The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT) articles from June 2006

The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT) archives from June 2006

School District 2 catches flak for Indian ed money.
June 1, 2006... Byline: Laura Tode Jun. 1--Billings School District 2 has recently come under scrutiny by the Montana Indian Education Association. The association has questioned the district's plans for using the nearly $1.3 million in Indian...

Need a door with 2 knobs? Call ReStore.
June 1, 2006... Byline: Mike Stark Jun. 1--A treasure, or at least an oddity, awaits every row where Ed Folkwein works. The Billings store, which sells used building materials to benefit the local Habitat for Humanity, is crammed with doors of every size,...

Crossroads to stay open for summer school.
June 1, 2006... Byline: Laura Tode Jun. 1--School District 2 administrators will keep Crossroads Alternative High School open another three months for summer school. Crossroads served as many as 95 students last year, and about 40 are enrolled in the...

Livingston's County Market sold.
June 3, 2006... Byline: Jan Falstad Jun. 3--Next Thursday at 6 p.m., the County Market in Livingston will close, and 26 stores employees will receive their severance pay, along with an application to apply for work with the new owner. Town & Country...

Energy expert retires, moves back to Montana.
June 4, 2006... Byline: Jan Falstad Jun. 4--For once the brain drain is working in reverse to Montana's advantage. At the end of this month, Roger L. Petersen, who negotiated PPL Corp.'s buyout of Montana Power Company's power plants and dams in...

Tight labor market fuels recruiting rivalry.
June 4, 2006... Byline: Linda Halstead-Acharya Jun. 4--When Pat Newbury arrived in Billings two years ago, he quickly discovered that some changes were in order. Newbury owns Billings' seven McDonald's restaurants and could tell by the quality of...

Name your wage.
June 4, 2006... Byline: Linda Halstead-Acharya Jun. 4--When Spencer Asay, filled out his first job application last week, he wasn't sure what to put down for expected wage. So the 15-year-old Central High School student just wrote down $6.50. "I...

Too good to be true?
June 5, 2006... Byline: Linda Halstead-Acharya Jun. 5--Margit Arthun was leery when she first heard about the state's new insurance program. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is, she said. But now that Arthun, who manages the...

Parking garage expansion may be too costly.
June 5, 2006... Byline: Jan Falstad Jun. 5--The decade-long planned expansion of the Park II parking garage in downtown Billings still may be too pricey after a second round of bidding. The first round attracted two bids for a project city officials...

Real estate expert helps buyers stay grounded with feng shui.
June 5, 2006... Byline: Diane Cochran Jun. 5--Whether they know it or not, people who buy homes from Mary Cavanaugh are getting more than her real estate expertise. Cavanaugh is a trained feng shui consultant, and she uses the ancient Chinese art to...

Enforcement of adult-business ordinance requires research.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Tom Howard Jun. 8--Sometime soon, Nicole Cromwell will pay a visit to Planet Lockwood to take pictures and learn how the business operates. As zoning coordinator for the City-County Planning Department, Cromwell and code...

Cobb Field panel pursues closer look at costs.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Tom Howard Jun. 8--The Cobb Field Steering Committee plans to examine all costs associated with a proposed $15 million downtown ballpark. The committee backed the financial review Tuesday after hearing concerns that the City...

Collect Call Man who scammed Billings woman may have called from prison.
June 11, 2006... Byline: Jan Falstad Jun. 11--This tale is a true Canadian whopper. Only it's not about a monster northern pike getting away in a pristine northwoods lake. This is a deviously clever scam apparently originating in Quebec that...

Frannie Tack Shop still rides steady sales.
June 11, 2006... Byline: Ruffin Prevost Jun. 11--FRANNIE, Wyo. -- Small-town residents around the Bighorn Basin may head to Cody, or even Billings, for much of their shopping. But when it comes to finding the right gear, horse enthusiasts for 25 years have...

Billings Gazette, Mont., Jan Falstad column.
June 18, 2006... Byline: Jan Falstad Jun. 18--THE WINDMILL GETS A RAMROD: The Windmill at the TransTech Center have hired a general manager. Rick Jones, who is managing the Quality Inn Homestead now, will go to work in August for TransTech Vice...

Bumper prices.
June 18, 2006... Byline: Jim Gransbery Jun. 18--Misfortune elsewhere has given Montana's winter wheat farmers a buffer for escalating costs. Weather-related crop damage around the world has left them cautiously optimistic as cash and futures prices...

Treasure islands.
June 19, 2006... Byline: Mike Stark Jun. 19--SHEPHERD -- Some good ideas start with a stinking dog. Not long after Bruce Kania bought a farm out here, he noticed a foul odor from his dogs that swam in the ponds and streams on the property. His...

Cesspool drainer is an important cog in structure of civilization.
June 19, 2006... Byline: Jim Gransbery Jun. 19--When Rick Cleveland gets a job call, there is usually a sense of urgency. "How soon can you be here?" is the question posed by nine out of 10, Cleveland says. That's because the sewer drain is...

Montana seeks to enter Wyoming suit to protect state's water.
June 19, 2006... Byline: Clair Johnson Jun. 19--The state of Montana has asked to be a party to a federal lawsuit in Wyoming brought by energy companies seeking to overturn federal approval of Montana's water quality standards for the Tongue and Powder...

Billings Gazette, Mont., Jan Falstad column.
June 21, 2006... Byline: Jan Falstad Jun. 21--THE CURTAIN IS CLOSING on County Markets in Montana. Three weeks ago, Tidyman's Chief Executive and President Mike Davis insisted that his company would happily continue operating its remaining eight (down...

Environmental Quality Council committee makes recommendations on split estates.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Clair Johnson Jun. 22--A legislative subcommittee is recommending that oil and gas companies be required to give landowners information explaining split estates and mineral development. The panel also is asking that developers...

Revvin' up for H.O.G. Heaven.
June 25, 2006... Byline: Linda Halstead-Acharya Jun. 25--Forget "Born to be Wild." Think fewer tattoos and more teeth. Above all, prepare for an onslaught of camaraderie that resembles one giant family reunion. That's what several Chattanooga...