecting to the proposed Conservation and Landscape Health Rule claiming the rule will negatively impact the people of Montana.

“The BLM has limited public input on this disastrous rule by only allowing five public forums in urban city centers rather than the communities that would be impacted and did not even provide concerned stakeholders with the opportunity to ask questions to federal employees. I seek to remind Secretary Haaland and the Bureau of their “multiple use” obligations and implore them to look toward the devastating impacts this will have on my state. I urge BLM to immediately withdraw this harmful rule.” said Rep. Rosendale.

The BLM’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, proposed in April, will establish conservation leases that will lock away large areas of land that could be used for outdoor recreation, grazing, timber, and energy development.

The rule, said Rep. Rosendale, is in direct violation of the Taylor Grazing Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, which requires a “multiple use” policy on public lands.

Changing the BLM’s multiple use mandate without the proper input from Congress or state and county governments is an unprecedented power grab, he said. It will empower the Bureau to approve acreage limitations that could limit critical vegetation management and harm the people of Montana.

NFIB Filed Briefs in Seven Cases, Six Decided in Favor of Small Business

26 July 2023
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From National Federation of Independent Business

The U.S. Supreme Court concluded its 2022-2023 term on June 30. Overall, the term was a convincing success for small business. NFIB filed amicus briefs in seven cases this term. Of these, six cases were decided in favor of small businesses. From civil penalty prosecutions to the jurisdiction of federal agencies, many of these decisions will have an immediate and positive impact on the small business community.

“In many ways, the U.S. Supreme Court acts as a final safeguard for the rights of small business owners,” said Beth Milito, Executive Director of NFIB’s Small Business Legal Center. “Burdensome mandates, inconsistent regulations, and costly penalties can make it impossible for small businesses to thrive. Thankfully, the Supreme Court agreed this term and acted largely in defense of the small business community. In several decisions, the Court reinforced the importance of small businesses nationwide to their communities and the national economy.”

Bittner v. United States

In this case, the Supreme Court protected small businesses from incurring numerous penalties under the Bank Secrecy Act. The case questioned whether the failure to file a required report is considered a singular violation in itself or if an individual should incur multiple violations for each unreported account. Ultimately, the Court concluded that violations under the Bank Secrecy Act should not result in multiple, extraneous penalties. This will benefit the many small business owners who mean to comply but lack the resources to navigate the complex regulatory requirements.

Wilkins v. United States

This case questioned whether the Quiet Title Act’s statute of limitations is a jurisdictional requirement, which would prohibit small business owners from filing a suit against the government after the 12-year time period expired. Instead, the Court agreed with NFIB that the statute of limitations was not jurisdictional and was instead a claim-processing rule. This decision reinforced the importance of property rights and the balance between the government and property owners, ensuring that small business owners could have their day in court.

Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency

Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency was perhaps the most awaited decision from this Supreme Court term for small businesses as it coincided with the enactment of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and the Department of the Army’s final rule on the waters of the U.S. The case concerned whether wetlands are considered “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. Before this decision, small business owners had no clear way to determine if their land was under the jurisdiction of the EPA. This impeded their ability to run their businesses or improve upon their land. Thankfully, the Court unanimously rejected the standard courts and the government have used to expand the EPA’s jurisdiction over private property in favor of a narrower test. The decision creates a clearer picture of WOTUS and the authority of the EPA and the Department of the Army, saving many landowners from bureaucratic confusion and unfair penalties.

Tyler v. Hennepin County

The case questioned whether the Takings Clause prevents the government, after seizing and selling a person’s property to collect back taxes, from keeping the surplus amount collected from the sale. This government practice is commonly referred to as “home equity theft.” The Court unanimously ruled in favor of Tyler on her Fifth Amendment takings claim, ensuring that small business owners are protected from this unfair government practice.

Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters

In our amicus brief in the case, NFIB argued that multiple court precedents had already determined that the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) does not immunize unions from state tort suits involving the intentional destruction of private property. The Supreme Court agreed, solidifying the established balance of power between labor unions and employers. This decision ensures that small businesses have the right to seek compensation via legal action following the vandalism of their property.

Coinbase Inc. v. Bielski

In Coinbase Inc. v. Bielski, the Supreme Court considered whether the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) requires trial courts to halt trial court proceedings once a party appeals the court’s decision on a motion to arbitrate. In answering that it does, the Court saved business owners from enduring the costly litigation that they seek to avoid by requesting arbitration in the first place.

New MetraPark Manager

26 July 2023
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Stoney Field of Montrose County Colorado has been named as MetraPark’s new general manager.

According to a press release, the choice was unanimous among Yellowstone County Commissioners.

Field most recently served, for the past six years, as the Fairgrounds and Events Center Director in Montrose County, Colorado. Field’s first day on the job will be August 7.

His experience includes background in rodeo, livestock and ag related events and programs, along with community events and concerts. 

Field has worked at every level of events from being a participant, to organizing, promoting, staging and conducting numerous types of shows and productions. 

“We had a number of well qualified candidates for this important opening”, said Yellowstone County Commission Chairman John Ostlund. 

“It speaks well to the reputation earned by Metra and its staff over the years as a premier venue in our region. We sought creative leadership, the ability to build and manage successful teams, a track record that demonstrates to us that the general manager selected has the ability to involve our entire region in the mission of MetraPark, while keeping an eye on increasing revenues and keeping expenses in line in order that we give our taxpayers the best bang for their buck. Stoney has built strong ties with promoters, vendors, volunteer groups and especially his customers. We are confident that Stoney will help us grow in ag events, along with fair profitability, concerts, sporting events and family friendly events equally, giving our region a wide range of opportunities to spend their entertainment dollars with us.” s

New CEO of YWCA

26 July 2023
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The  YWCA Billings has announced the appointment of Erin Lambert as the new CEO of YWCA Billings. Lambert has extensive experience with the YWCA having served YWCA Billings over the past 18 years.  Lambert is a non-profit management professional with a deep-rooted familiarity of YWCA Billings. She has expertise in trauma-informed care and is dedicated to the field of domestic and sexual violence, as well as human trafficking. Her tenure with YWCA has allowed her to develop expertise in trauma-informed care program delivery and design. Lambert’s dedication to the field of domestic and sexual violence, as well as human trafficking, has earned her recognition throughout the community.

NAM Forms Council of Manufacturing

26 July 2023
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The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), along with members of the NAM’s Council of Manufacturing Associations and Conference of State Manufacturers Associations, has launched Manufacturers for Sensible Regulations, a group aimed at addressing the unworkable onslaught of rules that has emerged from the Biden administration in recent months.

—More than 63% of manufacturers say they spend more than 2,000 hours a year complying with federal regulations, according to the NAM’s Q2 2023 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey.

—The percentage of manufacturers with a positive outlook on the future of their business is at its lowest in almost four years, according to the survey.

 “Washington is creating tremendous doubt across our sector at a time when we’re still dealing with economic uncertainty,” NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said.

“The unbalanced regulations coming out of this administration threaten to undermine our ability to grow, compete and win on a global scale,” added American Cleaning Institute President and CEO, NAM board member and CMA Chair Melissa Hockstad.

The new coalition is already meeting with key members of the Biden administration and Congress to share the impact the numerous regulations have had on the manufacturing industry.

“We will work with our state partners and the White House to find solutions to help grow our sector in the most responsible way possible,” said Utah Manufacturers Association President and CEO, NAM board member and COSMA Chair Todd Bingham

MSU Eastern Extension Studies Camelina, Canola as Sugar Beet Replacement

26 July 2023
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Dr. Chengci Chen, MSU-EARC professor of agronomy and superintendent recently presented, in Sidney, the results of a study of camelina and canola as potential rotational crops for dryland and irrigated production systems. The study is being conducted at Montana State University Eastern Agricultural Research Center’s (EARC).

“Demands for oilseeds has increased in recent years; canola and camelina could be profitable alternatives to sugar beets, especially because the demand for camelina for biofuel production is surging,” said Chen, adding that several companies are seeking millions of acres for camelina production.

Camelina is a new crop to this area and both canola and camelina are suitable in rotation with crops such as wheat and barley and could potentially make a more profitable and resilient crop system. They are suitable for dryland and irrigated farming, though they have a higher yield under irrigation but plant disease is a concern. Research at EARC also aims at selecting cultivars that can produce higher yield with less input, especially nitrogen input. 

Chen’s research will offer vital information including cultivar adaptability and yield potential and agronomic management strategies for these alternative crops including fertility needs, planting time and rate, irrigation management, weed control, harvesting method, and disease management.

“Agriculture is very important to our community. With sugar beets out, and a lot of uncertainty, we want to find alternatives for growers that are profitable,” Chen explained. He went on to add of their research, “We don’t want farmers to fail on a large scale. Our research in small plot-scale allows us to figure out what cultivators can and what can’t grow in this environment and the agronomic strategies for these new crops before farmers take these crops to their farms for large-scale production.”

Dr. Chen welcomes farmers and the general public to attend the field to learn the work the scientists are doing at EARC and see the crop performance. Dr. Chen also wants to thank local businesses for sponsoring the luncheon at the field day.

Montana Home School Heroes

26 July 2023
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By Lawrence Reed, Director of Frontier Institute

“On this important question, the verdict is in and it is definitive: The one ingredient that makes the most difference in educational outcomes is parental involvement.”

Of all the ingredients in the recipe for educating children, which one has the greatest potential to improve student outcomes?

Teacher unions would put higher salaries for their members at the top of the list, to which we should all respond, “Been there, done that!” Teacher compensation has risen generously around the country, while indicators of pupil performance have stagnated or fallen.

What about smaller class size, a longer school year, more money for computers, or simply more money for fill-in-the-blank? Evidence strongly suggests that those elements bear little or no connection to student success. On this important question, the verdict is in and it is definitive: The one ingredient that makes the most difference in educational outcomes is parental involvement. 

Homeschooling is the ultimate in parental involvement. Parents who give up time and income to directly supervise the education of their children are exercising the ultimate parental responsibility. Recognizing these heroes in our midst is long overdue.

The California-based Reason Foundation reports that in the 18 years between 2002 and 2020, spending per pupil in Montana public schools rose to nearly $14,000—an increase of 25 percent in real terms, after accounting for inflation. That means that the state’s roughly 7,400 home school children (as reported by the Associated Press) are saving Montana taxpayers well over ten million bucks this year. Nationwide, home schoolers save the public upwards of $56 billion. The average homeschool household spends under $1,000 of its own income to educate a child, even as it still pays taxes to a system it doesn’t use. 

Study after study show that home education gets far more bang for the bucks than schools run by government do. Scores on achievement tests are off-the-charts but perhaps most remarkably, according to the National Home Education Research Institute, are these facts: “Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not related” to those test scores, and the “degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement” either. And the best colleges and universities are eager to recruit homeschooled students.

As explained by Marianna Brashear of the Foundation for Economic Education: “The word ‘schooling’ in homeschooling is misleading because education takes place in and out of formal lessons, including field trips and hands-on learning. The biggest waste of time in schools comes not just from questionable or one-sided content, but also from ‘teaching to the test,’ where kids memorize, regurgitate, and forget.”

Teaching children at home isn’t for everyone. There are good schools—private, and public—that are doing a better job than some parents could do. But homeschooling is working very well for the growing number of parents and children who choose it. You don’t hear much about this because parents don’t have their own tax-funded PR departments.

Parents who homeschool often want a strong moral focus. Others are fleeing unsafe schools where discipline and academics take a backseat to silly fads and politically correct dogma. Many homeschool parents complain about the pervasiveness in public schools of instructional methods that border on pedagogical malpractice, including drag queen story hours and far-Left indoctrination. Others value the flexibility to travel with their children for hands-on, educational purposes; the ability to customize curricula to each child’s needs and interests; and the potential to strengthen relationships within the family.

There’s no evidence that homeschooled children make anything but fine, solid citizens who respect others and work hard as adults. At least instinctively, we all seem to know that. When we hear of bullying, rioting, drug abuse or unruliness, nobody thinks, “Oh, there go the home school kids again.” 

Treasure State parents who are interested in exploring this proven education option should take a look at the website of the Montana Coalition of Home Educators. How to get started, how to comply with the law, what resources are available—it’s all there. Do your children a favor and give it a look.

Montana Highlights July 15, 2023

26 July 2023
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Five years ago, Flathead Valley United began planning  to develope an indoor training facility. The land purchase was finalized in 2021 and the soccer club is moving forward with development. The planned 16,800-square-foot indoor sporting facility will be located in Evergreen, where it will be located next to Evergreen Middle School. The indoor facility space will be maximized to allow for a 7v7 or 9v9 field, with a mezzanine seating area.

Owner Kyle Pemberton formed the idea of Man of the Woods after making house calls to cut clients’ hair. The mobile barbershop, Man of the Woods, is the first in the state of Montana. This year, they cut hair in temperatures as low as 30 below zero. Man of the Woods operates seven days a week in Big Sky and around Bozeman

“The Amenity Trap: How high-amenity communities can avoid being loved to death,” focuses on four broad categories in which tourism destinations increasingly struggle: housing, infrastructure and public services, fiscal policy, and natural disasters. The report was produced by Headwaters Economics of Bozeman. The report examines how increasing levels of outdoor-recreation tourism can become stressors in those areas, and how some communities have addressed the challenges .

Wade Fellin  is owner of the Big Hole Lodge in Wise River Montana and fishing guide. For years, trout in the Big Hole and other area rivers have seen population declines, with some sections reporting less than 1,000 trout per mile. The declines prompted Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to issue emergency angling restrictions on the Big Hole, Ruby, and Beaverhead Rivers this June. FWP has acknowledged that low stream flows and high-water temperatures are stressing fish to the point of population decline. Fellin and other Montana anglers and outfitting businesses created the Save Wild Trout Campaign this June. The campaign aims to raise at least $500,000 in its first year to hire a team of private and independent scientists to study the fish declines.

The Bookshelf in downtown Kalispell was purchased by Stephanie Pius in June of this year. When Stephanie, a lover of books herself, bought the business on Main Street, she said it never occurred to change the store away from a bookstore. Pius looks forward to making the store her own .

The Gaul family recently began a “glamping” business.Bridger and Annie Gaul, have opened a luxurious form of camping on property they own on Flathead River near Paradise.

A long-awaited grant of $30.5 million for a road construction project on U.S. Highway 93 south of Ninepipe Reservoir in the Mission Valley has gained momentum. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will receive the funding as part of a larger pot of $130.5 million disbursed by the Federal Highway Administration. The 3 mile project includes a multi-span bridge over Post Creek with an uphill passing lane, and a multi-use bike and walking path. It will also include infrastructure to reduce wildlife collisions and other safety improvements         .

The Missoula Urban Transportation District was selected to receive $39.1 million through FTA’s FY 23 Low- or No-Emission Vehicle Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration, which recently announced 130 awards totaling nearly $1.7 billion from the Infrastructure Law for transit projects in 46 states and territories

The Whitefish City Council is considering holding a public hearing in August to ask voters to reallocating a portion of the city’s resort tax toward funding affordable community housing development and programs. Any change to resort tax allocations would require voter approval, with the council having the final say on whether to ask voters to weigh in at the ballot box during this fall’s elections.

Sun Mountain Lumber, Deer Lodge, has purchased the R-Y Timber mill in Livingston and plan to reopen the facility

The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and KLE Construction Inc. have substantially completed the Hardin-South project. The Hardin-South project was a roadway reconstruction project?focused on?improving State Secondary Highway 313 (S 313) by addressing wear and tear and improving the service life of the roadway. Additionally, there is a new structure?over?Williams Coulee, and the Two?Leggins?Canal structure has been updated with new guardrail. 

After being acquired by the Young Automotive Group, Flanagan Motors Mazda has become Young Mazda of Missoula. Paul Byron is Young Mazda Missoula’s new general manager, Founded in 1925 by Jack Olsen, the Young Automotive Group has 29 locations across northern Utah and southern Idaho. Young Mazda Missoula will be their first Montana dealership. Flanagan Motors Mazda opened 47 years ago.Once the acquisition is completed, current owner Shannon Flanagan will take on a new role as the community service representative manager.

MMEC Gets $400,000 to Improve Supply Chains

26 July 2023
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As part of a federal effort to build resilient supply chains, the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center at Montana State University has been awarded $400,000 to offer increased services and resources to manufacturers in the state.

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 authorized $20 million that’s being distributed through the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a nationwide network of outreach centers like MMEC that receive federal funding to enhance U.S. manufacturing, according to Jenni West, MMEC’s associate director.

The funding has allowed MMEC to hire a full-time supply chain project manager, Jeff Peterson, and will enable MMEC to offer a variety of trainings and services to help Montana manufacturers more easily access parts and materials from domestic suppliers, West said. The effort comes in the wake of supply chain disruptions related to the pandemic that have been challenging for manufacturers in the state, she said.

“This is going to allow us to expand our work with Montana manufacturers to help them build supply chains that are more reliable because they’re based around other manufacturers like them in the U.S.,” West said. The effort could also open new market opportunities for Montana companies as they provide goods that other manufacturers in the U.S. need, she added.

MMEC has an existing supplier scouting program that helps Montana manufacturers locate parts and goods that are difficult to source. It also connects them with opportunities to respond to the supply needs of other manufacturers and federal agencies. Within the new federal effort, called MEP’s National Supply Chain Optimization and Intelligence Network, or SCOIN, that work will be expanded as part of a national framework that helps connect small suppliers to more opportunities in the supply chain, West explained.

“A lot of it will depend on our outreach to Montana manufacturers and the connections and relationships we form,” West said.

MMEC, which is housed in MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, is a statewide manufacturing outreach and assistance center that provides solutions to help Montana manufacturers grow, innovate and enhance their businesses. Since 2002, MMEC’s clients have reported $1.5 billion in new and retained sales, more than 7,000 new and retained jobs, $364 million in new investments and $184 million in cost savings.