Author: Press Room

Farmers Union Purchases Mobile Meat Processing Unit to Increase Capacity in Montana

18 November 2020
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From Northern Ag Network

Montana Farmers Union has received a $150,000 Montana Meat Processing Infrastructure Grant (MMPIG) from federal CARES Act relief funds to purchase a mobile harvest unit. Montana FU, in partnership with FU groups in four other states who will also contribute to the purchase, will operate the facility as a cooperative to expand meat processing capacity. The other states include North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wisconsin and Farmers Union Enterprise (FUE).

The cooperative will benefit Montana producers and butchers by providing the ability to harvest livestock that will be USDA inspected and for sale. Montana livestock harvest facilities are being over-run and are booked well into 2021, forcing producers to hold onto livestock or ship out-of-state to a corporate monopoly. The bottleneck in the production process became evident during the Coronavirus shut down when consumers discovered meat shortages in grocery stores and consumers started seeking other sources.

Montana Farmers Union is also working with Montana State University-Northern to develop a meat processing curriculum utilizing the Mobile Harvest Unit. The program will be the first ever meat processing curriculum in the country that teaches meat processing from harvest to retail. MSU Northern students who enroll in the program will earn anywhere from a one-year certificate to a bachelor’s degree with a focus on business management and marketing.

These courses will provide opportunities for students to join the meat processing industry as butchers, managers or inspectors. MFU hopes to have the MHU operational by early next spring. MSUN plans to have a curriculum in place by fall semester 2021.

Mountain States Legal Foundation Launches Second Amendment Center

18 November 2020
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Mountain States Legal Foundation announced the creation of a new center of legal excellence within the firm focused exclusively on fighting for Americans’ besieged Second Amendment protected rights. 

On October 14, MSLF announced a fundraising drive to help establish the new Center to Keep and Bear Arms, buoyed by an anonymous California benefactor who promised to match every donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $75,000. The announcement of officially launching the center,  signaled success of the fundraiser.  

“The grassroots response to the challenge has been so strong that we’re prepared to announce the Center’s launch today, even though donations continue to arrive on a daily basis,” said MSLF Attorney Cody J. Wisniewski, who will spearhead the effort. “This was all planned long before Election Day, given the unprecedented threats to gun rights emerging at the state and local level. But there’s no question that the prospect of a Biden-Harris administration has heightened the sense of urgency among gun owners, given the Democratic Party platform’s clear and avowed hostility toward gun rights.” 

MSLF has a history of taking major gun rights cases, in keeping with its longstanding mission in support of constitutionally protected rights and individual freedoms. The creation of the Center to Keep and Bear Arms signals an increased commitment to protecting the rights of firearms owners. 

“This will be the only in-house, litigation-only Second Amendment operation in the United States,” explained Wisniewski. It will build on current cases like Caldara v. Boulder and past MSLF successes, including in Nesbitt v. Army Corp of Engineers. and Aragon v. Grisham.“As the name makes explicit, the Center will focus on challenging unconstitutional gun laws on behalf of Americans on three fronts: your right to keep firearms, your right to bear them on your person, and your right to choose which arms you need in order to defend yourself.” 

MSLF President and CEO Cristen Wohlgemuth remarked that the founding of the Center is in response to the recognition that gun rights today face unprecedented threats.  “The threat to the Second Amendment has never been more palpable than it is today,” said Wohlgemuth. “Attacks that used to be incremental and implicit now have become brazenly explicit, making it clear that gun confiscation and not just ‘gun control is part of the progressive-left’s agenda.That makes this the right time to create a specialty litigation Center, under the MSLF umbrella, in order to focus the in-house expertise we have on this issue.”

Billings Building Permits: Commercial and New Residential

18 November 2020
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Commercial

Billings Heights Post #6774/Lennick Bros. Roofing & Sheetm, 637 Anchor St, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $8,600

Seahorse Gaming Llc/Yellowstone Basin Construction, 1918 Grand Ave,     Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $95,000

1116 Grand Ave Llc/Perfect 10 Roofing & Construction, 1116 Grand Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, 70,000

Winchell Real Estate Holdings/Cooper Construction, 1807 Grand Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $9,000

Roland & Michelle Wright, 3839 Grand Ave, Com Remodel, $1,200

Family Services/Cis Cornerstone Inspection Services, 3931 1st Ave S, Com Remodel, $70,000

T.W. Clark Construction Llc/1127 Alderson Llc, 1127 Alderson Ave,  Com Remodel – Change In Use , $1,300,000

Kairos Properties Llc, 221 N 15th St, Com Remodel, $128,045

Kairos Properties Llc, 321 N 15th St, Com Remodel, $110,000

Kairos Properties Llc, 421 N 15th St, Com Remodel, $110,000

Kairos Properties Llc, 521 N 15th St, Com Remodel, $122,485

Kairos Properties Llc, 621 N 15th St, Com Remodel, $116,039

Horizon Retail Construction/ Future Equity Partners, 2450 King Ave W, Com Remodel, $11,500

VTR Properties Llc , 615 S 27th St, Com Remodel, $80,600

Ross Alger Holdings Llc /Van Arsdale, Duane Constr Inc, 2147 Poly Dr, Com Remodel,   $10,000

Hays, Christoper J, 1148 Blair Ln, Com Remodel,  $0.00

Et Properties Llc/Wagenhals Enterprises Inc, 10 N 35th St, Com Remodel, $40,000

Noraca Llc/Laughlin Construction Inc., 100 N 27th St, Com Remodel, $200,000

City Of Billings (Airport)/ Yellowstone Electric Co., 501 North View Dr, Com Remodel, $0.00

Elevation Church Billings, Inc /Snowy River Construction, 711 4th Ave N, Com Remodel,  $8,300

Tanner Bennion/Jorden Construction, 848 Main St, Com Remodel, $6,000

The Billings Gazette /Lennick Bros. Roofing & Sheetm, 501 N22nd St,  Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $8,600

JTA Ventures  Llc/Sprague  Construction Roofing  Division, 1246 Central Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $60,000   

Veeder Homestead Llc, 2225 Overland Ave, Com New Hotel/Motel, $12,000,000

Stockland  Properties Inc, 15 Avanta Way, Com Remodel  $500,000

Sisters Of Charith of Leavenwo/Saunders  Construction Inc, Com  Remodel, 1233 N30th St, $200,000

Sisters Of Charith of Leavenwo /Saunders Construction Inc, 1233 N30th St  Com Remodel $1,000,000

McDonald Land Holdings Llc /Huppert  Construction Company, 1310 Main St, Demolition Permit Commercial $5,000

Fagg  Family Properties Llc/Huppert Construction Company, 205 N32nd St,

Demolition Permit Commercial, $5,000

Residential

Ryan W & Kristina D Morton /Northwest Construction, 2160 Skyview Dr, Res New Accessory Structure,  $36,864

Mccall Development Inc/Mccall Development, 1820 Annas Garden Ln, Res New Single Family, $197,525

Mccall Development Inc/Mccall Development, 6033 Norma Jean Ln, Res New Single Family, $221,434

Wells Built Inc /Wells Built Inc., 4205 Snowywoods Dr, Res New Single Family, $398,227

Magnus Land Development Llc/Brown Builders Inc.,  6319 Absaloka Ln, Res New Two Family, $327,260

Magnus Land Development Llc/ Brown Builders Inc., 6313 Absaloka Ln, Res New Two Family, $327,260

Pelzel, Bruce K & Yvette M/CMW Construction, 627 Valle Vista Ave, Res New Accessory Structure, $45,000

Taylor, Zachary J/Buscher Construction Ltd, 3116 Falcon Cir, Res New Single Family, $211,609

Taylor, Zachary J/Buscher Construction Ltd, 3118 Falcon Cir, Res New Single Family, $211,609

Infinity Home Llc/Infinity Home, 5134 Chapel Hill Dr, Res New Single Family, $198,600

Shriners Hospitals For Children/Dirk Arnold Construction, 1555 Tania Cir, , Res New Single Family, $221,018

Pierson Jensen Construction Co/ Wagner, Garret & Stephanie, 1017 Vineyard Way, Res New Single Family, $410,082

Joshua & Karen Graber/Hill Builders, 1880 Gleneagles Blvd, Res New Single Family     $288,000

Billings Best Builders Llc/Starks R.E.Group, 917 Mission Oaks Dr, Res New Two Family, $442,320

Larry Wagoner,4183vaughn Ln, Res New Accessory Structure, $246,800

Nielsen,Rod&Juleen/Steve Gountanis Homes Inc, 933 Vineyard Cir, Res New Accessory Structure, $19,200

Uednyquist,Sverre & Saran/B & W Builders, 736 Ave N, Res New Accessory Structure, $32,256.00

Big Time Construction/Big Time Construction, 1407 Tania Cir, Res New Single Family,  $216,544

David Mutch Yellowstone Property Solutions Llc 5211clemson Dr Res New Single Family $246,800.00

Res New Single Family Habitat For Humanity Newsfr1212  Spring Cir Habitat For Humanity,Midyell$201,072.00

Res New Single Family 6113 Norma Jean Ln McCall Development Inc $230,680.00

Res New Single Family McCall Development 6033farmstead Ave McCall Development Inc $224,174

McCall Development Inc/McCall Development, 6009 Farmstead Ave,  Res New Single Family, $140,650

McCall Development Inc/McCall Development, 6039 Farmstead Ave, Res New Single Family, $222,024

Hanser Capital Holdings Llc/Hg Designs, 2706 Cornell Cir, Res New  Single Family, $350,000

McCall Development Inc/McCall  Development, 6015 Farmstead Ave, Res New Single Family, $140,650

Wagenhals Land And Livestock/Wagenhals Enterprises Inc, 1118 Daylight Ln, Res New Single Family, $260,000.00

Regal Land Development Inc/Teske Construction Inc, 4217 Bell Ave, Res New Two Family, $408,076

Wells,Daniel & Julane/Teske Construction Inc, 4223 Bell Ave, Res New Two Family, $435,340

Winter to be Cool and Wet

18 November 2020
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NOAA predicts that Montana can expect a cool, wet winter that could lead to heavy runoff next spring.

The forecast was made by the Corps’ Missouri River Water Management Division. Despite cold, snowy weather in October, precipitation was well below normal in much of the upper basin. The 2020 calendar year runoff forecast is 30.2 million acre-feet, 117% of average. This winter is setting up for a La Nina pattern, which typically means colder weather across Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas. Looking through January, the outlook is also for above normal precipitation in those states. February through April forecast is trending toward below-normal temperatures and above-average precipitation.

XL Pipeline Awards Contracts, including Bozeman Business

10 November 2020
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TC Energy Corporation has awarded more than $1.6 billion worth of contracts to six major American union contractors to execute pipeline construction across 800 miles in three states in the U.S. on the Keystone XL Pipeline in 2021. A Bozeman company is among the contractors.

The six contractors will be directly responsible for hiring more than 7,000 union workers in 2021, with special emphasis placed on hiring locally first and giving priority to qualified local and Indigenous-owned businesses. When combined with additional 2021 contracts to be announced later, the total number of American union workers constructing Keystone XL in 2021 will exceed 8,000 and $900 million in gross wages. In total, Keystone XL is expected to employ more than 11,000 Americans in 2021, creating more than $1.6 billion in gross wages.

The companies awarded contracts include:

* Barnard Pipeline (Bozeman, MT)

* Associated Pipeline (Houston, TX)

* Michels (Brownsville, WI)

* Precision Pipeline (Eau Claire, WI)

* Price Gregory International (Katy, TX)

* U.S. Pipeline (Houston, TX)

“Barnard Pipeline is very excited and honored to receive the official award on Keystone XL. As a Montana contractor, we are proud to build this important project in our great state and to help ensure energy independence for our nation. We believe our reputation for integrity, safety and quality will meet the expectations of the property owners, communities and TC Energy,” said Marty Jorgensen, President, Barnard Pipeline.

“The awarding of 2021 U.S. construction contracts shows the continued momentum behind Keystone XL. The dedicated members of the Operating Engineers are eager and ready to build this critical piece of modern North American energy infrastructure to the highest quality standards,” said James T. Callahan, General President of the International Union of Operating Engineers. “The 8,000 American union jobs that come with 2021 construction is welcome news and irreplaceable as the U.S. continues our economic recovery.”

“With construction activities well underway in both the U.S. and Canada, Keystone XL is already playing a critical role in contributing to North America’s economic recovery,” said Richard Prior, President, Keystone XL Pipeline. “The selection of our U.S. construction contractors for 2021 is an important next step in employing thousands more American union workers and delivering tangible benefits to local communities and businesses.”

These contractors have extensive experience constructing pipeline and major infrastructure projects in the U.S. and around the world. The contractors were chosen based on TC Energy’s core principles of safety, environmental stewardship and stakeholder engagement along with their financial strength, technical design expertise and contract competitiveness.

Keystone XL remains as critical as ever to meeting today’s economic and energy security needs. The project has announced several significant developments in recent months, including commencing construction and signing the government of Alberta as an equity partner, signing a Project Labor Agreement with four major American unions and creating a US$10 million Green Jobs Training Fund, and offering equity ownership to Indigenous communities across North America. This is in addition to more than $90 million being recorded in the U.S. to date in local and Indigenous spend through TC Energy and the company’s various contractors and suppliers.

Worst Business Plunge

10 November 2020
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It’s been reported before that the economic impacts on Montana of the COVID-19 crisis has been greater than the Great Recession, by Dr. Pat Barkey, Director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, UM, but a most recent published report in the Montana Business Quarterly, starkly emphasizes the contrast.

According to Barkey, “The economy was barreling along in January and February of 2020, with record low unemployment and respectable growth. Then the world stopped in mid-March. When it resumed, it was on a different course. Much of the economic data, which is released annually or perhaps quarterly, simply can’t describe recent events.”

Total U.S. nonfarm employment declined by more than 22 million jobs from February to April, a decline of about 14.5%.  “… such a decrease has to be among the greatest month-to-month declines in recent history. There is no question that the U.S. economy went into a free fall in the spring of 2020,” writes Barkey in the Montana Business Quarterly.

Using Current Employment Survey date from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals:

—The U.S., Montana and three of the state’s urban areas experienced sharp declines from February to April 2020 and increases from April to August, with moderating growth in July and August. Current employment levels remain mostly below peak values.

—The employment declines in the U.S., Montana and the urban areas were much greater than were experienced during the Great Recession. These decreases were probably larger than at any time in recent history.

—The changes in employment in the U.S., Montana and the MSAs were concentrated in a few industries. Leisure, health care and retail trade accounted for most of the declines and subsequent increases during 2020.

According to Barkey, “The concentration of 2020 impacts in a few industries suggests that they may mostly reflect the lockdowns and subsequent (partial) re-openings associated with the pandemic. Recessions, on the other hand, usually involve simultaneous trends in a wide variety of industries. If the events identified here spread to the rest of the economy, the COVID-19 recession may have a long way to go. If the impacts are confined to several industries (perhaps due to government fiscal and monetary policies), the recession may be shorter.”

Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment in Montana declined sharply during the spring on 2020. The number of workers decreased from 489,400 in February to about 425,100 in April, down about 13.1%. The corresponding drop in U.S. employment was 14.5%. As with the nation, Montana experienced sizable increases in the April to August period, but the latest employment figures were still slightly more than 5% below the February peak, and the July and August growth was modest.

Wise Wonders Gets $50,000 Matching Grant

10 November 2020
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Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum, a children’s museum in Billings, 3024 2nd Avenue N., has received a gift from the AJ Blain Foundation for the Vision Campaign the Museum launched earlier this summer.

The AJ Blain Foundation has agreed to make a $50,000 gift to pose as a matching challenge for the campaign. Any gift made in the next two months will be matched 100% by the Foundation, up to a total of $50,000.

“We are extremely excited about this investment in the museum,” said Executive Director Pete Bolenbaugh. “We have a strong vision for the future of Wise Wonders and our place in the Billings community. Having support of this kind not only helps make that vision a reality, but affirms our path forward. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but we are energized for the challenges ahead.”

Included in future plans for the Museum are exhibits and programming content that will focus on science, inquiry-based education, and interactive play, as well as a fully functioning maker space and workshop. The vision creates new spaces for older children, tweens and teens and enhances the experience for younger children. In keeping with the mission of the organization, all plans encourage interactive learning through play and exploration.

For more info, please visit at wisewonders.org/ vision, facebook.com/wisewondersmuseum, and instgram.com/wisewonders/

Ronda Wiggers to Head Montana NFIB

10 November 2020
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Ronda Wiggers has been announced as the new state director or the Montana Federation of  Independent Business, (NFIB) a small-business advocacy association. She will be in charge of lobbying, educational outreach and political efforts.

Wiggers will be taking up the torch for Riley Johnson who has served in that position for 38 years.

“Ronda’s lobbying experience combined with her grassroots organizing abilities made her an ideal fit for the job,” said Gary Selvy, executive director of state public policy for NFIB. “Our main educational mission for the 77 years of our existence, and all that entails, is to instruct and remind state and federal policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of big businesses and do not always benefit — and are more often harmed — from one-size-fits-all laws, rules, and regulations. As a small-business owner herself, Ronda fundamentally understands that, and, given her grassroots organizing abilities, can drive home the point with more emphasis.”

A native Montanan, Wiggers was raised on a farm in the heart of the state’s Golden Triangle. She attended the University of Montana, has held local elected offices, and is very active in her community.

“Since the time I first became actively involved in politics and policy,” said Wiggers, “NFIB has always had a stellar reputation in Montana, and I attribute that to the man I will be replacing. I’m honored to take the hand-off of the torch for Main Street, mom-and-pop enterprises that are the engine of every economy in the world. I’m looking forward to getting started working on small-business issues when the 2021 session of the Montana Legislature commences.”

Added Selvy, “It was with equal feelings of delight in getting someone of Ronda’s caliber to join our team and sadness in losing a great friend and mentor in Riley Johnson, who for 38 years has been the voice of small business in Montana. So much can be learned about someone in those unguarded moments, and when Riley and his fellow state directors would gather at a conference, I would always notice how they delighted in seeing him and valued his wise counsel on difficult issues they were dealing with back in their states.” 

NWE Announced Electric Vehicle Fleet

10 November 2020
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NorthWestern Energy announced that it plans to include electric vehicles in the company’s fleet.

They also plan to make investments in the infrastructure to locate electric vehicle charging stations in the company’s Montana and South Dakota service territories.

The change is being made because “electric vehicles are efficient and the electricity we provide is about 60% carbon free,” explains Bob Rowe, CEO NorthWestern Energy. He said electric vehicles “are efficient and the electricity and fleet electrification is a good way to reduce carbon.  Electric vehicles will also help lower fuel and maintenance costs, making it a solid business decision.”

Rowe went on to explain, advances in electric vehicle technology and price drops make this the right time to begin making a transition to electric.

NorthWestern Energy’s fleet includes two electric power take-off bucket trucks, one in Huron, S.D. and the other in Billings, and a Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle in Bozeman, today.

Bozeman Division Manager Pat Patterson uses the Bolt EV, added to the fleet in August. The NorthWestern Energy Bozeman Service Center has a charging station that is available for public use.

“I’ve used it to go to NorthWestern Energy’s sites in Yellowstone National Park, a 240 mile round trip, and I had plenty of range,” Patterson said.

By 2030, NorthWestern Energy will replace 30% of light-duty class vehicles, about 100 cars and light trucks, with battery electric vehicles and plug-in electric hybrids. NorthWestern Energy will begin replacing vehicles and equipment at the end of its life with electric alternatives in 2021. By 2030, 20% of new medium and heavy-duty vehicles and 30% of new bucket trucks will be electric vehicles. All new forklifts replacements will be electric by 2030.

WHO Rejects Lockdowns

10 November 2020
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The Center Square

After previously suggesting that governments should be careful about reopening too quickly, the World Health Organization is now urging leaders not to use lockdowns as a primary means to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

Dr. David Nabarro, a medical doctor who has worked for the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, told the British magazine, the Spectator, in a video interview that lockdowns should only be used as a last resort.

“We in the World Health Organization do not advocate lockdowns as the primary means of control of this virus,” Nabarro said.

Nabarro has been the WHO’s Special Envoy on COVID-19 since February. He told the Spectator’s Andrew Neil, “We really do appeal to all world leaders: stop using lockdown as your primary control method.”

“The only time we believe a lockdown is justified is to buy you time to reorganize, regroup, rebalance your resources, protect your health workers who are exhausted, but by and large, we’d rather not do it,” he said.

Nabarro added that ongoing and indefinite restrictions imposed on local, state and national governments by government officials are causing significant financial harm and negatively impacting the global economy.

“Lockdowns just have one consequence that you must never, ever belittle, and that is making poor people an awful lot poorer,” he said.

In May, the Trump administration announced the U.S. was “terminating” its relationship with the embattled WHO and freezing its funding, which has been to the tune of roughly $450 million every year.

“Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs,” President Donald Trump told reporters at a Rose Garden event in March.

U.S. officials had raised concerns about the WHO’s mishandling of information about the virus over the last several months, about WHO officials allegedly ignoring Taiwan’s warnings about the virus, and about WHO officials who repeated claims made by Chinese officials that the virus could not be spread from person-to-person, among other issues.