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Articles from the June 9, 2021 edition


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  • Elliott Discusses Tenure as Three Forks Superintendent

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Jun 9, 2021

    At the end of June, Three Forks Superintendent Jeff Elliott will be stepping down from the position. While there were undoubtedly challenges during his three years, Elliott is walking away proud of what he accomplished and confident of the district's direction. Prior to his being hired in 2018, Elliott had previously worked as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal. With many friends who grew up in Three Forks and knowing many people in the area, Elliott was excited when the... Full story

  • CIty Makes Changes at Parks

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Jun 9, 2021

    The City of Three Forks has recently completed several new projects that will benefit local residents. According to Mayor Sean Gifford, city employees made a beach area at the ponds at Bellach Park in May. "We leveled out an area and moved in sand in the hopes to accommodate the growing number of people using the ponds for recreation," Gifford said. The sand volleyball park at Stevenson Park has also been moved to the ponds. The City is also working on a concrete slab as Stevenson Park that...

  • Text to 911 Now Available in Gallatin County

    Jun 9, 2021

    Gallatin County 911 is pleased to announce another tool for citizens and visitors to reach our dispatchers during emergencies. Text to 911 is now available in Gallatin County. We urge the community to always call 911 when possible, but to use this service when that is not feasible. The ability to text message dispatchers will be beneficial in many situations. Text to 911 provides deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired communities direct access to 911 services. It also provides access to 911 in situations where safety would be compromised if... Full story

  • Uthlaut Brings Wealth of Experience

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Jun 9, 2021

    Earlier this year, Dr. Rhonda Uthlaut was named the new Superintendent of the Three Forks School District. Before her approval by the school board earlier this year, Uthlaut had the opportunity to answer questions for both the community and board members at a special forum in the school cafeteria. Uthlaut, who will take over for current Superintendent Jeff Elliott after his contract expires on June 30, currently serves as the Director of School Improvement for the Missouri Department of Education. Born and raised in Missouri, Uthlaut comes...

  • Our View: Your Voice Matters with Growth Policy Update

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Jun 9, 2021

    With the City of Three Forks currently in Phase 2 of a five-year update on their Growth Policy, input from residents will play an integral role in the final document. For those who may not have had the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire, it would be huge for the City for them to take a few minutes to do so. With the idea of shaping the long-term goals for the City of Three Forks with the updated growth policy, public feedback is vital. Not every resident will feel the same way about what they would like to see, but the City needs to hear...

  • Column: Slow it down

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Jun 9, 2021

    I was lucky enough to have grown up in Wyoming and to spend the past six years living in Montana. In my humble opinion, there are not two better states in America. I should probably visit all 50 states before making that assumption, but I’ve done enough traveling to know that I might be onto something. Maybe Vermont is the absolute best place, and I need to get there, but there is just something special about Montana and Wyoming. There are so many wonderful things about living in Montana, and for the past two years, I have enjoyed living out o... Full story

  • Precipitation Returns in May Adding to the Snowpack, Snowmelt is in Full Swing

    Jun 9, 2021

    Following two months of well below average precipitation, rain and snow was welcomed across much of Montana during May. Two mid-month storms brought significant precipitation to the Rocky Mountain Front and portions of the Flathead River Basin according to data from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). SNOTEL sites near Seeley Lake and Lincoln, Mont., received record amounts of May precipitation. Overall, the recent precipitation was beneficial and added much needed snow to...

  • Parks and Trails Cleanup this Week

    Jun 9, 2021

    The City of Three Forks Parks Committee is hosting a Parks and Trails Cleanup Day this weekend. The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to Noon. The City was approached by an enthusiastic member of the public, ready and willing to help and hope more residents will join the cleanup efforts. Depending on the turnout, the committee plans on splitting up into groups to clean up trash at City parks and various Headwaters Trail sections. Those interested are being asked to find the event page on Facebook, check “GOING,” and sha...

  • Chip sealing delayed on Toston Structures Project

    Jun 9, 2021

    Chip sealing on the Montana Department of Transportation Project has been delayed a week to June 14. The work was initially scheduled to start June 7. The work will include single lane traffic with reduced speeds, flaggers, temporary signal lights, and pilot cars. Paving was complete in late 2020. Construction on the Toston Structures Project began in April of 2019. The project is in Broadwater County, south of Townsend on US 287 near Toston. Construction begins one mile north of the existing bridges and ends just past Radersburg Road... Full story

  • Paving Complete on US 287 North of Three Forks Project

    Jun 9, 2021

    Paving of the main road and approaches is now complete on the US 287 North of Three Forks Project. There will be a break in construction activity for 2-3 weeks pending final seal and cover work in mid to late June. This work is weather dependent and requires more consistent warm, dry weather. If you would like direct weekly construction updates, including the most updated traffic information, please subscribe to texting updates for ‘us287ThreeForks’ to 47177 or email updates at [email protected]. You may also contact the Public Inf...

  • Tickets on sale for 2021 Big Sky Country State Fair

    Jun 9, 2021

    Tickets for the Big Sky Country State Fair are on sale NOW! The Big Sky Country State Fair is Back Better Than Ever and tickets are on sale now. The Big Sky Country State Fair is offering six amazing ticket packages to choose from. Don't forget to buy early for HUGE savings. All pricing increases at midnight on Tuesday, July 20th and all other ticket packages are no longer available. The ticket packages include; Online Fair Admission, Advance Weekly Pass, Date Pack, MyKiss Pack, Carload Pack, Carnival Wrist Bands, and Hero's Day. Advance...

  • Summer Speaker Series June 18 at Caverns

    Jun 9, 2021

    Come explore June 18 the varied ways in which wildlife can respond to changes in regional weather and climatic conditions. You will learn about how alpine animals react to these shifts by following American pikas and marmots, two of Montana’s small yet charismatic mammals. This talk will help you step into the animals’ shoes and imagine how they experience the environment around them! This is the fourth presentation in Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park’s annual Friday Summer Speakers Series, which introduces a new speaker each Friday at 8 p.m. t...

  • Search and Rescue responds to Gallatin River incident

    Jun 9, 2021

    On Saturday, June 5, 2021 at approximately 4:48 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue responded to a request for assistance for a kayaker who came out of their boat on the Gallatin River near mile marker 60. Volunteers responded and discovered that the individual had made it safely to shore, and was returning to retrieve their boat. Responders simultaneously received a report of a second kayaker who came out of their boat while attempting to assist the first kayaker. The second kayaker was stranded on a rocky piece of shoreline,...

  • Fishing Derby set for June 12

    Jun 9, 2021

    Gallatin County Parks Department is holding the first ever Trout Fishing Derby, in honor of Father’s Day, at the Kendeda Lake in the Gallatin County Regional Park in Bozeman. This event will be held from 8 a.m. to Noon on Saturday, June 12. Children 12 and under and invited to participate. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided, but rods and bait for fishing will not be supplied. When entering, at the Oak Street parking lot, children will be handed a raffle ticket. This ticket will be included in our raffle that will be held t...

  • Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission to Meet on June 10

    Jun 9, 2021

    The Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission will meet on June 10 at 1 p.m. to consider the criteria commissioners will use to create congressional and state legislative district lines. In addition, commissioners will continue to discuss the redistricting process, data, and timelines. An agenda and instructions on how the public can participate in the meeting are available on the commission’s website. Other materials will be posted prior to the meeting. The meeting will be held in person in the Capitol in Helena and also online using Z...

  • Taking control: City and county leaders statewide are struggling to come to terms with rollbacks of municipal authority

    Alex Sakariassen, Montana Free Press|Jun 9, 2021

    After months of legislative debate, Montanans are beginning to glimpse how new laws passed by the 67th Legislature are poised to impact their lives. For county and municipal leaders, those impacts amount to a notable reduction in their ability to respond at a local level on a range of issues including public health, affordable housing and agricultural sustainability. One of the highest-profile examples of a major change local officials now have to contend with is House Bill 121, which requires that any rules or regulations proposed by local hea...

  • 2021 Memorial Day Ceremony in Three Forks

    Jun 9, 2021

    A large came out to Veterans Park on May 31 for the annual Three Forks Memorial Day Ceremony. Photos by Melissa Jenkins... Full story

  • Despite challening conditions, Willow Creek Fire remains at 350 acres

    Jack H. Smith, Three Forks Voice|Jun 9, 2021

    Despite challenging conditions Thursday with wind gusts over 60 miles per hour, officials reported Friday morning the Willow Creek Fire near Three Forks remained at 350 acres. At a stakeholder meeting Friday at the Three Forks Ambulance Barn, Incident Commander David Hamilton praised the first firefighters who arrived on the scene Wednesday afternoon. The fire started on private land six miles southwest of Three Forks on the west side of U.S. Highway 287 and the north side of MT Hwy 2 in Jeffers... Full story