Week of June 16, 2026
Week of June 16, 2026
Fisheries staff with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks have completed spring sampling, which provides estimates for trout abundances in southwestern Montana rivers. Results from these surveys are now available, along with abundance estimates from rivers that were sampled last fall. Spring sampling 2026 This spring, fisheries staff sampled areas of the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Boulder (Jefferson County), lower Madison, Jefferson and Ruby rivers. Most sampling sections in the Beaverhead River have...
Fisheries staff with FWP confirmed recent reports of invasive fish in community ponds in Three Forks and Livingston. FWP received two reports from anglers who observed northern pike in the Three Forks Ponds, which are less than a mile from the Madison River. Fisheries staff confirmed these reports on May 28 when two pike were captured by gillnetting. FWP also heard from anglers in late May who noticed bass in a pond in Livingston commonly known as the Sacajawea Lagoon, which is along Fleshman... Full story
The Sheriff's Office officially hired a resident deputy for southern Broadwater County who will begin service on June 24, 2026. With the retirement of Deputy Lewis and the medical retirement of Deputy Reynolds hiring a southern Broadwater deputy was prioritized. The Broadwater County Sheriff's Office also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office. The MOU is a major step forward in improving public safety in the Three Forks area and the... Full story
From the MSU News Service The Montana Department of Livestock and Montana State University Extension have issued guidance for the Montana livestock industry after a destructive parasitic fly called New World screwworm was detected in Texas. For the first time since 1966, the New World screwworm – also known as NWS, or Cochliomyia hominivorax – has been detected in the United States. A confirmed case was found in Zavala County, Texas, on June 3. Since then, an additional five cases have been confirmed in south Texas. According to...
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen told the Montana Supreme Court in a recent filing that it must dismiss a dispute between his office and the Gallatin County Attorney's Office because in part the question isn't a legal one, rather a political one. Meanwhile, Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell has challenged Knudsen's take-over of her office after she raised concerns about whether sharing personal information with federal immigration officials violates the state constitution's...
A state senator has suspended his property tax cap ballot initiative just two weeks before signatures come due, alluding to pushback from key stakeholders. Martinsdale Republican Sen. Wylie Galt, former speaker of the House and member of a prominent landowning family, announced in a press release last week that the effort was being halted following “feedback from businesses, public officials, and other individuals.” A spokesperson for Galt’s initiative did not immediately respond when asked to share details of the feedback or who...
By Montana State Representatives Alanah Griffith and Bob Carter We are writing to correct the inaccuracies in Tom Millett’s recent op-ed claiming I-194 could cost Montana taxpayers millions without fixing campaign finance. In his piece, Millett mischaracterizes the mechanism, legal grounding, and scope of Initiative 194, also known as The Montana Plan. A reading of the actual initiative text reveals a robust, tightly drafted measure designed to fix the fundamental structure of our broken campaign finance system and wrestle campaign spending...
In my hometown for a funeral, I woke up a bit early the morning I’m writing this after tossing and turning for several hours, trying to adjust to a different bed, a new set of cat shenanigans, my mom’s CPAP machine that was a room over, making it sound like Darth Vader was roaming the house, and a variety of outside noises. Getting out to my mom’s front room at 4:30 a.m., I found all the noises that had kept my attention for most of my short night gone, and it was a nice kind of quiet as I attempted to figure out her coffee maker so I...
The 2026 Bridger Brewing Summer Concert Series in Three Forks is set to open with a bang with a June 19 performance from the Brothers Osborne. Doors open for the show at 75 Vigilante Way at 7 p.m. with Nashville-based artist Cassidy Daniels as the opening act. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased at https://www.bridgerbrewing.com/events. Brothers Osborne are one of music's most consistently adventurous bands, a duo connected by not just blood, but also a lifetime of performing together, and a...
While the Headwaters Heritage Museum and the Railroad and Trident Heritage Center in Three Forks did not open until June 1, they were able to get a jump start on the 2026 season. According to Curator Cheryl Lehr, they began welcoming visitors before the official opening, including locals, those across the United States, and even some from the Netherlands. With the United States celebrating its Semiquincentennial anniversary on July 4, Lehr said it will be a special season at the Museums. Pat...
This summer, Lewis and Clarks Caverns State Park is offering an extensive lineup of interpretive events happening each weekend. Programs are subject to change without notice. Here's a look at events happening this month. Friday night programs are presented by park staff and begin at 8 p.m. at the campground amphitheater: • June 19: Exoplanet Extravaganza – Explore planets outside our solar system • June 26: 3 Dog Night – Learn about wild canines The Saturday night speaker series...
With a theme of "Unearth A Story", the 2026 Summer Reading Program is underway at the Three Forks Community Library. Library Director Jonna Boys is excited about this year's program, which will run through mid-August. "The Summer Reading Program is one of the highlights of the year at the Three Forks Community Library, and we look forward to welcoming families, encouraging reading, and creating fun learning experiences for children throughout the summer. This year's theme gives us a wonderful...
From the MSU News Service Montana residents can reduce their 2026 state income taxes while preparing for current and future healthcare costs by taking advantage of a Montana medical care savings account. Montanans can open a medical care savings account at a bank or credit union or make deposits into existing MSAs before Dec. 31 to reduce their state income taxes for 2026, according to Marsha Goetting, Montana State University Extension family economics specialist. The amount used to reduce state income tax for Montana residents is the total...
Just a quick update on our 2026 Mosquito season. With the season fairly well underway we are experiencing different Mosquito numbers across our district. With the warm/dry winter the areas without irrigation are seeing much lower Mosquito numbers. That said the dry conditions are requiring a lot of agriculture irrigation, so the areas with the irrigated ag. land close are experiencing flood water mosquito numbers increasing. We have been larvaciding as much standing water as we can access. With...
Phyllis Vivian Laird, a daughter, sister, wife, mom, grandmother, and disciple of Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of May 17, 2026, in Three Forks, Montana. She came into this world on August 21, 1933, at Two Harbors, Minnesota, as the first child born to Gib and Bertha Londgren. She grew up on a farm near Marshall, Minnesota. One of her least favorite chores was gathering the eggs. She was convinced the hens' purpose in life were to peck at her while she... Full story
It is with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Javen Samuel "Javeman" "Lil man" Kadrmas, age 20, who passed away peacefully, surrounded by the deep love of his many friends and family at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, MT. Javen was one of a kind-generous, witty, thoughtful, and deeply compassionate. With his infectious love, Javen had a way of bringing people together unlike anyone else. He made people feel seen, valued, and welcomed, and he had a gift for helping others become the best... Full story
Arlene Albro Barlow passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026, in Spokane, WA. She was born on December 29,1927 on her family ranch in Willow Creek, Montana. Arlene was the daughter of Willis A. and Bina Lane Albro and one of nine children. She had five brothers and three sisters; and they lived on a ranch two miles from town. Willow Creek physician, Dr. Bradbury, traveled to the ranch through deep snow to deliver Arlene. His fee was $5.00. Growing up in the Depression Era Montana, Arlene's... Full story
