Gallatin Media Center

For Immediate Release: March 31, 2021

The Gallatin City-County Health Department announces Health Officer Matt Kelley will be taking a new role with Montana Public Health Institute.

See the full press release here.

For immediate release: March 29, 2021

The Gallatin City-County Health Department has announced an updated COVID-19 vaccine sign up process.

See the full press release here.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123 or email at callcenter@readygallatin.com.

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

On Monday March 29, 2021 at approximately 12:30 am, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone responded to a request for assistance from a kite skier on the frozen Hebgen Lake. The individual had taken a hard fall while kite skiing and suffered a significant hip and back injury.

Volunteers responded on foot, and on snowmobiles with a rescue toboggan, successfully packaging and transporting the injured skier off the lake to an awaiting ambulance. The patient was transported by the Hebgen Basin Fire Department EMS crew to a medical helicopter provided by Air Methods, who then transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for level one trauma care.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office

For Immediate Release: March 24, 2021

The Gallatin City-County Health Department is saddened to announce that one more Gallatin County resident has passed away from complications due to COVID-19.

See the full press release here.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123 or email at callcenter@readygallatin.com.

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

For Immediate Release:

For Immediate Release: March 23, 2021

On Tuesday, Mar. 23, after meeting with community stakeholders and health care professionals, Gallatin City-County Health Department confirmed that it will be following the state’s expanded eligibility criteria starting on April 1. The Health Department emphasized, however, that it will continue to provide expanded access to people in higher-risk groups, including those 60 and older, people with certain underlying health conditions, and people of color and American Indians.

Read the full press release here.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123 or email at callcenter@readygallatin.com.

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

(Gallatin County, Mont) At 1:45 this morning, Fort Ellis Fire Dept, AMR, Montana Highway Patrol, and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office were called out for a semi-truck blocking several lanes of traffic on I-90 east of Bear Canyon, near mile marker 313. An eastbound semi had straddled the jersey barriers between lanes, blocking all lanes in both directions. Local wrecker services were able to remove the semi and trailer, and driving lanes were reopened in both directions by 6:30 am. Bozeman Fire responded to handle fuel and oil on the roadway. The driver had been caught unaware by changing conditions as he headed into Rocky Canyon and jackknifed on the ice. The truck driver and passenger were unharmed.

One lane of I-90 is currently open in both directions. Montana DOT will repair the damage to the jersey barrier this morning and passing lanes are expected to be open this afternoon. Please allow extra time if you are driving I-90 between Bozeman and Jackson Creek this morning, and drive carefully through the reconstruction zone.

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Media Contact: Buck Taylor, Fort Ellis Fire, 406-539-9358

Gallatin County Election Department

For immediate release: March 19, 2021

The Gallatin County Election Department recently received national recognition from the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for its mobile satellite program that was used during the 2020 general election.

The EAC is a federal agency that was created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to serve as a clearinghouse for election administration information. In fulfilling this mission, the EAC gives annual Clearinghouse Awards known as “Clearies” to election offices across the country to highlight and celebrate exceptional efforts in public service. Clearies are awarded for five categories – improving accessibility for voters with disabilities, outstanding innovations in cybersecurity and technology, outstanding innovations in elections, best practices in recruiting, retaining, and training poll workers, and creative and innovative “I Voted” stickers.

The Gallatin County Election Department received an honorable mention for outstanding innovations in elections for small jurisdictions. While not a Clearinghouse Award, this is the first time an election office in Montana has received recognition by the EAC.

“It’s an honor,” said Casey Hayes, Gallatin County Election Manager. “It’s great to be recognized for some of the hard work and extra effort that went in to making the 2020 election cycle as successful as it could be. Everybody who works in the department had an active role in making this pilot program successful and we are hopeful that we can do this again in 2022.”

Working with local partners across the county, the election department established a mobile satellite office in Belgrade, Three Forks, Manhattan, West Yellowstone, Big Sky, and the campus of Montana State University in the weeks leading up to Election Day. Over 2,000 voters were able to register, vote in-person, and deposit their voted ballot at the satellite office before November 3. The election department built on these experiences in order to provide a satellite voting office at the fairgrounds on Election Day, which significantly reduced wait times and lines.

“Innovation is a big part of election administration and we understand that, especially with the growth in the area. Gallatin County voters need us to be creative problem solvers,” said Hayes. “If you build it, they will come.”

Media contact:
Casey Hayes, Gallatin County Election Manager
406-582-3060
casey.hayes@gallatin.mt.gov

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County.

For immediate release: March 18, 2021

Robert Allen Erickson, 63 years old, of North Dakota, was skiing at Bridger Bowl on March 16, 2021 when he fell and sustained head trauma. It was unclear whether he was wearing a helmet at the time. He was transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital where he died of his injuries. The cause of death was ruled as blunt force trauma of the neck.

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2021

The Gallatin City-County Health Department is saddened to announce that one more Gallatin County resident has passed away from complications due to COVID-19.

See the full press release here.

The Gallatin City-County Health Department Call Center is open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions about COVID-19. Reach the Call Center by phone at 406-548-0123 or email at callcenter@readygallatin.com.

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