Gallatin Media Center

For immediate release: Jan. 4, 2024

On the morning of Thursday, Jan. 4, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the Clerk of District Court’s Office received an anonymous email threat claiming that bombs were put into courtrooms in Gallatin County District Court, Justice Court, and Bozeman Municipal Court. Similar threats have been received by local and state agencies nationwide in the last two days.

Law enforcement performed sweeps of all courtrooms and did not find anything suspicious. In coordination with judges and court staff, courts were opened at regular hours.

The sheriff’s office appreciates the cooperation of all the courts in this matter.

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On January 4, 2024, at 1:26 am, Gallatin County Dispatch began receiving calls of a wrong way driver on Interstate 90 at mile marker 294.  The suspect vehicle was reportedly traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.  The suspect vehicle subsequently caused a head on collision with another vehicle at mile marker 278.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Manhattan Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol and Three Forks Fire responded to the scene of the crash. The victim, a 22-year-old Townsend native currently residing in Belgrade, was the sole occupant of the vehicle and pronounced deceased on scene.  The driver of the suspect vehicle was extricated and transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center.

The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the accident with the assistance of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 2:45 p.m., the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a 911 call regarding a snowmobiler who had struck a tree and suffered severe facial injuries in the crash. The crash had taken place on the Madison Arm Trail 4 miles northwest of West Yellowstone.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department, Yellowstone National Park, West Yellowstone Police Department, and a helicopter from Air Methods responded to assist with the rescue.

Rescuers arrived on scene and immediately requested an Air Methods Helicopter to respond due to the severity of the snowmobiler’s injuries. The patient was quickly packaged and transported to meet a HBFD ambulance before being transferred to the helicopter. The patient was transported to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for trauma care.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the dedicated SAR volunteers and all of our partner agencies involved in the rescue.

For immediate release: Jan. 3, 2024 

Media contact:
Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
Cell – 406-595-8963
whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov
 

Gallatin, Broadwater Counties Receive Funding to Replace Old Town Bridges 

Gallatin and Broadwater counties are finalizing contracts for state funding to help replace two bridges on Old Town Road that span the Jefferson River near Three Forks. 

Over the last couple years, the two counties have been collaborating and working to find funding to replace both bridges, which are estimated to cost around $2 million each. 

The bridge located on Old Town Road East was closed to traffic in June 2023 after an inspection identified significant safety issues with the structure. This has resulted in a 10-mile detour and has forced emergency services to reroute, causing considerable delays in service.  

The bridge located on Old Town Road West, about a quarter mile west, currently has a seven-ton load limit.  

Due to the significant population increases in both Gallatin and Broadwater counties in that area, Old Town Road and the two bridges continue to be vital infrastructure for the region.  

In 2023, both counties received $750,000 each from the Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP). They also both received $1 million apiece from the Montana Department of Transportation to be used as matching funds for the MCEP money. These matching funds are thanks to a bill passed in the 2023 Montana Legislature, which provides funding for road and bridge repair statewide. 

“This funding is a key component to ensuring that we replace these critical pieces of infrastructure for our residents on the west end of Gallatin County. We appreciate the teamwork with Broadwater County to push this project forward,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Scott MacFarlane. 

“Broadwater County is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Gallatin County in the replacement of the Old Town Bridges that will greatly benefit all residents. We are also grateful for the MCEP program and the Montana Department of Transportation that have helped to the provided funding to make this project possible,” said Broadwater County Commissioner Darrel Folkvord. 

Stahly Engineering is in the process of completing design of the bridges. Construction is slated to begin in June with completion at the end of 2024.  

Check out project history and schedule, submit questions and comments, and more, at the project website. 

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On December 30^th 2023, Gallatin County Dispatch received a call for two injured snowmobilers on Buck Ridge.  Both patients were involved in a snowmobile crash and sustained injuries.  Canyon Adventures snowmobile guides were in the area and responded to assist the injured riders.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section responded to Buck Ridge and deployed a snowmobile rescue team immediately up the trail.

With the help of Canyon Adventures, both snowmobilers were transported to a waiting Big Sky Fire Ambulance.  Care of both patients was transferred to Big Sky Fire Department personnel.

Sherriff Dan Springer would like to thank all of the individuals who assisted the injured riders, especially the Canyon Adventures guides, whose quick action was vital in guaranteeing the most positive outcome possible.

 

 

 

On 12/29/23 at 3:25 PM Gallatin County 911 received a call from the partner of an injured skier.  The pair was ski touring in Beehive Basin and one of them had hit a rock and injured her ankle.  Despite the ankle being too painful to bear weight, the pair slowly made their way down to the trail as Gallatin County Search & Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers deployed to assist.

GCSSAR rescuers met the pair on the trail, provided first aid, and packaged the patient for safe transport to the trailhead. At the trailhead, the patient refused ambulance transport as they were able to take their own vehicle to seek follow-on medical care.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the patient and her partner for having a solid emergency communications plan and being well equipped to handle an extended stay in the back country if circumstances required it.

 

For immediate release: Dec. 20, 2023

Media contact:
Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
406-595-8963
Whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov

 

City of Bozeman, Gallatin County Adopt Sensitive Lands Protection Plan
Regional plan maps ecological resources and provides recommendations 

The Gallatin Valley Sensitive Lands Protection Plan crossed a major milestone this month. With the acceptance of the plan by the Bozeman City Commission and adoption by the Gallatin County Commission, the community will now have a regional and coordinated view of what resources are at risk as development occurs, and what steps can be taken to conserve and protect what residents value most.

“The plan provides meaningful information that will assist the county with implementing our Growth Policy,” says Gallatin County Commissioner Jennifer Boyer. “The menu of strategies that are available to address the impacts on sensitive lands are both at a macro level and a site-specific level in this plan, and they also encompass a variety of approaches from regulations to financial incentives. I think we have a really good mix of levers to use.”

“This plan is two years in the making and demonstrates our shared understanding of how important our ecological resources are to our quality of life. Now, we can clearly see which areas are most at risk and prioritize them accordingly for conservation,” says City of Bozeman Strategic Services Director, Jon Henderson.

The document outlines insights into the vision and values of our community, a set of thematic sensitive land models based on authoritative data sources, and a toolkit of recommendations that can be implemented throughout the Valley.

Online at the project website, residents can explore interactive maps for each theme, view the full Plan document, and walk through each step of the Planning process, from community engagement to the toolkit of solutions.

The Plan has been guided by the public and a Working Group of technical experts. It is a success story of collaboration between multiple city, county, agency, constituent, and landowner representatives.

For more about the Plan, including how to get involved in implementation, visit the Project Hub at https://gallatinvalleyplan.bozeman.net/.

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On 12/12/2023 at 11:31 pm, Gallatin County Dispatch received a 911 call from two individuals who had gotten their vehicle stuck while recreating near the Sourdough Trail. The individuals were not dressed for the cold weather conditions and requested Search and Rescue respond to pick them up.

 

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSAR) volunteers from the Valley section responded. Volunteers utilized off-road vehicles to travel up the trail where the individuals were located. GCSAR volunteers evaluated the individuals on scene and provided them a ride back to the trail head.

 

Sheriff Springer would like to remind backcountry enthusiasts that not all trails in the county are permitted to be used by motorized vehicles and to read posted signage at all trail heads to ensure our trails can be legally enjoyed by all. Those trails which are permitted for motorized used should only be used by those with experience and proper equipment, especially given cold weather and icy road conditions. If you have any questions regarding trail usage in Gallatin County, please reach out to the National Forest Service or the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

In the afternoon hours of Thursday, December 7, 2023, the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office, and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, investigated a death that occurred on a construction site near Big Sky. The victim was identified as 60-year-old Israel Duran Bahena who resided in Bozeman. The cause and manner of death are still under investigation, but foul play is not suspected.

Sheriff Springer wishes to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Israel Duaran Bahena during this time.

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Beker Cuelho, Chief Deputy Coroner