Week of October 13, 2026
Week of October 13, 2026
Work addressing drainage and sidewalk issues that caused closures at the Headwaters Rest Area last year is ongoing, said Montana Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Charity Burns. According to Burns, the work at the MDT facility near the junction of I-90 and US 287 in Three Forks is a planned continuation of the issues that caused closures in 2025. "Work is expected to be wrapped up by spring. We are looking at the possibility of a short closure for a few days, but the...
On October 9, Montana Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras issued Executive Order 11-2026 to temporarily suspend enforcement of dyed-fuel provisions for commercial motor vehicles engaging in agriculture and timber business purposes. “Montana farmers, ranchers, and timber industry workers are feeling the squeeze at the gas pump,” said Gov. Gianforte. “This executive order will help bring relief for transporting essential goods including agricultural commodities, livestock feed, and timber products.” The executive order is effective for 45...
The Treasure State is being invaded by aquatic jellyfish from parts unknown, and while Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said they're not dangerous, it's an introduced species, not native to the state. "It's not something we're really alarmed about," said Tom Woolf, who coordinates FWP's Aquatic Invasive Program. "It's an awareness kind of thing. They don't harm people or anything, and their impacts on the environment appear to be small, but they're not a desirable thing." The jellyfish,...
An absentee ballot requirement that has resulted in thousands of Montana votes being thrown out since 2025 was ruled unconstitutional last week by a state judge. At issue is the requirement that voters write their birth year on absentee ballot return envelopes. In his Monday ruling, Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahan said the requirement had disenfranchised nearly 6,000 Montana voters since it was created by the 2025 Legislature. The ruling means that 2026 general election...
In an epic game that won't soon be forgotten, the Three Forks High School Flag Football team made two huge plays in overtime to bring home back-to-back State Titles with a 32-26 win over East Helena on October 8 at Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis Field in Billings. With the Class A/B State Championship game tied at 26 at the end of regulation, senior Maya Noble intercepted Vigilante star quarterback Keeley Hamilton on East Helena's first possession in extra time. Moments later, sophomore... Full story
The Three Forks High School Football team had another strong performance last week, picking up an impressive 48-21 conference win at Columbus on October 9. "I thought we had a great week of prep, and you could see it carry over into the game," Wolves Head Coach Connor Sullivan said. Three Forks (5-2, 4-1 Southern B) wasted little time getting started on its first drive, reaching the red zone after a long pass from quarterback Gavin Etchison to Marcus Pestel. Moments later, Etchison would score... Full story
The Three Forks High School Cross Country team battled it out against some of the top teams in the state at the Tracy Logan 7-on-7 event on October 8 at the Bill Roberts Golf Course in Helena. In the Boys' Varsity #1 race, Three Forks senior Jacoby Berg finished with a time of 17:46, senior Caleb Mulder finished at 23:25.8 in the Varsity # 2 run, Sean Jung finished at 22:28.4 in Varsity #4, Matthew Kotter had a time of 23:10.5 in Varsity #5, Bryen Flikkema ended the race at 24:08.8 in Varsity... Full story
The Three Forks High School Volleyball team opened play last week with a bang, finishing with a big-time three-set win on October 6 against visiting Big Timber. After winning the first two sets 25-23, the Lady Wolves closed out the match by winning the third set 25-20. "The Big Timber game went great. The girls went in and played aggressively but also smart with their ball placement," Head Coach Aspen Hankinson said. Three Forks had 31 kills in the victory, led by Aleigha Hankinson with 9, and... Full story
My name is Sheila Stenzel, and I am a candidate for Treasurer/Superintendent of Schools for Broadwater County. I am running because I bring some unique skills and new voice to the treasurer position. My employment with Department of Revenue has given me a strong understanding of taxation, revenue, state statutes, and the complicated property tax process from legislation to your tax bill. Having never worked for the county, I am not bound by long-standing ways of doing things, and I have fresh ideas to make the office more efficient,...
Just a few days from now will mark the eighth anniversary of the first edition of the Three Forks Voice. With over 400 printed editions and thousands of stories, we wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who subscribes or picks up a paper around town, as well as all the wonderful advertisers, some of whom have been with us since the beginning. Without you, there would not be a paper, so we are very thankful for each and every one of you. We would also like to give a huge shout-out to all the...
In this week’s editorial, I note that I have published over 400 editions of the Three Forks Voice. I’m not quite sure exactly how many stories I’ve written for this paper in the past eight years, but it’s probably pushing 2,000, which amazes me. While I haven’t had a column in each edition, I’ve had it in most, and it’s always so much fun to write about interesting things that happen to me, share cooking adventures, and examine wild stories from my past. While I’m probably running out of stories from my childhood, I sometimes...
Here’s why: CI-132 is a simple measure that adds just 5 words to the MT Constitution: “Judicial Elections shall remain Nonpartisan.” Note the word REMAIN. This constitutional initiative preserves the 90-year tradition we have had of voting for judges in nonpartisan elections since 1935, when we stopped Montana's powerful Copper Kings from buying judges to rule in their favor. Montana judges interact with people statewide in all sorts of circumstances; it could be for criminal charges, employment or property disputes, or even child...
Constitutional Initiative -132 is a simple initiative that puts one sentence into Montana’s constitution: “Judicial elections in Montana shall remain nonpartisan.” The reason I will vote YES for CI-132 is to prevent out-of-state billionaires from influencing judges to sell off our public lands. Allowing non-residents to influence judicial decisions could open the door to the sale of public lands or even the elimination of public access in some areas. People of Montana should have the final say in how our judges are elected, not politics...
Montanans are being bombarded with television and other political ads in this year’s congressional races. Voters should understand an important limitation of ballot initiative I-194: it would not stop much of the political spending we are seeing today. I-194 restricts political spending by certain “artificial persons,” including corporations, nonprofits, partnerships and trade associations. But the initiative expressly exempts political committees, and its restrictions are aimed at state and local political activity—not the federal...
Three Forks High School Speech, Drama & Debate Coach Bronwyn Evans shared that she is feeling extra excited about the upcoming 2026-27 season. “This marks my fourth year coaching, and so all the students this year have known me for all their high school years, and there is something really fun about that. I know the kids really well this year, so we are able to dive in deeper and quicker on all the pieces,” said Evans. “We do have a few new students to the program and the school this year as well, and I am excited to get to know them... Full story
The American Heritage Girls Troop MT0406 has joined forces with the Gallatin Solid Waste Management District for an Electronic Waste Recycling Day on Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Three Forks Rodeo Grounds. According to District Recycling and Outreach Coordinator Patty Howard, the troop contacted her to see if they could do an event that is a community service effort on their part. Howard said this is the first time someone has asked her to do a small event like this....
Myrna Angeline Schmidt passed away at the age of 89 on October 2, 2026, in Bozeman, Montana. Myrna was born on July 6, 1937, in Carroll, Iowa, to Clem and Hazel Koster. After graduating from high school in Breda, Iowa, she attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, where she earned an associate degree in elementary education. While teaching in Holstein, Iowa, Myrna met the love of her life, Van, at a local dance hall in Storm Lake, Iowa. They married on August 20, 1960, and settled in... Full story
