MILES CITY — With graduation around the corner students at Custer County District High School in Miles City heard from U.S who spoke about military service and college opportunities through the nation’s service academies “One way to go into (the) military and one way to go to college is the service academies,” said Sheehy but you don’t want to take out a large student loan — that’s one way to go to college.” The visit was part of a statewide school tour organized with the Montana Office of Public Instruction the state superintendent of public instruction “It’s that time of year where students are thinking about what they’re gonna do next,” said Hedalen or (do not) have all of our applicant spots full.” Sheehy also shared personal anecdotes from his military service but I found out in Georgia (the Eastern European country) what vodka tastes like and Georgian vodka tastes a lot different than American vodka protesters supported by the group Indivisible gathered to address concerns including federal budget cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) criticized Sheehy for not engaging with the group “I understand he’s a former Navy SEAL and you have to be kind of a tough guy to be a Navy SEAL — and we don’t know why he’s afraid to meet with us.” Some parents reportedly pulled their students from school over the event while others noted the importance of hearing different opinions Multiple community members said students were instructed “not to ask political questions.” School officials maintained that the directive was standard for all assemblies and that the visit was focused on leadership They said they would like to visit with him,” said Hedalen Sheehy declined an interview with MTN and left the event without addressing the protesters directly he remarked to those chanting "we want a town hall" and holding signs by saying he can lecture us all he wants about what a good leader is but a good leader talks to his constituents," said Dunphy historic event to attend in the near future The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is returning to Miles City May 15-18 and promises to pack action for the whole family What began in 1951 as a simple sale of rodeo stock has grown into a four-day extravaganza filled with bronc riding It’s no wonder it’s garnered the title of “Cowboy Mardi Gras.” One of the most highly-anticipated events of the year for both competitors and spectators alike is hands down the PRCA Xtreme Broncs Match 32 of the top riders in the world will be in a thrilling competition vying for a whopping $50,000 in purse money As one of the largest one-day events in the World Before you revel in this year’s excitement where some amazing racehorses will show off their athletic prowess “We would like to express our gratitude to the dedicated volunteers and community partners who tirelessly work behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale,” says the event team “Without their unwavering commitment and support we are always filled with a sense of pride in our sponsor base that makes this event thrive and allows us and share our cherished western traditions.” Limited number of Reserved and Party Pit tickets raspy vocals and a career spanning multiple platinum albums and chart-topping hits Joining him are special guests Tigirlily Gold a dynamic sister duo known for their energetic performances and empowering country anthems a talented performer who writes about his passion for hunting and fishing and other experiences and stories from growing up in Montana offering a prime spot right in front of the stage With top-tier country music to kick off the jam-packed rodeo action this concert promises to be a highlight of the week All tickets are sold online & all sales are final rain or shine If you’re looking for an exciting addition to your upcoming trip to Montana or have been searching for the perfect western getaway make sure to add the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale to your itinerary There’s no better way to immerse yourself in the rich traditions of Montana rodeos than this event Last Updated on 04/29/2025 by Carly Billington VIP Perks and more...Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time Texas – Feel the thrill of the arena and the joy of community.. 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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 MILES CITY — Sports are the ultimate metaphor for life — the wins and losses And over the course of the past three years Miles City basketball player Kyler Venable has had his courage and resolve pushed to the limit As Venable emerges from the tragedy and turmoil that has engulfed him these past few years offered as perhaps the understatement of the year Yet without an ounce of cynicism or bitterness while with friends at Fort Peck Lake in northeast Montana a six-seat side-by-side off-road vehicle in which Venable was a passenger tipped and rolled breaking his right femur above the knee and severely lacerating the skin and muscles below it Venable could see the aftermath of the injury What am I going to do?' My friends went to get some help and someone put a tourniquet on my leg." Venable was then driven 90-some miles south to Jordan but there was little anyone could do for him there Venable eventually made it to Miles City where he received blood transfusions and a helicopter flight to Billings He had stints at both Billings hospitals and was there for about a month Venable finally underwent treatment in Denver the amputation was necessitated by infection and dying skin Venable said he endured more than 20 surgeries The physical therapy has also been daunting as he's adapted to his prosthetic But Venable returned to the court this year rejoining his teammates on junior varsity while also seeing some time with the varsity squad "Defense is probably one of the hardest things but in practice my coach works me harder and harder every day and so I've kind of been getting used to it a little bit more." When you see Venable laughing and joking in warmups prior to a game or running up and down the floor during it And basketball is one of my favorite sports so it's great to be back and playing again." But he is also dealing with the loss of his mother became a Miles Community College hall of famer and later played in the Frontier Conference at Rocky Mountain College Sarina Venable (née Green) was a respected high school basketball official out of the Miles City pool Her death is a profound loss for Kyler and his family But he has dedicated his comeback to his mom She's my role model," Kyler said with sadness in his voice "I looked up to her; she taught me everything I knew Venable's triumph over turmoil has been an inspiration to many others not long removed from his own standout sports career in Miles City can be counted among those who feel renewed by the optimism and belief Kyler has adopted as he's faced these challenges "Being the older brother and looking out for my brothers my whole life "But the coolest thing was Kyler's attitude through it all I couldn't have been more proud of him than I was "Seeing him go from being in the hospital to walking and running and playing sports There isn’t a lot that Jase Kinsey hasn’t done in his career as a public service worker for Miles City Though his current title is heavy equipment operator, according to Alexandria Butcher, who nominated Kinsey for AFSCME’s Never Quit Service Award a better title might be: “Jack-of-all-trades says she’s in “awe” of Kinsey’s flexibility and the easygoing way with which he wears many different hats “He always goes above and beyond,” says Butcher who also happens to be Kinsey’s sister-in-law Butcher points out that when the city went through cuts to public services Kinsey had to take on many more responsibilities “You didn’t hear a word of complaint from Jase,” she says “He leaves in the middle of dinners to shut down the pool; he’s trustworthy He’s a super-good public service role model.” If Kinsey’s dedication and versatility weren’t impressive enough he’s also a father of four boys: a high-schooler and 10-year-old identical triplets Kinsey says he hadn’t planned on working for his hometown “A friend of mine caught me one day when I was working in a tire shop He cornered me and said the city had a job opening,” recalls Kinsey “It was just a see-how-it-went kind of thing.” After he got hired, he began taking a leadership role within his local union, AFSCME Local 283 (Council 9) and has now gone on to wear countless hats for Miles City is a place where most people know each other and he feels a strong connection between the services he provides and how they help his fellow residents “Working in the parks for me is a lot of fun We try to show the kids that the field maintenance matters,” says Kinsey we’re trying to help them excel in their sports Kinsey makes sure his kids know how much time it takes to do everything right and it makes him feel good to see people playing on the fields that he’s maintained “I take a lot of pride in doing good work,” he says also helps out with the town’s youth bowling group Butcher puts it in the way that perhaps only a sister-in-law could: “He’s annoyingly perfect.” Nominate them for AFSCME’s Never Quit Service Award. GREAT FALLS — A train hauling coal derailed in Custer County on Monday several miles west of Miles City near Hathaway according to Custer County Fire Chief Cory Cheguis Cheguis said in a news release the derailment involved between 25 and 27 cars Emergency response teams were quickly deployed and the incident is being managed in coordination with BNSF Railway Custer County emergency management is working with BNSF officials to address the situation The cause of the derailment is being investigated their priority is to assess any potential environmental impact and manage the safety of the area as the situation unfolds Report a typo The winter of 1881-82 was severe in Montana with heavy snow accumulating in the mountains and plains Eastern Montana saw significant snow and ice thawing and refreezing rivers created large ice islands One medium-sized river in Eastern Montana overflowed flooding the town and pushing huge icebergs down Main Street This flood permanently altered the cow town's landscape and elevation Which medium-sized river caused flooding in what town in Eastern Montana in 1882 Answer: The Tongue River and Milestown (Miles City) According to the 1918 Miles City Independent Milestown was once level with the Tongue River The original town site and Fort Keogh were on the west side while Riverfront Park and the new town of Miles City were on the east bank shanties and low businesses bordered Riverfront Park The flood of 1882 was the first recorded devastating flood of Miles City and what led to elevating the town of Miles City and creating the Tongue River dike Riverfront Park sits at the original townsite elevation and the Miles City Museum complex is where Milestown was initially established wing dams costing about $7000 were built to protect the town from flooding They successfully prevented further floods captured images of the devastating 1882 flood MILES CITY — Last Saturday night at a loud and proud Custer County District High School gym the Miles City Cowgirls turned their matchup against Eastern A rival Laurel into a track meet Miles City had built a 31-0 lead and cruised to a 68-38 victory In the middle of it all was senior point guard Jillian Kanduch who put her entire skill set on display — dead-eye perimeter shooting creativity with the ball and pressure defense without it It was the kind of showing Cowgirls coach Randy Robinson has gotten used to in the past four years "She's got a high basketball IQ," Robinson told MTN Sports earlier Saturday "She understands the game like most point guards do So she does bring the full package on both ends of the court." Kanduch is a big reason why the Cowgirls entered this week with a 9-4 overall record and were looking toward again making noise at the Eastern A tournament a few weeks from now in Billings Kanduch averages 15.4 points per game while shooting 46% from the floor But it was never a guarantee that Kanduch would be able to suit up at Miles City — not until the spring before her freshman year when a new Montana law was enacted to remove attendance requirements for homeschool students to take part in a school district's extracurricular activities Kanduch has been homeschooled her entire life When she was at the fourth-grade level she started playing competitively with girls from Sacred Heart School in Miles City including fellow Cowgirls senior Sam Peila it wasn't until she joined the varsity squad at Miles City as a freshman that Kanduch said she was able to consistently play competitive ball in a structured team environment "I'm super grateful," Kanduch said of being given the opportunity to play with the high school team "I was trying to make the decision of going to public school to play or to stay homeschooled and not play And then we found out about the (new) rules senior forwards Alli Glasscock and Camdyn Waterman and sophomore guard Ramsey Pryor have their eyes on another trip to state "It was a hard loss," Kanduch said of last year's semifinal stunner I was just replaying the game constantly." Class A is again loaded with defending champion Billings Central Bigfork and Lockwood among those with championship aspirations The Cowgirls dropped both of their regular-season meetings with Havre this year but could very well see the Blue Ponies again in the postseason "When we have the opportunity to play those teams she has been accumulating college credit by taking courses at Miles Community College the past two years Kanduch said she'll have 30 or so credits under her belt by the time she leaves high school Kanduch has signed to play basketball in the Frontier Conference at Carroll College and the ability to take part in in-person college courses give her a sense of what the next level will be like for her "I was looking at a bunch of different schools but when I was able to interact with the team (at Carroll) and the coaches and stuff I just felt like i was a part of it," she said And she hopes to help the Cowgirls make a significant run I think it's the toughest it's been in a long time," Robinson said "I think there's seven teams that can win it "But I would consider (Kanduch) a top-five player in Class A DeeAnn Sutter has been more than just an art teacher at Custer County District High School—she has been the foundation beneath her students’ biggest moments her impact has extended far beyond the stage “They’re not gonna remember what happened in their math class they’re not gonna remember what happened in the really cool assembly they had but I think they’re gonna remember this feeling of accomplishment forever,” said Sutter where students have gone on to become architects Sutter has played a vital role in shaping their confidence You can conquer your body image." said Sutter recalled the early days of her mentorship along the theatre's foyer where play bills and photographs hung from each year of plays “What you see just simply reflected in this relatively short hallway has echoed through 30 years of us," said Nash Students and faculty alike recognize Sutter as an institution I don’t think I could find a kid who has a bad thing to say about her," said Chase Breitbach Sutter's nephew and the school's band director "Most of (her students) would kill for her." As generations of students leave the stage and move into new chapters of life “We could all dream of having a legacy like this someday—and I think that’s what she sent us all out into the world to do," said Nash MILES CITY - A train hauling coal derailed west of Miles City in Custer County at approximately 11 p.m Custer County Fire Chief Cory Cheguis said in a social media postthe derailment involved between 25 and 27 cars The derailment occurred on private land about 12 miles west of Miles City along the Yellowstone River One photo obtained by MTN News appears to show at least one car in the water Authorities have not confirmed whether any coal spilled into the river Emergency response teams were quickly deployed and the incident was being managed in coordination with BNSF Railway The fire chief said Custer County emergency management was working directly with BNSF officials to address the situation The cause of the derailment is under investigation and initial assessments will be conducted as daylight approaches to gain a clearer understanding of the full scope of the situation our priority is to assess any potential environmental impact and manage the safety of the area as the situation unfolds," the fire chief said MILES CITY — After a train hauling coal derailed about 12 miles west of Miles City on Monday coal was spilled into the river from the derailment concerns are arising about the potential environmental impact on the nearby Yellowstone River There were no injuries and the cause is still under investigation director of the Yellowstone River Research Center and a professor of environmental science at Rocky Mountain College discussed the dangers of coal spills in aquatic environments "There's a number of studies that have looked at the effects of unburned coal in rivers and freshwater bodies and marine environments so that the dust from that coal into the aquatic system Ostovar and his team have spent years researching the Yellowstone, as well as cleaning it up. An annual cleanup is held on the second Saturday of September, this year the group focused their time around wherea train derailed near Reed Point in 2023 And a little more than half of that was recovered We found about 2,000 pounds of material last summer that we removed It also includes sulfur and aluminum scrap,” Ostovar said “Are we doing enough to protect this really important iconic river in our community?” executive director of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper stating that coal spills disrupt habitats and degrade water quality “A highly concentrated amount of fugitive dust and coal being dumped into waterways and makes it less likely that our waterways will support the things that we care about having a locomotive or cars of any type go in to a river of any type is going to affect habitat and local water quality impacts." Alsentzer said steps need to be taken to prevent derailments from happening “Hopefully this is a clarion call to clean up the mess but also let's invest in meaningful strategies and engineering practices to know where we got degraded infrastructure “What are the reasonable steps that we can take to not just mitigate this if not eliminate these things from happening Because our rivers can only handle so much.” The tracks at the site of train derailment west of Miles City have reopened to rail traffic although dozens of mangles train cars line the tracks as the cleanup continues New aerial images obtained from Miles City Live show the recovery as heavy machinery shovels coals into huge piles causing 25 cars carrying coal to topple off the tracks it remains unclear how much coal ended up in the water Photos from the area show coal stretching from the riverbanks to the water’s edge a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality told MTN News Friday afternoon that the "majority of the coal" has been removed from the riverbank DEQ will require BNSF to reassess the spill and conduct additional cleanup as needed MTN has reached out to BNSF multiple times for an update on the derailment including an estimate of how much coal is in the river No injuries were reported in Monday's derailment Concerns raised over river health following Miles City train derailmentNo injuries reported after Custer County train derailment near Miles City (Kelly Korsbeck) – The Havre Blue Pony softball team made a strong statement Saturday in their home opener of the season The Cowgirls opened up scoring with a run in the first inning to which Havre responded by plating two runners The Lady Ponies then opened up the bats in the fourth Miles City added a run in the fifth inning but it was the sixth inning that closed the contest the Lady Ponies also made four errors to the Cowgirls’ one throwing all six innings for eight strike outs and two walks The Havre ladies (2-0) will take the home field again on Thursday to battle with Dawson County Sign up to receive our free daily recap of local news Wildlife & Parks will host a three-day Bowhunter Education classroom course in Miles City at the FWP office on March 21-23 This will likely be the only classroom course offered in Miles City this year Those people ages 12-17 also have the option of taking Bowhunter Education online, but they are still required to complete an online field day. There will be two opportunities for Bow Ed online field days this year in Miles City: Sunday at Spotted Eagle Recreation Area in Miles City; and Sunday The second event will be a combined Hunter and Bowhunter Education online field day People are strongly encouraged to register for a class or field day as soon as possible as most classes and field days across the region are complete by July 31 Students must be at least 10 or older by the first day of class to register Those under 12 must certify as apprentice hunters at an FWP office and hunt with a mentor Registered students must pick up manuals at the FWP office no later than Friday They must read the manual and complete all chapter quizzes before the first day of class Parents or guardians are encouraged to stay for the initial portion of the first class on Friday Students should bring a lunch and drink with a lid followed by a field day at Spotted Eagle Recreation Area from 1-4 p.m Students will need a lunch and transportation to the field day after lunch Participants should dress for the weather and for hunting conditions Students must attend all sessions in order to pass this course Participants should meet at the rod and gun clubhouse at 1 p.m sharp to check in and present their field day qualifier certificates from taking the online course Parents are encouraged to stay for the duration of the course Dress for the weather and hunting conditions; no open-toed shoes are allowed Field day participants will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas: • Archery equipment – different types of bows Instructors will closely evaluate students Those who cannot demonstrate proficiency will not be certified until passing a field day sharp to check in and present their field day qualifier certificates from the online course with nymphs and streamers doing the heavy lifting while spring flows and sunshine keep things interesting… The Montana Outdoor Radio Show is live Saturday Mornings from 6:06am to 8:00am Skip the flowers—take Mom fishing for free this Mother’s Day and reel in some memories instead The 100-fish limit was no match for Mack Days anglers on Flathead Lake as records tumbled and lines stayed tight in a crazy weekend of nonstop lake trout action… it can sometimes be less of a friendly forest reunion and more a heavyweight smackdown… From shoreline strikes to deep-water trolls rainbows and walleyes are keeping Canyon Ferry and Holter anglers reeling in the action—no matter your bait lack of food likely caused the mortality event… Think you’re fly fishing like a pro with that bobber it might be time to ditch the training wheels and rediscover the real art of nymphing—no plastic balls required Think state records are only for monster fish slowly)—from midge hatches to streamer pulls and dry fly eats They say that if you built a bridge in a desert Fly tying can be an enjoyable yet potentially costly way to enhance your fly fishing experience by allowing you to create your own flies instead of buying them No worries — both hours of last week’s Montana Outdoor Radio Show are ready for […] Our team of Montana correspondents has been out on the water this week Captain and Don Jamison of Park Grove hooked a couple of trophy walleyes in the dredge cuts Friday The 2025 Walleye Egg Collection is in the Books Rigger and the Captain Take a Deep Dive Into What it all Means For Montana’s Walleye Fishermen & Women… Montana FWP wants your voice in shaping the future of mule deer—join a local workshop to weigh in on the new statewide management plan and help steer the herd in the right direction We have a sneak peek into the latest amazing Montana Outdoor Podcast episode… America’s public lands are opening wider than ever for hunters and anglers with new spots and big opportunities… Bass season just kicked off—and let’s just say the opening weekend didn’t disappoint at the Echo Lake Big Sky Bass Bash… Hell Creek Marina is your year-round launchpad for all things Fort Peck and brand-new pizzas—Rock Creek Marina is back and ready to make you feel like family… A once-golden creek is being reshaped—not for fortune this time From deep water surprises to shoreline hotspots this week brought a little bit of everything at Fort Peck Snagging a river dinosaur might sound crazy to some it’s just another paddlefish season… Your chance to shape the future of hunting on the Flathead Reservation—share your thoughts on the 2025-2026 draft regulations… A Canada goose was confirmed infected in Gallatin County on February 26 It’s time to get your goose jerky on Donald Trump Jr.’s hunting trip in Italy just went from a wild adventure to a legal quagmire after he allegedly poached a rare duck—now Oklahoma’s public lands just got a little less public for outsiders with a heart full of grit and a camo golf cart for cover Fox Haas reminded us all why legends never hang up their calls… The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office in California reports residents are under siege from wolves posting graphic photos of a bloodied stoop where an elk was brought down just yards from a residence There have been 18 wolf attacks confirmed in 28 days released in Colorado in January after being translocated from British Columbia has made significant movements across the state covering more than 1,230 miles since translocation — an extraordinary display of the species’ natural roaming behavior IMPORTANT: The season dates for hound hunting season in the printed version of the 2025 Black Bear Regulations were incorrectly listed in the printed regulations A peaceful day of ice fishing shattered in an instant… When you need Dramamine to go ice fishing…… Some anglers are stuck dreaming of frozen lakes while others are packing their gear and chasing the last ice—where do you stand one last thrilling ice fishing adventure delivers big trout and bigger lessons—before the season slips away As Montana’s late-season ice thins and conditions become unpredictable anglers are urged to stay cautious—no fish is worth the risk the fishing has been excellent across Helena area waters Time for Your Refresher Course on How to Catch HUGE Kokanee Salmon in Holter & Hauser Reservoirs From Kit & Trevor Johnson of Kit’s Tackle Outfitters… Think again—Kit and Trevor are back to spill the secrets before the season heats up this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast dives deep into the surprising fish behind Fort Peck’s trophy giants—don’t miss “Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Fins.” What do deep-water monsters and a double bacon cheeseburger have in common Tune in to the Montana Outdoor Podcast to find out… That “special” new scent your dog is rocking here’s one way to get rid of that… Tired of playing keep-away with your dog while you’re at hunting camp Learn the secret to achieving total recall—no chasing required When it comes to filleting a northern pike Armored in 30,000 quills and smelling like exotic cheese the porcupine is nature’s most misunderstood Yellowstone National Park recorded its first officially documented fatal grizzly bear attack has filed a lawsuit against the Triangle C Ranch near Dubois This smart and friendly elk has serious footwork when it comes to soccer © 2025 Montana Outdoor Radio Show All Rights Reserved RSS Feed Facebook Page YouTube Channel SoundCloud NewsBreak Profile Privacy Policy MILES CITY - Elementary school teacher Miranda Stevens is living out her dream job as a teacher at the same elementary school she attended years ago “It’s something that I’ve wanted to do since I was in first grade,” she said she’s also landed the perfect childcare situation for her 10-month-old Montana school districts continue to confront teacher shortages prompting many to look for progressive ways to attract educators And it's happening at a time when 77 percent of public school teachers are women so that’s exactly where the Miles City Unified School District decided to start the district established an in-district daycare to keep critical positions filled and parents the daycare accommodates as many as 15 children whose parents are district-only employees “I can just pop in and see him interact with the other kids The district is one of less than 10 in the state that offers employees an in-district daycare Superintendent Meghan Brown says the idea is a game changer for retaining qualified educators “That helped us fill two long-term sub roles last year,” she said “It’s just necessary as we continue to struggle with shortages The Montana Department of Health and Human Services reports that 59 percent of Montana counties are considered childcare deserts meaning the supply meets less than a third of estimated demand the principal at Highland Park Elementary School I had a four-year-old little girl and I could not find daycare for her,” said Landrum She pushed for the idea for years to the school board and three years ago figured out how to make the idea a reality Her experiences as an educator and mother allowed her to see the vision clearly and she knew it could mean the difference in keeping great educators in the classroom when many feel economic pressure to stay home “I think it would help moms feel good about leaving their kids to go to work,” said Landrum attracting special education teacher Erin Hould back to the classroom while her little girl “I taught for a number of years and then stopped because I really struggle with having my kids at daycare,” said Hould As Miles City’s first female superintendent Brown believes if you can empower teachers to succeed The in-district daycare idea is just the latest innovative way the district has been able to successfully retain new teachers when shortages continue to plague many districts the district also went to a four-day school week learning the model is also a perk for attracting teachers “I think we must be looking at all the ways we can do that so we can get our best educators in our districts,” said Brown Personalized news alerts with our mobile app Miles City at Laurel High School on Friday Laurel’s Landon Breen dribbles opposite Miles City’s Jace Erlenbush during a game at Laurel High School on Friday Laurel’s Griff Weisenberger makes a pass during a game against Miles City at Laurel High School on Friday Laurel’s Preston Poser shoots during a game against Miles City at Laurel High School on Friday Miles City’s Rylin Gentry makes a pass during a game against Laurel at Laurel High School on Friday Miles City’s Alex Hurr flies by Laurel’s Krew Hunter during a game at Laurel High School on Friday Miles City’s Kordt Smith shoots opposite Laurel’s Griff Weisenberger during a game at Laurel High School on Friday Laurel’s Isaiah Burt makes a pass during a game against Miles City at Laurel High School on Friday Red Rock Sporting Goods isn’t just a store—it’s the hub for all things outdoorsy in Miles City We’re thrilled to call them a Montana Outdoor-Approved spot because This place isn’t your run-of-the-mill sporting goods shop—it’s a one-stop destination for adventurers hunters and anglers who want to do more than just survive the great outdoors—they want to thrive a solid dose of camo (because blending in is basically a survival sport) Whether you’re gearing up to brave the ice in subzero temps or prepping for hunting season Red Rock has your back—literally and figuratively part amateur stand-up comedians and 100% Montana proud Need the scoop on the best fishing holes or advice on camping gear—they have it Red Rock isn’t just a store—it’s where locals swap stories about the one that got away and where newcomers catch the outdoor spirit swing by Red Rock Sporting Goods—it’s where the adventures (and maybe some legendary stories) really begin MILES CITY- As soon as the emergency tones ring and sirens sound off and Miles City firefighters find themselves responding to yet another emergency they respond to medical calls for help beyond city limits and into county lines they will answer the calls,” said Miles City Firefighters Union President Casey Miller The department is already in need of firefighters and down three positions shifts are working with short staff already But Miller says it doesn’t have to be this way “It seems like on a regular basis we have to justify our existence firefighters are still reporting to duty at a station in dire need of repair after it was deemed unsafe by building inspectors in 2018 voters approved a bond to fund the rebuild the dilapidated fire station but Miller says now they’re dealing another bump in the road “We still feel like the money should be shared,” said Miller He’s referring to an intense battle in Custer County over $6.2 million dollars in impact fees coming from the state’s largest wind farm The project spans three Montana counties and with as many as 300 wind turbines towering as tall as 40 feet snaking through Garfield City of Miles City union members such as Miller along with those represented by the city parks department and the police department are concerned the money isn’t being properly shared “Is it going to be used as a bail out?” said Miller it’s going to be used to fully staff your police department and your fire department.” the board of commissioners who was given the $6.2 million because the wind project presides inside the bounds of county land say they’re not interested in helping the city with a budget deficit bailout “These are one-time dollars,” said Custer County Commission Chair Jason Strouf Strouf wants to make sure the money is spent responsibly “Once that money is spent there is no coming back as far as impact fees,” he said Miles City Mayor Dwyane Andrews confirmed through a phone call with MTN News that the city is indeed in a budget crisis saying departments had little professional oversight over their budgets and overspent over the years cost of living raises for union members increased the city’s expenditures and third previous city leaders overestimated the budget’s revenue after some back-and-forth negotiations on the wind project impact fees in combination with discussion of an annual inter-local agreement between the city and county on the table city leaders asked the county for $1.2 million from the wind project money commissioners say their best and final offer to the city is $200,000 even though the city of Miles City saw the brunt of the ripple effect from the construction of the wind farm “Seventy-five percent of Custer County residents are within the city of Miles City bubble,” said Hannah Nash a spokesperson for the AFSCME Local union Nash says the impact from city services was huge “And it was a lot of officer man hours a lot of dispatch and of course that trickles all the way up the system,” she said Mayor Andrews acknowledged the potential cuts to police and fire and faults the previous administration for not paying close enough attention to the city’s budget “If a government has repetitive issues in regard to creating a budget managing a budget and balancing a budget and you put one time money into that without seeing exactly how that’s going to get taken care of and corrected what’s to make you think it’s not going to happen the year after commissioner would like to see the $6.2 million be put toward the creation of a senior citizen center “The senior citizens are one of the largest demographic populations that we have here in Custer County and they’ve never had their own facility that has multiple different services directly related to seniors,” he said Miller believes the county will place residents further into harm’s way without a fair share of the money “The population is aging and so we are busier than we have ever been,” said Miller “Every year our call volume goes up by hundreds of calls.” they’re just asking for what’s fair… Strouf maintains the board is not interested in getting involved in the mismanagement of the city’s budget why would you give them money to balance their budget with?” he said GLENDIVE — Reigning Class A state wrestling champion Laurel is in strong position heading back to the state tournament The top-ranked Locomotive boys won the Eastern A divisional tournament on Saturday scoring 322.5 points to out-pace second-place Sidney (249 points) and third-place Lockwood (241) Miles City won the girls title with 237 points to finish ahead of Lockwood with 157.5 points Logan Knaub and Holden Hoiness secured individual divisional titles for Laurel's boys the top-ranked 132-pound wrestler in the class pinned Glendive's Tristan Swanson in the final Knaub earned the championship at 157 pounds defeating Brody Keysor of Sidney by fall in the title bout And Hoiness took individual medalist honors at 165 pounds He defeated teammate Caleb Cook in the semifinal round and then scored a 9-0 major decision over Keaton Wergin of Glendive in the championship Hoiness is Class A's second-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds Miles City's girls were led by individual champions Robin Leidholt at 110 pounds Madily Juelke at 190 and Grayson DeJong at 235 Lexi Harms (140) and Carly Wacker (170) added second-place finishes for the Cowgirls For full results, visit trackwrestling.com The Class A state wrestling tournament begins Thursday at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark in Billings MILES CITY — A strong storm blasted through Miles City on Saturday evening Many residents experienced the severity of the almost 80 miles per hour winds were driving home when the storm suddenly hit "As we were coming up North Montana Street (Blane) looked off to the driver's side left hand and said that it looks like there's going to be a microburst we were over the tracks and then we felt the rear end of the pickup coming up and slammed into a pole and throughout the whole little five minutes that it lasted we could feel the pickup still trying to tip The Zimmermans described seeing what appeared to be two tornado-like clouds of wind meeting together While there has been no official confirmation that a tornado did form the winds still created a terrifying experience for two “I was trying to figure out what where I could Many others across town were also worried about the weather conditions Long-time resident Mary Catherine Dunphy was on the phone with a friend when she started to feel something unusual the building I have lived in for 14 years started to shake in a way I've never felt it shake before I think we're having a tornado maybe here in Miles City,' said Dunphy "I don't think we've had a storm like this since 1995 or 96 when another similar storm came through Miles City." Dunphy is worried that storms could start to get worse for the community and lead to even larger issues "It's devastating for communities in terms of property damage and the cleanup that has to happen afterward and the people that will be busy with it for a long time It's very hard on people and traumatic."  Briana and Nathan Mardikian were inside watching a movie when the storm took a turn for the worst it is getting windy out,' and then I heard a crack The Mardikian’s car had several trees fall on top Neighbors were quick to assist them clean up the damage which made the couple see the bright side of a bad situation "I can still do a Walmart run if we need anything We're just going to cut it off and it's going to be a new El Camino," joked the Mardikians While the storm has passed and many have begun to receive power again it still left many with questions on what exactly Miles City experienced that night "Clearly it's severe enough that both of our massive trees went down in our front yard," said Mardikian "I've seen some pictures of the sky and then I mean as beautiful as it is skies cleared up and then there was sunshine again "Just thank God it wasn't our house or the neighbor's house Nothing major was damaged aside from my car “I'm just glad everybody's okay and just helping each other We have another vehicle,” said the Zimmermans MILES CITY — A Miles City artist is hoping a new downtown mural will be the first of many in an effort to bring more art to the area On the wall of the Bison Bar on Main Street sits the large mural of a bison and Montana 12 by Miles City artist and teacher Keely Perkins and took eight days to complete Perkins has been painting for many years and wanted to design something that highlights the beauty of Montana She was overjoyed with the positive reaction from the community “I thought people would be a little interested and excited "It's real personal to me because I grew up here and I would always The artwork is the first step of the Miles City Downtown Art Walk a project started by resident Kelsey Merritt to help bring more art to downtown “I think that you don't realize how big and empty some of these walls are in Miles City until you see one of them filled with something that is so beautiful and so bright," said Merritt “The Miles City Downtown Art Walk is something that we're hoping will increase visitors to our downtown area and bring business to the businesses that exist on Main Street and increase pride for community members." Merritt works for SDI Architects and Design and volunteers through her job where they are encouraged to engage in the community She was inspired by muralists in Billings and Glendive and wanted to bring that kind of artistic touch to their downtown. “I think as a community member in Miles City and why can't we have murals?' And we can," said Merritt The idea for the project started two years ago She began applying for grant funding through the Montana Community Foundation and donations from the community Both of the women wanted the piece to represent the state and Miles City They also wanted people to interact with the mural and stop and look at the details The flowers on the left are Western native flowers and those on the right are Eastern native Perkins even included little hidden pictures in the mural for people to find “I wanted to where people would want to come physically see it and and look for these little Easter eggs," said Perkins “One of the main ones is a Hershey bar is hidden in there because ever since the bar started The group hopes to complete two murals a year with the goal that they can complete more once the project gains traction in town "We're hoping that the completion of this initial mural helps those that are on the fence in terms of deciding whether or not they want to be a part of the art walk," said Merritt “We're hoping to fill that gap in our funding and in our grant writing so that we can enable these business owners to have public art but not necessarily have to foot the bill for doing so." Merritt says that Art Walk was made possible by a group of women who will help keep the project moving forward “We have a pretty awesome group of people at Miles City and to see them so excited about something Art Walk is looking for donations for their next mural checks can be sent to the Miles City Area Chamber of Commerce with the memo "Art Walk" or "mural," or money can be sent to their Venmo at mc_artwalk The donations help go towards artist fees and supplies Governor Greg Gianforte issued two executive orders on Friday declaring disasters following recent severe weather that hit Hamilton and Miles City recently experienced severe weather and these executive orders authorize additional resources for these communities to address critical needs they are facing,” Gov “The State of Montana will continue to come alongside local leaders as they recover from these devastating weather events.” Miles City experienced a severe thunderstorm event with wind gusts of 70 to 72 mph Hamilton and Stevensville both were hit by a severe thunderstorm on Aug with high wind gusts that brought trees down in public streets including at Hamilton’s wastewater treatment facility The storm also sparked the Sharrott Creek Fire which has burned 3,200 acres just west of Stevensville The State of Montana will use money from the general fund to meet "contingencies and needs arising from these conditions and help impacted communities get back on their feet as quickly as possible," a news release states never imagined that a series of seemingly mild symptoms would lead to a life-changing heart health event.  Her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of recognizing heart disease symptoms and the critical role of timely medical intervention.  but I didn’t recognize them as such because of my age,” Smith said “I thought maybe I was just slowing down.”   Smith shared that for months she hadn’t had the stamina and energy to do normal household chores.   Smith’s more acute symptoms began with what she thought was indigestion and pain on the right side of her chest One evening the pain was more intense and persisted until the next morning It was at that point that Smith knew something was more serious She went to the emergency room at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City where doctors ran tests and quickly determined she was having a heart attack.  and you’re going to get a ride to Billings,’” she recounted.  She was flown by helicopter to Intermountain Health St where a whirlwind of activity awaited her.  Smith was whisked into the cardiac cath lab for immediate treatment.  “It was interesting because you’re not completely under," she said of the cardiac catheter procedure.  inserting a stent into her artery to restore blood flow to her heart Her husband arrived by car in Billings by the time she had finished the procedure and was waiting for her in the recovery room.  Smith’s recovery continued with the cardiac rehab team at Holy Rosary.  “It helped me an awful lot just to get some strength back,” she said.  played a crucial role in her recovery.  but the nutritionist helped me get back on track,” Smith said.  “It is so rewarding to work with patients and help them get stronger and back to living again,” said Pam Hurr a nurse on the cardiac rehab team at Intermountain Holy Rosary with the most kind and gentle spirit.  She worked extremely hard when she realized that the fatigue she has been feeling wasn’t normal.”  “I feel energized and can do normal things again,” she said.    “We were so proud of her and all her hard work,” Hurr said “We were excited and celebrated when she had a recent echocardiogram and it showed so much improvement in her heart function.”  Smith’s story and recovery highlight the importance of recognizing heart disease symptoms Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States responsible for about 1 in every 5 female deaths which can differ from those experienced by men.  While chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack in both men and women women are more likely to experience other symptoms such as:  Sometimes symptoms can be vague and may occur even when resting or asleep Physicians recommend that if women are experiencing any symptoms or changes in their health that they reach out to their provider.   is contact your primary care provider and talk openly if you are noticing any changes in your health that may be related to your heart,” said Carine Basmadjian a cardiologist at Intermountain Holy Rosary Hospital “Are you unable to do your normal activities without shortness of breath or excessive fatigue back or abdomen pain when you are exerting yourself If you have a family history of early heart disease share that information with your provider as well And if you are having more serious symptoms or pain                                                                                                                              ### Intermountain Health welcomes the opportunity to work with local and international journalists and news media outlets We are always available to respond to your questions and help support your newsgathering efforts Interview requests with Intermountain Health medical experts should be directed to our media relations team FOR NEWS MEDIA ONLY: To contact a member of the Intermountain Health Media Relations team for assistance:  > Email: IntermountainNews@imail.org  > Phone: On-Call Media Relations Representative: 385-275-8245  Holy Rosary Hospital celebrated the opening of the Helmsley Cancer Center in Miles City Patients will no longer have to travel to Billings I chose what was best for my family ,” said Jamie Beardsley “And I chose to drive back and forth 280 miles daily and 7,000 miles total." Beardsley finished 25 rounds of radiation treatment for breast cancer last December She was driving Monday through Friday from Miles City to Billings for treatments and back the same day to take care of her children “I did pretty well with radiation,” Beardsley said “I wasn't tired until the last few treatments Dee Abbott also traveled to Billings for treatments and helped with the groundbreaking last year but she had a reoccurrence and passed away in September “Dee shared about her journey and how excited she was to see us expand cancer care in Montana,” said Katie Donnelly director of Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Cancer Centers of Montana Donnelly says now patients can get treatment and enjoy staying home with their families “I could not have envisioned having something like this facility in Miles City several years ago,” Donnelly said “And now it's a reality and it's pretty awesome.” The 12,000-square-foot center cost $17 million and the Helmsley Charitable Trust contributed $6 million Donnelly said Holy Rosary had done chemotherapy The Helmsley Cancer Center will offer all that and more “Whether you choose to live in a big city or a small little community like Miles City everybody deserves the latest in state-of-the-art equipment for medical,” said Walter Panzirer Panzirer is the grandson of the woman who started the trust and he says this facility is as good as any in the big cities “We love our big windows,” said Ashley Herzog “I think it is really important for the patient in their healing because it brightens up the place It brings a lot of natural light positivity.” I really love building the connections with the patients,” said Carrie Warner It's rewarding to be a part of the process Sisters Of Charity Of Leavenworth gave the closing prayer “May it truly be a place of healing and hope to all people,” Hurley prayed Ethan Evans and Austin Cowen smile at Evans signing to Miles City Community College at Sheridan High School Wednesday “Once he goes through a full fledged college routine with weight lifting and conditioning as well as arm care; I think he has a huge upside." Cowen said “Right now he is just now seeing what his potential is but he is a guy that when you look at him at the next level he is someone that will go to crazy heights.' — Austin Cowen Sheridan High School’s Ethan Evans committed Wednesday to Miles City Community College to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level Evans is excited to continue playing the sport he loves Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Brendan Saunders started as the sports editor for The Sheridan Press in December 2023. Reach Brendan at brendan.saunders@thesheridanpress.com or 307-675-9977.  Email notifications are only sent once a day View more offers! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Get the latest local headlines delivered to your inbox every afternoon Find out what's happening with the latest events in our community Receive occasional local offers from our website and its advertisers summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Receive our newspaper electronically with the e-Edition email Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital has opened a new state-of-the-art cancer center with the support of a $6 million grant from The Leona M Helmsley Charitable Trust to better serve the needs of communities in eastern Montana.  With the opening of the new 12,000-square-foot center Holy Rosary now offers radiation oncology services in addition to medical and surgical oncology services to address the needs of cancer patients in rural eastern Montana The project eliminates distance and access barriers to care for the people living in the region patients needing radiation oncology treatment may have had to travel long distances to receive that care potentially impacting their treatment plans and outcomes The new center is the only comprehensive cancer center within a 125-mile radius.  our dedicated oncology team at Holy Rosary cares for patients through more than 1,500 infusion treatments and more than 500 provider visits As the number of patients we serve has grown year over year we continue to grow our services to meet their needs,” shared Ben Uhlich President and Chief Nursing Officer of Holy Rosary Hospital “With the opening of this new cancer center and now offering radiation oncology services at Holy Rosary we will be able to serve even more patients creating equitable cancer care for the region and our rural communities.”  “The opening of the cancer center marks a transformative milestone for patients and their families in eastern Montana facing cancer diagnoses,” said Walter Panzirer a Trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust “Helmsley is committed to improving access to health care services in rural America This new cancer center eliminates the barrier of distance and allows patients to receive care close to home where they can be supported by family and friends.”   The new center is built on the Holy Rosary campus in Miles City connected to the hospital and all its services The center is home to the region’s only medical linear accelerator which delivers radiation treatments quickly and accurately It has a patient and caregiver-centered design with several unique elements including large windows in medical oncology and infusion treatment areas and courtyards for caregivers and patients to improve their experience The new center adds additional chairs and stations in the infusion treatment areas and four dedicated exam rooms.  Construction began on the project in spring 2023 and the $17 million project was completed in September In addition to the generous funding from the Helmsley Charitable Trust the project was funded through capital investments by Holy Rosary and Intermountain Health and the generous support of community members.  About Holy Rosary: Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital is a comprehensive acute-care hospital in Miles City that serves an 11-county region of eastern Montana Holy Rosary is part of the Intermountain Health system Based in Utah with locations in six states (Montana and Wyoming) and additional operations across the western U.S. Intermountain Health is a nonprofit healthcare system comprised of 33 hospitals medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced practice providers To help people live the healthiest lives possible Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs consistently.  About the Helmsley Charitable Trust: The Leona M Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008 Helmsley has committed more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel this program has awarded more than $750 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands visit www.helmsleytrust.org.    GREAT FALLS — One person died and another was injured in a one-vehicle crash in Custer County on Sunday near the intersection of Signal Butte Road and Love Street on the southeast side of Miles City the two people were riding in a Ford F150 pickup truck when it began to fish-tail The truck went off the right side of the road which caused it to roll was taken to Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City The nature and severity of his injuries has not been disclosed speed was a factor in the crash; alcohol and/or drugs are not suspected We will update you if we get more information