The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT) articles from January 2007

The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT) archives from January 2007

Norovirus confirmed at 3 more nursing homes.
January 3, 2007... Byline: Diane Cochran Jan. 3--Health officials on Tuesday confirmed the presence of norovirus in three more Yellowstone County nursing homes, bringing to five the number of sites affected by the sickness. A sixth site is also probably...

Developer banks on zoning change.
January 9, 2007... Byline: Tom Howard Jan. 9--An owner of a downtown condominium project hopes a zone change approved Monday by the City Council will end a sales drought in which six completed units have languished on the market for more than a year. On...

Haggard concert sells out in 3 1/2 hours at ABT.
January 9, 2007... Byline: Jaci Webb Jan. 9--In just more than three hours Monday, all 1,400 tickets to the Feb. 14 Merle Haggard concert at the Alberta Bair Theater were snatched up. Mary Helgeson, interim director of the Alberta Bair Theater, said the...

YMCA sees light at end of long financial tunnel.
January 9, 2007... Byline: Ed Kemmick Jan. 9--After years of struggling financially and periodically staring a possible closure in the face, the Billings Family YMCA is showing good numbers again, in terms of both membership and fundraising. "I'm...

MetraPark, Bulls seem better for their parting.
January 10, 2007... Byline: Tom Howard Jan. 10--The departure of the Billings Bulls junior hockey team from MetraPark seems to be working out for both parties. The Bulls are happy in the Centennial Ice Arena, and MetraPark is enjoying one of its more...

Montana dam becomes 1st on licensing fast track.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Brett French Jan. 11--Small in stature, Montana's Mystic Lake Dam nonetheless set a national precedent in December by being the first dam in the nation to file for relicensing under a new federal procedure designed to increase...

Extension agent most likely found out standing in his field.
January 14, 2007... Byline: Jim Gransbery Jan. 14--Tackling a new job is hard enough without following someone considered a legend in the position. But Paul Dixon found it to be an advantage. "There was a strong program in place for so long, and it...

Carrie's jumps to sprawling $5 million West End project on 8 acres.
January 14, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Jan. 14--You've been remodeling every room in your house for four years and have just a few days to finish all the final touches before an open house for friends. Now imagine the stress level involved in trying to...

Billings Gazette, Mont., Jan Falstad column.
January 17, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Jan. 17--Have You Heard? CHS Inc., better known for petroleum and livestock fees, is expanding into coffee. The cooperative based in Minnesota paid an undisclosed price to buy Mountain Mudd, Mountain Manufacturing...

Panel hears pension bill; more coming.
January 17, 2007... Byline: Mike Dennison Jan. 17--HELENA -- A House panel Tuesday heard the first of several bills offering financial fixes for Montana's ailing public-employee pension funds. But Republican legislative leaders said it may be a while...

NWE sale will benefit Montana, top execs say.
January 17, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Jan. 17--The chief executive of NorthWestern Energy and its Australian suitor started a three-city tour of Montana Tuesday to pitch the idea of selling the state's largest utility -- again -- the second sale in five...

Two coal companies entangled in lawsuit.
January 19, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Jan. 19--After working side-by-side at the Absaloka coal mine for years, Westmoreland Resources Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Washington Group International for allegedly breaching the terms of their mining contract....

In Livingston, Mont., condos save old hotels, increase affordable housing.
January 21, 2007... Byline: Linda Halstead-Acharya Jan. 21--LIVINGSTON -- In 1937, during a sale on Park County's courthouse steps, the Grabow family lost title to its namesake hotel. Now, seventy years later, Patricia Grabow has saved the...

Church consultant enjoys education aspect of job.
January 22, 2007... Byline: Susan Olp Jan. 22--You might call Jill Riley an inveterate teacher. "I taught neighborhood kids how to read when I was little," she said. The classically trained pianist, who started taking lessons when she was 5, also...

Billings Gazette, Mont., Jan Falstad column.
January 24, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Jan. 24--HAVE YOU HEARD? COMPUTER INTRUSION PLACES TJX CUSTOMER IN CREDIT LIMBO: A mid-December raid on computers used by TJX Companies Inc., which runs T.J. Maxx stores among other low-cost retail chains, has caused a...

New program makes it easier for ranchers to donate beef to the food bank.
January 28, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Jan. 28--Every rancher has cattle who get old or injured. And for most ranchers, their emotional attachment to the animals forces a financial decision If the rancher takes the animal to the sales ring, on its way to the...

Billings Gazette, Mont., entrepreneurs column.
January 29, 2007... Jan. 29--Dan Flower has a funny way of making accidents work for him. Last November, he was breaking a green colt on a ranch he was leasing on the Powder River in Wyoming. "That colt ducked his head and went to make his way into...

State's outlook is robust, economist says.
January 31, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Jan. 31--American consumers are more cautious because the current housing slump prevents them from continuing to tap into their home equity to buy personal goods. And the housing slowdown is the other major reason...

Billings Gazette, Mont., Jan Falstad column.
January 31, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Jan. 31--IRS WATCHES FOR IMPROPER TELEPHONE TAX CREDIT CLAIMS: The IRS is warning some taxpayers that they face disciplinary action for claiming improperly high refunds on a special telephone tax. Last August, the...