Author: Press Room

$100,000 for Ten Civic Groups

7 April 2025
Press Room
No comments

Early this week, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. High Country in partnership with Dick Anderson Construction held a gathering at which the two companies donated $100,000 to ten local non-profit community organizations, with $10,000 checks presented to each.  Dick Anderson Construction built the new $21 million bottling plant for Coca Cola High Country which opened in June 2024.

The event was held at the new plant, where Tura Synhorst, Executive Vice President of High Country, welcomed representatives of the community organizations and thanked them for their support of the community. She said that her company is dedicated “to enriching and uplifting the communities we serve, with a special focus on youth programs and community activities.”

Organizations receiving the donations were:

—The Education Foundation of Billings Public Schools

—Northern Lights Family Justice Center

—Rimrock Foundation

—Billings Trail Net

—Laurel Little League

— Yellowstone Soccer Association

—BAHL Youth Scholarship Fund of Hockey League

—Billings YMCA

—Hoodies for Heroes

—All Kids Bike Foundation

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. High Country donated $75,000, and Dick Anderson Construction donated $25,000.

Having been founded in 1956, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. High Country, a four-generation family enterprise, is celebrating nearly 70 years in business.

In addition, 2025 marks Dick Anderson Construction’s 50th year in business. 

Headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, Coca-Cola Bottling Company High Country serves over 2.4 million consumers regionally across portions of Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company manufactures, sells and distributes hundreds of different varieties of sparkling soft drinks and a vast array of still beverages including sports drinks, bottled waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, energy drinks and coffee.

Founded in Helena, Montana in 1975, Dick Anderson Construction, Inc. (DAC) has grown from a small, private client company to a regional general construction manager and contracting industry leader with over four hundred employees. Its structured growth and success are the direct result of diversified employees, quality work, and valued relationships with clients and project team members. As the construction market has expanded and diversified over the past 50 years, DAC has remained at the forefront of innovative project delivery. DAC remains a Montana-based firm, working from eight offices across Montana and Wyoming, with a market-leading portfolio of commercial construction, GC/CM, and Design-Build projects. For the past seven years, Engineering News-Record has recognized DAC as one of the Top 400 Contractors in the nation.

Wolves, Hyenas and Legislators Run in Packs

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

By Roger Koopman

At an early age, we taught our kids to learn from others and to think for themselves.  I still remember telling one child, “Truth doesn’t fly in flocks.  You need to seek and find it on your own.  And never be afraid to test and re-examine what you believe is true.  Belief has no value if you close your mind to the ideas and arguments of others.  Living in truth involves not only faith, but also the courage to think for yourself.”

Unthinking animals either herd up for security, or run in packs to pull other creatures down.  Politicians do both.  In the worst example I have seen in 48 years in Montana, the cowardly pack mentality has been on full display in the sixty-nineth session of the Montana State Legislature. 

Most of us are aware by now of the hostile takeover of the Montana State Senate by a coalition of every Democrat plus a wolf pack of liberal Republicans, who locked claws on vote after vote to deliver a functional majority for the Democratic Party.  At one point, twenty separate pro-Democrat floor votes were recorded, all by 27-23 margins – an impressive show of Pack Power over their own Republican leadership.  The nine GOP deserters are senators Vance, Gillespie, Kassmier, Lammers, Loge, McKamey, Tempel, Hunter and Ellsworth.

First, the Pack held the Senate hostage for many days, eventually forcing leadership to change its own rules so that liberal Republicans could be inserted onto key committees to shift committee control. 

Then came the Jason Ellsworth affair.  Sen. Ellsworth was caught arranging a sweetheart contract for a buddy of his by quietly diverting, at the last moment, over $170,000  from the unspent budget of the Judicial Reform Interim Committee, over the objections of its members. The project made no sense and would be performed from the friend’s home.  When discovered, auditors were shocked, and the Senate Ethics Committee began an investigation, as was its constitutional duty.  But the nine-member GOP wolf pack again locked arms with the Democrats and stopped the investigation in its tracks – thus assuring that the liberal Ellsworth would remain in the Senate for the entire session, doing the Democrats’ bidding.

Other reports of Ellsworth throwing his political weight around started coming out.  Clearly, he should have resigned, but the “the Pack” continued to give him protective cover, and he remains there still – larger than life – seemingly incapable of shame or contrition. 

Meanwhile, the pack of nine went about doing exactly what groups like Montana Conservative Alliance have been warning about for many years — voting with the Democrat block and against limited government conservatives whenever key legislation comes up.  I call them Mutant Elephants: elephant bodies, donkey heads.   There they were for example, joining with the Democrats to pass massive Medicaid expansion welfare, and to defeat a bill providing work requirements.  (More than 6 out of 10 current recipients are able to work, but don’t.)

The state GOP publicly rebuked the nine Republican senators, but they missed the point.  This undermining of the conservative Republican cause has been going on for over 50 years, with this just being the most obvious, leadership-smashing example.  It’s really nothing new, but the media attention to the orchestrated aspect of this treachery is actually a good thing.  Maybe GOP voters will finally take notice. 

In a larger sense, what we have in our state legislature is a great many legislators who don’t read the bills, don’t read the fiscal notes, and don’t show any natural curiosity for ideas or constitutional principles.  They follow their leaders and their lobbyists and rarely do the work of a legislator or think for themselves.  The Democrats are the most obvious example – almost never having a party member show independence of thought.  It is, after all, easy to be a loyal Democrat.  All you need to do is want to grow government in every direction, deny the biology of gender, and make it easier to kill human babies.

But Republicans are supposed to be different.  Some are – and I acknowledge those men and women as great legislators.  Others are not.  They run with the pack, and fail to do the deliberative, investigative work of independent-thinking legislators.  They’ve put their own pride and positions above their constituents, and deserve to be sent packing.

Roger Koopman is president of Montana Conservative Alliance. He served four years in the Montana House of Representatives and eight years as a Montana Public Service commissioner. He operated a Bozeman small business for 37 years.

The North American Fire Deficit

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

Roger Pielke Jr., from substack.com

An important new paper published this week in Nature Communications looks at the historical record of fire in North America — A fire deficit persists across diverse North American forests despite recent increases in area burned. Reseachers find that large fires of recent decades in North America are not unprecedented:

Our study of 1851 tree-ring fire-scar sites and contemporary fire perimeters across the United States and Canada reveals a substantial, persistent fire deficit from 1984–2022 in many forest and woodland ecosystems, despite recent increases in burning. Contemporary fire occurrence is still far below historical (1600–1880) levels at NAFSN [North American tree-ring Fire-Scar Network] sites despite multiple large and ‘record-breaking’ recent fire years, such as 2020 in the western United States. Individual years with particularly widespread fire during the 1984–2022 period were not unprecedented in comparison with the active fire regimes of the historical period across most of the study region. Historically, fires in particularly active fire years were spatially more widespread and ubiquitous compared to fires burning during active contemporary years.

The authors start by asking an important question (emphasis added):

[A]verage annual area burned since the late 19th and early- to mid-20th centuries is generally less than that experienced under historical fire regimes across many North American forests, resulting in a widespread 20th century ‘fire deficit’ relative to earlier time periods. However, area burned by wildfire has increased across much of North America over the last few decades. Over this time period (mid-1980s—present), several regions have experienced individual years with exceptionally high area burned, leading to questions about whether recent fire years are unprecedented. As area burned has increased rapidly since the mid-1980s in parts of North America, is it possible that the fire deficit has been reduced or eliminated?

To answer this question they look at a novel dataset on tree-ring scars caused by fire.

It is not often that I am reading a scientific paper and encounter results that make me say — “Wow!”. This is one of those cases:

The year 2020 had the highest percent of sites recording fire in the contemporary time period, with 6% of NAFSN sites burned. This percentage is far below the 29% burned in the most widespread historical fire year (1748) and equal to the average of 6% that burned per year across NAFSN sites during the historical period.

Overall, fires occurred at a rate of only 23% of that expected based on historical fires — indicating a huge accumulated deficit.

State Got Fewer $$$?Last Year

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

The state of Montana’s General Fund tax revenues declined in 2024, according to Terry Johnson, former chief revenue forecaster for the state of Montana, now retired.

In Fiscal 2024, total general fund revenue collections were $3.32 billion, with 76.9% collected from income (individual and corporation) taxes. These revenues are used to finance a variety of state services, but most are used for education, human service, and public safety programs, explained Johnson in an article included in the Bureau of Business and Economic Research’s report included as information for their annual Economic Outlook Seminar.

Total General Fund revenue collections decreased by $620.8 million, or 15.7 %, from collections received in fiscal 2023.

This change was unusually large, according to Johnson, due to a decline in property taxes, which were $338.8 million in 2023., “Other Sources” was down $249.9 million, and revenue collected from natural resources (including oil and natural gas tax) declined $31.4 million, for a total decline of $620.1 million or 15.7 percent.

The property tax decline was due to legislative changes adopted by the 68th Legislature that redirected most of these revenues to a non-general fund account for support of public education.

In addition, there is a non-general fund account called the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund (BSRF), which is used to provide funding for the general fund account if revenue collections fall below expectations. The BSRF is funded from general-fund monies that are above a specified amount at the end of each fiscal year.

The natural resource revenue decline was due to price and production fluctuations for most of the fossil fuel types.

The decline of $10.4 million in individual income tax collections can be explained by the fact that in 2024 there were no more federal payments to Montana citizens and businesses which were enacted by Congress following the impacts of Covid-19.

The economic statistics maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis provide measures of transfer payments to Montanans as well as wage and salary income of employees. According to their data the amount of change increased by $2.9 billion from 2019 to 2020, a 27.4% increase with a further increase of $1.2 billion from 2020 to 2021 for a total increase of $4.1 billion over the two-year period. Once the stimulus payments were eliminated, transfer payments declined by $1.6 billion from 2021 to 2022.

Transfer payments from 2022 to 2023 have now returned to a more normal growth pattern observed prior to 2020.

The pandemic also had an impact on the workforce available for Montana businesses. Throughout Montana there were numerous posted signs indicating businesses were searching for workers.

This workforce demand increased the wage offerings of businesses.

Higher wages increased total state wage and salary incomes. Total wage income increased by $2.6 billion or 10.9% from 2020 to 2021 and $2.5 billion or 9.4% from 2021 to 2022. Wage growth from 2022 to 2023 has moderated and is now closer to historical trends.

Higher wage income increased state individual income tax collections in fiscal 2022 but were diminished by the decline in transfer payments in calendar 2022. Individual income tax collections are expected to return to a more normal growth pattern after 2024 reflecting more normal growth rates for wages and transfer payments as well as taxpayer behavior payment patterns returning to historical trends.

SBA to Require Citizenship Verification

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

In the coming days, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will promulgate a new policy requiring SBA loan applications to include a citizenship verification provision to ensure only legal, eligible applicants can access SBA programs, announced U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler.

 Lenders will be required to confirm that applicant businesses are not owned in whole or in part by an illegal alien, consistent with President Trump’s executive order ending the taxpayer subsidization of open borders.

Additionally, the SBA will relocate six of its regional offices currently in municipalities that do not comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Over the coming months, the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle regional offices will be moved to less costly, more accessible locations that better serve the small business community and comply with federal immigration law.

“Over the last four years, the record invasion of illegal aliens has jeopardized both the lives of American citizens and the livelihoods of American small business owners, who have each become victims of Joe Biden’s migrant crime spree. Under President Trump, the SBA is committed to putting American citizens first again – starting by ensuring that zero taxpayer dollars go to fund illegal aliens,” Administrator Loeffler said.

“Today, I am pleased to announce that this agency will cut off access to loans for illegal aliens and relocate our regional offices out of sanctuary cities that reward criminal behavior. We will return our focus to empowering legal, eligible business owners across the United States – in partnership with the municipalities who share this Administration’s commitment to secure borders and safe communities.”

Under the last Administration, lax guardrails allowed illegal aliens to both apply for and get approved for SBA assistance. In June 2024, the agency approved a $783,000 loan application for a small business that was 49% owned by an illegal alien. Last month, under the leadership of this Administration, an internal SBA audit identified the illegal status of the individual and halted the loan from being disbursed – ensuring that $0 was distributed to the business.

New Businesses February 2025

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

Edumacated Redneck Repair, 420 N 13th St, (406) 200-7028, Steiner, Briana, Auto Business, Billings, 59101

Here We Are Recovery Residence, 2510 Rimrock Rd, (307) 370-1624, Lopez, Henry, Service, Billings, 59102, 621 S 2nd St, Laramie, WY, 82070

Hot Tub And Swim Spa Sales LLC, 1012 Marquez Place Ste 106-B,      (657) 202-5007, Wellmann, Kevin, Retail Sales, Santa Fe, NM, 87505, 2501 South Wayzate Blvd, Minneapolis, MN, 55405

Cassandra Mai Designs, 1608 Annas Garden Ln, (208) 650-1405,      Juvera, Cassandra, Service, Billings, MT, 59101

Fishing For Goodies LLC,   412 18th St W, (406) 671-5627, Garza, Andre, Retail Sales, Billings, 59102

Montana Craft Construction, 2113 Golden Blvd, (360) 991-2970, Asplund, Matthew, General Contractors, Billings, 59102

Dave Loden Construction, 400 Hemlock, (307) 684-5838, Loden, Erik, General Contractors, Buffalo, WY, 82834

Your Pie Billings, 824 Shiloh Crossing Blvd Ste 1, (406) 534-8738,      Lueken, Monica & Dan, Restaurants, Billings, 59102, 3329 Castle Pines Dr, Billings, 59101

B M B Contracting Company, 5322 Danford Dr Trlr 1, {406) 200-2121, Newman / Coleman, Donald K / Tye A, General Contractors, Billings, MT, 59106

Mahoney Consulting LLC, 1780 Shiloh Rd Ste B, (406) 596-3105, Mahoney, Alyssa, Service, Billings, 59106, 119 W Maryland Lane, Laurel, MT, 59044

Cullum And Brown Of Kansas City Inc, 3205 Hesper Rd Unit B, (816) 842-7711, Hoffman, Andrew, Service, Billings, MT, 59106, 1001 NW Technology Dr, Lees Summit, MO, 64086

WH Copper Ridge 54, LLC (Williams Homes), 7011 Copper Bend Blvd, (661) 993-9889, Heffernan (Ops Manager), Danika, General Contractors, Billings, MT, 59106, 387 Gallatine Park Dr Ste 102, Bozeman, MT, 59715

Kalen Study The Pooper Scooper, 922 Yellowstone River Rd Trlr H4, (406) 384-1777, Service, Billings, MT,      59105

Jeff Kirby Construction Inc, 4215 Woodcreek Dr, (406) 690-3799, Kirby, Tanya, General Contractors, Billings, MT, 59106, PO Box 80930, Billings, MT, 59108

McCall Properties LLC, 1536 Mullowney Ln Ste 100, (406) 651-5354, Gregory, McCall, Real Estate Rental, Billings, MT, 59101

Stepping Stones Counseling & Recovery, 1201 Grand Ave Ste 2, (406) 696-8976, Erickson, Jessica, Service, Billings, MT, 59102,

Stokke Electric LLC, 47 Canyon Creek Rd,    (406) 698-2703, Stokke, Zach, Electrical Contractors, Molt, MT, 59057

Elgm Building Contracting And Transportation, 3854 Avenue F, (571) 320-0049, Angord Dearmas, Yanick L, General Contractors, Billings, MT, 59102

Red Clover Construction, 1204 Nasturtium Dr, (406) 606-9690, Blaine, Davida, General Contractors, Billings, MT, 59105

Physioworks Physical Therapy LLC, 1416 Las Palmas Ave, (941) 387-4099, Denisar-Green, Brent, Service, Billings, MT, 59105

Beau Aesthetics & Wellness PLLC, 2631 St Johns Ave, (808) 518-9487, Posada, Britt, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, 2710 Hanover Circle, Billings, MT, 59106

Cobeck Construction Co LLC, 273 W Lafayette Frontage Rd, (651) 756-7521, Difronzo (Manager), Jane, General Contractors, Saint Paul, MN, 55107

Red Bear BBQ LLC, 1644 41st St W, (406) 598-0115, Bear, Scott, Restaurants, Billings, MT, 59106

Perman-It Investments,     7446 Burlington Ave, (406) 384-8129, Perman/Perman, Josh/Tom, Service, Billings, MT, 59106

Modern Paths Of Wellness Counseling, 527 Lake Elmo Dr, (406) 208-4289, Waltenbaugh, Shalom, Service, Billings, MT, 59105, 916 Dorothy Ln, Billings, MT, 59105

Alpha Transport LLC, 145 Talon Way Unit C, (406) 600-6600, Huggins/Dunn, Justin/Brittany, Service, Bozeman, MT, 59718

Melissa Riley Photography, 2977 W Copper Ridge Loop, (801) 368-7626,      Riley, Melissa & Stewart, Service, Billings, MT, 59106

Storage Rental Of America (Bench), 1032 Bench Blvd, (561) 489-5517, Speegle (Manager), Kenneth, Service, Billings, MT, 59105, 2751 S Dixie Hwy Ste 450, West Palm Beach, FL, 33405

Storage Rental Of America (Overland), 2850 Overland Ave, (561) 489-5517, Speegle (Manager), Kenneth, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, 2751 S Dixie Hwy Ste 450, West Palm Beach, FL, 33405

Michelle’s Pantry LLC, 2123 1st Ave N, (406) 671-6440, Feller, Michelle, Restaurants, Billings, MT, 59101, 34 19th St W, Billings, MT, 59102

Rosemary Glass, 5515 Rimrock Rd, (808) 346-2790, Hatzell, Rosemary, Retail Sales, Billings, MT, 59106, 7013 Copper Sunset Dr, Billings, MT, 59106

Montana Clutch And Driveline, 3302 1st Ave N, (406) 256-9110, Beckner, John, Service, Billings, MT, 59101

Big Sky Handmade Creations, 5639 Mountain Front Ave, (406) 210-9081, Chase, Heidi, Retail Sales, Billings, MT, 59106

Oak & Stone Salon LLC, 2500 Grand Ave Ste H, (406) 696-7222, Mudro, Nicole, Cosmetology, Billings, MT, 59102, 1831 Old Hardin Rd, Billings, MT, 59102

JC Excavation & Construction, 2245 Chloe Rd, (406) 670-6041, Luster, Rob, Service, Huntley, MT, 59037, PO Box 399, Huntley, MT, 59037

237 Avenue C LLC, 237 Avenue C, (406) 544-6718, Schwab, Caleb, Real Estate Rental, Billings, MT, 59101, PO Box 1254, Mead, WA, 99021

TJ’s Builders, 564 Light Stream Ln, (406) 860-9089, Johnson, Trevor, General Contractors, Billings, MT, 59106 

Innova Ink PC, 2116 Broadwater Ave #308, (406) 503-2213, Eles, Zsolt & Zora, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, 1600 Avenue E #41, Billings, MT, 59102

Autobongs, 2230 N Reserve St Ste 300 #181, (702) 848-0178, Smith, Jesse, Retail Sales, Missoula, MT, 59808

Brush And Bloom Beauty Studio, 1202 Central Ave, (406) 371-1911, Sjolseth/O’Dell, Ashley/Shawni, Cosmetology, Billings, MT, 59101

Blue Willow Massage, 1140 1st Ave N, (406) 249-7000, Rautio, Alice, Solo Practitioner, Billings, MT, 59101, 4775 Laila Dr, Billings, MT, 59106

The Brand Soap Co, 1260 Calico Ave, (406) 661-6000, Sitzman, Duane, Retail Sales, Billings, MT, 59105

Castro Facilities Management LLC, 3735 Fort Laramie Dr,     (406) 208-0364, Castro, Michael, Service, Billings, MT, 59102

Happy Pairings MT LLC, 323 N 24th St, (406) 670-1720, Crawford, Lauren,    Restaurants, Billings, MT, 59101, 1316 Emma Avenue, Billings, MT, 59105

Shelly’s Drywall & Painting, 7921 Clark Ave, (406) 860-3712, De La Paz, Shelly, General Contractors, Billings, MT, 59106

Larson Family Construction Inc, 24212 W Cedar Lake Dr, (612) 369-7056, Larson, Mike, General Contractors, New Prague, MN, 56071

Herman Enterprises LLC, 16 Reece Road,      (307) 349-8359, Herman, Chad,      Service, Riverton, WY, 82501

Montana Show-Me, 1792 S 6th Rd, (406) 661-5888, Dahl, Rebecca, Retail Sales, Huntley,     MT, 59037

Cochran Towing LLC, 1202 S 32nd St W Ste M, (406) 545-8703, Lauer (Accountant), Arlene, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, PO Box 80067, Billings, MT, 59108

Cochran Towing LLC 1, 1202 S 32nd St W Ste M, (406) 534-1021, Lauer (Accountant), Arlene, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, PO Box 80067, Billings, MT, 59108

Cochran Towing LLC 2, 1202 S 32nd St W Ste M, (406) 894-2381, Lauer (Accountant), Arlene, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, PO Box 80067, Billings, MT, 59108

Cochran Towing LLC 3, 1202 S 32nd St W Ste M, (406) 894-2383, Lauer (Accountant), Arlene, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, PO Box 80067, Billings, MT, 59108

Cochran Towing LLC 4, 1202 S 32nd St W Ste M, (406) 534-4133, Lauer (Accountant), Arlene, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, PO Box 80067, Billings, MT, 59108

Cochran Towing LLC 5, 1202 S 32nd St W Ste M, (406) 534-4211, Lauer (Accountant), Arlene, Service, Billings, MT, 59102, PO Box 80067, Billings, MT, 59108

Wam Properties LLC, 6738 Shepherd Rd, (406) 670-2537, Wambeke, Brandee, Real Estate Rental, Shepherd, MT, 59079, PO Box 50314, Billings, MT, 59105

Code 96 LLC, dba Bare Metal Standard, 11513 W Fairview Ave Ste 103, (208) 898-9379, Stanley, Jeff, Service, Boise, ID, 83713

Flawless Premier Extension Salon, 1500 Broadwater Ave, (406) 661-2438, Law, Samantha, Cosmetology, Billings, MT, 59102

Esoteric Liminal Horizons, 111 Jefferson St, (406) 200-2978, Barth, Whitney, Service, Billings, MT, 59101

Deep Blue Pools And Spas, 43003 Liddell Lane, (385) 450-0344, Durham (Permit Tech), Liz, General Contractors, Polson, MT, 59860, 4153 S Commerce Dr, Salt Lake City, UT, 84107

Sessler Inc, 4524 Tacoma Ave, (253) 863-0660, Mayer (Manager), Kara, General Contractors, Sumner, WA, 98390

Heirloom Cleaning Services, 808 22nd St W, (406) 855-3695, Stevens, Courtney, Service, Billings, MT, 59102

Burnett Enterprises (White House Haven), 1032 N 29th St, (406) 696-2354, Jones, Clifton E, Real Estate Rental, Billings, MT, 59101, 448 Killarney Street, Billings, MT, 59105

Montana Highlights March 15 2025

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

The Yellowstone Business Coalition, formed in 2016, representing more than 400 businesses and landowners in Paradise Valley, Gardiner and Livingston, is mobilizing in response to recent Yellowstone National Park staff reductions. These layoffs could affect both park operations and the local economies that depend on them. The coalition initially came together to protect the local economy from two proposed gold mines near the northern entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone maintains around 300 permanent employees and hires more than 200 seasonal workers each year.

Seven years ago Andy and Kailey Armor opened Compass Chiropractic in Whitefish. Demand for the chiropractic practice has grown, leading to the February opening in downtown Kalispell. The new location is located on 1st Ave. E in Kalispell.

The nonprofit ski area, Bridger Bowl, rolled out a master development plan to the community in recent weeks. The plan includes ideas such as increased snowmaking, more parking, base-area improvements, new lifts and night skiing. When it comes to a plan for future development options at Bridger Bowl some skiers are concerned with keeping the feel of Bridger Bowl.

Montana FWP has released a draft environmental assessment in order to solicit comments about a new campground slated for an area near the Gunner’s Ridge trailhead. It is about 1/2 mile into Makoshika State Park. The campground will add 16 RV sites with electric hookups, four primitive hiker and biker tent sites, day-use facilities, latrines and a playground to the lower half of the park. Construction on the project is tentatively expected to begin between the middle of May or early June this year, with completion planned for this fall.

The Williams County Commission has approved a conditional use permit for Ramsey Hill Exploration to construct and operate a frac sand facility. The facility will be located in the Hofflund Township. The processing facility’s purpose will be to aid in oilfield production by locally storing frac sand needed for operations. The property spans approximately 1,109 acres, but Exploration Company made it clear it only intends to utilize 593 acres of the land.

A study commission in Butte-Silver Bow County wants the current commission to consider big changes in the way local government is run here. They are suggesting a city manager position overseeing day-to-day operations of the county. Voters did authorize a study commission in 2024. Nine people were elected to serve on the commission. The group has through most of 2026 to decide on what, if any, changes it wants to see in local government. Recommendations will go before voters in the November 2026 election.

The Helena Public School District is considering multiple proposals for long-term planning and dealing with aging school facilities. One plan would potentially close Hawthorne Elementary at the end of the academic year.

At a Feb. 25 board work session held at Bryant Elementary School, some community members spoke up about their worry regarding the possible closing of a neighborhood elementary school, Hawthorne.

Toyota of Helena has announced plans to move the dealership to 3135 Prospect Ave. Some work to the old Nissan location. There will be a complete Toyota dealership in about 10 weeks.

Highway 55, a Butte burger restaurant, closed in early January less than a year after it opened. The owner is searching for a new tenant for the practically brand new building on Harrison Ave. Butte-Silver Bow County designated more than $240,000 in taxpayer funds toward the project.

A new coffee stand called Glacier Peaks Bagels and Espresso is opening in Missoula. It will be located in front of Westside Lanes bowling alley.

VIM & VIGR, a Missoula-based company that sells compression leg wear, is building a new 14,000-square-foot warehouse near the Wye. Company founder Michelle Huie recently announced the expansion, stating the need for a larger space.

Opportunity Bank of Montana has opened a new branch location in Missoula.

Tractor Supply Co. is planning Helena and Butte locations. Both set to open in November. They will be TSC’s ninth and 10th locations in Montana. The Tennessee-based company sells power tools, pet supplies and the titular tractor parts and accessories plus other farm items.

A new journal focusing on the economic and entrepreneurial trends that shape Northwest Montana’s business communities will make its debut in April. Hagadone Media Montana is launching Insights with an eye toward connecting the economic hubs that are Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Sanders and Mineral counties.  This five-county region is home to more thousands of businesses and a growing labor force with 200,000 consumers.

The City of Miles City Public Service Committee voted to recommend a change to the city ordinance that deals with liquor liability coverage at city parks. The committee voted unanimously on recommending the revision to the City Code of the City of Miles City, Section 17-114, and requiring liability insurance in specified amounts prior to issuance of a Park Use permit.

Hoyer Joins Billings Chamber as Workforce Development Manager 

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

Kristen Hoyer has joined the Billings Chamber of Commerce as the new Workforce Development Manager.

In her new role, Hoyer will lead the NextGEN program for young professionals in the Billings area, manage the Women’s Network of the Billings Chamber and serve in integral roles of the Billings Chamber’s workforce partnerships and efforts such as the Yellowstone County Summer Jobs Program and Campus Billings.

Her enthusiasm, passion for business, and prowess for making professional connections will serve her well in the Workforce Development Manager position.

“Kristen is committed to workforce development and leadership excellence,” says Cathy Grider, vice president of business growth and talent for the Billings Chamber. ”We look forward to the expertise she brings to our programs and how she will elevate our NextGEN program while providing top-notch opportunities for growth, learning and networking to members.”

Beyond her role at the Billings Chamber, she is the co-owner of GoUnite. She and her husband, along with their two daughters, make their home in Shepherd. Outside of work and family life, Hoyer enjoys spending time in nature, especially at Cooney Reservoir and in the mountains of Monarch.

Climate Change Energy Policy Lost In General Election

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

Calling the election results in November, “nothing short of seismic,” Robert Bryce in a substack.com  opinion piece, stated, “While this race was about many things, one issue lurked throughout: climate policy.”

Election results “show that the Democratic Party is woefully out of step with mainstream voters on energy and climate policy,” he said. There was also the decisive failure of ballot initiatives on taxing or restricting natural gas use that further repudiated the Left’s climate policies.

Bryce pointed out that Biden’s restrictions on the use of natural gas in homes and buildings were “marching to the tune of a phalanx of dark-money NGOs, including Rewiring America, Rocky Mountain Institute, Sierra Club, and others. The NGOs are pushing their agenda despite consumers across the country consistently showing their desire to continue using gas, which, as the Department of Energy’s own numbers have shown, is the cheapest form of residential energy.”

In Berkeley, one of the most liberal cities in America, Initiative GG, which would have levied a massive tax on buildings that use natural gas, was rejected by a whopping margin of 69 to 31. In 2019, Berkeley became the first city in the US to ban new natural gas connections. Dozens of other cities in California and other states soon followed it. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled twice that Berkeley’s ban and others like it, are illegal under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975.

Berkeley, of course, is part of Alameda County, where Harris thrashed Trump by a margin of 72 to 25. Thus, it’s clear that even the most-liberal voters in America want to be able to use the fuels that they like.

In Washington, Initiative 2066 also prevailed. The measure repeals provisions of a state law that was designed to force Puget Sound Energy to speed up its transition away from natural gas. The initiative, which was backed by a host of business groups, prohibits cities and counties from barring or penalizing the use of gas in homes and businesses. It passed by a margin of 51 to 49, or about 60,000 votes. A majority of voters in Washington said they want to keep using natural gas. At the same time, they voted for Harris over Trump by a margin of 58 to 39.

Harris tried to distance herself from the extremist climate policies enacted by the Biden Administration. She also backtracked on her statements about banning hydraulic fracturing. Why? She knew she had to carry Pennsylvania, America’s second-largest gas producer.

But she couldn’t distance herself from her history, or the Democratic Party’s platform, released over the summer, which declared “there is nothing more important than addressing the climate crisis.”

Instead of winning Pennsylvania, Harris lost it by two points, and with it, any chance of winning the White House.

Polls have consistently shown that voters care about energy prices, and few are willing to spend more out of concern for climate change.

As noted by Grid Brief, exit polls in Pennsylvania found that “65% of voters supported expanding natural gas production, seeing it as vital to job security and energy independence.” In Michigan — another swing state that Harris had to win — 60% of voters “expressed support for increasing domestic oil drilling. Many saw the push for local energy production as essential to addressing economic stagnation, with high energy costs ranking among voters’ top concerns.”

Last year, a survey by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago found that just 38% of Americans were willing to pay $1 per month to pay for climate change policies and only 21% were will to pay $100 per month. The key passage from the survey deserves to be quoted at length:

Americans are less willing to pay for a carbon fee than they were just a year ago. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans are unwilling to pay any amount of money to combat climate change. Those willing to pay a $1 carbon fee decreased by 14 percentage points in two years. Their support for the fee decreases as the impact on their energy bill grows.

A year ago, Teixeira and John Judis explained in an essay (and a book titled, Where Have All the Democrats Gone?)  that the Democrats “have steadily lost the allegiance of ‘everyday Americans’— the working- and middle-class voters that were at the core of the older New Deal coalition.” And a key reason  for that, they concluded, is the “Democrats’ insistence on eliminating fossil fuels.”

Pundits and political scientists will scrutinize Trump’s victory for years to come as they try to explain why he won so decisively. There are, of course, many reasons. But a key one is that the Democrats lost the allegiance of millions of everyday Americans because they were too willing to prostrate themselves in front of the climate activists who dominate their party and who have promoted ruinously regressive energy policies.

Over the next few months, the Democratic Party will have to come to grips with a bitter loss to a candidate they loathe. Eventually, the party will have to correct course if it wants the support of working-class voters. And that will require correcting course on energy policy.

Billings Building Permits March 15, 2025

18 March 2025
Press Room
No comments

Commercial

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 2201 St John’s Ave, Com Remodel, $6,175

Hanser Capital Holdings LLC 49|Mountain Alarm, 2909 Millennium Cir, Com Fire Systems, $4,992

Food Services Of America|Mountain Alarm, 802 Parkway Ln, Com Fire Systems, $4,963

Hanser Capital Holdings LLC 49|Mountain Alarm, 970 S 29th St W, Com Fire Systems, $4,882

School District No 2|Billings School District #2, 1315 Lewis Ave, Com Remodel, $4,575

Billings School District #2|Billings School District #2, 5640 Grand Ave, Com Remodel, $3,445

Billings Elementary School Dis|Billings School District #2, 900 Barrett Rd, Com Remodel, $3,445

Teton LLC|Mountain Alarm, 501 N 23rd St, Com Fire Systems, $3,336

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 1441 Governors Blvd, Com Remodel, $3,315

TWE Wittman Properties LLC|Mountain Alarm, 636 Logan Ln, Com Fire Systems, $3,253

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 1200 30th St W, Com Remodel, $2,795

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 3700 Madison Ave, Com Remodel, $2,730

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 505 Milton Rd, Com Remodel, $2,000

School District 2|Billings School District #2, 415 Broadwater Ave, Com Remodel, $1,950

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 120 Jackson St, Com Remodel, $1,820

School District # 2|Billings School District #2, 3231 Granger Ave E, Com Remodel, $1,755

School District No 2|Billings School District #2, 1201 Kootenai Ave, Com Remodel, $1,690

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 221 29th St W, Com Remodel, $1,690

School District 2|Billings School District #2, 120 Lexington Dr, Com Remodel, $1,625

2202 32nd St W, School District #2|Billings School District #2, Com Remodel, $1,560

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 1801 Bench Blvd, Com Remodel, $1,495

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 2135 Lewis Ave, Com Remodel, $1,495

School District 2|Billings School District #2, 4188 King Ave E, Com Remodel, $1,495

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 1044 Cook Ave, Com Remodel, $1,365

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 1601 Miles Ave, Com Remodel, $1,300

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 1812 19th St W, Com Remodel, $1,300

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 605 S Billings Blvd, Com Remodel, $1,235

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 2410 Poly Dr, Com Remodel, $1,235

School District No 2|Billings School District #2, 729 Parkhill Dr, Com Remodel, $1,040

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 2802 13th St W, Com Remodel, $1,040

School District No 2|Billings School District #2, 681 Alkali Creek Rd, Com Remodel, $1,000

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 1345 Elaine St, Com Remodel, $780

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 1440 Nutter Blvd, Com Remodel, $715

School District #2|Billings School District #2, 2510 38th St W, Com Remodel, $390

Single Family

NA|Billings Best Builders LLC,1209 Buffalo Crossing Dr, Res New Two Family, $500,000

Fisher Mike & Erica|Wagenhals Enterprises Inc, 5750 Sweetgrass Creek Dr, Res New Single Family, $495,775

Cougar Construction And Remode|Cougar Construction And Remodeling Inc, B

Billings Best Builders |Billings Best Builders LLC, 5346 Amherst Dr, Res New Single Family, $400,000

Newell Dennis R & Donna F Trs|Diverse Construction LLC, 555 Winged Foot Dr,  Res New Single Family, $325,210

Infinity Home LLC |Infinity Home LLC, 521 Montecito Ave, Res New Single Family, $290,242

Schieck |CW Designs LLC 345 Quiet Water Ave, Res Addition Single/Duplex/Garage, $15,000

Billings Best Builders |Billings Best Builders LLC, 1212 Little River Loop E, Res New Two Family, $500,000

Alkali Timbers LLC|Michael Christensen Homes, 1252 Timbers Blvd S, Res New Single Family, $450,000

CDH LLC |CDH LLC, 4701 Gold Creek Trl, Res New Single Family, $303,712

John Haman |HD Building Inc, 1406 Emma Ave, Res New Single Family, $270,227

Wh Copper Ridge 54 LLC|Wh Copper Ridge 54 LLC, 7017 Copper Bend Blvd, Res New Single Family, $256,583

Wh Copper Ridge 54 LLC|Wh Copper Ridge 54 LLC, 7035 Copper Bend Blvd, Res New Single Family $256,583.00