Gallatin Media Center

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.

For immediate release: January 16, 2022

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer will be providing an update on the Three Forks homicide investigation at a press briefing on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 1:30 PM. The briefing will take place at the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Operational Training Center at 677 Laura Louise Lane in Four Corners.

A written press release will be distributed following the briefing.

Media contact:

Whitney Bermes

Cell: 406-595-8963

On Friday January 14, 2022 at 12:30 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, responded to a request for assistance from a snowmobiler on the Lionhead Trail System, approximately 8 miles west of town. An individual riding a snowmobile crashed into a tree while rounding a corner, sustaining a possible broken wrist.

Search and Rescue volunteers, Custer Gallatin National Forest Service, Montana Fish & Game, 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 a nearby ambulance. The patient was transferred over to the Hebgen Basin Fire Department EMS crew for further medical evaluation and a transport to the hospital.

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.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

For immediate release: 1/15/2022

There will be a media briefing to provide information on the Three Forks homicide investigation on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 9 AM at the Three Forks Volunteer Fire Department (13 E. Date St.) Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer will be giving information and answering questions.

Please note: We have all identified involved persons located. Please do not use the term suspect as this investigation is ongoing.

Media contact:
Whitney Bermes
406-595-8963