Gallatin Media Center

On Wednesday, February 02, 2022 at 7:08 p.m., a group of snowmobilers called the West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch center to report that one of their group was lost on Hebgen Mountain, 14.45 miles northwest of West Yellowstone. Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone and deputies responded.

A Deputy made contact with the lost snowmobiler via cellphone and retrieved GPS coordinates. The snowmobiler was riding with no headlight and did not know the way out of the canyon. With no additional source of light for navigation, being unable to ride out of the steep canyon, and having no means to start a fire, the rider begin walking in the snowmobile track out of the canyon to meet volunteers.

Volunteers discovered that the snowmobiler had entered a canyon too difficult to negotiate by snowmobile.  A team continued on foot to the stranded snowmobiler, descending 600 feet in elevation through deep snow and ultimately found the snowmobiler in good health. The volunteers were eventually able to make their way back to their snowmobiles in temperatures hovering around 14 below zero and escort the stranded snowmobiler to safety, taking 6 hours to do so.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind snowmobilers that you should always stay with your group. Carry survival equipment including a means to start a fire and a light source. Make sure portable devices are kept warm to preserve battery life.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

For Immediate Release: February 2, 2022

Through a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided resources for Gallatin County to set up a free COVID-19 testing site during our case surge. Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) Surge Site program helps to provide more access to testing in locations seeing COVID-19 case surges throughout the U.S.

Read the full press release here.

Testing is just one measure you can take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Be sure to get your COVID-19 vaccine and booster dose if you are eligible. Wearing a well-fitted mask and maintaining physical distance from others also continue to be highly recommended COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open five days a week, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Any calls received after business hours will be returned the following business day. You can reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123. The most accurate local source of information remains the GCCHD website. 

On Monday, January 31, 2022, at 8:58 pm, a caller reported receiving an urgent text message from a friend who was snowmobiling near West Yellowstone. The snowmobiler was hopelessly stuck, alone, and had minimal cellphone battery. The caller contacted the West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch Center and provided a GPS location included with the text for help.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone responded to the location 9.77 miles west of West Yellowstone.

Volunteers were able to quickly get into the immediate area of the stuck snowmobiler, however the steep timbered terrain made it difficult to traverse into the canyon. The skilled riders were able to make contact with the snowmobiler, provide assistance, and escort to safety.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to encourage snowmobilers to ride with a partner and to call for help as early as possible. Survival equipment should include food, water, a means to start a fire and a battery pack to charge any fading communication devices.

For Immediate Release: January 27, 2022

The Gallatin City-County Health Department is saddened to announce that two more Gallatin County residents have passed away from complications due to COVID-19.

See the full press release here.

The GCCHD website provides up-to-date times, dates, and locations where you can get your COVID-19 vaccine anywhere in Gallatin County.

• • • Combined clinics with Gallatin City-County Health Department and Bozeman Health – Click here to find dates and appointments available on our website. 
      • • Friday, January 28 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
        • Monday, January 31 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
        • Tuesday, February 1 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
        • Wednesday, February 2 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
        • Thursday, February 3 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
          

• • • Big Sky Medical Center weekly clinic hours: Please visit our website for current hours.

• • • FLU VACCINE clinics are being held at Gallatin City-County Health Department – These are walk-in clinics, no appointment necessary:
      • Monday, January 31 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Anyone 6 months or older should get a flu vaccine
      • By appointment, call the health department to make yours today, 406-582-3100

• • • IF YOU ARE FEELING SICK – GET TESTED! Click here to find a location nearest you to get tested!

In addition to vaccination, wearing a well-fitting mask and maintaining physical distance from others continues to be recommended COVID-19 mitigation strategies. These strategies, coupled with staying home when you are feeling sick, will help lessen the spread and the burden of the highly infectious Omicron variant. 

The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open five days a week, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Any calls received after business hours will be returned the following business day. You can reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123.

The most accurate local source of information remains the GCCHD website. 

On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at 2:47 pm, the West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch Center received a 911 call from an injured skier on the Rendezvous Trail System 1 mile south of West Yellowstone. The skier reported that they had fallen and sustained a hip and tailbone injury. The skier was experiencing pain and was unable to ski to the trailhead.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District, and a deputy from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office responded for the rescue.

Rescuers quickly located the patient, performed an assessment, loaded the patient into a specialized rescue sled and then transported to a waiting Hegben Basin Rural Fire District ambulance. The ambulance crew subsequently transported the patient to the Big Sky Medical Center for further evaluation.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

 

For immediate release: January 25, 2022

Bridget Wilkinson, President and CEO of One Valley Community Foundation
406-587-6262
bridget@onevalley.org

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

The Gallatin County Commission voted today to provide $500,000 of the county’s COVID-19 relief funds to the One Valley Community Foundation to support nonprofits across Gallatin County that have been impacted by the pandemic. Since 1998, the One Valley Community Foundation has invested and managed distinct funds on behalf of generous philanthropists and community organizations, with total assets having grown to $54 million.

One Valley will use this funding to provide grants to nonprofit organizations across Gallatin County to ensure their ongoing resiliency and efficacy as employers and providers of economic and social services and programing to our communities. 

“One Valley’s familiarity with small nonprofits and their valuable connections in our community will help us provide these vital funds to organizations that are struggling,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Scott MacFarlane. “As a commission we just don’t know what small organizations need this boost in funding and One Valley will be a valuable partner in helping us with that.”

The COVID-19 pandemic elevated community need for services provided by these organizations while at the same time created and exposed weaknesses in organizational resilience in times of crisis. These grants will help bolster organizational resilience among these crucial employers and service providers.

“We’re honored to partner with Gallatin County to help allocate these critical resources for nonprofit organizations throughout Gallatin County,” said Bridget Wilkinson, President and CEO of the One Valley Community Foundation. “The nonprofit sector plays a critical role in addressing the ongoing needs of Gallatin County residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has put a strain on these organizations and this funding will help bolster those nonprofits who have increasing demands on their services in the last two years.” 

One Valley Community Foundation will leverage it’s grantmaking expertise to co-create a grant allocation process with Gallatin County. Grant guidelines and an application will be made available to any registered nonprofit organization in Gallatin County on its website and will be advertised widely. Eligible applications will be reviewed by a diverse committee with final award decisions made by the County Commission. The intention is to make these funds available to aid in the economic recovery of our nonprofit sector as soon as possible.

“We want to be a conduit of resources for the region and our hope is to get these dollars out the door and into our local nonprofits as soon as possible through a thoughtful and transparent process,” said Wilkinson.

Gallatin County is receiving $22 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Gallatin County Commission is in the process of deciding on what to do with these critical dollars. Portions of the $22 million have been allocated to help pay for the county’s pandemic response. The allocation to the One Valley Community Foundation is the third commitment to an outside agency to date. The commission has also provided $2 million to Gallatin College Montana State University to help grow the local and regional workforce in high-demand industries and $309,000 to the Greater Gallatin United Way to stabilize and staff its afterschool program known as kidsLINK.

Commissioners continue to work with nonprofits, local governments, and businesses across Gallatin County to allocate other funds to help with four program areas they have prioritized: housing, mental health, economic recovery, and water and sewer projects.

About One Valley Community Foundation

One Valley Community Foundation’s mission is to connect people who care to causes that matter to build a better community. Through philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, One Valley Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. The Community Foundation serves the areas of Bozeman, Big Sky, Belgrade, Manhattan, Churchill, Three Forks, West Yellowstone and the rural areas in between. Since its inception in 1998, the Foundation has galvanized more than $8.6 million for 200+ local nonprofit organizations.

Photos provided by One Valley Community Foundation

For immediate release: January 20, 2022

The Gallatin City-County Health Department is saddened to announce that three more Gallatin County residents have passed away from complications due to COVID-19.

See the full press release here.

It is highly recommended that you make a plan to get fully vaccinated and boosted to help protect yourself and others. You can find your COVID-19 vaccine from local pharmacies and clinics throughout the county.

The GCCHD website provides up-to-date times, dates, and locations where you can get your COVID-19 vaccine anywhere in Gallatin County.

• •  Combined clinics with Gallatin City-County Health Department and Bozeman Health.
    • Friday, January 21 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
    • Saturday, January 22 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Pfizer (12+) – Gallatin County Fairgrounds, Building 4
    • Sunday, January 23 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Pfizer (12+) – Gallatin County Fairgrounds, Building 4
    • Tuesday, January 25 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
    • Wednesday, January 26 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
    • Thursday, January 27 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
    • Friday, January 28 – 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. – All Vaccines including flu – Bozeman Health, Entrance 4
  • Big Sky Medical Center weekly clinic hours:
    • Friday, January 21: Peds Pfizer only 10am-2pm
    • Wednesday, January 26: Pfizer only 10am-2pm
    • Thursday, January 27: Moderna only 10am-2pm
    • Friday, January 28: Peds Pfizer only 10am-2pm
  • FLU VACCINE clinics are being held at Gallatin City-County Health Department – These are walk-in clinics, no appointment necessary: Monday’s in January! – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Anyone 6 months or older should get a flu vaccine. You can also get a flu vaccine by appointment, call the health department to make yours today, 406-582-3100
  • IF YOU ARE FEELING SICK – GET TESTED! Click here to find a location nearest you to get tested!

In addition to vaccination, wearing a well-fitting mask and maintaining physical distance from others continues to be recommended COVID-19 mitigation strategies. These strategies, coupled with staying home when you are feeling sick, will help lessen the spread and the burden of the highly infectious Omicron variant.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open five days a week, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Any calls received after business hours will be returned the following business day. You can reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123.

The most accurate local source of information remains the GCCHD website.

Sheriff Dan Springer and Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue has released the 2021 Annual Report.  The 2021 Annual Report contains statistics for missions and training.  Multiple missions are highlighted with applicable safety tips.  Many photographs and videos are included to provide a glimpse of our volunteers in action.

Sheriff Springer would like to thank all Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers for their dedication and professionalism as well as our community for your support.

2021 Annual Report 

On Sunday January 17, 2022, at approximately 4:13 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue-Big Sky Section, along with Big Sky Fire Department, responded to an assistance request from a hiker that had an injury on Ousel Falls Trail. The patient, who was out on a day hike with family, fell down injuring an ankle and was unable to walk to the trailhead. Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue members used a one-wheel litter to transport the patient safely to the trailhead where Big Sky Fire Department was staged for further medical assessment.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind everyone recreating outdoors that accidents can happen on familiar trails when you least expect it.  Recreating with a partner and having a means of communication can make the difference should you need to call for help.

For immediate release: January 16, 2022

On Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, Zachary Eugene Norman, 24 of Three Forks, was arrested on two counts of felony deliberate homicide in connection with the shooting investigation in Three Forks. He is being held in the Gallatin County Detention Center.

Gallatin County Sheriff/Coroner Dan Springer identifies the victims as brothers Brendan Estabrook, 32 of Three Forks, and Chase Estabrook, 31 of Butte.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into this incident.

Charging documents can be obtained from Gallatin County Justice Court. Please note that Justice Court is closed on Monday, Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.