Update 5-8: As of 10:30 pm, the Montana Department of Transportation has opened all lanes of traffic on I90 in the Bozeman Pass. Please continue to drive safely and watch for changing road conditions at MDT’s website at https://www.511mt.net.
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Historic blockage of Bozeman Pass sends Sheriff’s Office Resources to Help
Gallatin County, Mont. 5-8-24 8:00 P.M.
The Montana Department of Transportation notified Gallatin County 911 that Chains were required on the Bozeman Pass on Tuesday at 10:48 P.M.
Deteriorating road conditions throughout the night led to multiple vehicles becoming stuck, which prevented the DOT plows from being able to clear the roadway. The Montana Highway Patrol had units on the pass throughout the day. The increase in traffic during the morning commute led to more vehicles becoming stuck and multiple vehicles with mechanical issues. At noon Wednesday, given the continued blockage and the inability of MHP and DOT to clear the road, the Sheriff’s Office mobilized Deputies and Search and Rescue teams to assist stranded motorists. Deputies and SAR personnel had to use ATVs to get to the vehicles to distribute food, water and fuel. It is estimated that several hundred vehicles were stranded on the pass. No injuries have been reported so far.
Currently traffic is moving east and west slowly and is experiencing intermittent stops. We anticipate somewhat normal travel in the next few hours but recognize the weather could change that.
Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind motorists to carry water, food, and blankets in case they become stranded. Sheriff Springer would also like to thank everyone on the roadways for their patience as workers attempt to clear the roadway. If stranded motorists are having a medical emergency, they should call 911 and Sheriff’s Office personnel will get them the assistance they require. As the primary resources for Montana Highways, MDT and MHP worked to clear the blockages, the duration and magnitude evolved into a life safety issue at which time local resources were mobilized to attend to the life safety of those stranded on the interstate. Assisting the Montana highway resources on this event included Gallatin County Emergency Management, Fort Ellis Fire Dept, Bozeman Police Dept and Belgrade Police Dept.
Attached video and photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office
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Media availability for the Bozeman Pass incident
5-8-24 at 6:49 PM
The Sheriff’s Office will have an opportunity for press interviews at the Search and Rescue Building on Tamarack at 7:30
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5-8-24: Update on Bozeman Pass Closure
For Immediate Release
5-8-24 2:00 pm: Please be advised, I90 east bound remains closed and traffic is backed up to the 19th Avenue exit ramp. Gallatin County Search and Rescue is enroute to assist in any vehicles stuck.
West bound lanes of I90 through Bozeman Pass are open and traffic is flowing.
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5-2-24: Gallatin County Sheriff Springer reports Belgrade man arrested on multiple warrants.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Thursday, May 2, 2024, Jordan C. Kirsch of Belgrade was arrested on a federal warrant for Prohibited Person in Possession of firearms and ammunition, a local warrant for Partner or Family Member Assault, and a local warrant for a traffic violation. A Writ of Assistance, commonly referred to as an eviction order, was issued by the Eighteenth Judicial Court on April 9, 2024, ordering the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office to enter and remove Kirsch from the property on Airport Road, east of Belgrade.
Information gathered by the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office indicated Kirsch had fortified the residence and property to prevent the Sheriff’s Office from safely contacting him. Kirsch further indicated through social media that he had no intention of leaving the property in a peaceful manner, verified by his observable fortifications. For the duration of this incident, Kirsch made no actions or statements indicating that he was a threat to the public, however he made numerous credible threats directed at law enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of several other law enforcement agencies, made continuous efforts to bring the event to a peaceful resolution. For the duration of this event, the Sheriff’s Office had a plan to take Kirsch into custody with the least amount of force necessary while keeping the community safe.
On the morning of May 2, 2024, this plan was executed as Kirsch attempted to leave the property by vehicle and was quickly taken into custody without incident on a traffic stop. The property was secured for further investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the citizens of Gallatin County for their trust and support during this event, and all assisting agencies for their assistance in bringing this matter to a peaceful resolution.
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4-29-24: Sheriff/Coroner Dan Springer Releases Names of Fatal Accident on Clarkston Road
At approximately 6:00 pm on Saturday April 27th, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Deputies, Coroner’s and Chaplain along with Montana Highway Patrol and the Clarkston Fire Department responded to a fatal motor vehicle accident near MM 11 on the Clarkston Road north of Logan.
A single vehicle traveling southbound left the roadway and struck a tree, killing both occupants on impact. The driver of the vehicle was identified as 27-year-old Isaac Alexander Smith of Bozeman, formerly from NM. The passenger was identified as 38-year-old Eamon Torgison of Belgrade, formerly from Polson, MT. Cause of death for both individuals was blunt force trauma of the chest and pelvis, manner of death was ruled an accident. The vehicle burned a short time after impact. Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the accident.
Sheriff Springer wishes to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of both men during this time.
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Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Local Emergency Responders to Conduct Full-Scale Aircraft Accident Exercise on May 4
For immediate release: April 29, 2024
Media contacts:
Jake Simpson, Sr. Director Bozeman Yellowstone Int’l Airport
406-388-8321 Ext 280
Jake.Simpson@bozemanairport.comKevin Larsen, Gallatin County Emergency Management Operations & Training Manager
406-548-0111
kevin@readygallatin.com
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Local Emergency Responders to Conduct Full-Scale Aircraft Accident Exercise on May 4
*Reporters are invited to cover the training on Saturday, May 4. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP to michaela.borovac@bozemanairport.com by Thursday, May 2. Once you RSVP, detailed directions will be emailed to you.*
On Saturday, May 4, 2024, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in conjunction with Gallatin County Emergency Management will conduct a full-scale aircraft disaster exercise on airport grounds.
This exercise will test on-scene coordination between the airport, airline, hospital and emergency response personnel from across the Gallatin Valley. It is another opportunity for these agencies to collaborate to improve emergency plans and response protocols, all for the benefit of our county’s residents and visitors.
Multiple agencies, business and organizations partner with airport staff for this exercise, including Bozeman Health, Central Valley Fire District, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Gallatin County 911, Hyalite Fire District, Salvation Army, Red Cross and numerous others.
Due to this exercise, from 10 AM to 2 PM on May 4, folks will see an increased presence of emergency response vehicles at the airport. These will be for exercise purposes only and will not impact airline or air traffic at the airport. Please do not call 911 to report.
“This exercise gives us the opportunity to test and revise our airport emergency plans as we continue to grow, not only as an airport, but also as a community,” said Jake Simpson, BZN Senior Director of Operations and Maintenance. “We rely heavily on our partnerships in Gallatin County when it comes to large scale emergencies and this exercise lets us strengthen those relationships.”
Kevin Larsen, Gallatin County Emergency Management’s operations and training manager added: “Gallatin County Emergency Management strives to maintain a prepared and resistant community, and to support coordinated interagency responses to incidents and events throughout our county. This exercise is a great way to test plans, improve communications at numerous levels, build capability, and challenge assumptions. Collaboration with our emergency response partners builds community resiliency, and better prepares us to face a variety of disasters, both natural and man-made.”
The exercise also meets the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirement for the airport to conduct a full-scale emergency exercise every three years in addition to annual table-top drills.
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Gallatin County Commission Approves Funding for Public Open Lands Projects
For immediate release: April 24, 2024
Media contact:
Sean O’Callaghan, Gallatin County Planning Director/Open Lands Coordinator
406-582-3130
sean.ocallaghan@gallatin.mt.govGallatin County Commission Approves Funding for Public Open Lands Projects
The Gallatin County Commission approved using Open Lands Program money to help fund nine projects that support open space in Bozeman, Three Forks, West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Bridger Canyon and waterways across the Gallatin Valley.
On Tuesday, April 23, commissioners voted unanimously to spend $648,158 to provide funding to a wide range of projects.
One of the funded projects was the Headwaters Trail System, which is a network of about 12 miles of paved trails that runs along the former Milwaukee Railroad bed through the city of Three Forks. The $100,000 from Gallatin County will go toward maintaining over four miles of trail in three different sections: from the Madison River pedestrian bridge east to where the trail terminates; from the Drouillard Fishing Access site to Kansas Street in Three Forks; and from Hickory Street south to the baseball fields.
The other eight projects funded include:
- Big Sky Owners Association – Little Coyote Pond Fishing Access and amenities – $100,000
- Gallatin River Task Force – Greek Creek streambank restoration and river access improvement project – $50,000
- Gallatin Watershed Council – Cleanup of streams and rivers in the Lower Gallatin Watershed – $10,308
- Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter – Improvements at Maxi Park, an 18-acre off-leash dog park at the shelter – $17,850
- Trout Unlimited – Third phase of the Dry Creek restoration project that would restore 14 additional stream banks – $50,000
- West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation – construction of the Rendezvous Operations Building to serve as a base for the Rendezvous Trail System – $100,000
- Crosscut Mountain Sports Center – construction of 3 kilometers of paved trail for roller-skiing – $100,000
- Gallatin County Regional Park – construction of a 1,200 square-foot shop to store park supplies and equipment, and a connecting trail to the park and an asphalt walkway along Vaquero Parkway – $100,000
“This is a really fun exercise to be reminded of all the great work that’s happening out there in the community in providing conservation and recreation infrastructure across the county,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown. “They all add incredible richness and value to our communities.”
Money for these projects come from the voter-approved Gallatin County Open Space Levy, which was passed in 2018. This year, there is about $3.5 million available total in the program.
While a majority of that money funds conservation projects, such as conservation easements for private landowners, about $887,000 was earmarked by the Gallatin County Commission for “other eligible projects.” These projects must be released to land acquisition, capital improvements, and maintenance projects that support the purpose of the Open Space Levy. Money left over from this round of applications will be rolled over to next year’s pool of funds.
Nine applications were received during the application period earlier this year. The Open Lands Board scored the submitted proposals and made recommendations to the Gallatin County Commission.
More information on each project, including applications and scoring, can be found attached to the commission’s agenda here.
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Gallatin County District Court Sending Postcards to Potential Jurors for 2024-2025 Term
For immediate release: April 24, 2024
Media contact:
Sandy Erhardt, Gallatin County Clerk of District Court
406-582-2165
serhardt@mt.govGallatin County District Court Sending Postcards to Potential Jurors for 2024-2025 Term
Next week, residents of Gallatin County who have been selected to serve in the upcoming jury term for Gallatin County District Court will receive official notifications regarding their selection. These individuals will be kindly asked to promptly complete a related questionnaire.
The Clerk of District Court’s Office will send out roughly 8,500 notices to residents who were randomly chosen to be a part of District Court’s upcoming jury term, which runs from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Names are drawn from a combined list of Montana registered voters, Montana licenses drivers, and holders of Montana identification cards.
District Court’s jurisdiction spans a diverse array of legal matters including criminal cases (primarily felonies), civil matters with over $12,000 damages, domestic relations, juvenile, probate, mental health, water cases, and appeals from Justice Court, Municipal Court, and administrative agencies.
It is important to note that recipients of these notifications are not being summoned for a specific jury trial at this time. Rather, they are being informed of their potential eligibility for jury duty during the year-long term.
It is essential for selected residents to promptly respond to these notices by completing the accompanying juror questionnaire within 10 days of receipt. Failure to do so may result in a personal visit from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, tasked with delivering questionnaires to non-responsive individuals. Such an undertaking places undue strain on our law enforcement resources, leading to potential delays in trials and impeding the timely administration of justice.
“Ensuring the timely completion of juror questionnaires is vital for the smooth functioning of our judicial system. By promptly returning these forms, residents play a crucial role in upholding the integrity of our courts,” said Sandy Erhardt, Gallatin County Clerk of District Court.
Recipients have multiple convenient options for completing their questionnaires:
- Scan the QR code on the front of the postcard with a smartphone and fill out the questionnaire online
- Visit https://mt.access.gov.com/gallatin-county and fill out the questionnaire online
- Get a paper copy of the questionnaire by calling Gallatin County Clerk of District Court’s office at 406-582-2168, emailing gallatindcjury@mt.gov, or stopping by in person at the Law and Justice Center at 615 S. 16th Ave., room 302 in Bozeman
All postcards will include these detailed instructions. If you have questions, please call the Gallatin County Clerk of District Court’s Office at 406-582-2168 or email gallatindcjury@mt.gov.
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“Salons and Saloons” Invites Hospitality, Hair Professionals to Conversation About Mental Health
For immediate release: April 23, 2024
Media contact:
Ellie Martin, Routefinder Consulting
ellie@routefinderconsulting.com“Salons and Saloons” Invites Hospitality, Hair Professionals to Conversation About Mental Health
In an effort to address the critical issue of mental health, the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition and the Gallatin County Mental Health Local Advisory Council are proud to announce “Salons and Saloons,” a community event aimed at initiating dialogue and providing support for local servers, bartenders, barbers, stylists, and other hospitality and hair professionals.
Scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, from 9 to 10:30 AM at the Emerson Center Ballroom (111 S. Grand Ave. in Bozeman), “Salons and Saloons” will serve as a platform for service workers to engage in crucial conversations surrounding mental health within our community.
Ellie Martin of Routefinder Consulting underscored the significance of the event, stating, “Service workers play a vital role in our community, often acting as confidants and supporters for their patrons. ‘Salons and Saloons’ aims to recognize their invaluable contributions while providing them with the resources and support needed to navigate mental health challenges effectively.”
The event will offer attendees the opportunity to:
- Acknowledge the vital role of service workers as supporters, listeners, and caring connectors to their customers.
- Share essential information and resources for assisting individuals in distress.
- Facilitate open dialogue to better understand the needs and concerns of service workers when assisting patrons with mental health issues.
Complimentary coffee and baked goods will be provided.
People interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP at this link. For further inquiries, please contact ellie@routefinderconsulting.com.
“Salons and Saloons” aims to help foster a supportive and empathetic community, where every individual, regardless of their profession, feels valued and supported in their mental health journey.
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