Week of April 24, 2024
Week of April 24, 2024
Prominent voices from the mountaineering realm will keynote the second annual Minds on Mountains Conference sponsored by Montana State University's College of Letters and Science on April 25–26. The event, which is organized by the Mountains Working Group in MSU's Department of History and Philosophy, also will feature two dozen faculty and graduate student speakers from six MSU departments, as well as representatives from the Montana Historical Society and local climbing community. They will...
A team of Montana researchers is playing a key role in the development of a more effective vaccine against tuberculosis, an infectious disease that has killed more people than any other. The BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccine, created in 1921, remains the sole TB vaccine. While it is 40% to 80% effective in young children, its efficacy is very low in adolescents and adults, leading to a worldwide push to create a more powerful vaccine. One effort is underway at the University of Montana...
Ballots for the upcoming school election in Three Forks were mailed last Friday. The Three Forks District is asking for a $504,234 per year levy, approximately 25.31 mills, for the Elementary District and a $176,154 levy, approximately 8.99 mills, for the High School District. Six candidates will also run for two spots on the Three Forks School Board. The six candidates for the election are Brooke Pestel, Hillary Lampers, Leana Eastty, Ryan Lampers, Travis Lee Short, and incumbent Robert Buchholz. If your ballot is destroyed, spoiled, lost,...
GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on April 22, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 04/21/24 00:05 CFS24-055168 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Citation 00:07 CFS24-055169 PATROL CHECK BULL TROUT RD and JACKRABBIT LN LE - Documented 00:09 CFS24-055170 PATROL CHECK MONFORTON SCHOOL RD and LE - Documented 00:18 CFS24-055174 PATROL CHECK CIRCLE F TRL and DRIVEWAY (48.8 feet) LE - Documented 00:21 CFS24-055175 PATROL CHECK VENTURE WAY and REEVES RD W (38.9 LE - Documented 00:29 CFS24-055177 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Warning 00:35 CFS24-055180 PATROL... Full story
In his initial court appearance on April 16, 23-year-old Alexander Norbert LeDoux pleaded not guilty to eight counts stemming from a fatal head-on collision that killed 22-year-old Laysa Grewell on January 4 on Interstate 90 near Three Forks. Appearing before Montana 18th Judicial Court District Peter Ohman, LeDoux pleaded not guilty to Vehicular Homicide While Under the Influence, Fleeing from or Eluding a Peace Officer, and six counts of Criminal Endangerment. Judge Ohman set the bail in the case at $250,000, and LeDoux was later booked... Full story
GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on April 20, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 04/19/24 00:01 CFS24-054094 PATROL CHECK NORRIS RD and JACKRABBIT LN (103.3 LE - Documented 00:02 CFS24-054095 PATROL CHECK GALLATIN RD and COTTONWOOD RD LE - Documented 00:38 CFS24-054112 PATROL CHECK LE - Documented 04:23 CFS24-054135 BURGLAR CRUISER LN and JACKRABBIT RD (88.9 LE - 04:32 CFS24-054136 SUSPICIOUS INTERSTATE 90 HWY and ACCESS (1.0 LE - Documented 06:27 CFS24-054143 RECKLESS LE - Referred 07:42 CFS24-054154 PATROL CHECK... Full story
The regular monthly meeting for the Three Forks Area Historical Society will be Thursday, MAY 9th, due to the Give Big fundraiser the week before. The meeting will be in the Methodist Church Annex at 7:00 p.m.. Items on the agenda include: cleaning for the museums, volunteers, progress of the new Past Perfect program and updates on the caboose and steam locomotive. Refreshments will be served after the meeting by Jerry and Cheryl Lehr. Everyone is invited to come to the meeting and find out... Full story
MEDIA REPORT Printed on April 22, 2024 CFS Date/Time Street Name Code : Description 04/14/24 00:44 MAIN ST SHOOT : Shooting 04/14/24 07:48 FERRY ST VEHLOCK : Vehicle Lock Out 04/14/24 07:49 CB : Control Burn 04/14/24 08:40 SLIM SAM CROW CREEK AREA CB : Control Burn 04/14/24 08:50 PUB : Public Assist 04/14/24 09:43 Traffic Complaint : Traffic Complaint 04/14/24 09:49 REST AREA PROPFND : Found Property 04/14/24 12:53 46.312405, -111.510479 911OPN : 911 Open Line 04/14/24 14:11 4TH ST CB : Control Burn 04/14/24 14:32 HWY 287 Traffic Complaint :... Full story
A veto override effort on a much-debated marijuana revenue bill that initially passed the Montana Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support last year has failed, according to poll results released Friday afternoon. The override poll, conducted by a mail ballot by the Montana secretary of state’s office over the last month, attracted only 41 “yes” votes from state representatives and 24 from state senators — well short of the 67-vote and 34-vote two-thirds margins required for a successful veto override. An additional 14...
Two Montana State University professors, in cooperation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, recently updated the Fishes of Montana app used by anglers who want reliable information about Montana fish species. The updates were made to the 5-year-old app by Christopher Guy and Alexander Zale, both professors in MSU's Department of Ecology in the College of Letters and Science and leaders of the U.S. Geological Survey's Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit. Guy said changes in the recently released eighth edition of the American...
GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on April 21, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 04/20/24 00:15 CFS24-054641 FOLLOW UP GREEN TREE DR and E VELA RD (73.3 LE - Documented 01:53 CFS24-054670 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Warning 02:12 CFS24-054674 WELFARE CHECK FRONTAGE RD and DRIVEWAY (51.2 LE - Public Assist 02:37 CFS24-054677 PUBLIC ASSIST LONE MOUNTAIN TRL and DRIVEWAY LE - Documented 03:05 CFS24-054680 PATROL CHECK BULL TROUT RD and JACKRABBIT LN LE - Documented 03:38 CFS24-054685 DISORDERLY E MAGNOLIA DR and N RIVER ROCK DR LE -... Full story
Three Forks American Legion Post 93 is hosting a special ceremony on Flag Day, June 14, for the Dignified Disposal of Unserviceable United States Flags. Sergeant-At-Arms Thomas Willis gave a brief overview of the event, which will take place at Veterans Park in Three Forks starting at 8 p.m. and ending with the ceremony at 8:14 p.m. “The Post assembles outdoors at night. Members form two parallel rows about 20 feet apart, facing each other. Officers take up stations. A small fire is burning opposite the Commander and beyond the row of... Full story
04/23/24 00:37 CFS24-056096 PATROL CHECK COUNTRYSIDE LN and BAKER ST (37.1 LE - Documented 00:54 CFS24-056101 PATROL CHECK HEIGHTS CIR and MAMMOTH FORK DR LE - Documented 00:57 CFS24-056103 PATROL CHECK MOFFIT GULCH RD and OFF RAMP (43.5 LE - Documented 01:03 CFS24-056104 PATROL CHECK BOZEMAN TRAIL RD and BEAR CANYONLE - Documented 01:10 CFS24-056105 PATROL CHECK INTERSTATE 90 HWY and ACCESS (63.6 LE - Documented 01:13 CFS24-056106 PATROL CHECK ACCESS and WINGS WAY (10.8 feet) LE - Documented 01:15 CFS24-056107 FLAG DOWN CATRON ST and... Full story
Low-income Montanans seeking help paying their property tax bills now have until June 1 to apply for aid through two state relief programs administered by the Montana Department of Revenue — including the flagship Property Tax Assistance Program intended to keep property tax bills from forcing low-income homeowners out of their homes. This year’s application deadline, previously set for April 15, was extended in an effort to give Montanans facing substantial tax hardship more time to apply, Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Department...
Page 1 of 7 GCSO Calls for Service Yesterday Printed on April 25, 2024 Time Call # Type of Call Location Result 04/24/24 00:47 CFS24-056584 PATROL CHECK E VALLEY CENTER RD and FREMONT LE - Documented 00:57 CFS24-056587 PATROL CHECK LE - Documented 01:00 CFS24-056588 PATROL CHECK BUSINESS HUB DR and DRIVEWAY LE - Documented 01:01 CFS24-056590 PATROL CHECK CHURCHILL RD and DRIVEWAY (158.9 LE - Documented 01:03 CFS24-056591 PATROL CHECK KUNJE BLVD and KERI ST (14.6 feet) LE - Documented 01:12 CFS24-056595 TRAFFIC STOP LE - Warning 02:49... Full story
As a junior, Three Forks student-athlete Bryon Fanning finished in the top 10 at the Class B Cross Country State Meet, helping his team to back-to-back second-place finishes. Several months later, Fanning would finish the 2022-23 school year in style with two top-ten finishes at the State Track Meet in Butte, including fourth place in the 3200 meters. The outstanding junior campaign set the stage for what has been quite the senior season for Fanning, who finished third at the Class B State... Full story
The Three Forks High School Tennis team had fantastic results at last week's Simms Sing and Swing Invitational. On the first day of action on April 19, the Wolves won six of seven singles matches, and another four in doubles play. Number one singles player Malia Eriksson won 6-4, 6-3 over Gabby Baker of Poplar and 6-2, 6-2 over Tanna Erickson of Wolf Point. At number two singles, Ali Kotter had a 6-2, 6-2 win over Hailey Greyhawk of Wolf Point. Sophie Meskimen had two wins at number three... Full story
Despite less-than-ideal weather, the Three Forks High School Track and Field team had a great showing at last Saturday's Manhattan Christian Invitational in Bozeman. "It was incredibly cold, so the times don't indicate how well the team competed. They hammered down, battled through it, came out with respectable times, and held their own against a number of very competitive teams," Head Coach Dillon Gongliewski said. It was a strong start to the day for Three Forks junior Kylie Rowan, who... Full story
While she may only be in the fifth grade at Three Forks Elementary School, to say that Venyss Steingruber's wrestling resume is already strong might be an understatement. Steingruber earned All-American honors with a seventh-place finish in the 12U 112-pound division earlier this month at the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Women's National Championships in Spokane. This was her second straight All-American accolade at the prestigious USA Wrestling event after finishing sixth place in her fourth-grade... Full story
A few weeks before her high school graduation in May of 2023, Reagan Buchignani signed to continue her cheer career at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. It was quite the freshman season for the Three Forks High School graduate who helped the Battlin' Bears to a third-place finish at this month's National Cheerleading Association (NCA) National Championships in Daytona, Florida. Buchignani said being part of the squad that finished third in the Advanced All-Girl NAIA competition was amazing.... Full story
The Three Forks High School Softball team will look to get back into the win column with a busy week of action. After opening the week by hosting Belgrade on April 23, the Wolves will travel to play Ennis on April 25 before returning home to wrap up the week with a game against Anaconda on April 26. Three Forks, which had opened the season with seven straight wins, were defeated for the first time last week. The Wolves would build a 7-4 lead after three innings on April 16 against Manhattan... Full story
The Three Forks High School Golf team had an impressive day on April 16 at the Manhattan Christian Invitational at the Cottonwood Hills Golf Club in Bozeman. Head Coach Aaron Harkins said the Wolves had the lowest team total for the girls they have had in a while. They were led by Ari Judd, who finished second with an 81. Paige Lien and Claire Van Vleet shot 105, and Kennedy Rogers finished with a 108. “With scores like those, I think we have a great chance to make it back to the state tournament, so that is really promising,” Harkins... Full story
Dear Editor, As I read about the uncertainty facing our local school district and particularly our teachers regarding the operational levies, I am filled with absolute terror (sounds dramatic but a poor educational system is worse than a horror movie), and I believe we all should feel the same. Education is the backbone of our community, and it’s heartbreaking to see it in such a predicament. We cannot let our frustrations with the system overshadow the needs of our youth. The proposed levies are not just about funding; it’s an investment... Full story
Dear Editor, As a teacher and resident in the Three Forks School District for over 20 years, I am asking for public support for the upcoming operational mill levy for three main reasons. First, the students in our district are down-to-earth, hard-working, bright individuals who thrive when given various opportunities inside and outside the classroom. From FFA to FCCLA, from the basketball court to the softball field, from the pep band to drama club, and from the middle school English class to AP Calculus, I witness each day the magic that... Full story
I’ve probably forgotten more about high school than I remember, but last week reminded me of a vivid memory from the first semester of my senior year. From the moment my friend Paul loaned me his CD of the Pearl Jam album “Ten,” I fell in love with the band. I was elated earlier this year when I not only found out they would be making a return trip for a concert in Missoula but also that they would be releasing their 12th studio album on April 19. While impatiently awaiting to hear more than the two songs they have released from “Dark... Full story
Could you please provide some background about yourself? My name is Dr. Hillary Lampers. I am a current Three Forks resident with a daughter in elementary and one in high school. I have been married for 27 years to candidate Ryan Lampers, and we have lived in Three Forks since 2018. I was fortunate to grow up in Montana, most of it in Bozeman where I graduated from Senior High and did two years at MSU before moving to Seattle to pursue education. After obtaining a BS in Natural Health Sciences... Full story
There was great news for the Willow Creek music program, with the High School Ensemble and Wind Ensemble both receiving Superior Ratings at the recent District Music Festival, qualifying both for the State Music Festival. According to Willow Creek Superintendent Bonnie Lower, it was a tough year with adjudicators, and many schools didn't make it past Districts. "We are really proud of how excellent our music program is with the Mr. and Mrs. Frank team teaching at... Full story
Could you please provide some background about yourself? My name is Ryan Lampers, I am a father of two daughters, ages 8 and 15 that both attend the Three Forks School District. A husband of 28 years to my lovely wife Hillary and a resident of Three Forks, Montana for the past 6 years. As an outdoor enthusiast I've spent much of my life working in the outdoor industry, from the wilds of Alaska to the fishing coast of Washington state to now the hunting industry and education space here in... Full story
Could you please provide some background about yourself? I have lived in Three Forks for nearly 10 years and the Gallatin Valley for almost 15. I am a proud graduate of Montana State University with a degree in Accounting – Go Cats! – my lifelong connection to Montana runs deep, with my parents growing up in Great Falls and our family frequently visiting the Bozeman area growing up. My professional journey has been multifaceted. I have always had a strong tie to the real estate market,... Full story
Could you please provide some background about yourself? I was born and raised in Bozeman. I joined the USAF in 1997 and spent 9 years in the service. After separating from the military, I returned to Montana. I bought a house and settled in Three Forks in 2012. Why are you running for the Three Forks School Board? When the financial issues came to light, I started regularly attending school board meetings as a citizen and commenting on the issues. A board member resigned shortly after and I... Full story
Could you please provide some background about yourself? Hello, my name is Brooke Pestel and I have lived in Three Forks since I was born. I was raised here and attended Three Forks Schools from elementary through high school. I attended MSU Bozeman and received a bachelor's degree in accounting and a minor in English. I have worked in public accounting for over 25 years with a focus on both personal and business taxes, as well as an emphasis on business consulting. My husband and I have four... Full story
There was fantastic news for the Three Forks and Willow Creek School Districts last week. On Thursday, April 18, the Producer Partnership delivered 931 pounds of top-quality USDA-inspected protein to Willow Creek and 1,185 pounds to Three Forks. The Cooper Hereford Ranch made the generous donations possible in an effort to put local beef in school lunch programs. "The Producer Partnership was founded in 2020 because of neighbors looking to help each other during Covid. The simple idea of... Full story
Could you please provide some background about yourself? I'm Travis Short, a candidate for the School Board, residing in Three Forks for over 8 years. My two children are currently attending the elementary school, and my supportive wife, Hollie Short, stands by me. Why are you running for the Three Forks School Board? My candidacy stems from a deep concern for our teachers' welfare, particularly regarding their wages. I advocate for a mill levy to secure a 5% wage increase, crucial for teacher... Full story
It's once again time for the annual Three Forks High School and Junior High Rodeo. This year's two one-day rodeos at the Three Forks Rodeo Grounds are scheduled for Saturday, April 27, at 9 a.m. and Sunday, April 28, at 8 a.m. Events at Montana High School Rodeo Association-sponsored rodeos will include barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, team roping, calf roping, ribbon roping, bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc, steer riding, goat tying, and steer wrestling. THREE FORKS NRA RODEO... Full story
The Three Forks School District is hosting a School Board Candidate Forum and Informational Levy Discussion in the Gymnasium on Wednesday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. All community members are welcome to attend the meeting, followed by a Spring Festival Open House with activities and... Full story
