Gallatin Media Center

On Saturday, June 26, 2021 at approximately 6:17 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in Big Sky responded to a request for assistance from a hiker that lost their way on the Porcupine Creek Trail. The individual, who was out on a day hike, misjudged the trail length and route, became disoriented, and requested assistance out.

Volunteers responded using a dirt bike and a side by side UTV, and were able to transport the stranded individual safely out to the trailhead.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind everyone recreating outdoors to: to know your route, to try and travel with a friend, and carry a reliable means of communication.  The hiker in this case was able to call 911 with grid coordinates which aided in a speedy and successful rescue.

Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools

 

For immediate release: June 21, 2021

The Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools has appointed a successor to fill a vacant position on the Bozeman School District Board of Trustees.

On Monday, June 21, Superintendent Matthew Henry notified the Bozeman School District that he has appointed Lisa Weaver to fill the vacant trustee position. The appointment is effective immediately and Weaver will fill the seat until the next regular school district election on May 3, 2022. See the full notification of appointment letter here.

The Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools learned in May that a vacancy was created on the Bozeman School District No. 7 Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees did not fill the vacancy within 60 days of its occurrence. Thus, Montana law provides that the Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools shall make the appointment to fill the vacant position.

Superintendent Henry sought applications for the open position. Six applicants were interviewed on June 11 by Superintendent Henry, and feedback was given by a focus group of 14 people representing interests in the community, including seven members from the Bozeman School District.

You can see the letter Superintendent Henry provided the Bozeman School District explaining his decision here.

Media contact:
Matthew Henry, Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools
406-582-3090
matthew.henry@gallatin.mt.gov

On Saturday June 19, 2021 at approximately 5:47 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in Big Sky responded to a request for assistance from an individual approximately 6 miles up the Buck Ridge Trail, south of the Big Sky junction.  One individual riding an ATV rolled the vehicle and sustained multiple injuries.  The individual suffered leg, arm, back and neck injuries, also losing consciousness for a short period of time.

Volunteers responded with an ATV and specialized rescue sled and were able to treat the patient on scene before transporting off the mountain and back to the trailhead. The patient was transferred to the Big Sky Fire Department EMS crew for further medical evaluation and transport to the hospital.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like remind people enjoying our recreational opportunities in the backcountry to always travel with a friend and carry a reliable means of communications.  In this instance, the injured party’s friend was able to leave the patient and travel a short distance to get a cell signal.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office

 

Gallatin County Planning Department

For immediate release: June 14, 2021

The Gallatin County Planning Department is excited to announce that, after nearly two years in the making, the Gallatin County Growth Policy has now moved into the adoption phase.

The Gallatin County Growth Policy is the document that guides growth, development, and land use patterns across Gallatin County. The document vision is centered around three major themes heard during public outreach: open space, heritage, and opportunity. One of the objectives of the update was to draft goals and policies with an eye toward clarity and specificity. Overall, update is rather comprehensive, reflecting Gallatin County’s status as the fastest growing in the state with updated background information, additional data, and a forward-looking implementation plan.

The adoption phase will take place over the next couple of months, with public hearings at the Planning Board and County Commission level. The first Planning Board hearing was June 8. The next Planning Board meeting will be Tuesday, June 22. Members of the public are encouraged to attend in person or virtually and provide public comment on the draft plan. Information on how to attend can be found here.

The document will then move to the Gallatin County Commission in July, with hearings tentatively scheduled to be on the agendas of commission’s regular public meetings on July 13, 20, and 27. There will be opportunity for public comment at those hearings as well.

Public comment can also be submitted anytime by contacting the project manager, Garrett McAllister, at garrett.mcallister@gallatin.mt.gov.

More information on the project and the latest draft of the plan can be found here: https://envisiongallatin.com.

The Logan Landfill has been temporarily closed due to extremely high winds and low visibility from dust. Wind speeds have been in excess of 45 mph with sustained winds at 35-40 mph. Per the landfill’s wind closure policy, the landfill will remain closed until wind speeds reduce. Please contact the Logan Landfill staff with any questions at 406-284-4029. Thank you for your patience!

Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools Office

For immediate release: June 9, 2021

The application process/timeline for appointing a replacement trustee for the Bozeman School District No. 7 Board of Trustees was posted on the Gallatin County website on May 25 and had a 10-day submission window (until June 8) for any interested individuals. During that time, the Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools Office received 11 requests for applications. A total of six completed applications were returned by the deadline, including three from candidates in the May 4 election. All six were selected for an interview.

The interviews will be held in the Community Room on the third floor of the Gallatin County Courthouse on Friday, June 11, starting at 1 PM. The interviews are scheduled at 20-minute intervals and each will be limited to approximately 15 minutes. The Superintendent will ask the candidates questions and will use the same questions for each candidate. The order of the interviews was selected at random and the candidates and their interview times are listed below.

The interviews will be conducted before a “focus group” comprised of 15 individuals representing various interests in the Bozeman community (i.e., business, professional, service organizations, civic, military, etc.). The group also includes eight representatives from the Bozeman School District. Members of the focus group will be introduced on Friday and will provide written feedback to the Superintendent on each candidate. The focus group will not ask questions of the candidates.

The public is invited to attend the interviews, either in person or remotely, and may submit feedback by email to superintendentofschools@gallatin.mt.gov. The candidates’ applications may be examined in the Superintendent’s office during regular business hours. A copy of each application will also be posted in the Community Room for the public to view during the Friday interviews. Due to the fact that the applications contain sensitive information (i.e., contact information, employer, children’s names, etc.), copies will not be distributed to the public or posted online.

1:10 PM               Lisa Weaver

1:30                       Joshua Covington

1:50                        Ann Marshall

2:10                        BREAK

2:30                        Jennifer Ahren Lammers

2:50                        Ryan Williams

3:10                        Cheryl Tusken

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Media contact:
Matt Henry, Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools
406-582-3090
matthew.henry@gallatin.mt.gov

For immediate release: June 7, 2021

Gallatin County Parks Department is holding the first ever Trout Fishing Derby, in honor of Father’s Day, at the Kendeda Lake in the Gallatin County Regional Park in Bozeman.

This event will be held from 8AM – 12PM on Saturday, June 12. Children 12 and under and invited to participate. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided, but rods and bait for fishing will not be supplied.

When entering, at the Oak Street parking lot, children will be handed a raffle ticket. This ticket will be included in our raffle that will be held throughout the event. You must be present to claim your prize.

There will be first, second and third place prizes for the top three largest caught fish. First place will receive $100 Visa Gift Card, second place will receive a $75 Visa Gift Card, and third place will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card. Trout will be measured by event staff.

The Parks Department is able to put this event on due to many generous donations from local businesses! These businesses include:

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Martel Construction
Dust Bunnies Cleaning Service
Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply
Kenyon Noble
Consolidated Electrical Distributors
Morrison – Maierle
Trout Unlimited
ThinkOne
Montana Building Maintenance
Stahly Engineering
Bob Wards

Media contact:
Nick Borzak, Gallatin County Chief Operations Officer
nick.borzak@gallatin.mt.gov
Office phone: 406-582-3185

On Saturday, June 5, 2021 at approximately 4:48 pm, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue responded to a request for assistance for a kayaker who came out of their boat on the Gallatin River near mile marker 60.

Volunteers responded and discovered that the individual had made it safely to shore, and was returning to retrieve their boat.  Responders simultaneously received a report of a second kayaker who came out of their boat while attempting to assist the first kayaker.  The second kayaker was stranded on a rocky piece of shoreline, separated from their boat.  Teams from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in Big Sky and the Valley established a safety plan in order to support a third kayaker while they towed the boat to their friend.  The kayaker successfully made it back into their boat, and all parties made it safely off the river.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind kayakers and rafters to be extremely cautious during spring runoff due to high, fast, and cold waters.  Knowing your skill level when it comes to helping someone in the river and knowing when to call for help are essential in emergency situations.

On Saturday, June 5, 2021 at approximately 1:32 pm, West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch received a 911 call from a group of boaters who had suddenly encountered a shallow area while wake boarding at Hebgen Lake. The boat had become stuck in the heavy mud, stopping so suddenly that the passengers were thrown forward in the boat. Fortunately, no one sustained injuries, however their boat had become hopelessly stuck. They were able to wade to shore and request assistance from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

A Gallatin County Sheriff Deputy and a volunteer from the Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone responded the scene with a Sheriff’s Patrol Boat. They were able to free the boat and move it into deeper water. There was no damage to the boat.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind boaters recreating in the greater Yellowstone area to be cognizant the present water levels and to familiarize themselves on the many hazardously shallow areas of the local waterways. Striking such hazards at high speed could result in equipment damage or injury.