Gallatin Media Center

For immediate release: February 15, 2022

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

The Gallatin County Commission will consider asking voters to decide on local-option sales taxes on marijuana products sold in the county, and is seeking public input on the potential ballot questions.

At their Tuesday, Feb. 22 public meeting, commissioners will discuss and decide upon resolutions of intent to put the following two items on the June 7, 2022 primary election ballot for Gallatin County voters to decide:

• A 3% local-option sales tax on all non-medical (recreational) marijuana products sold in Gallatin County – see resolution here.
• A 3% local-option sales tax on all medical marijuana products sold in Gallatin County – see resolution here.

A resolution of intent sets a public hearing for a decision on an item the commission is considering, and gives notice so that the public can participate in the decision-making process. Commissioners will formally consider adding the questions to the primary election ballot at their March 8 regularly-scheduled public meeting.

In November 2020, Montana voters passed Initiative Measure 190, which allowed for the operation of various categories of marijuana businesses and taxation of marijuana retail sales in Montana counties in which a majority of voters approved the initiative. The initiative passed in Gallatin County with 65.6% of the vote.

If voters in an eligible county pass a local-option marijuana tax, 50% of the tax must be retained by the county, 45% apportioned to the cities and towns in the county based on population, and the remained 5% given to the Montana Department of Revenue to defray state costs associated with the tax.

State law allows counties or cities and towns that receive local-option sales tax revenue for any activity, undertaking or administrative service authorized by law, including costs resulting from the imposition of the tax.

Other Montana counties that have already asked voters to decide on similar local-option marijuana taxes include Yellowstone, Missoula and Park counties. Lewis and Clark County has opted to also put questions on their June ballot. And Butte-Silver Bow is also considering the ballot questions as well.

The public is encouraged to provide comment in any of the following ways:

• Attend the Tuesday, Feb. 22 public meeting at 9 AM, either in person or on Zoom. The meeting will take place in the Community Room of the Gallatin County Courthouse, 311 W. Main St. in Bozeman. A Zoom link to the meeting will be posted here on Feb. 17.
• Email comments to commission@gallatin.mt.gov.
• Call the Gallatin County Commission office at 406-582-3000.
• Drop off written comment at the Gallatin County Commission Office, located in room 306 of the Gallatin County Courthouse.

PRESS RELEASE

SOUTH PLATEAU INJURED SNOWMOBILER

On Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 12:22 p.m., Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone responded to an area 10 miles south of West Yellowstone known as South Plateau for an individual who had suffered a broken leg while snowmobiling.

As SAR Volunteers responded to the scene via snowmobile, an Air Methods helicopter was also dispatched due to the severity of the reported injury.

Volunteers made contact with the patient just as the Air Methods helicopter arrived on scene. The patient was quickly packaged and loaded onto the helicopter then transported to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the Good Samaritans who assisted in keeping the injured snowmobiler safe and warm while awaiting emergency responders.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

Led Zeppelin Trail Rescue

On Thursday February 10, 2022 at 3:12 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, responded to a request for assistance from a snowmobiler on the Led Zeppelin Trail, 20 miles northwest of town. An individual riding a snowmobile left the trail and crashed into a tree, sustaining a lower leg injury.

SAR Volunteers and a Paramedic from Hebgen Basin Fire responded with a specialized rescue sled and were able to treat the patient on scene before transporting off the trail and to an ambulance 10 miles away. The patient was transferred over to the Hebgen Basin Fire Department Ambulance crew for further medical evaluation and a transport to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the individuals riding with the patient for their preparedness.  They were snowmobiling with emergency gear that allowed them to place a splint on the leg, provide a ground cover to lay on, as well as a sleeping bag and hand warmers to keep the patient warm while rescuers responded.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

Madison Arm Trail Rescue

On Thursday February 10, 2022 at 12:15 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone responded to a request for assistance from two snowmobilers on the Madison Arm Trail, 6 miles west of town. Two individuals riding a two up snowmobile left the trail and crashed into a tree, one of them suffering a rib injury and the other sustained facial injuries.

SAR Volunteers, and a paramedic from Hebgen Basin Fire responded with two specialized rescue sleds and were able to treat the patients on scene before transporting off the trail and to a nearby ambulance. Both patients were transferred over to the Hebgen Basin Fire Department EMS crew for further medical evaluation and one of them was transported to the Big Sky Medical Center.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind everyone out enjoying the trails and backcountry that trail conditions can change rapidly, as can visibility.  Please ride to your ability and only travel the posted speed limits on the trail.  Also recreate with a friend and carry a reliable means of communication.  Rescuers were able to quickly respond to this incident because a friend called immediately and provided accurate GPS coordinates.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

Grotto Falls Search

On Wednesday, February 9, 2022 Gallatin County Dispatch received a call from a concerned citizen.  The caller reported receiving a message from a friend’s GPS device that an incident had occurred.  The caller provided GPS coordinates of the last known location of the device.  The caller believed the friend was ice climbing.  The location plotted near popular ice climbing routes at Grotto Falls in Hyalite Canyon.

Gallatin County Search and Rescue Volunteers, along with a Life Flight Network aircrew, responded to the Grotto Falls Trailhead.  A vehicle belonging to the friend was located at the trailhead.  Two Volunteer teams were deployed on trails leading towards the GPS coordinates.  Volunteers made contact with several individuals in the area who provided a clothing description of the friend.  Volunteers on the trails were unable to locate the friend or anyone in distress.  A Drone Team was also deployed to the area.  The Drone Team was able to locate ice climbers that matched descriptions of the friend provided by individuals in the area.  The climbers were actively climbing a route in the area.  The climbers did not seem in distress and seemed to be ascending normally.  Volunteers returned to the trailhead and left the area.

A Deputy received a call from the climber a short time later.  The climber confirmed that the activation was accidental and there was no emergency.  The climber also confirmed that they were one of the individuals observed by the drone team.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to encourage citizens to carry a means of communicating while recreating in the backcountry and to let someone know where you are going.  In this case the person recreating had a communication device and told someone where they were going making the search area defined resulting in a more timely response from rescuers.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

Buck Ridge Trail Snowmobile Fatality

On February 8, 2022, at 9:31 am, Gallatin County Dispatch received a call for a snowmobile accident on Buck Ridge Trail in Big Sky. A rider struck a tree and went into cardiac arrest. Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers in Big Sky responded, attempted life-saving efforts, and transported the patient to the trailhead. The patient was transferred to the Big Sky Fire Department and then to Big Sky Medical Center. The patient was declared deceased at Big Sky Medical Center.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a joint investigation with the United States Forest Service. The victim has been identified as 64 year old Anthony Pace of New York, New York.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to offer his condolences to Anthony’s family and friends and thank all first responders involved in this tragedy.

On Sunday, February 6, 2022, the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office investigated an avalanche-involved fatality near West Yellowstone. Investigation concluded that 30-year-old Bradie Harold Becker, of Iowa, died of asphyxiation after being buried in avalanche debris. Bradie had been separated from the group of snowmobilers at the time of the avalanche and when located resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.  He was wearing an avalanche airbag that had been deployed and a helmet. Sheriff Springer thanks the rapid response of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, National Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department, who all assisted with the recovery. Our deepest condolences go out to Bradie’s family and friends during this time.

PRESS RELEASE

Tepee Creek Trail Rescue

On Monday February 7, 2022 at 12:00 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, responded to a request for assistance from a snowmobiler on the Tepee Creek Trail, 10.5 miles west of town. An individual riding a snowmobile left the trail and crashed into a tree, sustaining a shoulder injury and possible concussion.

SAR Volunteers, Custer Gallatin National Forest Service LEO, and EMT’s from Hebgen Basin Fire responded with a specialized rescue sled and were able to treat the patient on scene before transporting off the trail to a nearby ambulance. The patient was transferred to a Hebgen Basin Fire Department EMS crew for further medical evaluation and then to the Big Sky Medical Center.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind everyone out enjoying the trails and backcountry that trail conditions can change rapidly.  Please slow down around corners for your protection and those riders approaching from the opposite direction.  Also recreate with a friend and carry a reliable means of communication.  Rescuers were able to quickly respond to this incident because a friend called immediately and provided accurate GPS coordinates.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

PRESS RELEASE

Denny Creek Avalanche Fatality

On February 6, 2022, at 4:48 pm, the West Yellowstone Dispatch Center received a call for an injured snowmobiler. The snowmobiler was involved in an avalanche in the Dry Fork of Denny Creek, 9.8 miles west of West Yellowstone. Initial reports indicated the injured snowmobiler was unresponsive and members of the group were performing CPR.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, National Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department responded to Denny Creek. A snowmobile rescue team deployed immediately up the trail.  Lifesaving efforts were attempted for over an hour before the patient was pronounced deceased. The victim’s name has not been released.

Forest Service Law Enforcement and Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is conducting the investigation and all media inquiries should be directed to the Avalanche Center at 406-587-6984.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to offer his condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this tragic time.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

At 0708 this morning emergency crews received reports of smoke from a grain elevator in the area of 100 East Main Street. Emergency personnel identified fire coming from the grain elevator located in the 100 block of Northern Pacific Avenue

Law enforcement officers from the Belgrade Police Department arrived on scene quickly and reported smoke and fire. Central Valley Fire District crews arrived on scene at approximately 0710 and began fire suppression activities.

Approximately 25 minutes after arrival, the main leg of the elevator collapsed, and crews moved to defensive fire operations. A total of 3 tower ladders responded and flowed water onto the fire for approximately 4 hours.

Emergency crews remained on scene throughout the day. Crews were challenged by gaining access to the seat of the fire, and heavy equipment was ordered to the scene. Upon arrival, heavy equipment began to move materials through the scene allowing crews to extinguish hot spots and make progress.

The incident remains active at this time, as crews continue to work to gain access to the seat of the fire located within the grain silo.  There is expected to be emergency crews on scene throughout the night.

The Belgrade Police Department and Central Valley Fire District are very thankful for the support provided by the community during this incident, as well as the support provided from outside agencies. The following agencies assisted with this incident:

American Medical Response, Amsterdam Rural Fire, Belgrade Chamber of Commerce, Belgrade Police Department, Belgrade Public Works, Belgrade School District, Big Sky Fire Department, Bozeman Fire Department, Bozeman Public Works, Central Valley Fire District, Gallatin County 911, Gallatin County Emergency Management, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Gallatin Gateway Fire District, Hyalite Rural Fire District, Livingston Fire, Manhattan Volunteer Fire Department, Montana Highway Patrol, Northwestern Energy, and Rocky Mountain Supply.

A team of investigators is on site from the Belgrade Police Department, Central Valley Fire District, and the Montana State Fire Marshal’s Office. At this time, investigators are awaiting access to the area once deemed safe to do so. The cause remains under investigation at this time.

For information related to this incident please contact Belgrade Police Chief Dustin Lensing at dlensing@belgradepolice.net or Central Valley Fire District Interim Fire Marshal Jake Zlomie at jzlomie@centralvalleyfire.com. Additional information will be provided as available.