The Billings Gazette has written a story on the troubles at the Tumbleweed Runaway Program, following up on the story I posted yesterday. Derek Brouwer, a reporter I have met only a couple of times, did a good job on it. In particular, he had the good idea of asking Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder about the very large encampment of teens that Tumbleweed Director Sheri Boelter supposedly visited during a Youth Count survey in 2013. Boelter’s claims about that camp, and the many discrepancies in her account, are at the heart of allegations of fraudulent activities raised by five current and former employees of the nonprofit agency. Here’s what Linder had to say:
Camps of that size have never been discovered by Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder or his staff, Linder said Thursday. Continue Reading →
Recent Posts
Complaints trigger scrutiny of runaway program’s director
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Editor’s note: This article contains two clarifications/updates in the body of the story. The board of directors of the Tumbleweed Runaway Program is investigating allegations that its executive director has inflated and in some cases fabricated statistics regarding the number of homeless young people in Billings. The board’s investigation into the activities of Sheri Boelter was sparked by allegations raised by one former employee, but similar concerns have been raised by other current and former employees. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Billings, News, Carmen Price, Community Development Division, Paul Collins, Sabrina Currie, Sheri Boelter, Tasha LeClair
Donations for Jordan ranch family rise to nearly $225,000
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From all over the country, monetary support continues to flood in for the family of a Jordan-area rancher who died last month. Anne Miller, a family friend who helped organize an online fundraiser for the family of Owen Murnion, 38, who was crushed to death while unloading farm equipment in Jordan on Feb. 12, said donations had reached almost $225,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Montana, Anne Miller, Garfield County Bank, GoFundMe, Jordan, Miles City Livestock Auction, Owen Murnion
South Side service station nearing end of a long tradition
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Back in 1954, when Robert Wilson Dunham opened a new Standard Oil service station in Billings, it was one of 19 stations stretched out along what is now First Avenue South. Sixty-one years later, Wilson Dunham Service, now a Conoco station, is still going strong, and it is the only business of its kind on First Avenue South. And it’s still owned by a Robert Wilson Dunham, though this one is the son of the founder and goes by the nickname Bud. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Billings, Bill Dunham, Bud Dunham, Central High School, Della Mae Logan, Intermountain Distributing, Montana Power Co., Northern Line Layers
New video celebrates the best of downtown Billings
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A new video celebrating the virtues of downtown Billings received its premiere Friday night and was posted to YouTube on Saturday. “Believe in Downtown Billings” was produced by Jonathan Allison of Visual Lens Productions for the Downtown Billings Alliance. It was premiered Friday night at the Pub Station during the annual meeting of the alliance. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Billings, Culture, Art House Cinema, Billings Open Studio, Downtown Billings Alliance, Lisa Harmon, Matt Blakeslee, Pub Station
Looking south for legislative diversion
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State Sen. Fred Thomas, R-Stevensville, said he got the idea for his bill to put new restrictions on food stamps from talking to store clerks. He said cashiers told him people were using food stamps for soda pop, frozen pizza and energy drinks, among other items he deemed innutritious. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Prairie Lights, Agenda 21, Frank Garner, Fred Thomas, Harlan Edmonds, Medicaid, Montana Legislature, Randall Pinocci
National Geographic takes a shine to another John Warner pic
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I feel compelled once again to let you all know that John Warner has been singled out for plaudits by National Geographic, this time for his incredible photograph of a winter-bound beaver at Lake Elmo State Park, which appeared on Last Best News in December. It is featured as the Photo of the Day by National Geographic for Feb. 26, 2015. John was also kind enough to have a bit of fun with the photo, which turned into Last Best News’ digital Christmas card:
Filed under: Last Best Blog, John Warner, Lake Elmo State Park, National Geographic
Novella paints vivid portrait of Montana Territory
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Tom Keith has never lived in Montana, but he has written a fine novella about the adventures of a man seeking a new life in Montana Territory in 1882. The self-published book, “When Everything Changed,” is very loosely based on the life of Keith’s great-grandfather, Mell Keith—named Daniel McHarg in the book—who arrived in Fort Benton aboard the steamboat Red Cloud in 1881. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Culture, Montana, Blackfeet, Fort Benton, Helena, Montana Territory, Tom Keith, When Everything Changed
Montana, where even the billionaires are pampered
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A man who says he writes about “luxury” for a living has penned a touching tribute to the Resort at Paws Up near Missoula. Jim Dobson, writing for ForbesLife, took his “billionaire vacation” in the company of his 6-year-old nephew. He, Dobson, was absolutely enthralled with the butler, the chef, the concierge and the exceedingly obliging general managers. (more…) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Last Best Blog, Blackfoot River, David Lipson, ForbesLife, Last Best Place, Resort at Paws Up, Whitefish Mountain
Not keeping up with Kardashians benefits dog sled guide
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Jason Matthews, the owner of Bozeman-based Yellowstone Dog Sled Adventures, is starting to think that refusing to do business with the famous Kardashian family was a good business move. You have probably heard by now that two Kardashian sisters, Khloe and Kim, were involved in a car accident near Bozeman last Saturday. News reports said the sisters were in Montana to do some skiing. (more…) Continue Reading →
