Author: Press Room

Billings Gazette Puts Building Up for Sale

7 October 2021
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The Billings Gazette announced last week that their headquarters building in downtown Billings is for sale. The 94,000-square-foot building at 401 N. Broadway has become something of a highly visible icon in the community since it was built in 1967.

“This decision is being made simply because the building is too large for our current needs,” said , President and Publisher Dave Worstell. “Financially, the Billings Gazette is in good shape. We are very optimistic about our future as the preeminent news provider in the city, region and state, and a partner in helping local businesses connect with customers through our digital and print marketing products.”

The building has been listed with local real estate company Berkshire Hathaway Commercial Services for $7.865 million.

The building was designed by architects Drake, Gustafson and Associates for the Billings Gazette, Montana’s largest daily newspaper, publishing for the past 136 years. The company expanded the building in 2007. The property has 120 parking spaces on the surrounding lot

According to Worstell, “The sale of the building, when it happens, will not affect the news and advertising operations of the Billings Gazette. At some point, the sale will change our local printing and production operation, and this will have an impact on that staff.”

He said the Gazette has been “approached multiple times over the last year from interested potential buyers. Because our building is underutilized and offers more space than we currently need, we felt like the time was right to explore a sale.” He said that “when the time is right to move locations, we will look for a new downtown Billings location that is the correct size for our operations and has convenient access for our customers.”

First published in 1885, The Billings Gazette is one of several newspapers in the state owned by Lee Enterprises. It is the largest daily newspaper in Montana but as has been the case with most of print media in the nation, circulation has been on the decline with the advancement of digit communications. The newspaper’s current circulation is about 11,000 compared to a 2005 circulation report of over 46,000.

Billings Building Permits 10-01-21

7 October 2021
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Commercial

Baucke, Kathleen/Sprague Construction Roofing Division, 1341 Avenue D, Com Fence/Roof/Siding,  $11,600

HS Management LLC, 575 Lincoln Ln, Com Footing/Foundation, $190,000

Aviation Properties LLC/EEC Inc, 3485 A J Way, Com New Other $1,806,647

AT&T, 2851 King Ave W, Com Remodel,  $10,000

SFH LLC/Wyman Construction, 1509 Main St, Com Remodel, $30,000

Centennial Park/Timber Carpentry LLC, 3302 Howard Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding,  $4,000

City Of Billings The/Timber Carpentry LLC, 2100 Avenue C, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $12,000

Joshua LLC/Lennick Bros. Roofing & Sheetmetal, 823 N 27th St, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $15,000

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 1625 Annafeld Pkwy E, Com New Other, $2,275,000

Fagg Family Properties LLC/Jones Construction, Inc, 235 N 32nd St, Com New Other, $500

McDonnell Family Irrevocable T/Raisin Contracting Inc, 408 N 15th St, Demolition Permit Commercial, $6,000

SBA Communications, 2132 Grand Ave, Com Addition, $50,000

Reger, James R & Deborah C, 1601 S Shiloh Rd, Com Addition, $50,000

Market Place West Partners LLC/Summit Roofing Inc, 2821 King Ave W, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $138,800

MLC Ranch LLC/Perfect 10, 111 N 31st St, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $180,000

Apartments Delaware L/Dutton Construction, 1607 17th St W Avenue C, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $723,895

1400 S 24th LLC, 1420 S 24th St W, Com Footing/Foundation, $360,000

St John’s Foundation/Van Arsdale, Duane Constr Inc, 502 N 30th St, Com Remodel $30,000

Zoo Montana Inc/T.W. Clark Construction LLC, 2100 S Shiloh Rd, Com Remodel, $50,000

Aaron Brdt, 1008 Shiloh Crossing Blvd, Com Remodel, $95,305

Rocky Plaza Association/T.W. Clark Construction LLC, 1400 Poly Dr, Com Remodel, $4,500

Dude Rancher Lodge/Red Bear Contracting, 415 N 29th St, Com Remodel $2,100

Residential

Copper Ridge West Inc/Infinity Home LLC, 3140 Forbes Blvd, Res New Single Family, $212,912

Better Building Technologies/MJH Construction, 2116 Entrada Rd, Res New Single Family, $232,000

Wagenhals Enterprise Inc/Wagenhals Enterprises Inc, 1106 Daybreak Dr, Res New Single Family, $248,285

Infinity Homes/Infinity Home LLC, 2140 Entrada Rd, Res New Single Family, $250,214

McCall Development Inc/McCall Development, 1954 Annas Garden Ln, Res New Single Family,$436,118

McCall Development Inc/McCall Development, 1708 Annas Garden Ln, Res New Single Family, $201,046

Wagenhals Enterprises Inc/Wagenhals Enterprises Inc, 5505 Morning Star Ln, Res New Single Family, $270,000

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 6127 Eva Marie Ln, Res New Single Family, $188,362

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 6114 Johanns Meadow Ln, Res New Single Family, $157,125

Robert & Carol Jones Living Trust/Blake Construction, 1749 Mariposa Ln, Res New Accessory  Structure, $65,000

CDH, LLC/ CDH, LLC, 2204 Gleneagles Blvd, Res New Single Family $333,126

CDH, LLC/ CDH, LLC, 835 Beringer Way, Res New Single Family, $291,448

CDH, LLC/CDH, LLC, 2202 Greenbriar Rd, Res New Single Family, $276,921

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 6125 Johanns Meadow Ln, Res New Single Family, $268,522

Jaime Nelson, 6251 Canyonwoods Dr, Res New Single Family, $440,000

Sunset Construction LLC/ Goggins, Zack J, 1702 Avenue C, Demolition Permit Residential, $1,500

815 N 31st Street LLC/Digger Excavation Inc, 815 N 31st St, Demolition Permit Residential, $10,000

Svec, Joel F & Erica J/Bruechert Custom Homes, 4948 Silver Creek Trl, Res New Single Family, $286,314

Trevor Sherner/Had Inc, 5204 Grass Mountain Rd, Res New Single Family, $333,702

Trevor Sherner/Had Inc, 2237 Entrada Rd, Res New Single Family, $262,189

Conlon, Jalene/Ban Construction Corp, 2121 S Stone Creek Trl, Res New Single Family, $634,428

Andersen, William R/Anderson Management Group, 4213 Woodgrove Dr, Res New Single Family, $440,500

Design Builders, Inc/Design Builders, Inc., 2529 Buffalo Ridge Trl, Res New Single Family, $329,886

McCall Homes/McCall Development, 1949 Annas Garden Ln, Res New Single Family, $236,916.

THE FINANCIAL FOCUS

24 September 2021
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By Michael Vondra, Edward Jones

Start thinking about your retirement income plan

If you’re getting close to retirement, you’re probably thinking about the ways your life will soon be changing. And one key transition involves your income – instead of being able to count on a regular paycheck, as you’ve done for decades, you’ll now need to put together an income stream on your own. How can you get started?

It’s helpful that you begin thinking about retirement income well before you actually retire. Many people don’t – in fact, 61% of retirees wish they had done better at planning for the financial aspects of their retirement, according to an Edward Jones/Age Wave study titled Retirement in the Time of Coronavirus: What a Difference a Year Makes.

Fortunately, there’s much you can do to create and manage your retirement income. Here are a few suggestions:

      • Consider ways to boost income. As you approach retirement, you’ll want to explore ways of potentially boosting your income. Can you afford to delay taking Social Security so your monthly checks will be bigger? Can you increase your contributions to your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan, including taking advantage of catch-up contributions if you’re age 50 or older? Should you consider adding products that can provide you with an income stream that can potentially last your lifetime? 

      • Calculate your expenses. How much money will you need each year during your retirement? The answer depends somewhat on your goals. For example, if you plan to travel extensively, you may need more income than someone who stays close to home. And no matter how you plan to spend your days in retirement, you’ll need to budget for health care expenses. Many people underestimate what they’ll need, but these costs can easily add up to several thousand dollars a year, even with Medicare.

      • Review your investment mix. It’s always a good idea to review your investment mix at least once a year to ensure it’s still appropriate for your needs. But it’s especially important to analyze your investments in the years immediately preceding your retirement. At this point, you may need to adjust the mix to lower the risk level. However, you probably won’t want to sell all your growth-oriented investments and replace them with more conservative ones – even during retirement, you’ll likely need some growth potential in your portfolio to help you stay ahead of inflation.

      • Create a sustainable withdrawal rate. Once you’re retired, you will likely need to start taking money from your IRA and 401(k) or similar plan. But it’s important not to take too much out in your early years as a retiree, since you don’t want to risk outliving your income. A financial professional can help you create a sustainable withdrawal rate based on your age, level of assets, family situation and other factors. 

By planning ahead, and making the right moves, you can boost your confidence in your ability to maintain enough income to last throughout your retirement. And with a sense of financial security, you’ll be freer to enjoy an active lifestyle during your years as a retiree. 

Michael A Vondra

Certified Financial Planner Practitioner

Edward Jones

Texans Like Home Schooling

24 September 2021
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The number of Texas families pulling their children out of public schools and pursuing home-schooling in one week this month is five times greater than the same time period last year, the Texas Homeschool Coalition reports.

“We are literally inundated with calls and emails from thousands upon thousands of families asking how they can begin homeschooling this fall,” Tim Lambert, president of the Texas Home School Coalition, said.

“In the fall of 2020, the number of homeschooling families in Texas had nearly tripled from 4.5 percent in the spring to 12.3 percent by October, according to the U.S. Census Bureau,” the coalition reports. A conservative estimate put the number of students being home-schooled in Texas in 2020 at roughly 750,000, a state record.

Last year, the coalition saw a 400% increase in requests from parents to help them process withdrawal requests from public schools. Prior to the state shutdown, between 22,000 and 25,000 Texas students had already been withdrawn from the public school system.

TDS Starts Construction

24 September 2021
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TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS) has kicked off construction on the 500-mile fiber-to-the home network in Billings. The Madison, Wisconsin-based company was recently granted design and permit approval from the city on the network that will ultimately connect more than 40,000 homes and businesses across the community.

Billings is the first city in Montana to receive a fiber optic network.

Billings Mayor Bill Cole gave a thumbs up to TDS coming to town. “TDS is modernizing and expanding the infrastructure here and the company is bringing services that will greatly help our businesses and residences,” said Cole. “Another choice for internet, TV, and phone services is great news for our community. This fiber network will help us build an even stronger economy.” 

TDS is working with CEC Facilities Group out of Irving, Texas to construct the network. CEC has begun construction and started preparation work to place new fiber-optic cable in downtown Billings. Construction in residential neighborhoods will begin in late November.

In addition, TDS’ expansion into Billings will create new job opportunities, with new positions now posted on the company’s website.

When the fiber network is complete, TDS will deliver up to 2Gig internet speeds for businesses and residents. With speeds up to 2Gig, it’s possible to download a typical two-hour, 4K movie in under a minute. “Say hello Billings to a reliable internet network, TV, and phone services, along with amazing customer service,” said Jim Butman, president and CEO of TDS.

Montana will be the 32nd state to which TDS offers its services. 

Area residents can visit www.tdsfiber.com to register for service, monitor the progress of the build, and sign up for notifications about the new service.

TDS is one of the fastest growing technology companies in the United States. The company is building and deploying future-forward, fiber optic networks to deliver up to 2 Gigabit internet speeds to homes and up to 10 Gigabit internet speeds to businesses. The technology also powers TV entertainment, feature-rich phone plans, and VoIP solutions. TDS employs nearly 2,900 people nationwide and is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS Inc.), a Fortune 1000 company. Founded in 1969, TDS Inc. companies collectively employ 9,100 people and have approximately six million connections nationwide through business units: U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, TDS Metrocom, OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, and TDS Broadband Service.

Survey Scrutinizes Public Views of Education

24 September 2021
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In a survey of public opinion about the state of education in the country conducted by EdChoice reports that only about two out of five Americans believe that K-12 education is headed in the right direction, which is actually an improvement over a 2016 survey of about 18 points. Over half say it is on the wrong track, a 10-pont decrease since the fall of 2020.

However, the opinion of parents differed from that of the general public. Their opinion that school’s are headed in the right direction (44%)   has remained steady while the opinion of the general public that it is on the wrong track declined by 10 points.

Current school parents are more pessimistic about the K-12 education than is the general public.

The type of schools children attended appeared to have an effect on parents’ perception of K-12 education. Charter school parents were more likely to be optimistic than school district and homeschooling parents.

Homeschoolers had the most negative view of the state of education. About 56 percent of Homeschoolers said that the public education was headed in the wrong direction.

The survey stated that the pandemic disrupted school enrollments and expectations. Some public schools lost large numbers of students and home schooling rates soared to new heights. 

Eighty-three percent of children were enrolled in public district schools in school year 2018–19. Less than half of that share of parents said public schools were their preferred school type. Eight percent of students were enrolled in private schools; 6 percent in public charter schools; and 3 percent were homeschooled. In comparison, 36 percent of parents ideally preferred private schooling for their children; 14 percent preferred charter schools; and 12 percent preferred homeschooling.

Homeschooling was most likely to be preferred by a lower-income parent. Middle-income parents favored private schooling notably more than other school types, and higher-income parents preferred district schools and private schools almost equally.

Parents were also asked what grade they would give their local schools. Parents were most praiseworthy of their local private schools, with 74 percent of applicable parents giving an “A” or “B.” Fifty-nine percent of applicable parents gave the same grades to charter schools, a significant jump from their 2020 results. Less than half of district or public schools received an “A” or “B,” substantially lower than last year.

The survey asked parents what was important to them in selecting a school. Parents with children in public district schools were most likely to mention location as a top priority for selecting a school, nearly twice the rate of private school parents. Socialization was the second most-cited reason parents select district schools, followed closely by noting that the school was assigned to their family.

Private school parents and charter school parents signaled that academic reputation was the most important aspect, followed by a safe environment and morals/character/values instruction. Homeschooling parents heavily valued a safe environment, with more than half of them placing it in their top three. Individualized attention was a clear second for homeschooling parents, while location and moral instruction were a tight third and fourth.

The vast majority of Americans underestimate how much money public schools spend.

The median person guessed $7,000 per student per year, while the median parent guessed $5,000. Taking into account the state where each respondent resides, 77 percent of Americans and 81 percent of school parents underestimated how much public schools actually spend, which on average approaches about $25,000 per student.

Learning loss concerns are prevalent after a school year full of disruptions and shifts back-and-forth between remote, hybrid and in-person learning. So we wanted to know how much parents were interested in supplemental or alternative education this year.

Two-fifths of parents said they were at least somewhat likely to seek tutoring for their children this year, though charter and private school parents were noticeably more likely to say they may seek tutoring.

SIA respondents were asked their opinion on school choice generally, without providing a definition. The majority of parents and the general population (60%) said they supported school choice. Seventeen percent of the general public and 13 percent of parents said they oppose it. A fifth of the general population and a quarter of parents said they had never heard of school choice.

Start-ups Companies Get Intensive Training

24 September 2021
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Five new Montana companies have been selected to participate in the 2021 Early Stage HyperAccelerator, one of which is a Billings-based Real Estate Data platform for commercial brokers and appraisers. The HyperAccelerator is a program of Early Stage Montana, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of new technology companies.

The HyperAccelerator program provides an intensive 5-day, 50-hour training program, Sept. 20-24,supported by dozens of highly successful entrepreneur trainers and mentors, aimed at helping these companies accelerate their growth and job creation potential.

The other four companies selected to be part of the program are:

-PestNotify, a Butte-based company developing an early pest monitoring selection technology allowing landlords to avoid costly bed bug outbreaks.

— Nano Magnetic Solutions, a Bozeman based technology offering a tissue-scale magnetic force application system that opens new avenues for in vitro neuroscience research

—SensorLogic, a Bozeman-based firm developing next generation snow-pack monitoring technology to better predict water availability and drought conditions

— Resilient Computing: A Bozeman-based firm creating radiation-tolerant computing solutions and building computers capable of operating in space.

On October 20, 2021 in Bozeman the five tech startups will gather at the Early Stage MT Statewide Showcase to celebrate Montana technology environment. More than 200 entrepreneurs, mentors, investors from around the country, and tech community leaders will join the event.

The startups were selected by vetting companies from throughout the state at Regional Showcase Competitions held earlier this summer in Bozeman, Missoula, and Billings. Dozens of entrepreneurs from around the state submitted applications for the regional competitions, and thirteen were chosen to present their businesses to a panel of judges. The startups who scored highest in areas such as the size of their market opportunity, the quality of the proposed solution, leadership potential, and the likelihood of creating high-quality jobs in Montana were selected to move onto the next stage to take part in the HyperAccelerator training program.

PacificSource Donates to Classic

24 September 2021
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PacificSource Health Plans has committed $15K to support the Billings Clinic Classic. This year’s Classic is dedicated to raising funds in a $3.5 million campaign to build a new and improved Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to take care of Billings Clinic’s tiniest patients and their families.

“The PacificSource Health Plans team is happy to partner with Billings Clinic and support the Billings Clinic Classic,” said Erik Wood, vice president and Montana regional director PacificSource Health Plans. “As a local company, we value that all dollars raised during the Classic stay local and support such a meaningful cause.”

A Glance at Current Economic Stats

23 September 2021
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* The producer price index increased 0.7% in August from a month ago, above the 0.6% Dow Jones estimate.

* Final demand prices rose 8.3% from a year ago, the biggest increase on record going back to 2010.

* The move showed that inflationary pressures are likely to persist.

The Federal Government infused our economic system with huge sums of cash – of “money” with no greater value than the paper it is printed upon. There is no escaping the impact of that in market activity and the perpetual process of exchanging value for value in the economy – prices increase – inflation will escalate.

Many economists attempt to redirect attention from government inflating the economy to the COVID pandemic as a significant cause, but whatever the impacts of COVID, trillions of dollars flooding the market suffices to explain all that is happening.

As its name implies, as a consequence of inflation, prices that producers got for final demand goods and services surged in August at their highest annual rate since at least 2010, according to the Labor Department.

The producer price index rose 0.7% for August, above the 0.6% Dow Jones estimate, though below the 1% increase in July.

On a year-over-year basis, the gauge rose 8.3%, which is the biggest annual increase since records have been kept going back to November 2010.

The inflation is evident in supply chain issues, a shortage of various consumer and producer goods, generated by the easy flow of cash. Federal Reserve officials say they expect inflationary pressures to ease through the year, but the fact is pressures have remained stubbornly persistent. The most recent numbers indicate that the trend will likely continue. Other economic observers say they expect the economy to “fizzle” in a gradual decline as the impacts spread throughout the system.

Excluding food, energy and trade services, final demand prices increased 0.3% for the month, below the 0.5% Dow Jones estimate. Still, that left core PPI up 6.3% from a year ago, also the largest record increase for data going back to August 2014.

Final demand services rose 0.7% for the month, thanks to a 1.5% gain in trade services, or the margins received by wholesalers and retailers. Transportation and warehousing costs surged 2.8%.

About one-third of the overall gain came from health, beauty and optical goods, which jumped 7.8%. Prices related to outpatient hospital care held back the gains, falling 1.5%.

Prices for final demand goods rose 1% for the month, pushed primarily by a 2.9% gain in foods which in turn came from an 8.5% surge in meat prices. Slaughtered poultry prices surged 11%. Prices fell for iron, steel and diesel fuel.

Montana Highlights 09-15-21

23 September 2021
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Makoshika State Park is experiencing increased visitation, according to the Montana State Park Midyear Visitation Report. According to the visitation report, Makoshika had a total of 72,650 visitors by the end of the second quarter of the year, an increase of about 24% over the same period in 2020. This is the first year the park has had a functioning water line for visitors to use.

The Women’s Business Center at Prospera Network and the Women’s Entrepreneurship & Leadership Lab received $240,000 and $125,000 respectively from Wells Fargo Bank. MoFi, a nonprofit lender, received a grant of $2.1 million earlier in the year. Wells Fargo has gifted almost $5 million in grant money to nonprofits in Montana over the past three years. The money given to the Women’s Business Center is will be used for the creation of a mentoring program. The Women’s Entrepreneurship & Leadership Lab funds will help address issues women face when starting a business. MoFi’s grant money has been put toward lending for businesses affected by the pandemic.

Ceres Bakery, owned by Hannah Bjornson and her husband Rick Grimm expanded in June by creating an indoor seating area. Ceres opened 15 years ago at 318 Main St, Kalispell. They plan to expand the menu to match the square feet expansion.

Last Call Modern Mexican, at 19 S. Willson Avenue, Bozeman, opened in July with an Baja- Style menu. Luis Valdovinos, the chef and owner has moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico. The grand opening is planned for September. The recipes reflect food he grew up eating and dishes he makes for himself at home.

The Kalispell City Council recently approved two development projects. The first was a recommendation to build a boutique hotel at the Third Street West and Main Street. The second was a conditional-use permit to build above the historic grain silos located at 505 W. Center St. These are two steps toward the current council’s goal of revitalizing downtown Kalispell.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority held an in-person conference in Lewistown recently  where discussions were held about what needs to be done to rebuild and maintain a passenger rail route through the southern tier of Montana.

The Bureau of Land Management has announced it will begin a process that will allow cancelled lease sales to be posted late this year. The framework outlined by the Bureau of Land Management includes a 30-day scoping period that will take into account comments received, ending on Oct. 1. After that, BLM will do an environmental review of the parcels for potential leasing and provide another opportunity for public comment. Following the environmental review, available parcels will be identified, along with applicable stipulations, for yet more public comment. The release states that the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office anticipates publishing a Notice of Competitive Lease Sale later this year. The slow-walk outlined by the BLM is intended to comply with a Louisiana District Court order that said the Biden administration could not simply cancel quarterly lease sales

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A Japanese delegation is touring oilfield sites in Dickinson and visiting Medora today as part of a discussion of future investment opportunities in the state’s carbon capture and utilization goals. The delegation is interested in the continued growth and potential for carbon capture, storage and utilization in North Dakota, as well as enhanced oil recovery, use of carbon in agriculture, and the state’s hydrogen hub. Included in the discussions were several Japanese companies focused on energy.

The U.S. Forest Service is poised to begin a massive forestry project that aims to improve habitat and reduce fuels for communities in the Swan Valley. The Mid-Swan Landscape Restoration and Wildland Urban Interface Project would cover more than 174,000 acres of the Flathead National Forest around Condon and Swan Lake. The project could last up to 15 years. The Project area is home to grizzly bears, bull trout and Canada lynx, all of which are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Madisen and Kyle Duty, owners of Huck’s Place at 217 Central Ave in Whitefish. Huck’s is billed as a ginger brew and juice bar. The Duty’s make their own beverages using plant-based ingredients such as ginger, turmeric and kale. Ginger brew is a combination of ginger, lemon, vanilla, cane sugar and water.

 Hidden Hollow Hideaway Cattle & Guest Ranch is the 2021 recipient of the Montana Leopold Conservation Award.  Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management. Sand County Foundation and American Farmland Trust present the award in Montana with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Rangeland Resources Committee. Hidden Hollow Hideaway Cattle & Guest Ranch, located near Townsend, is owned by the Flynn family. The late Kelly Flynn, who served in the Montana Legislature from 2010 to 2018, passed away earlier this year. The ranch is operated by his wife Jill Flynn and the families of their daughters, Shannon and Siobhan. The family receives $10,000 and a crystal award. Last year’s award recipient was C Lazy J Livestock, owned by Craig and Conni French of Malta in Phillips County. Bill and Dana Milton of Roundup in Musselshell County were the first recipients in 2019.

The Montana Department of Transportation announced a proposal to gravel overlay about 11.5 miles of Secondary Highway 381, southwest of Roundup in Musselshell County. Proposed work includes applying a new gravel overlay and updating signage. The project is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2022.

The Carroll Companies announced the addition of Will Peete to their Land Acquisitions Team. Peete is a JD/MBA with over 15 years of local, national, & international experience in real property, natural resources, community building, land management, and energy sectors. He grew up in North Carolina, but spent most of his career in the Rocky Mountains.  He studied at Montana State University, North Carolina State University, and Wake Forest University. Peete has over 10 years of experience with real estate due diligence, property acquisition, and management. Founded and headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, more than 30 years ago, The Carroll Companies has since grown strategically and diversified into a real estate conglomerate specializing in land development, construction, ownership, hospitality, management and publication with a total estimated valuation of over $3 billion.

California officials have agreed to pay $800,000 in prevailing-party attorneys’ fees to a popular Christian megachurch in Los Angeles after state and federal courts in California issued permanent injunctions barring government officials there from ever again imposing discriminatory restrictions on houses of worship.

This is the first year Gallatin Ice is setting up for a year-round ice rink. The first seasonal ice rink in Bozeman was founded over 40 years ago and due to the Bozeman ice community and youth programs expanding Gallatin Ice needed to campaign for a year-long ice rink, which had previously only be operational for six months a year. Gallatin Ice started a campaign where the non-profit was able to achieve half of their necessary funds to build a year-round rink. The Bozeman ice rink offers recreational hockey, live hockey, ice skating, figure skating, curling and clinics, and more.