Commercial

Billings Clinic – Mitch Goplen |Jones Construction Inc, 2800 10th Ave N, Com Remodel, $3,472,000

Wl Zimmerman LLC, 3601 Avenue D, Com Footing/Foundation, $400,000

Don Grewell Ira|Donald A Grewel,l 4190 S Frontage Rd, Com New Warehouse/Storage, $250,000

Bill Co Investment LLC Inc|Fargo Roofing & Siding, 2020 Overland Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $248,228

Pelican Constance D Trustee|G & L Enterprises Inc, 1819 Montana Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding,  $159,870

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran C|A-Team Roofing And Solar, 2802 Belvedere Dr, Com Remodel, $135,000

Harbor Freight |Centimark Corp, 1400 Grand Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding $104,357

Michael W Ryan Trust|Cucancic Construction Inc, 2600 6th Ave N, Demolition Permit Commercial, $50,000

Rocky Mountain Oil LLC|Cucancic Construction Inc., 515 N 27th St, Demolition Permit Commercial, $50,000

Mt Angel Properties LLC|Highsmith Construction, 3041 Boulder Ave, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $45,000

Montana Map LLC|Centimark Corp, 303 N Broadway, Com Fence/Roof/Siding, $44,330

Hess Steven & Judy|KJ Construction, 440 Josephine Dr, Com Addition, $20,000

Griffin Farrel|TRH Construction, 320 N 30th St, Com Remodel, $2,100

Maria Santana |Beartooth Holdings & Construction Inc, 1670 Shiloh Rd, Restaurant/Casino/Bar, $950,000

Wl Zimmerman LLC, 3602 Spring Wheat Ln, Com Footing/Foundation, $400,000

Billings South Shiloh LLC|ABCO Billings LLC, 1745 E Seahawks Pl, Com New Office/Bank, $105,000

Billings Clinic|Summit Fire & Security LLC, 801 N 29th St, Com Fire Systems, $73,054

Sisters Of Charity Of Leavenworth|Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP, 2900 12th Ave N, Th Com Fire Systems, $6,123

Less Tropican Inn-Vestments 2.0 LLC|Environmental Contractors LLC, 5500 Midland Rd, Demolition Permit Commercial, $3,850

JE Nessan Camp 1|Lanter Const, 608 N 29th St, Com Remodel $3,600

Residential

AKR Development LLC|Emineth Custom Homes, 2988 Ridgefield Dr, Res New Single Family, $650,000

Billings South Shiloh LLC|ABCO Billings LLC, 4081 N Seahawks Pl, Res New Two Family, $350,000

Billings South Shiloh LLC|ABCO Billings LLC, 4087 N Seahawks Pl, Res New Two Family, $350,000

Billings South Shiloh LLC|ABCO Billings LLC, 1715 Packers Ln, Res New Two Family, $350,000

Billings South Shiloh LLC|ABCO Billings LLC, 1721 Packers Ln, Res New Two Family, $350,000

Billings South Shiloh LLC|ABCO Billings LLC, 1727 Packers Ln, Res New Two Family, $350,000

Billings South Shiloh LLC|ABCO Billings LLC, 1733 Packers Ln, Res New Two Family, $350,000

Infinity Home LLC |Infinity Home LLC, 2232 Lindero Blvd, Res New Single Family, $176,872

Infinity Home LLC |Infinity Home LLC, 2226 Lindero Blvd, Res New Single Family, $174,158

Taggart Christopher J & Eliza|Jorden Construction, 4812 Silver Creek Trl, Res New Single Family, $1,700,000

Steward Land Holdings LLC|Beartooth Holdings & Construction Inc, 3680 Avenue D, Res New Townhome, $837,756

Steward Land Holdings LLC|Beartooth Holdings & Construction Inc, 3670 Avenue D, $837,756

Billings South Shiloh LLC|ABCO Billings LLC, 4075 N Seahawks Pl, Res New Two Family, $350,000

CDH LLC |CDH LLC, 5220 Rich Ln, Res New Single Family, $311,231

Trails West Homes LLC|Trails West Homes LLC, 5718 Bear Track Trl, Res New Single Family, $247,732

Shanley Caitlin E & Tyler L|Miller Construction & Remodel LLC, 2525 Lyndale Ln, Res Remodel Single/Duplex/Garage, $5,000

By Casey Harper, The Center Square

The Republican-led House Energy and Commerce Committee released a report a week ago, saying that the Biden-Harris Administration spent nearly a billion dollars promoting COVID-era messaging, much of which turned out to be untrue or misleading.

The Congressional report examines the $900 million spent by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on COVID-era messaging to the American people.

The report cites “errors and failures” in the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s “We Can Do This” advertisements and marketing materials.

The report said that much of that taxpayer-funded marketing included incorrect information about vaccines, the danger to children, masks and more.

“Much of the scientific content directly featured in or alluded to in Campaign ads and other promotional material was drawn from CDC recommendations, guidance, and research, critical parts of which proved to be deeply flawed,” the report said.

For instance, the report cited the CDC telling Americans that taking the COVID-19 vaccine would prevent them from getting COVID, something that turned out to be false.

“This ultimately had a negative impact on vaccine confidence and the CDC’s credibility when proven untrue,” the report said.

In another instance, the report points out that federal health officials and the CDC initially downplayed the need and usefulness of masking only to later reverse course and strongly urge Americans to mask, even outdoors.

“Dr. Anthony Fauci, former head of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), advocated against mask wearing on February 5, 2020, stating ‘Masks are really for infected people to prevent them from spreading infection to people who are not infected rather than protecting uninfected people from acquiring infection,’” the report said.

“By April 3, 2020, the CDC completely reversed course and announced new mask wearing guidelines, recommending that all people wear a mask outside of the home,” the report continued, adding that “In December of 2022, after leaving the Biden White House, former COVID-19 coordinator, Ashish Jha, freely admitted what many had been saying all along—’[t]here is no study in the world that shows that masks work that well.’”

The report also pointed out that “The CDC had inconsistent and flawed messaging about the effectiveness of masks” and that “the CDC consistently overstated the risk of COVID-19 to children.”

“The CDC continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccines for all Americans ages six months and older, which has made the United States a global outlier in COVID-19 policy,” the report said.

That marketing was used by lawmakers and local and state officials to justify extended lockdowns on businesses, which hurt the economy and put many small business owners out of business or to justify school closures, from which research now shows students have still not recovered.

“While the Biden-Harris administration’s public health guidance led to prolonged closures of schools and businesses, the NIH was spending nearly a billion dollars of taxpayer money trying to manipulate Americans with advertisements—sometimes containing erroneous or unproven information,” Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said in a statement.

“By overpromising what the COVID-19 vaccines could do—in direct contradiction of the FDA’s authorizations—and over emphasizing the virus’s risk to children and young adults, the Biden-Harris administration caused Americans to lose trust in the public health system,” she added.

Reporting has shown that during the pandemic the federal government successfully pressured social media companies to censor Americans’ posts on COVID-related issues that did not toe the party line.

Meta CEO and Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this year in a public letter that he regretted complying with those federal requests.

“Our investigation also uncovered the extent to which public funding went to Big Tech companies to track and monitor Americans, underscoring the need for stronger online data privacy protections,” McMorris-Rodgers said.

The lawmakers on the Republican-led committee pointed out that the federal government’s pushing of unproven or incorrect medical data has led to an overall distrust of federal health agencies and vaccines on the whole.

“The entire premise of the Biden-Harris ‘Stop the Spread’ campaign was that if you got vaccinated for COVID-19, you could resume daily activities because they said vaccinated people would not spread the disease,” Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith, R-Va., said in a statement. “Despite lacking scientific basis, the administration bought into this CDC claim and misled the American public. As a result, vaccination coverage with other vaccines appears to have declined, I believe because of a growing distrust of information coming from our public health institutions.”

Gallup released polling data in August showing that fewer Americans now say childhood vaccines are important, “with 40% saying it is extremely important for parents to have their children vaccinated, down from 58% in 2019 and 64% in 2001.”

Burger fans traveling across Southeast Montana will now have more options to choose from, as the Southeast Montana Burger Trail announced it has added four new locations: On the Rocks in Worden, Stockman’s Club in Broadus, Six Gun Pizza in Forsyth and Mulligans Restaurant and Pub in Colstrip.

Since the inception of the Southeast Montana Burger Trail in 2022, more than 400 visitors from as far as Minnesota, Texas and Pennsylvania have downloaded the Southeast Montana Burger Trail Passport, which incentivizes travelers to venture off the highway to explore the area’s unique communities and delicious burgers.

Participants who visit four locations on the trail can earn an official sticker, and dedicated fans who visit eight locations are eligible to receive an official “Burger Boss” T-shirt.

 “Expanding our Burger Trail to include new locations within Southeast Montana is exciting and offers greater visibility to our rural communities that have numerous attractions beyond the highway,” said Sara Hollenbeck, content manager for Visit Southeast Montana. Details about each new stop on the Southeast Montana Burger Trail include:

* On the Rocks (2441 Main St., Worden): On the Rocks’ House Burger entices guests with its juicy patty, melted gruyere and house aioli, but it’s the irresistible bacon onion jam that steals the show. The burger creates a flavor explosion that makes the Worden exit off Interstate 90 not just a pit stop but a mouthwatering detour.

* Stockman’s Club (721 S. Park St., Broadus): The Stockman’s Club serves a legendary A-1 Burger featuring a juicy patty, choice of cheese, crispy bacon and caramelized onions, all crowned with a tangy, house-made A-1 sauce that makes it an unforgettable local favorite. 

* Six Gun Pizza (2100 Cedar St., Forsyth): With options to choose between a quarter-pound or half-pound beef patty sandwiched between homemade buns, guests are often found exclaiming “YUM” with every bite. Six Gun Pizza’s Smash Burger features pepper jack or American cheese, grilled onions and a signature secret sauce.

* Mulligans Restaurant and Pub (1 Long Drive Suite B, Colstrip): The Buzzy Burger at Mulligans Restaurant and Bar is the undisputed star of the menu. This mouthwatering masterpiece blends pork sausage, bacon and beef, which is all expertly seasoned for an explosion of flavor. Paired with fries dusted in Mulligans’ secret “pixie dust” seasoning, it’s a dining experience that is akin to a hole-in-one.

To see a full list of participating restaurants on the Southeast Montana Burger Trail and to download your passport, visit southeastmontana.com/burgertrail.

Four landmark properties are for sale in Livingston. They are Riverside Hardware and The Stockman Bar on Main Street, the 49er Diner, Bar and Casino on Park Street, and the former Livingston Enterprise building on South Main Street.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Aug. 26 that more than 1 million ineligible voters have been removed from the state’s voter rolls in the past three years, including more than 6,500 noncitizens and 457,000 people who are dead. Of the 6,500 potential noncitizens removed from the voter rolls, about 1,930 have a voter history.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said this month that he issued an executive order removing 6,303 noncitizens from voter rolls. Likewise, Alabama removed at least 3,251 noncitizens and Ohio removed 137.

Big Sky Economic Development received a 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The award was bestowed specifically for the organization’s work in the Digital Media category. Big Sky Economic Development, Marcell Bruski and Kayla Vokral will be acknowledged and honored at the IEDC 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO, September 15-18.

“Big Sky Economic Development is setting the standard of excellence for economic development with its The Vault at 201 N Broadway Podcast project. This award highlights Big Sky Economic Development’s commitment to its community and demonstrates the transformative impact of economic development,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO.

 “We are absolutely thrilled to announce this year’s award winners. These exceptional projects showcase remarkable dedication and ingenuity within the field,” said Kevin Kramer, Chair of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards Advisory Committee. “Big Sky Economic Development’s contributions will leave a lasting impact and demonstrate its commitment to creating positive change for its residents.”

Every year IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.

“We our honored by this national recognition. Congratulations to Marcell and Kayla – co-hosts of The Vault – our tool to share the stories of entrepreneurs, businesses, community initiatives, and leaders that are influencing the economic and community development of our community” said Steve Arveschoug, Executive Director at BSED.

Big Sky Economic Development (BSED) is a public-private partnership. The Big Sky Economic Development Authority (EDA), the public agency, evolved from the Montana TradePort Authority launched in 1989 by the Yellowstone County Board of Commissioners. Big Sky Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the private business side, was started in 2002. Over 145 of the county’s top businesses are member-investor partners in the EDC. Together, the organization’s mission is to sustain and grow Yellowstone County’s vibrant economy and outstanding quality of life, by providing leadership and resources for business creation, expansion, retention, new business recruitment and community development.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers.

Since the Montana State Legislature created a taxpayer funded program in the hopes of attracting Hollywood –style business to Montana, the Montana Department of Commerce recently announced $2.6 million in grants to 67 film creations statewide.

The program is called the Big Sky Film Grant program and this year there were 150 projects requesting $9 million in funding.

The Montana Department of Commerce announced that 67 film creations will share more than $2.6 million in subsidies to film on-location productions across the state.

Grants were made available from Feature Film and TV; Feature Film and TV – Resident Only; Short-Form Content; and Short-Form Content – Resident Only categories.

A sampling of some of the recipients include:

—  7030 Entertainment, LLC  – –  $50,000 for the production of “Cold Storage.”

— Attack Team Entertainment Inc.  – –  $50,000 for the production of “Where the Wild Horses Live.”

—  Eat Different, LLC will revive $100,000 for the production of “Inhuman.”

—  FMLY Films, Inc.  – –  $50,000 for the production of “Lunatic.”

—  Hold The Map Productions, LLC  – –  $50,000 for the production of “Breaking the Silence.”

—  Justin Olson, ETC FILM, LLC  – –  $150,000 for the production of “Earth to Charlie.”

—  Last Chance Pictures, LLC  – –  $50,000 for the production of “Good Kids.”

—  Michael Polish, There There, LLC  – –  $100,000 for the production of “There, There.”

—  MMM MT, LLC  – –  $50,000 for the production of “Swimming Hole.”

—  Nathan Norby, LLC  – –  $50,000 for the production of “The Price of Paradise.”

—  Paradise Valley Pictures  – –  $100,000 for the production of “The Gift of the Game.”

— Stillwater Historical Society, Museum of the Beartooths will receive $50,000 for the production of “Moccasins, Mining and Montana’s 34th County.”

“Commerce’s Film Office promotes Montana as a business destination for film production companies to expand production in our state, increase job opportunities, promote small business growth and to promote tourism,” said Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “These 67 film projects are expected to spend an estimated $35 million in Montana and will bring in productions that will help boost the economies of many rural Montana communities, including Plentywood, Cohagen, Lame Deer, Poplar, Dillon, Clyde Park, Choteau, Pryor, Roberts, Virginia City and Pray.”

The richest in Montana…

Based upon the average net worth of its citizens, the richest city in Montana – not surprisingly —  is Bozeman followed by Whitefish. Belgrade comes in as the third richest – undoubtedly as spillover from Bozeman. Then its Columbia Falls, followed by Billings, Helena, Missoula, Laurel, Livingston, and Kalispell.