— The city of Bozeman is investing $26,315,882 to this year’s construction season The city’s Department of Transportation and Engineering and Department of Utilities have 12 capital projects lined up to renovate existing infrastructure while investing in new capacity To mitigate the demands from growth within the Gallatin Valley city officials say they’re wanting to do a better job of communicating to the public where and how their tax dollars are being utilized to benefit the community “We try to make sure that our tax dollars are first and foremost go to maintaining the existing infrastructure we have everything is efficient and that we’re reinvesting in pavement quality for the benefit of those who live here now,” said Nick Ross City of Bozeman director of transportation and engineering and city assessments for improvement to existing infrastructure Construction work is currently ongoing and expected to ramp up this month All projects are projected to finish this year Utility renovation and replacements include 5,012’ of sewer main and 1,236’ of storm main along eight different streets across three separate neighborhoods Capacity projects will construct a sewer lift station and force main from the Riverside Community to the city Water Reclamation Facility for improved environmental quality by reducing nutrient impacts on the East Gallatin River and improvements to the city’s water infrastructure on its Sourdough Intake City Streets Division will perform more than one mile of street paving associated with the utility improvements to reduce impact on the community and save taxpayer funds that would typically be spent on contractor services Transportation improvements include a mill & overlay of S 19th from Main Street to Kagy Boulevard in coordination with the ongoing Montana Department of Transportation mill & overlay of N 19th from Main Street to I-90 creating smooth pavement for over 3.5 miles of the busiest arterial street in southwest Montana The city will also continue its “Friction Seal” treatment of local subdivision and downtown streets to reduce the impacts of traditional tar and chipping Three safety projects will add a mid-block crosswalk on Oak Street near Gallatin High construct permanent median restrictions at Oak Street and Flanders Mill following the city’s successful pilot project and complete permanent construction of the city’s Black Avenue Bicycle Boulevard new capacity to manage growth will include the connection of N 27th between Baxter and Cattail with a 2-lane Collector street shared-use paths on both sides of the street If you would like to stay up to date with all the latest construction, click here downtown Bozeman was filled with the sound of drums and car horns as hundreds of demonstrators lined both sides of Main Street for the “Stand May Day Strong” rally aimed to draw attention to policies protesters say favor billionaires at the expense of working families Drumming group Buckets of Justice and Equity helped lead the charge using rhythm and energy to unite the crowd “The thing I think is awesome is the unity it brings when we drum together—that’s happened all across cultures all over the world,” says Shaun Phoenix “It is clear that they only care about white male billionaires It is really important to be very clear about how many people are not okay with the current administration and the way they are destroying democracy,” Shuan says That frustration was echoed by many in the crowd “I am for the constitution above all and to sweep out the guy who's destroying the constitution,” says protestor Jack Kligerman Jack and Barbra Kligerman were among those taking a stand Barbra says speaking out is nothing new for her “My first was against the Vietnam War in Berkeley when I had an infant on my back and a two-year-old in my hand,” Barbra says the Kligermans say they’re still fighting—this time for programs they’ve spent a lifetime supporting “I have been paying into Social Security since I was 16 and they are going to take that away from me And the poor people who have Medicaid and they are going to take that away Daines and Sheehy don't say a word,” Jack says And to those who may disagree with the demonstration [know] what they are in danger of losing and B organizers say the rally was filled with hope and community “Folks who are doing this stuff are having fun I think it uplifts everyone else who hears it and knows they are not alone in feeling really frustrated or really angry or really despairing Like this is whole different energy — there is no anger or despair,” Shaun says Protesters say they hope state leaders take notice This year is flying by at a ridiculous speed it’s easy to forget some pretty important holidays—like Mother’s Day that big one you definitely don’t want to drop the ball on but let’s be honest—Mom probably won’t let you live it down either Just a friendly reminder: Mother’s Day is Sunday I’m a big fan of giving experiences instead of gifts and random stuff usually ends up in the back of a closet—but experiences stick with us They become the stories we tell and the memories we hang onto That’s why I’ve rounded up a few of the best spots in Bozeman to take Mom for a Mother’s Day brunch she won’t forget Rockin' TJ Ranch Consistently ranked as one of the best venues in town Rockin’ TJ Ranch is putting on a special Mother’s Day brunch with a serious spread and bonus—kids 3 and under eat free Sky Shed If you want the best view in Bozeman Perched on top of the Kimpton Armory Hotel it’s surrounded by stunning mountain views and offers an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet Gallatin River Lodge Just 20 minutes outside Bozeman Gallatin River Lodge is a local gem known for its incredible food and peaceful setting They’re hosting a special Mother’s Day buffet brunch from 9am to 1pm Reservations are required—but trust me So don’t wait—make those reservations and make Mom feel special you might just win favorite child status for the day Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf Mother’s Day is almost here! Don’t drop the ball—check out the best brunch spots in Bozeman to treat Mom to something special.\nRead More Rockin' TJ Ranch Consistently ranked as one of the best venues in town Sky Shed If you want the best view in Bozeman Gallatin River Lodge Just 20 minutes outside Bozeman Located in Bozeman, MT For questions or comments contact the Ask Us Desk      D2L/Canvas      Personalized news alerts with our mobile app Please subscribe to continue reading… 6-foot-10 Waka Mbatch has transferred from Florida State to Montana State BOZEMAN — Big man Waka Mbatch has signed with the Montana State men's basketball team MSU head coach Matt Logie announced Saturday joins the Bobcats after two seasons at Florida State where he appeared in seven games off the bench "We are very excited to welcome Waka Mbatch to Montana State," Logie said "Waka has his best basketball in front of him still as he has spent the last two years at Florida State in the ACC after coming over from his home country of Gambia athleticism and activity to our frontcourt and possesses a growing skillset we are excited to help him continue to develop Waka is an exceptional young man who speaks five languages and will be a tremendous addition to our locker room and community." Mbatch appeared in five games for the Seminoles playing seven minutes in a win over Tarleton State (Nov 2024) and scoring two points with a rebound in a win over UMass (Nov Mbatch appeared in two games off the bench for Florida State Mbatch graduated from Kotu Senior Secondary School in 2022 after playing at Hope Basketball Academy where he averaged 10.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game and was named defensive player of the year after leading his team to a championship in the premier division in Gambia According to an article published on the Florida State athletics website in November 2024 the future Bobcat grew up playing soccer from the age of 5 and was an all-star midfielder before going through a five-inch growth spurt and discovering basketball when he was 14 years old The six from the transfer portal complement returners in guard Jed Miller and wing Patrick McMahon plus two incoming freshman signees C.J. Purdie (Davidson, North Carolina) and Howie Keene (The Woodlands, Texas). The Missoula Sentinel graduate joins a Mountain West team that has finished each of the last five seasons with a winning record. “It's been good to talk to (MSU's coaches) and rekindle, and now I get to go play for them, so it's a blessing." - Jaden Steppe  “Whenever you see yourself get better, you just want to get even better, and that's how I feel right now.” Central Washington transfer Cavin Holden "Chris brings with him four years of experience at a highly successful program in Wisconsin and will bring Big Ten-caliber size and athleticis… “I just felt like I wouldn't be more confident in a spot than I was at Montana State.” Christian King Cass Bauer-Bilodeau, a star women’s basketball player at Montana State from 1990-94, will be part of the Big Sky Conference 2025 Hall of Fame class.  The 6-foot-1 twins from London, Ontario, Canada, redshirted as freshmen last season at Toledo, and join the Bobcat program with four years of… Zephir entered the portal last month after he was "offered an opportunity that I can’t pass up," he said. 6-foot-10 Waka Mbatch has transferred from Florida State to Montana State. © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. Head coach Matt Logie highlighted Mbatch's potential for growth and his unique background Mbatch averaged 10.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game at Hope Basketball Academy in Gambia and complements the existing Bobcats roster with his size and skill He becomes the sixth signee from the transfer portal joining five other players while reinforcing a team that has excelled in recent seasons Mbatch has limited experience at the collegiate level This raises questions about his immediate impact on the Bobcats' performance in the upcoming season Mbatch's development within the Montana State program will be closely monitored with expectations for him to adapt and contribute significantly The Bobcats will work on integrating him into their established system aiming for continued success in the upcoming season The addition of Waka Mbatch brings needed depth and potential to the Montana State men's basketball roster As the team seeks to build on its recent successes Mbatch's growth and integration could be critical for their aspirations in the next season The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy Bozeman’s real estate market is about to hit prime buying season Bozeman realtor Tamara Williams says right now the city’s housing market is neither a buyers' nor a sellers' market but rather a blend of both "The housing market is pretty delicate and it has been delicate for the last year,” said Williams She says buyers have more leverage than they’ve had in the past especially when it comes to homes that have spent a significant amount of time on the market "Buyers are able to do some serious negotiations and you're seeing a lot more seller concessions for buyers,” said Williams “So that just means that they're able to get more from the sellers in terms of maybe buying down their interest rates." The median sales price for a single-family home broke records in 2024 coming in at $810,000 per data from the 2025 Gallatin Valley Housing Report But the growth rate of home prices slowed to 3% a stark contrast to the double-digit annual increases seen between 2020 and 2022 Williams suggests sellers have their homes professionally staged and photographed She also suggests making necessary repairs and improvements as Williams says turnkey homes are increasingly sought after "Turnkey has never been more important Having nice appliances in a home has never been more important I've never felt really good about upgrading appliances because it's normally a loss to the seller,” said Williams that $15,000 appliance package could sell your $800,000 home.” leading to strong competition and bidding wars for well-maintained listings in prime locations Williams expects current conditions to continue into the summer so long as interest rates stay high but if they drop it could lead to a more challenging market for homebuyers — Two undocumented immigrants were sentenced to prison after stabbing two men in downtown Bozeman in February 2024 Santiago Machado Echeverri and Andres Felipe Lara Gonzales were sentenced to 25 years at the Montana State Prison According to the Gallatin County Attorney's Office "the first incident took place near Bozeman and Olive Streets around 1:37 a.m. where victim Shane Skiff was attacked by two males after their SUV struck a street sign." The second attack happened just after 1:40 a.m near the First Security Bank at Bozeman and Babcock Streets where victim Jared Mizner was stabbed multiple times Echeverri and Gonzales pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a weapon The Gallatin County Attorney's Office released the following information: The following was sent out by the Gallatin County Attorney's Office: Regarding the Proposal for Gallatin County to enter into an interlocal agreement with the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain non-local undocumented immigrants at the Gallatin County Detention Center – One of the key functions of the County Attorney is to provide legal advice County Attorney Audrey Cromwell identifies legal risks that can inform County decisions and equip the Gallatin County Commissioners to 1) work within the bounds of the law and 2) ensure the County is not exposed to unnecessary legal risk or costly litigation The Gallatin County Sheriff’s office has recently proposed entering into an interlocal agreement with the U.S The proposal to dedicate 10 beds to hold a potential 1,200 non-local ICE detainees annually exposes Gallatin County to significant legal liability and compromises the County’s ability to serve its own community members states and localities cannot be compelled to enforce federal immigration laws (Printz v 898 (1997)) and any voluntary participation exposes those governments to legal risks when constitutional rights are infringed Constitution ensures that every person in the United States—regardless of immigration status— has the fundamental right to due process Undocumented status is a federal civil enforcement rather than criminal: ICE detainers and administrative warrants are issued for alleged civil violations of immigration law are not reviewed by a judge to determine if they are based on probable cause The civil nature of these warrants coupled with the federal government’s current willingness to circumvent constitutional safeguards in the name of expediency has led to recent errors and documented violations of due process (See recent U.S By entering into an interlocal agreement with ICE detentions at the Gallatin County Detention Center later found to be unlawful could cost Gallatin County taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars Suffolk County in New York faced a federal class-action lawsuit concluding with the court finding the county’s detention practices of undocumented immigrants unlawful and the county responsible for up to $60 million in damages citizen was wrongfully held on a civil ICE detainer leading to significant damages against the local government These and other cases indicate the significant risk associated with inadvertently participating in unlawful ICE detentions The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department’s assertion that under the proposed ICE contract only undocumented immigrants charged with crimes would be housed at the County’s already overburdened facility does not align with the realities of current ICE enforcement practices which present a real possibility that individuals without criminal charges may be detained and sent to the Gallatin County Detention Facility This recently occurred in Bigfork on March 4 where 17 immigrants were arrested at a job site and held solely on civil ICE detainers a commitment to house non-local detainees risks increasing resource expenditures and compromises the County’s capacity to serve its own community: all undocumented immigrants housed at the Gallatin County Detention Center although purportedly held for brief 72-hour periods If a detainee suffers a medical emergency or mental health crisis while at the Gallatin County Detention Facility—including suicide or death—the potential for Gallatin County to be held liable is significant Gallatin County already participates in the federal 287(g) Warrant Service Officer (WSO) program limited cooperation initiative that allows trained local law enforcement officers to perform certain functions of ICE officers This collaboration ensures that undocumented individuals charged with crimes in Gallatin County are properly flagged and held for ICE Gallatin County’s engagement with 287(g) preserves a clear distinction between criminal prosecution—the County’s statutory responsibility—and civil immigration enforcement only 1.4% of Gallatin County’s jail population consisted of individuals flagged for ICE holds indicating that the current system effectively identifies and processes local cases without overburdening local resources or creating exposure to legal liability from broader non-criminal immigration enforcement and detention activities “Gallatin County’s participation in the federal 287(g) program—which ensures that undocumented individuals charged with a crime in Gallatin County are flagged and held for ICE—is extremely effective,” states County Attorney Audrey Cromwell “Given constitutional concerns regarding due process and added strain on overburdened County resources I have advised the Commission against entering into an additional interlocal agreement with ICE to detain non-local undocumented immigrants in the Gallatin County Detention Center Nothing about this detention contract makes Gallatin County a safer place to live voluntarily becoming a detention center for ICE could not only expose the County to significant liability but also damage relationships within our community BOZEMAN — Law enforcement are supposed to be people you can trust But what if I told you getting arrested has turned into something of a game for some Bozeman Police officers a press conference was held at the Bozeman Public Safety Center where this significant issue was discussed “Two teams of patrol officers were engaged in a bingo competition Where success in the game hinged on whether they engaged on actions listed on the bingo card,” says Bozeman Police Chief Jim Veltkamp “It did look like your standard bingo card Then they filled in squares on the card of things that they wanted to see happen In order to check off that box on the bingo card,” explains Veltkamp The bingo cards included multiple categories highlights squares included getting the lowest team score on a physical fitness test or putting out a fire before the Bozeman Fire Department arrived But one category that concerned Bozeman police chief Jim Veltkamp Was types of arrests or calls that officers wanted to handle “An example of one of those was to do a search warrant on a car The concern is of they manipulated anything in order to be able to search a car,” says Veltkamp The Chief says this game went on for 12 days until the command staff was made aware An inquiry was conducted to determine there were no wrongful arrests or officers acting outside their normal duties “We conducted our own internal investigation the city attorney's office conducted their own review,” says Veltkamp The Division of Criminal Investigation was not involved but an external attorney was also contracted who reviewed all 24 cases that took place during the bingo time period That zero of the cases had been affected by the game,” Veltkamp added Although he says there were zero affected cases Veltkamp tells me there are some disciplinary actions taking place “The officers involved that had these cards handed to them We had a lot of long conversations about this and they were warned about how inappropriate this is The supervisors who participated or had any knowledge of it I can't talk about exactly what it was because it's a personnel issue,” says Veltkamp I asked what actions are being taken to prevent games like this “along with us continuing to have those discussions and closer monitoring to ensure this will never happen again." Interim City Manager Chuck Winn also spoke at the press conference and said he wanted to let the city of Bozeman know: “I apologize to Bozeman that this happened We are fully committed to learn from it and ensure it The Gallatin County Attorney's Office issued a statement following the press conference Bozeman Police Department held a press conference regarding an internal inquiry that involved two teams of patrol officers who engaged in a bingo competition while on call The Gallatin County Attorney’s office is responsible for all felony prosecutions in the County Eleven felony cases referred to the County Attorney’s office for prosecution involved defendants arrested during the bingo game One of the County Attorney’s roles is to ensure that every prosecution that the County Attorney’s office brings is effective prosecutors are required to disclose to the defense any evidence that is favorable to the accused and material to guilt or punishment This can include information that might call into question the credibility of a witness—including a law enforcement officer—such as bias If the credibility issues are significant enough it can affect a prosecutor’s ability to rely on that officer’s testimony in court or to move forward with a case This is not a discretionary process—it is a constitutional mandate designed to ensure fairness in our justice system When the County Attorney’s office was made aware of the incident County Attorney Cromwell worked in conjunction with Bozeman City Attorney’s office to hire an independent investigative prosecutor to review the Bozeman Police Department’s internal investigation and recommend a course of action Following the delivery of this report on April 16th 2025 the County Attorney’s office filed motions with the District Court asking the Court to conduct a judicial review to determine what information should be disclosed to defense counsel in relevant cases “Cases brought by the Gallatin County Attorney’s office must be effective and constitutionally sound,” states County Attorney Audrey Cromwell “My office will continue to uphold the law and rights of all involved—the victims it seems you're no longer the prettiest girl at the dance Bozeman has been Montana's "it" city What was once a small cowtown with a University has blossomed into one of the most up-and-coming cities in the country lots of change has made its way to this Montana hot spot While there's still some "old Bozeman" lingering many of the shops and retail spaces aren't geared towards the people that live in Bozeman but more for the people that visit Bozeman it seems that things are changing here in Big Sky Country has lost a little of its luster and is no longer the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to must-move-to destinations let's take a look at the 5 best spots to live in Montana The Travel came out with their Top 10 list of cities people want to move to the most the Montana city is ranked 4th on the list is the new hotspot for folks looking to move to Montana While that might come as a shock (I know it did to me) it's not too far from Yellowstone National Park and all of the outdoor adventure that Montana has to offer will we now see a major swing in housing prices in Billings does that mean that the rest of us will see some relief (Asking for a friend) Which Montana city is your favorite Montana is a desirable place to live and new reports suggest that one Montana town is among the most desirable in the country.\nRead More The Travel came out with their Top 10 list of cities people want to move to the most -- Big man Waka Mbatch has signed with the Montana State men's basketball team head coach Matt Logie announced on Saturday and activity to our front court and possesses a growing skillset we are excited to help him continue to develop Waka is an exceptional young man who speaks five languages and will be a tremendous addition to our locker room and community."  Mbatch (pronounced "um-botch") joins the Bobcats after two seasons at Florida State is listed at 225 pounds and will bolster a Bobcat frontcourt group that includes 6-foot-9 Wisconsin transfer Chris Hodges and 6-foot-8 Colorado State transfer Jaden Steppe The forward's full name is Alhagie Waka Mbatch the big man appeared in five games for the Seminoles where he averaged 10.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game and was named Defensive Player of the Year after leading his team to a championship in the premier division in his home country of Gambia According to an article published on the Florida State athletics' website in November 2024 the future Bobcat grew up playing soccer from the age of five and was an all-star midfielder before enjoying a five-inch growth spurt and discovering basketball when he was 14 years old Mbatch becomes the sixth announced signee for Montana State out of the transfer portal joining forward Christian King (Washington) The six from the transfer portal complement Big Sky champion returners in guard Jed Miller and wing Patrick McMahon plus two incoming freshman signees C.J Montana State men's basketball has won four Big Sky championships in the last four seasons and been to three NCAA Tournaments in that span (2022 Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here — New data from the Gallatin Association of Realtors’ latest housing report shows median rent in Bozeman reached record highs again in 2024 But the data shows the growth rate of rent in the city is slowing down and Bozeman Mayor Terry Cunningham says city officials are seeing some signs that the cost of rent in the city limits may be more affordable than the data suggest "We are seeing the official rental rate reporting still going up but we are noticing that there are deals being made where they're still reporting a certain level of rent,” said Cunningham three months free -- it actually is coming down." Cunningham attributes that to an increased supply of rental units although the city’s vacancy rate still falls short of the 5-10% range deemed healthy at approximately 4.2% But the housing report indicates that Bozeman is becoming less affordable for many residents with median-income renters only able to afford 85% of the median rent without becoming cost-burdened 11,000 renters in Bozeman were cost-burdened spending more than 30% of their income on rent about half were spending more than 50% of their income on rent Cunningham says the Affordable Housing Ordinance is making it easier for the city’s essential workers to afford to live in the area "There's a three- or four-year lag between policy and what the marketplace does with that but we're seeing positive results when it comes to the truly affordable housing that we're seeing coming out of the ground,” said Cunningham “We always want to make sure that our workforce can afford to live here the demand for affordable rentals outpaces the supply of subsidized units 9-to-1 will bring another 375 units to the market in the coming months Cunningham says another 630 affordable units have already secured permits from the city the cost of lending with new higher interest rates the cost of lumber and other materials that are affected by tariffs It is an expensive marketplace in which to build,” said Cunningham Cunningham says while things are improving there is no overnight solution to fixing the health of the area’s rental market Thanks for visiting Connie Howell has lived in the Gallatin Valley for 25 years. She’s a leader with Bozeman Tenants United and she says the cost of living is pushing working families out of the city and the city government has not responded to that growth well and now it’s beyond bad here,” Howell says When asked how she would describe Bozeman’s affordability The housing crisis—and it is a crisis—in Bozeman you can’t afford to live here,” Howell says According to the Montana Legal Services Association 48% of households facing eviction include at least one child We are the ones that go and work in the service industry We are the ones that work in the restaurants and hotels That’s why advocates like Howell are calling for Tenant Right to Counsel a policy that would guarantee renters facing eviction the right to a lawyer It’s a program already adopted in cities across the country Bozeman residents had the opportunity to learn more at a public town hall event “The purpose is to educate the people on what the Right to Counsel program is,” Howell says “We’re here to make the playing field level for tenants because tenants don’t have any rights when going into eviction court and you think you’re going to learn that in five days after getting an eviction notice Howell says Sunday’s event is just one step in a larger campaign “The City Commission has a work session coming up May 13 The question is going to be whether to fund the Right to Counsel program or not We want people to come and voice their opinions at that work session,” Howell says — The body of a deceased Bozeman woman was found east of town in the Moffit Gulch on Tuesday. according to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a body in the Moffit Gulch area just after 2 p.m Deputies and emergency crews arrived on scene and confirmed the presence of a deceased woman The individual was identified at Lisa Gillette the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause and the manner of death The following was sent out by the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office: the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a deceased individual in the Moffit Gulch area Deputies and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene and confirmed the presence of a deceased adult female The individual has been identified as Lisa Gillette the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office will continue to investigate the matter until the cause and manner of death are determined The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms BOZEMAN — The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office said a woman was found dead east of Bozeman on Tuesday The Sheriff's Office said in a media release that the woman has been identified as Bozeman resident Lisa Gillette; her next of kin have been notified deputies and emergency medical personnel responded around 2 p.m on Tuesday to a report of a dead body in the Moffit Gulch area Gillette was reportedly found dead at the scene The release says foul play is not suspected at this time but the investigation will continue until the Sheriff/Coroner determines the cause and manner of death The Sheriff's Office extended its "deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms We will update you if we get more information We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at webmaster@dailychronicle.com or call us at 406-587-4491 BOZEMAN — Imagine you’re on your daily walk looking both ways to make sure no one is coming — and then That’s exactly what happened to 19-year-old Ava Rask on Tuesday afternoon at the roundabout on Baxter and Ferguson in Bozeman Ava shows MTN the terrifying moment on video “I made sure when I got to the middle part and no one was coming and I look up and I just see a car coming at me,” Rask said Security footage from a nearby home captured the footage showing the driver of a green Subaru pausing for a brief moment before continuing through the intersection And then I backed off because cars were honking and people were yelling The incident has raised ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety in Bozeman When asked how often she witnesses reckless driving around town I’ve seen maybe people road raging and flipping each other off but nothing as far as a pedestrian getting hit.” Pedestrian safety became a citywide conversation last September when 60-year-old Lynette Johnson was killed after a driver left the roadway and struck her while she was walking her dog near South Third Avenue Bozeman Police say incidents like these remain rare but troubling the department received 742 hit-and-run reports “We strongly encourage all drivers to practice this level of caution and adhere to traffic regulations to ensure safety for everyone using the roadway.” the investigation has been complicated by the lack of a visible license plate on the vehicle officials say the video is crucial to identifying the driver “When no license plate information is available in a hit-and-run incident investigations focus on gathering evidence through multiple channels search the area for surveillance cameras that might have recorded the event and collect physical evidence such as vehicle fragments that could identify the make and model of the vehicle Law enforcement also utilizes additional investigative resources and continues pursuing all potential leads until all possibilities have been exhausted,” Bozeman Police said Ava expressed frustration that no other drivers stopped to help her but she remains hopeful that the investigation will lead to answers “Own up to your actions because this would have been way less serious if he would have just stopped and helped me out,” she said Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Bozeman Police Standifer is under investigation for internet crimes against children and was wanted for desertion Officials say criminal charges were being preferred when Standifer fled his duty station to avoid prosecution on April 18 “This case is a great example of the kind of work our team trains for every day,” said Chief Jim Veltkamp and I want to thank our Detectives for their swift response Keeping our community safe often means working behind the scenes and in collaboration with our federal partners the successful outcome speaks to the strength of these partnerships and our commitment to protecting Bozeman.” The following was sent out by the city of Bozeman: Bozeman Police Detectives were contacted by the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) regarding an active investigation involving a Florida-based Airman The man was under investigation for internet crimes against children and was wanted for desertion Investigators learned that he arrived at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport on April 19 Bozeman Detectives began efforts to locate him an undercover Bozeman Police Detective observed the suspect in Bozeman and he was arrested on a federal warrant without incident He was transported to the Gallatin County Detention Center where he is currently being held for Air Force agents The Bozeman Police Department would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance in this case: BOZEMAN — As downtown Bozeman buzzes with energy, local businesses are rallying behind a cause close to home: Give Big Gallatin Valley, the region’s largest annual giving celebration With festivities officially kicking off at 6 p.m. one women-led business is already leading the charge in community spirit a lifestyle boutique known for its curated gifts and apparel The store has been involved with Give Big since its inception and remains a proud sponsor “Heyday has been involved as a company since Give Big started We love being a sponsor of this event and seeing the generosity of our community to support local charities,” says Andrea But Heyday’s commitment to giving goes beyond the event Giving back is woven into the very fabric of the shop’s culture we each get to pick a charity of our choice and she donates in our individual names for that specific charity,” Andrea says a local nonprofit supporting seniors in the Gallatin Valley They are such a valuable resource and source of knowledge for us and we should support them in any way we can,” Andrea says Give Big raised an astonishing $3.1 million for area nonprofits roughly 250 organizations are hoping to feel that same outpouring of support Looking ahead to the event’s busiest day on Friday Heyday is eager to welcome shoppers and donors alike normally with more of it happening during our store hours on Friday and we just look forward to seeing everyone come out and support their favorite charity,” Andrea says For more information on how you can "Give Big", visit the Give Big Gallatin Valley website GREAT FALLS — The Bozeman Police Department assisted in the arrest of U.S Air Force Airman 1st Class Brandon Standifer who was wanted for desertion and is also being investigated for internet crimes against children The agency said in a news release on Wednesday that police detectives were contacted last week by the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) AFOSI said in a news release that Standifer is an aircraft maintainer stationed at Hurlburt Field in Florida criminal charges were being preferred when Standifer fled Florida on April 18 to avoid prosecution; he was declared a military deserter on April 21 Standifer was seen on surveillance video after arriving at Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport on April 19 an undercover detective found the suspect in Bozeman and directed a contact team to make the arrest He was taken into custody without incident on a federal warrant and booked into the Gallatin County Detention Center where he is being held for Air Force investigators The Bozeman Police Department thanked AFOSI Marshals Service; National Park Service – Investigative Services Branch; the Montana Department of Justice; and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport Authority No other details have been released; we will update you if we get more information Report a typo Forest Service is proposing a logging project aimed at fuel reduction outside Bozeman near the South Cottonwood Canyon expressing strong opposition to the project which spans the area between Hyalite Canyon Road and South Cottonwood Creek Trail and stretching north of Hyalite Reservoir to the forest boundary The project focuses on reducing wildfire intensity and severity through fuel management Custer Gallatin National Forest wants to reduce the amount by changing the structure of live and dead fuels through thinning and prescribed burns The document explains fuel treatments lower the intensity of potential wildfire by removing excess fuels NBC Montana spoke to an ecologist who spent most of his life in Montana He believes logging and prescribed burning could make the problem worse you open up the forest canopy and more sunshine gets to the forest floor which makes them more susceptible to burning,” said George Wuerthner Wuerthner also mentioned the wind as a major factor in large fires He said opening up the forest canopy may make it easier for fires to spread He's also concerned that prescribed burns lead to rapid regrowth of fine fuels like grasses and shrubs He added Lodgepole pine trees surround the area and tend to burn approximately every 100 years Wuerthner believes the Forest Service's focus on logging is driven by political pressure and a desire to protect homes in fire-prone areas He suggests homeowners take measures like installing metal roof and clearing vegetation which he says will be more effective at protecting homes than logging We reached out to the Bozeman Ranger District for comment on the proposed project BOZEMAN — Montana PBS is a Treasure State television classic with its Bozeman station located on the campus of Montana State University And with recent private funding totaling more than $30 million that station is about to get a whole lot bigger it’s a little hard for me to believe that it’s actually here,” says Aaron Pruitt Pruitt is the director and general manager of Montana PBS He and this broadcast station have something in common They both entered Montana State University’s visual communications building in the year of 1984 “I entered the building in 1984 as a freshman photography student But little did I know that this fledgling TV station would change the course of my life,” Aaron tells me they’ve created classic series such as "Backroads of Montana" or "11th & Grant" we have raised $31.5 million of private donations to help make the addition possible,” Aaron explains That money is coming from more than 600 private donors across the state of Montana So what is Montana PBS planning to do with this money “We plan to add 32,000 square feet,” Aaron shares “And it will include a large classroom space as well as control rooms and offices to bring our entire Montana PBS staff back together for the first time in more than a decade." currently located in the Student Union Building Montana PBS shares this space with the School of Film and Photography I asked Aaron how the students will be affected during construction I appreciate the enthusiasm from all those partners for what our dream is This project has been in the works since 2018 the groundbreaking ceremony was finally held A tent across from Montana PBS was filled with friends After heartwarming speeches and presentations President Waded Cruzado took the stage—soon after breaking ground for the last time as president of Montana State University Construction will start towards the end of the summer with expected completion in the fall of 2027 who has seen this station grow into what it is today but talking about our future in this new home A few showers this evening with mostly clear conditions overnight According to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office Helen Ayotte has been found and safe following a traffic stop in Bozeman – The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office is reaching out to the public to help locate 15-year-old Helen Ayotte with green eyes and medium-length dark brown hair and a black-and-white checkered Vans ballcap Authorities suspect Helen might be traveling in a 2022 silver Nissan Kicks with Montana license plates The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information about Helen’s whereabouts or who sees the described vehicle to call 406-582-2100 or dial 911 immediately Your assistance could be crucial in ensuring Helen's safe return home there are no recent results for popular commented articles Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The rivalry isn't just about sports or the two schools it's much deeper than that; it's about two towns that don't like each other in many ways and it's a lovely town with nice people it's home to the University of Montana and for those who enjoy a more "hippie" vibe was the fastest-growing town in the country It seemed for a couple of years that everyone and their brother wanted to live in Bozeman to say that the town has changed over the years would be a bit of an understatement What was once a town known for cowboys and rodeo and become an eclectic place with high-end stores that cater to the rich and famous who live in and around Big Sky Not only do we have Montana State University but we're surrounded by tons of outdoor activities and we're just a short drive to America's oldest National Park let's check out Montana's 6 Most Beautiful Places Cost of Living: Neither town is cheap; however Missoula has the edge when it comes to home prices and rent Quality of Education: We mentioned that both cities were "college towns." However Bozeman has had the distinction of being voted best college town 2 years in a row by a national publication and as far as elementary and secondary schools go Social Scene: Both towns are social and provide plenty to do you will find a wide selection of places to enjoy a drink or two in both cities they both have plenty of access to outdoor adventure and they both offer activities for families Crime: While crime has risen in both cities over the years especially with an increase of transplants and homeless folk it seems that Bozeman is the safer of the two Missoula has a higher rate of criminal activity the final score is Bozeman 2 and Missoula 1 with both cities tying for social activity While the rivalry between Bozeman and Missoula is alive and well, which town is the best place to call home? We take a look at a few factors to determine a winner.\nRead More