News

Concealed Carry Bill, local health boards face scrutiny

Article Image Alt Text

First Gun Bill Debate in Montana House

The Montana Senate will now consider a bill that would greatly expand where concealed weapons can be carried in Montana after the House of Representatives passed House Bill 102 along party lines.

The debate over the bill briefly ground to a halt last week as one lawmaker shut down another’s comments as a violation of decorum.

Members of the Montana House of Representatives were debating HB 102 when Rep. Jim Keane, D-Butte, who opposed the bill, asked Rep. Seth Berglee, R-Joliet, if he had ever been shot.

COVID vaccine will be offered to Phase 1B next week

Beaverhead County’s COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be offered to residents in the next eligible group starting Jan. 29.

YOUR BOOTS ON THE HILL

The 2021 Montana Legislative Session is picking up momentum. In addition to representing our state’s farmers and ranchers in committee hearings, we’ve had several important meetings with agency leaders this week.

FBI arrests local for D.C. riot role

Article Image Alt Text

A local businessman who attended and allegedly entered the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots was arrested by local police Monday afternoon.

Henry “Hank” Muntzer was taken into custody by Dillon police officers at the request of federal agents around 5 p.m. Monday in downtown Dillon, Chief Don Guiberson said. He was arrested on federal charges related to the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol, where a mass of people wearing Trump-supporting gear stormed the halls of Congress and interrupted the vote count to affirm the winner of the November elections, President-elect Joe Biden.

NILE begins search for new general manager

The Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) recently began the search for a new general manager. Current General Manager Jennifer Boka of Dillon turns over the reins to a new leader in the fall.

Boka joined the NILE in August of 2013 and will continue leading the team until November of this year. Residing in Dillon with her husband Josh and young son, Jennifer has decided to redirect her career focus to Real Estate and thus allow for more time closer to home.

Woman found dead at hospital parking lot

The body of a 62-year-old woman was found in her parked car at Barrett Hospital and HealthCare Friday morning according to Beaverhead County Coroner Julie Briggs. No foul play is suspected.

A ruling on the cause of the unattended death had not yet been determined as of Monday. Briggs transported the body to the Montana State Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy on Tuesday and results were not available at press time.

S&R News

The Beaverhead Search and Rescue held its January meeting on Wednesday the 6th. Commander Clint Rouse called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Several members participated in the meeting via zoom and 28 members attended in person while following Covid19 mandates of social distancing and wearing of masks. There were several items of business addressed: 2 donations from local businesses, the 2021 fish derby, member and rookie of the year, a presentation to a retiring member, and election of 2021 officers.

Montana NG to provide inauguration support

Article Image Alt Text

150 members of the Montana Army National Guard left for Washington D.C. on Saturday to join more than 21,500 other National Guard soldiers to provide support for today’s presidential inauguration. The men and women have been authorized to conduct security, communication and logistical missions in support of federal and D.C. authorities through today and beyond as necessary, according to a National Guard Bureau press release.

Fox Run paving opponent calls process ‘morally wrong’

A vocal opponent of efforts to pave Fox Run subdivision’s roads excoriated the people responsible for the decisions they have made so far over the project last week.

Calling the process “morally wrong” and accusing members of attempting to hide costs, subdivision resident Darrell Turner reiterated his previous objections that the final paving will be a detriment to the subdivision.

High school to ease into in-person classes

Beaverhead County High School will begin phasing in in-class instruction starting Jan. 25, the school board decided last week.

Alongside the change, students may choose to opt-out of in-class instruction for classes that cannot guarantee six feet of social distance between students, though students would still be on campus learning.