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

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

Treasures found in historical dumps thrill archaeologist.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Jim Gransbery Sep. 2--A military sanitation practice at one of the most important archaeological sites on the Great Northern Plains was the beginning of a love affair for Lynelle Peterson in the mid-1980s. "That's when I fell...

Billings man makes most of a mistake with thriving auto part business.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Lance Benzel Sep. 2--Joe Hoppman got his "first taste of brakes" working for a local auto parts dealer in 1973, and if that sounds unsavory, well, it didn't spoil his appetite any. More than three decades later, the Billings...

Billings, Mont., special tax district faces obstacles.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Tom Howard Sep. 2--It's hard to argue with the progress made in downtown Billings over the past decade. Dozens of buildings have been renovated. Once-vacant offices and retail space are filling up. Property values are on the...

Hat's off.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Lance Benzel Sep. 2--Mike Hodges tells tourists that it's a state law to wear a cowboy hat -- and that violators may be escorted back to the state line. Ever helpful, he asks doctors to consider hats when writing...

Not all mortgage news scary, economist says.
September 15, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Sep. 15--The Federal Reserve Board may cut the federal funds rate, which should lower consumer borrowing costs, by a half-percentage point Tuesday, instead of the widely expected quarter-point. That's according to...

Regents to review student fees.
September 15, 2007... Byline: Mary Pickett Sep. 15--A revision of a policy that resulted in cuts in university student government budgets is on the agenda of the next Montana State Board of Regents meeting. The regents will meet at Montana State University...

Helping schools excites president of PTA.
September 16, 2007... Byline: Becky Shay Sep. 16--Laurel resident Beth Verlanic joined PTA because she thought that's just what moms do. A former English teacher and now stay-at-home mom, Verlanic quickly became caught up in the good works that Parent...

Billings, Mont.-area builders remain unscathed by national mortgage meltdown.
September 24, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Sep. 24--Ryan Helgeson, construction manager, and his father, Stan Helgeson, president of S D Helgeson Homes, are building the last of a block of twin and single homes off 41st Street West and Avenue D. Helgeson and...

Montana borrowers feel ripples from national mortgage mess.
September 24, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Sep. 24--If America's mortgage meltdown is like the torrent from a spring runoff, Montana must be floating along in a backwater eddy for now. Montana has enjoyed years of appreciating home prices, sometimes at...

Savings is still the key.
September 24, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Sep. 24--Sandy Wong, now a mortgage consultant at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, has logged 22 years at various companies in Billings. She got into the business in the mid-1980s when housing prices plummeted due to a...

Toyota dealer expands by staying put.
September 29, 2007... Byline: Jan Falstad Sep. 29--In April 2006, Prestige Toyota owner Ray McLean put $5,000 down on property on the west edge of Billings and then brought in Toyota experts to approve the site. "They were so-so about the property," McLean...